Getting Through Life

Chapter 5: Lie to truth

Two days later

So, we've decided that the boys will live at Amanda's house. She told me that Jacob, Leah's brother, would be happy with some company now that Leah no longer lives at home. Leah's father also gladly agreed. 

We also took care of everything we needed to do for the funerals. They will take place next week. We arranged that they will be burried next to each other, on the same day. That way Noah and Felix will only miss one day of school, and I checked my calander to discover I have a day off then.

I'm on my way to training right now. Gareth told me he explained to the team I needed a couple of days off due to personal reasons. He also said that they didn't stop asking questions. Not even now. I kept having calls and tons of messages, but I didn't answer anyone. Not Georgia's, not Steph's. And especially those two are going to make me regret that. 

I really don't want to walk into the building, because everyone will swarm me. 

I arrived. I stepped into our training complex and made it to the changing rooms without getting noticed. Because I was a little too early, nobody was in here yet. I changed quicker then ever before, because I wanted to go unnoticed a bit longer. I practically ran to Gareth's office to briefly speak to him. I knocked on his door.

"Come in!", he shouted through the doors. I could still just run, right? No, keep it together McKay.

"Hi Gareth, I'm back", I smiled. He got up and just gave me a hug. At that moment, words weren't even enough to describe anything. The hug said it all.

"Are you okay?", he asked as soon as we let go. 

I nodded. I had to. I couldn't let anyone see my pain. Ever. I tried to speak, I had to speak. It had to be believable.

"Yeah, I'll get there", was all I could manage. I hoped he let it be.

"If you need anything, and I really mean anything, just ask me please. Don't be embaressed to reach out or ask for help. There is no need for any of that", he ended that topic to start a new one.

"Thank you Gareth, you're really a good person", I smiled again. I turned around and went to the fields. I just wanted to train. I wanted to fly while defending my sticks until gravity had enough of my antics and pulled me back down. I wanted to run until I couldn't breathe anymore. I wanted to slide across the grass until my knees had scrapes all over the place. 

I asked a trainer to just shoot the footballs at my direction, and I was off. I flew to every corner of my goal. I extended every fingertip I could. I stuck out my legs to the best of my abilities. I even kept a ball out by using my head. I don't think he scored more than three or four times out of the fifty something times he shot. 

I was on top of my game until I was brought out of my daze. That was because he stopped.

I didn't realise we were busy for almost half an hour. I looked at the side of the field, and every player of our team stood there, watching us. Well, watching me.

There were a couple of chocked faces because of what I had managed to do. Others were looking at me concerned (yes, I'm talking about G and Steph, the rest don't care enough for that). And then there were the confused ones (who else but Hempo could that be?). Gareth stood at the back. He knew I should, and could handle this.

I walked to everyone, because I knew Gareth would not start training until I had made a speech. 

"Hi guys", I just said. I figured if they wanted any explanation as for where I was, they should just make clear they actually were interested in me. 

"Where the hell have you been?"

I was shocked. Not because of the question, of course anyone in my position had to see that one coming. It was because of who asked it.