Beyond the Lesson (TXS) (GXG)

Disappointment

Friday

Today is the homecoming game day and I'd be lying if I said I was excited. I honestly feel completely dead. Coach killed us Wednesday at practice and thankfully Maira stayed to take me home because Tyson would've been pissed that we didn't get out until 9. We kept going over drills and even when we did perfectly according to coach we continued doing them until we were out for the count.

I put on my black hoodie and put my grey and black jersey over it. We're supposed to wear our jersey every game day so we know for a fact we have it. Trust me there's been plenty of games where someone forgets their jersey and they have to sit out so coach made it mandatory. I put on black cargos and my air forces with a black beanie since it's windy today and being sick is just not something I want to be. Beep! I grab my bag and phone and head out to Mairas car. I get in the back since Lucas is in the front. "You ready captain?!" Lucas exclaims and I chuckle at his excitement.

"As ready as I'll ever be sure. I'm exhausted." I groan.

"Coach can be a bit much that's true but she gets results. I mean you guys didn't lose a game all last year and won the championship." Maira says looking in her rear mirror at me and I nod.

"I guess." I lean my head back to look out the rear window to watch the clouds pass by.

"Oh god." I hear Maira say and I look to the front and furrow my brows at the sight. "How cliche can she get?"

I get out the car when we park in Mairas spot and cringe. "Oh Captain! My Captain! Go Conquer the Court Tonight!" Sierra cheers with all her squad holding up a sign saying 'Go Pirates!' in their cheer uniforms. I hear Lucas snickering and I slap his chest to shut him up.

I walk up to her and her blue eyes meet mine looking up at me. "Sierra what is this? You know I don't public stuff like this." I say quietly with my eyes looking around.

She nods smiling slightly. "Yes I know but it's your last homecoming game Talia." She says tugging at my shirt and I roll my eyes. "The girls and I just wanted to do something for you."

I sigh. "But a banner and a whole cheer?" She nods. I look at the squad. "Look thank you girls seriously but post that up somewhere to celebrate everyone on the team, I'm not the only one out there." They nod and head inside. "And Sierra this isn't going to make me forgive you or take you back." She sighs. "You fucked up just own it." I say and nod to my friends for us to go. I walk away and they follow.

"I have never cringed harder." Lucas says and I shake my head.

"Guys come on it was a sweet gesture, just wish it wasn't from her." Maira says and we nod. We go to our lockers and get our stuff. "Hey Ms. Romano." I turn my head to the name and see her walking down the hall and she smiles at us.

"Good morning guys. You did the homework right?" She asks and they both turn around back to their lockers and she laughs. "Uh huh. Well just make sure it's done before you come into my class." She tells them and then her eyes meet mine. "Good luck today." She says and I nod smiling. She walks off and goes toward her class.

"Damn I completely forgot about homework." Maira says and I chuckle shaking my head. We walk to class and I take the entire class thinking about Ms. Romano. How her eyes meet mine so intensely, or am I reading too much into it? I mean she told me good luck. Will she be there to watch me play? I have to be on my A game if so. I mean I'm always on my game but I don't want to embarrass myself infront of her. Why do I care about embarrassing myself? Since when do I care about validation? Ring! The bell snaps me out of my thoughts and I realize I didn't pay attention a single moment.

"Ms. Kingston a word?" Mr. Jackson calls me and I sigh and Maira and Lucas stand out the door to wait.

"Sir?"