The New Coach

1. The Meeting.

Making it to the minor leagues might not be exciting for most people, but for me, it's just a start on the way to my dream. When I got the call that they wanted to develop me on the minor team, I was thrilled when I realized I'd get to learn from Mr. C, the best coach to learn from. He's a master, creating so many amazing players who are quickly called into the majors and have long careers.

I started just a few weeks ago, practice going well so far. I was nervous, scared I wouldn't really fit in with the guys already on the team, but once we took the ice and I was getting praise from the team as well as Mr. C, I realized I would be just fine. Today should be practice, but instead it's a meeting, called this morning by email, with no explanation of the reason. My friend on the team, Scott called me right after I got the email and is just as confused as I am.

I dress in some sweats and throw on a loose fitting tank top, the email saying to just come in weight room clothes. It feels wrong to head to a meeting in this, but I'm just following orders. I make the walk to the arena, the apartment I'd found just three days before my practices started only a mile or so from where I spend most of my time. I walk up and realize I'm one of the only people who have arrived yet. I head inside, eager to find out what this is all about.

I head in and up to the conference room, entering to find only Mr. C and another man talking, heads hung low towards each other, voices kept very low. The door slams shut after my entrance and both men look up to me. "Eddie, son, how are you?" Mr. C asks me in greeting. "Well sir, I'd be better if I knew what all this was about if I'm honest." I feel the other man looking at me, but I keep my attention on my coach.

"You'll know soon enough, Eddie." Mr. C gives me a sad looking smile and returns to his talk with the man. I find a seat and finally allow myself to look at this man. He's tall, his long legs stretched out in front of the table he's sitting at. His light hair is tousled, slightly standing on end. From the angle I have right now, I can see he has a strong jaw line and a nice, straight nose. He looks fucking beautiful.

Okay, I must admit, although I don't think I would ever say it out loud, I'm a little bi curious, if nothing else. I've never been with a man, but I've thought about it, fantasized a bit. Ever since I was a teenager, I've wondered if there's something missing from the sex I have with women and my mind instantly wandered to men and what that would be like. I've just never been brave enough to act on it. I look away when the man looks to me, his eyes shining and smiling at me.

I hear the door open and in comes Scott, followed by a large portion of the team. Scott walks to me, taking the empty seat next to me. "Dude, what do you think this is all about? Who is that guy?" I look up to see the guy he mentioned still staring at me, his eyes moving around my face. "I have no idea, man. I tried to get Mr. C to spill some details when I got here but got nothing." Scott just nods and turns his attention to up front.

"You're probably all really confused," Mr. C says as he stands, working his way to the front of the table he'd been sitting at. "Well, I called this meeting to let you guys know some things. I hate to say this, but I've been diagnosed with cancer and will need to retire in order to go through treatment." The whole room is silent. I feel like I may throw up. "I don't want to leave you all, as the season is just about to start, but I've helped the team find you a more than adequate coach who will seamlessly take my position and help you guys to a great season."

The man who had been watching me stands and moves around to where Mr. C is, towering over him. It's in that moment that I realize that Mr. C is old, and looking it, and doesn't look like he feels well. "This is Kevin Ballister," Mr. C says, "he was a college coach for a while and has agreed to take you guys on. I'll let him introduce himself more properly." Mr. C moves around to take a seat again.

"Hello everyone, I'm Kevin Ballister. As your coach said, I've been coaching at a collegiate level but I'm excited to move on to bigger things with you guys. I know it's probably a shock, especially this close to season opener, but I think we can carry on what Mr. C wanted for you guys and have a winning season. I have a shit ton of faith in us as a unit. Don't be afraid to ask me things or to go on what you've been taught so far, I'll be taking Mr. C's playbook as well."

I watch our new coach as he talks, his hands moving around in what appears to be a nervous movement. His eyes land on me and he smiles softly when he sees me watching him. I know I must blush, but I thank the Lord for my darker complexion and hope he doesn't notice. He talks for a while longer, explaining that practices will start tomorrow and we may double up before our first game. As a forward, I'm a main player in the running of plays and I already know the double up on practice will most certainly apply to me. Coach is finally done talking and we all stand to leave.

"He doesn't seem so bad," Scott tells me as he stands. "Yeah, he should be good. See you tomorrow man," I say back. I move slowly in the hopes that I can talk to Mr. C a little bit, but before I know it, everyone is gone and Mr. C sneaks out the back door. I quickly notice that I'm alone with my new coach. "Excited to work with you, Eddie." He says, smiling at me. I just nod and quickly head out of there, ignoring the butterflies I got when he said my name. This is going to be torture.