I don't want to feel

Chapter 19

I was almost at the school gate when I was stopped in my tracks by somebody calling my name.

“Ford!”

Grrrr

“Coach?”

I had immediately recognized his voice so I turned around to face him. He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow before asking me,

“You were not trying to leave school, were you?”

He knew perfectly well it had been my intent.

Coach Taylor was some sort of all-knowing Big Brother. He knew of all the gossips, fights, quarrels…

I don’t know who spied on us for him but he was always spot-on.

He had been our form tutor and our coach since year 7. He told us it was unusual, that he had specifically asked Mr. Pritchard to keep us from year 7 to year 13 because he had a good feeling about our class…

I think he was in fact, the only P.E. teacher who accepted the idea of coaching two girls in one of the famous Advanced P.E. classes.

After six years around us, he knew us like a caring but strict father would – not that I knew much about what a good father was like, Danny’s being my only example.

“Sort of, yeah, Coach.” I decided to go with the truth.

“Have you had lunch?” He momentarily dropped the topic.

When he saw me shake my head in answer, he called out a year-10 boy, who was passing nearby.

“Frazer, come here, please.”

The boy ran to us immediately and looked inquiringly at Coach who handed him a five pounds banknote before telling him,

“Go to the canteen and get Sam a slice of pizza with chips along with a double chocolate muffin and a can of Diet Coke, please.”

My favourite lunch! I told you he knew absolutely everything about us!

Relieved he wasn’t being told off, the boy nodded quickly and ran to the canteen.

Coach led me to a bench and motioned for me to sit, which I did.

“So…” He started. “I’ve heard about you kissing Richards at lunch two weeks ago and about him kissing you back.”

He paused and studied my face carefully before carrying on.

“I’ve also noticed how out of it you’ve both been since. I’m not talking about times and statistics. I’m talking about your well-being.” He paused again but this time, he seemed really unsure about what he was about to say.

“Sam, I’ve also received a phone call from your grandfather…”

I froze at that.

I had only met my grandfather once.

I must have been three or four when my mother had taken Chris and I to this huge mansion in the United States to spend the Christmas holidays with her family.

My memories are really fuzzy but I remember a tall man with my mother’s baby blue eyes, dressed in expensive suits.

My lack of reaction enticed Coach to carry on.

“He phoned me to warn me that you had had a fight on the phone with your twin brother and asked me to keep an eye on you.”

No freaking way! I’ve been on my own here for all those years but the man is pretending to keep tabs on me from afar!