Finding Priya

Messing Up

BRADEN

I absolutely hate running. Which is only slightly problematic for me considering how much running is involved in soccer.

But I love the game. So, I'll do whatever it takes to make sure I'm in peak form, even if it means grinding my teeth and pushing through the warm up laps around the field coach makes us do at the start of every practice. The running is especially intense right now because it's boot camp week. Coach figures we've all been sitting on our asses all summer, so we spend a week before classes and practice actually starts just doing conditioning. It sucks.

Still, I know that I have to work hard for the things I want, so I've come up with a system to get me through the tedium of jogging. I imagine I'm Captain America. I imagine I'm training to be stronger, faster, better than I was the day before. I'm preparing for the most epic battle of my life. It's the only way I can force myself through running mindless laps.

And it's a good reminder. Because sometimes my life feels like a constant uphill battle. At least I'm always prepared for the fight.

I'm snapped out of my superhero training regimen by the sound of Coach Bradley calling my name as I pass where he's sitting on a bench. "Harding! Hold on a second."

"What's up, Coach?" I ask, only slightly breathless as I jog up to meet him.

He stands from the bench, shoving his phone into the pocket of his athletic shorts before reaching out a hand to squeeze my shoulder. "How are you feeling?"

He asks me that every time he sees me. But I don't mind, because I know it's not just a nicety to start the conversation before he says whatever it is that he really wants to say. He genuinely cares about both the physical and mental well being of all of his players. He's always made it abundantly clear that his door is always open and ever since I was made captain last year, we've gotten closer.

As with all the previous captains, he insists that I sit down with him for one on one sessions every other week to talk about the team, yes, but also to make sure I'm in a good headspace. Being captain is an honor, but it's also a huge responsibility, which means that it comes with its own level of stress. Coach just likes to make sure that I'm not overwhelmed, and I appreciate his constant concern. It's always nice to have someone concerned about you.

"Pretty good," I reply with a wide grin. "Nice and loose."

I know he wasn't asking about my physical condition or even about today specifically, but the truth is that I've never felt better, physically or emotionally.

My mental state must be showing in my expression because he doesn't push the issue, simply nodding and saying, "Good. You trained during the summer."

It's not a question. He can tell by the fact that I'm not struggling during the warm up laps that I didn't slack off during the off season. "Every day."

"That's my boy." He doesn't smile, but I can still see the flicker of pride in his steel grey eyes. His hand drops from my shoulder and he shoves into the pocket of his shorts. "The scouts will be glad to hear it."

I stand up a little straighter. "Scouts?"

His lips twitch and for a second, I swear he's going to smile. "Let's just say that if you play well this season, there might be some people who might be interested in signing you professionally."

"That would be incredible." I blink. To be honest, I hadn't really thought about playing professionally before. I've always loved soccer, and I've worked hard to get where I am because I've never been the kind of person to do anything half assed, but it's not as though I've spent my nights dreaming of fame and glory.