The Omission Behind Ones Devotion

Chapter 7

Hayden's POV:

The football field was right next to the gymnasium which was very convenient since I had a feeling I would be doing this a lot.

The football team was running their laps, I guess practice had just started. And my dad was standing off to the side, with a closed off posture, and an intimidating stern look on his face.

"Hey daddy." I say excitedly holding the jacket behind me.

He turns around, and everything softens, and his face brightens when he looks at me.

"Princess how did it go?" He asks excitedly. I slowly pull the jacket out from behind me.

It took him a second to realize what it was, but once he did he flipped. He picked me up spinning me around as he cheers loudly.

"Uh coach?" A deep voice asked, probably confused because they never saw this side of him. That was one thing about my dad, he was very serious about his team, and had always be a tough in your face kind of coach.

"Oh boys huddle up-" they follow his directions and confused expressions arouse throughout the crowd of sweaty muscular boys. He puts his hands on my shoulders, like a father does to his little girl, except I was pretty much the same height as my dad, so it didn't really help. But hey, to my dad, I will always be his little girl, his princess.

"This is my daughter Hayden, she just transferred here-" I watch as most of the team looks me up and down, checking me out, instantly a blush creeps to my face, making me feel uncomfortable.

"And I am counting on you boys to watch out for her okay, this is a big school. With that said, can everyone give a big round of applause, to the newest member of the girls varsity volleyball team-"

"Wait isn't the Varsity team like amazing and impossible to make?" One of the boys in the back ask. He to had a closed off posture, with his arms crossing his chest.

"Yes it is, and I don't know if you know this Lahey but I raise champions." There it was, the stern coach is back.

"Anyways, grab a ball partner up and start warming up." He blew the whistle and the boys started jogging back to the field. I put my stuff down as my dad calls back to me.

"Princess, can you warm up with one of my boys."

"Sure... but I'm in slides and I don't wanna ruin my court shoes... you still keep my cleats in the cart?" I ask with a sly grin. He mimics my face and gestures to the cart to my right. I jog over and long and behold, my cleats. If you are confused, I used to help my dad with the football team in Chicago, so like my brother I got cleats to wear to the practices.

I put them on then hustle back toward my dad.

"Princess, you've met Brayden right?" I think back to the time I had to rush home to aid them, and smiled to myself.

"Yeah, I think that rings a bell." I say with a smirk as he looks down at the ground with a small smile.

"Alright, well don't just stand there, get going" And with that, my dad blew the whistle right in front of my face and Brayden and I began to jog to the other side of field.

"Alright-" he said as we stopped meeting our destination.

"Now if I didn't know you were coaches kid I would totally expect you to make it three feet, but I'm guessing you have been trained well so I have high expectations." He throws the ball and I catch it easily.

"Is that so?" I ask flashing him a smile, before throwing a perfect spiral back to him. I back up so I'm now in line with the rest of the team.

"It is," He says mimicking my actions, a sly grin never leaving his face.

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"Alright boys, nice job today, pack up and I'll see you all tomorrow. And don't forget, pool party at my house after practice on Friday." My dad states before Boyd calls it out.

We pack up the car, and Brayden hops in the backseat next to me, with Ryan in the front next to dad.

The music blared as we all sang along to the Jessie's Girl, obviously one of dad's choice. I couldn't help but notice Brayden glance over at me every once in a while, make my cheeks heat up.

"I WISH THAT I HAD JESSIE'S GIRL!" We all sing when all of the sudden the car comes to a halt at the house next to mine.

That's weird.

Then all the sudden Brayden hops out of the car, not before flashing me a smile, and walks up to the house. I knew he lived in the neighborhood, but I didn't know we were neighbors. My thoughts were interrupted as my dad pulls into the drive way. We all climb out, the instant smell of fresh air hits my nose and I sigh. Much better than the sweaty boy stench.

I race upstairs, I don't really know why, I just did and close my door behind me. Today was actually a pretty good day. I hang up my Varsity jacket and think back to tryouts, and what Kaitlyn had said.

"She's a Thompson."

The word wrung throughout my head as I tried to figure out what that had meant, but were instantly interrupted when music begins to blare.

It sounds like it's coming from the other house.

I pull open my drapes and instantly freeze, when my eyes land on a shirtless figure. But not just any shirtless figure, the figure of the one, the only...

Brayden Haze.

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