Drake's Misguided Adventure

Chapter 8 - Forming Teams

The next day Drake gets up and goes for walk. The sun is just beginning to rise above the horizon, the perfect time to think things out. Hearing the two captains for the games, his thoughts on being called up for one of the teams is quite low. Ronnie would be his closest bet to whose team he could be in, but nothing points to him and her being close enough for her to nominate him for the team. His lack of time at camp will really hamper him in this regard. Though, the recent rumors of him may give him enough of a boost to make it in the shortlist of possible candidates.

Then the most likely possibility pops into his head, Filter imposing that he be a part of the team. Apart from Max, and possibly Aina, Filter is the closest person he is acquainted with. Despite the limited interactions, it is still the longest conversation he's had with someone that he wasn't forced into. Two reasonings come to mind as to what could impede with Filter naming him as a player: one, she herself isn't a part of the teams, two, and quite honestly the most depressing of the two, she is a part of one team, but doesn't propose his name.

From here his mind goes down the rabbit hole and while walking aimlessly he doesn't hear Max calling out to him from just a bit away. His sight is to the ground and his pace is quite fast. Max chases him for a good minute at full speed causing Drakes fight and flight response to kick in. His primary reaction is, of course, fight. He grabs Max's hand as he went for a tap to his shoulders and spins him around. He kicks his feet off the ground and before he slams Max to the ground, he realizes who it is.

Max's eyes are wide open, not in fear but amazement. Drake holds him by the collar and one arm, hovering just a foot off the ground. "Shit, my bad Max, you ok?"

"Uh, yeah," Max says as he is still dangling in the air. "Are you going to let me get up anytime soon?"

Drake apologizes once more and helps the kid up. "It's pretty early in the morning. Are you always up at this time?"

"No," he answers bluntly. "But I assumed you would be, so I should be the one asking you, 'are you always up at this time?'"

Drake takes a moment to think about it. He begins walking once more, no direction in mind, and he asks himself the same very question. As far back as he can remember, he has. He doesn't sleep any earlier than the average camper he imagines, but he sure wakes up earlier than most. "I suppose," he says. "Why, what do you want from me?"

The question is honest, but Max looks a bit offended. "What do you mean? You said you'd help me train remember?"

He didn't remember. His head was recently only thinking about the upcoming game, and before that, about Filter. Days past by since their first 'lesson', so to speak, but in Drake's mind, it was only the day before yesterday. He never considered himself a teacher of any sorts, so he never quite grasped the responsibility he has placed on himself. Backing away now will only leave his name in the mud if word got out, and while he in particular doesn't care, he must admit, it would make his goals much harder.

Once he gets the go ahead to commence with the plans, how well his interactions with the campers has been up to that point will determine if he can avoid unnecessary questioning. Too many interferences have happened recently, but he firmly believes he's at least implanted a presence in most, if not all, of the campers. Max here could help him edge it ever so slightly more in his favor.

"Right, sorry, let's go to the arena then and get started."

Max hesitates and stutters as his concern becomes visible, even to Drake. "Does it have to be in the arena? Can't we go to the... beach! Yeah, the beach would make more sense, no?"

"In what way does training at the beach make more sense?" Drake says, feigning his incomprehension. In truth, he agrees. Going to the beach would psyche him up to train more than the arena. Plus, if he injures Max by accident then he could use the sea to heal him. Unfortunately for Max, Drake needs there to be a high likelihood of possible onlookers. Therefore, he isn't going to be budging on the location of their training.