Habits

Tryouts

Cory's POV

As soon as the bell rang, I reached for my backpack and bolted out of 6th period and downstairs to the locker rooms.

School was back and so were the sports, football.

"Hey, slow down Cory!" I hear a distant voice yell at me.

For a split second, my head snaps back to look at whoever just called after me. Mark.

"You just need to speed up!"

He laughs heavily and gives me an award winning smile. His hand grabs my shoulder to slow me down, but I only speed up.

"I need to be early for tryouts. The more you stretch, the less injuries you'll receive."

Mark scoffs. "That's bullshit. I hardly ever stretch and I'm doing just fine."

The conversation fades as we enter the locker room and put up our school bags.

I'm sure to remove the silver ring on my left hand and place it in my jeans pocket.

"Since when do you wear rings?"

I recognize my friend Liam's voice.

"Since I became engaged."

His mouth drops and he stares at me, flabbergasted.

"Y-your engaged? How...did-"

"Don't bother putting on your football pads. I expect for every single one of you to be on the basketball court in 10 minutes! Bring your running shoes!" Coach Rake yells.

"What the hell? I thought this was football tryouts." Mark mutters to himself.

My gaze returns to a still shocked Liam.

"I'd hate to be late for tryouts." I say with a smile.

He nods and continues putting on his athletics clothes.

"Your telling me after tryouts."

"We'll see."

I slip on my school's grey athletics shirt, baggy shorts, then my nikes.

Me and Mark walk to the basketball court to find about 50 other guys floundering around the gym.

I begin my normal stretches, all while receiving annoyed glances from Mark.

Coach Rake walks in with 2 other middle aged men, all with clipboards.

"Tryouts will last for 3 days, 4 if we have to. Day 1 is all about running." He pauses momentarily with a devilish smile plastered on his face. "We will start off by doing multiple 10 in 1's. If you can't make em', then you will have to work 10 times harder to make this team."

Multiple guys mumble and curse under their breath as they digest what Coach Rake has just said.

"We are competitive. If you can't meet our standards, then don't waste our time."

My eyes widen at his amount of brutal honesty.

"There will be 3 groups, Coach Allen will number you off."

One of the coaches steps up to us and we all immediately file into a straight line.

I'm a 3, while Mark is a 1. I know instantly that he'll be sprinting fist, and me last.

Group 1 makes their way to the starting line on the court while the rest of us watch intently.

Coach Allen stands on the side of the court. "For those of you who aren't familiar with 10 in 1's, you will sprint to the other side and then back, that counts as 2, Do that 10 times, all in under a minute."

"Actually..." Coach Rake steps in.

"I'm establishing a new rule. Make it in 55 seconds, not 1 minute. You boys are in high school, might as well train like it."

Multiple groans are released, including some from Mark.

*********

After successfully making all 4 of my 10 in 1's, we head out onto the football field, hopefully to do some football drills.

"Mile time, boys!" Coach Rake yells, he is full of excitement.

"I'm not training for the fucking Olympics, I just want to play football!" Mark seems extremely frustrated, he made all of his 10 in 1's, running a mile shouldn't be a problem.

My eyes wander the field, they land on a group of girls wearing similar athletics clothes to us.

They look like they are about to take off running on the track surrounding the football field.

"The girls will be running on the outer laps like 5, 6, and 7. We have 1, 2, 3, and 4 so get on them!" Coach Rake barks at us.

Guys scatter all along lanes 1 and 2, leaving me with an outer lane.

Lucky me.

I hear a familiar voice from behind, then a giggle.

My head darts to Lea, running with a group of girls on lane 5.

I stare at her, our eyes connecting for what feels like forever.

Suddenly, a whistle blows. A stampede of boys start running down the lanes while I get a late start.

Nonetheless, I sprint a little harder to catch up to the front of the pack, all while sending Lea a cocky smirk.

She giggles loudly, which sends me into overdrive, before I knew it, I was done with lap 1.

Just like the first lap, the mile is done rather quickly.

"5:49!" Coach Allen yells. "Remember your time!"

I slow down and walk my cool down lap before informing Coach Allen my time.

"Your doing good kid, what position are you trying out for?" He asks while writing my time down on his clipboard.

"Quarterback, sir." I reply, obediently.

"Let's hope your as good at football as you are at running."

I continue to walk around the track, waiting for the other guys to finish their cool down when I feel a pair of arms snake around my waist.

I smile warmly down at my gorgeous fiancé. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and bend down to kiss her.

Her lips are soft against mine, just like always.

She pulls away with a wrinkled face.

"Your all sweaty!" She pretends to be choking which only makes me laugh.

"I thought girls liked athletic guys."

She shrugs. "As long as they are showered and have abbs."

"Well I've got the second part down." I say confidently.

"I'd love you either way." She says sweetly.

"Tryouts aren't over yet!" Coach Rake yells in my direction.

"Coming Coach!"

I plant a kiss on the top of her head.

"I love you too, Lea."