Flipped Into Place

Practice

Bryce's POV:

The big day is in a week. Game day. Every year, on the last 2 weeks of school and before our Christmas and Year-End party, Mayfield hosts a tournament with other schools. I participated in baseball as Captain of the Mayfield Lions. Not to brag, but I was one of the best. Coach assigned me to be captain rather than Garrett. That was a long time ago when this school year had just begun, meaning that we were still best buddies and he didn't get mad or envied me at the time. He was still voted Vice Captain though and for him, that was fine.

But for now, it looks like he wanted to show coach who was better and now considered me a competition even if we were on the same team.

We practiced a lot for the past 3 weeks after school and on the weekends. It was real tiring but Juli came along to every single practice, on the bleachers, cheering me on. Gave me the strength to do better and impress her. I'm glad that I got to blow her away once in a while. There were some girls who were also watching and have always been cheering on the team I was in.

During practices, the Mayfield Lions were split into two groups. The first group was to be lead by the Captain and the second group to be lead by the Vice Captain. Garrett was pleased that we were competing but that didn't last. My team won.

Every. Single. Time.

They were always close though. Their score could be only a few points lower. The practice was going smoothly good.

I never rubbed it in his face though. But he looked rather mad at his teammates whenever we scored a point. He would shout at their mistakes and wrong moves.

Today, he yelled at Daven, his teammate who lost his balance in catching the ball and stumbled across the field. Garrett wouldn't have told him off if coach was on the watch but he had a meeting with the Principal to discuss something about Game Day along with few other teachers though it was Saturday. I went over to Daven to help him out but I saw Garrett already approaching him. I thought he'd help but instead, he said, "Introduce your left foot to your right, would ya? Maybe they'd like to get to know each other."

He walked out, leaving Daven still lying on the ground.

I held out a hand and pulled him up. "You alright, man?"

He just nodded.

"You're wasting time, guys!" Garrett shouted as he walked, with his back still facing us.

"Time out, team! Refresh and get back here," I told the team. They made their way to their bags on the bleachers and drank water.

"Hey Einbinder, could you come over here?" I yelled for him to hear.

"And there we have it. Perfect little Captain Loski," he had both his hands high in the air as if to say 'what gives?'

"Did I upset you, your highness?" he faced me and bowed.

"Yeah, you're being a real sore loser and not leading a very good role to your teammates. Why the attitude buddy?"

"Oh now you're being the good guy. Nice! Brainwashing people into thinking you're the perfect one. Always have been, haven't you?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" I was pissed. I'm not gonna play this game with him.

I suddenly felt Juli's hand on my arm as if to tell me to stop. I didn't look at her though, my eyes were fixed on Garrett.

"Aww, forgot to attend to your little girlfriend Loski? Pftt, didn't know you'd stoop so low just for that," he chuckled.

I clenched my jaws as my fists rolled into a ball.