Mutual Hatred - Love Game (5 page)

Chapter 4 – Team Bonding

If anyone had dropped by the school on Friday morning, they would have been subject to witnessing thirty boys and one girl sitting in a circle.

So maybe that doesn't sound
too
weird. But Shelley found it strangely awkward. After two days of hard work, the boys and Shelley had shown up for the 'bonding session' which Mr. Wise had announced the previous day. Everyone seemed a little apprehensive, even Brandon, who was abnormally jumpy today. Although Brandon had told her it was 'on' on Tuesday, he hadn't followed through, at least not yet. Shelley hadn't given him any reason to, though. For the most part she had ignored any dirty looks he and his friends sent her way. She acted as if he didn't exist, but it was extremely hard because he always had to say something about the way she did things.

But that was the least of Shelley's problems at the moment. They were supposed to go around the circle and say something they liked about each person. Shelley was squeezed between Johnny and Joshua. Johnny was finishing up going around the circle. It would be her turn next, and she could already think of things she liked about her team, except for Brandon. It didn't surprise her that she could come up with a long list of things she
didn't
like about him.

"And lastly, I like that Shelley is tough with us. She's like an egg; hard on the outside but a softie inside. She treats us the way she does because she cares," said Johnny.

The team laughed at Johnny's comparison.
An egg? Smooth move, Nickol.

Shelley took a deep breath before starting. "I guess I'll start with Josh. Um, I like that you always bring a good attitude to practice, and no matter how far I push you, you always have a smile on your face."

Alex Taylor was next. Shelley wasn't too excited about complimenting him, or any of Brandon's friends for that matter. But she hastily told him, "You throw really well."

And she went around complimenting Brandon's friends and her own. Brandon was supposed to be the next person she complimented, but instead she skipped him and simply told Kyle, "You're a good friend."

"Hey! What about me?" protested Brandon.

"Carl, I value your loyalty," Shelley said, completely ignoring Brandon.

"Shelley," Mr. Wise warned, "Say something you like about Brandon."

"You're the biggest jerk I know?" she offered.

Brandon scowled. "Well you're not exactly Mother Teresa."

"Say something nice," Mr. Wise said sternly.

Shelley sighed. "
Fine
. You umm.."

Everyone looked at her expectantly.

She threw her hands up and said, "I honestly can't think of anything I like about him."

"I can't think of anything good about her either," snarled Brandon.

"Then you two can go sit outside the circle until you
do
find something you like about each other. Tell each other how you
really
feel about each other. I can guarantee you'll find something you like about each other after that," Mr. Wise said, his eyes twinkling.

"Yeah right," Brandon muttered under his breath as he ushered Shelley to a part of the field nearby the circle.

They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Brandon stared at Shelley and Shelley gazed elsewhere.

"So," he said.

"What."

"I don't like you," he said dully.

Shelley didn't bat an eyelash. "Newsflash! I don't like you either."

"Do you want to know why I don't like you?"

"Not particularly," she said dryly, "But I suppose that's not going to stop you."

"I don't like you because you're a girl," he said as if he hadn't heard her.

Shelley snorted. "You don't like me because I'm a girl? And yet you date girls as often as you change your clothes."

"I don't like that you're playing football with us," he said stubbornly.

"But I'm
not
playing football with you guys. I'm coaching you," she countered.

"Either way, girls shouldn't play football. It's a guy sport, aren't you afraid you'll break a nail?

Shelley smacked him in the back of his head. "There is no such thing as a GUY sport, dumbass."

"Ow! You prissy girls already invaded soccer and volleyball and golf. Did you know golf stood for 'Gentlemen only, ladies forbidden'?" said Brandon as he rubbed his head.

"What can I say? Maybe you males just aren't playing the sport correctly."

"We know how to play; we invented it!"

"You know what your problem is? You're accustomed to using women and treating them like dirt. But when a girl is your equal, you go crazy because you don't make her swoon like the others. You can't win against her and you know it."

Brandon scoffed. "And by 'her' you're talking about yourself."

"You're catching on fast, Miller! You're smarter than I thought you were."

"You don't know me half as well as you think you do," he said defiantly.

"I've seen and heard enough to draw my own conclusions," Shelley retorted.

He narrowed his eyes. "Like what? That I'm a player? I'm a heartbreaker? That stuff isn't true."

"Well if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck-"

"-it might not be a duck," he finished firmly.

"Brandon, you've dated most of my friends. And you know what they say? They say everything's just fine at the beginning but then they notice you losing interest. And for some reason, all of them have tried
so
hard to keep you interested.
Why?
Because you tell them you
love
them. But you dump them seventy-two hours later! And you're telling me you
aren't
a heartbreaker?"

"Point taken," he admitted, "Is that why you don't like me?"

Shelley was taken back by his ability to accept what she had just said. He had taken it quite well, much better than she had expected.

"One of the many reasons why I dislike you," she said.

"Why don't you like me?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes."

"You don't think girls should play football. Do you know how ridiculous you sound when you say that?"

"It's the god-honest truth," he said defensively.

"But it's not!" she cried angrily, "I don't know what got that idea into your head. This sounds so cliché, but anything boys can do, girls can do better.
Much
better."

"And that's why you don't like me?"

"You treat me like crap. I'm your coach, okay? I punish you because you deserve it, not because I'm out to get you," she said softly.

"You're a good person, Shelley."

…
What?!?

"Huh?" she asked dumbly.

He shrugged. "You're fair. You don't let anyone slide. You're beautiful on the inside and out."

Shelley looked at him unbelievingly. Did Brandon actually say something nice?

"So that was my nice thing about you. How about telling me something you like about me?" said Brandon.

"Is that why you complimented me? So I would feel compelled to say something nice back? Sorry, I don't swing that way buddy."

"No. I meant it."

But something flickered in his eyes that made her suspicious.

"Well then. You're a phenomenal football player. You have a lot of potential."

"And you mean that?" he asked skeptically.

"Just as much as you meant what you said."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

He got up and promptly held his hands out to help her up. She pushed his hands away and stood up on her own.

"What, you don't trust me?" he asked.

"Not for a second."

"How about we call a truce?"

"Sure," she said easily.

A little
too
easily

There was something about the way she said 'Sure' that made him cross his fingers behind his back as they shook on it.

"So are we friends?" he asked hopefully.

"Of course not."

"But we just called a truce!" Brandon protested.

Shelley rolled her eyes. "It doesn't change anything. It just means peace between us until you get bored and decide to raise hell again."

"You scared?"

"Of course not," she scoffed, "I'm holding all the cards. If you play the way I think you will, I'll have you where I want you in no time."

"So there is no truce?"

Shelley shook her head. "There is. It depends on what happens after this."

She turned her back on him and rejoined the circle. Brandon followed her and pushed Johnny aside so he could sit next to Shelley.

"What are you doing?" she hissed.

"Sitting in the circle," he replied, "Now hush! Mr. Wise is talking!"

"Now it's time to give you my lecture," said Mr. Wise. "Today is about team unity. I know you're thinking, 'Some bonding session; all we did was compliment each other', but I hope you leave here today with a sense of renewal. I noticed a division in the team this week; I am assuming that Brandon and Shelley have called a truce for the good of the team?" When Shelley nodded he continued, "I expect the rest of you to get along, whether or not your favorite people get along. We're a team. Start acting like one! We can't win unless you work together. I didn't want to tell you guys this until the beginning of the season, but I think its best I tell you now. This is my last season coaching."

Mr. Wise paused, letting the information sink in. None of the boys seemed too shocked; it was as if they had been expecting it.

"That's partly the reason why Shelley is here. I want this year to be fun and rewarding for everyone. That means WINNING. We can't win unless everyone is on the same page, and right now some people are on entirely different pages. In order to succeed we all need to be working for a common objective. You're not going to get anywhere if you don't have a game plan, goals! Have a damn purpose this year! Most of you are seniors. Do you really want to be on a losing streak your last season?
Listen to Shelley!
She knows what she's doing, even if you don't think so. Take her seriously. Be the team that's too close to break apart; forge bonds. You've already been bonded by being on the team. You're brothers. We can't have a division in the family; that distracts us from what we're actually aiming for. Strive to win! Work hard, play hard! I'll know you're bonded when each and every one of you shows that desire to reach one common goal: to win. We don't need to go to state, although that'd be nice; just having a good record this year is enough! But team unity is crucial! If you've got problems with each other, leave it at home. Work things out on your own time, not mine. But for God's sake, START ACTING LIKE A TEAM!"

Mr. Wise nodded, signaling Kyle that he was done. Kyle stood up and said,

"And so I propose that we all go out
as a team
to IHOP for breakfast, since it's still barely 10 and I'm starving."

- - - - -

At IHOP Shelley found herself sitting next to Brandon,
again
. Did he have a death wish? She ordered strawberry crepes with extra whipped cream and was surprised when Brandon asked for the same. After their waitress walked away, Brandon quickly excused himself and with her peripheral vision, she saw him corner the waitress, as if trying to persuade her to do something for him.
Definitely not hitting on her. She's too old. He's up to something!
But what?

When the food came and the waitress handed out their food and the boys dug in. It was like watching pigs eat at the trough.
Disgusting
. No manners at all.

Shelley sniffed her crepes, suddenly wary. Brandon was still gone from the table, so she switched her plate with his. Shelley waited until he came back before eating.

"Well, aren't you going to eat?" he asked her.

"Yes."

They simultaneously picked up their forks and Shelley could tell Brandon was watching her out of the corner of his eye. She was watching him too. Brandon shoved a portion of his whip cream-covered crepe into his mouth. And immediately he spit it out.

"Argh! That was fucking sick!" he bellowed.

"What's wrong?" Shelley asked sweetly.

He narrowed his eyes. "Its shaving cream, not whipped cream!" he exclaimed in fury.

"Ah, good thing I switched my plate with yours then."