AIDEN
"Cross, I need you to be a little light on your feet!" Coach scolded me after another unsuccessful attempt to score a winning point during practice.
"You are always nimble. What happened to you kid? What's going on today?"
"Did something serious happen?" He went further to ask when I didn't say anything.
He had singled me out after countless warnings and instructions that I had failed to adhere to due to the fact that I was utterly exhausted and distracted as well.
I shut my eyes briefly to reel in the headache that was slowly rising to the surface, throbbing me. "Nothing Coach. I'm just a little tired that's all."
"We can't afford any tiredness this season, Cross." He admonished, placing his score board under his pits as he adjusted his face cap.
"That's a luxury we don't have right now. Every moment from now henceforth should be centered at winning the championship game and nothing else."
"You do want to be scouted to play for the big leagues on merits, don't you?"
"That's an option I'm considering."
"Then fix whatever is going on with you and put your head in the game." He remarked, his brows creased together, looking as serious than I had ever seen him.
I hung my head in my embarrassment and failed performance. "I know Coach. I'll do better next time, I promise."
He patted my shoulders with a nod before turning to face the other players. "Practice is over for today lads. Let's meet again in two days. If you have any complaints, talk it over with your team captain."
"Oh and don't forget to clean up before you leave."
And with that, he blew the final whistle signalling the close of practice before walking out of the court, leaving just us the players alone.
"Do we have any meetings slated for today cause I need a fucking break man." Ethan asked, wiping his face with his towel as he approached me.
"No." I answered, running my fingers through my damp mass of hair. "You're free to go back to your dorms. I'll let you know if anything comes up later."
"Sweet!" He whistled and marched out of the court with his things, followed by his clique of friends.
"Trouble with Coach Bolton?" I heard Clyden's worried voice from behind and shut my eyes briefly to let go of what had just happened.
Mistakes on purpose, I can handle but the one that was caused by another person is sadly the one that wrecks me totally.
"Are you ready to talk about why you've been messing up all day and throwing the ball like an amateur?" Clyden asked again from behind and I turned to face him, his brows were arched as his face searched mine curiously.
My eyes trailed over to the other side of the court where Kai stood, searching his things. I saw him uncap a bottle of water as he threw his towel around his neck.
The nerves of that bastard. I can't believe that he was still here after everything he had caused to put me in this situation.
Our eyes met briefly and I could see the calculated hesitation in them before he rolled them, looking away in a sarcastic manner.
Before I knew it, he picked up his bag and walked out of the court like he was trying to avoid me, just like he had been doing all morning.
I scoffed a short laugh. So that's how he wants to play it? His behavior wasn't supposed to be funny but somehow, it was.
That worthless piece of shit. Not only did he ruin my sleep, he made me a sour player in front of everyone. He's going to get it from me and that's a promise I intend to keep.
"Oh, now I see what it is." Clyden mused and my eyes came back to meet his amused ones.
Miller joined us at that moment. From the looks of things, he had stepped out to get something after the practice game ended minutes ago.
"What?" I asked in a deflected voice. A part of me still hung up on what Hayes had done to me yesterday.
"I'm figuring that what happened today has something to do with your new roommate doesn't it?"
I rolled my eyes at him as I walked up to the corner where my bags were kept to pick it up with Clyden and Miller trailing closely behind me.
"I didn't sleep properly." I breathed out. "In fact, to phrase it properly, that son of a bitch was the reason why I didn't sleep at all last night. That's what happened."
"Hayes?" Miller asked, stunned. "What could someone like him possibly do to disrupt your sleep?"
"The question is, what could someone like him not do?"
I told them about my bed situation and how he made sure I couldn't sleep on it so I had no other choice but to sleep on the cold, hard floor and it was super uncomfortable coupled with the fact that I ache all over.
"Not to be that friend but you started it." Clyden said, taking a seat on an empty space on the bench.
"I mean, if you had just shared the room amicably like two sensible adults then none of this would be happening right now."
"Are you defending him?"
"No." He retracted almost immediately. "What I'm saying is that maybe, it's time for you to let go of this constant fighting otherwise, it's going to be difficult for you."
"I'm not letting him have the last laugh or thinking he's got an edge over me." I deadpanned. "He's moving out. I will make him move out. End of discussion."
"Suit yourself." Clyden uncapped a bottle of water and drown the contents in one gulp.
"I'm eager to see how this would play out though cause I can't believe that your roommate is as hard-headed as you are."
"So, are we stopping by at the bar tonight?" Miller chimed in, changing the topic of conversation. "It's Friday night and I heard that there will be hot Omegas out for a good time."
"I'm in." Clyden conceded. "Maybe this will be good for Aiden to get his mind off his roommate situation. So are you in?" He asked, staring at me for a reply.
"Whatever!" I muttered and grabbed my bag. Today is far from over though. That pesky son of a bitch is going to get it from me quite soon enough.