Chapter 58 Captain With A Heavy Heart
Calix Pov
Coach called me into his office right after the assembly ended. I knew what this was about before he even said anything. Sports week. Team captain. Responsibility.
"Hawthorne," Coach said when I walked in. He gestured to the chair across from his desk. "Sit down."
I sat down and waited. Coach was a big man with gray hair and scars from years of fighting. He had been teaching at Keane for decades. He didn't waste time with small talk.
"I'm naming you team captain for sports week," Coach said directly. "You're the strongest athlete we have. The best leader. The obvious choice."
"Thank you sir," I said. Even though inside I wanted to refuse. I didn't want this responsibility. I didn't want to be in charge of anything right now.
"This is a big deal Hawthorne," Coach continued. "Keane hasn't beaten Silverthorn in five years. We need a win. We need someone who can push the team hard enough to make it happen."
"I understand," I said.
"Good," Coach said. He leaned back in his chair and studied me for a moment. "I've been watching you lately. You've been training harder than usual. Pushing yourself past your limits. What's going on?"
"Nothing sir," I said. "Just trying to stay in shape."
"Don't lie to me," Coach said flatly. "I've been coaching for thirty years. I know when a student is running from something. Or someone."
I didn't respond to that. There was nothing I could say that wouldn't give too much away.
"Look," Coach said. His voice softened slightly. "I don't need to know your personal business. But I need to know that you can handle being captain. That you can lead this team without letting whatever is bothering you get in the way."
"I can handle it," I said firmly. "I won't let anything interfere with the team."
"That's what I wanted to hear," Coach said. He pulled out a folder from his desk and opened it. "Practices start tomorrow morning. Six AM sharp. I want you running drills. Extra laps. Harder training than usual. Whatever it takes to get everyone in peak condition."
"How hard should I push them?" I asked.
"As hard as they can handle," Coach said. "And then a little harder. We're not here to make friends. We're here to win. Silverthorn has beaten us for five years straight. I'm sick of losing to them."
"So am I sir," I said honestly. I hated losing at anything. It made my wolf restless and angry.
"Good," Coach said. He flipped through some papers in the folder. "I'm assigning team positions today. Most of them are obvious. The regulars stay in their spots. But I'm making some changes to the relay team."
I waited while he looked through his notes.
"I'm putting Maddie Vale on the track team," Coach said. He looked up at me to gauge my reaction. "She's fast. Faster than she should be for someone wolfless. I want you to keep an eye on her during practice."
My whole body went tense. Of course he was putting Maddie on the team. Of course I would have to see her every single day. Of course the universe was determined to torture me.
"Why me?" I asked. I tried to keep my voice neutral.
"Because you notice things other people miss," Coach said. "And because I've seen the way you watch her. You're already keeping an eye on her whether you admit it or not."
I felt my face heat up slightly. Was I that obvious? Did everyone know I couldn't stop watching Maddie?
"I don't know what you mean sir," I said.
"Sure you don't," Coach said with a knowing look. "Look Hawthorne I don't care what's going on between you two. That's your business. But I need you to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid during practice."
"What kind of stupid things?" I asked.
"She's got potential but she's reckless," Coach explained. "She pushes too hard. She takes risks she shouldn't take. Last week she almost injured herself trying to beat Martinez's sprint record. I need you to rein her in."
Great. So not only did I have to watch Maddie every day but I also had to control her. Keep her safe from herself. Make sure she didn't expose what she really was by pushing too hard.
"Yes sir," I said. "I'll keep an eye on her."
"Good," Coach said. He closed the folder. "One more thing. I'm expecting you to set an example for the rest of the team. Show them what dedication looks like. What discipline looks like. What a real athlete looks like."
"I understand," I said.
"I know you do," Coach said. "That's why you're captain. You have questions?"
"No sir," I said.
"Then get out of here," Coach said. "Go rest up. Tomorrow morning is going to be brutal for everyone."
I stood up and left his office feeling worse than when I went in. Team captain. Responsible for the whole team. Responsible for watching Maddie during practice. Responsible for keeping her safe while also keeping my distance.
This was going to be torture. Pure torture.
I walked across campus toward the training field even though practice didn't start until tomorrow. I needed to work off the tension building in my chest. I needed to hit something. I needed to run until my legs gave out.
The afternoon sun was still bright in the sky. Most students were in class or hanging out in the commons. The training field would be empty. That's what I needed. Solitude. Space to think. Space to hurt without anyone watching.
The field was empty when I got there. Just me and the equipment. Perfect.
I dropped my bag on the ground and started with laps. I ran the perimeter of the field as fast as I could. My legs burned. My lungs screamed. But I didn't slow down. I pushed harder. Faster. Until everything else faded away except the rhythm of my feet hitting the ground.