chapter Two

"Coach Damian, please can I use the Restroom"

"Sure"

Nala made her way out of the class and Austin hurriedly picked up his bags running after her.

"Austin!"

"I'm sorry coach"

Austin ran after her, but her steps only increased in pace.

"Nala please wait"

He held her bag, which made her stop to look at him. Nala turned, staring at him without saying anything. Austin couldn't mutter a word either as he was busy panting with one hand on his knee and one hand up, gesturing for her to give him a minute.

"Are you going to say something or not?"

Taking her arms into his hands, he just couldn't find the word to say to her. He was terrible with women and hasn't had to apologize or even ask a lady out in his life. In summary, Austin had never experienced anything intense with the opposite gender.

Looking up to her face " I miss you Nala"

"You miss me?" Nala looked confused, " that's what you thought to say, that you missed me Austin?"

"Okay wait…, urgh, maybe I messed up"

She shrugged her arms off his hands forcefully, "You have nothing to say Austin, I'm not even sure you feel sorry." Nala readjusted her bags, attempting to walk away again.

He grabbed her and turned her to face him, he could feel his leg shaking already but managed to force out the words he should have said a long time ago.

"I'm sorry, I miss you. I miss us. I shouldn't have shouted at you the way I did." Moving a step closer to her, Nala moved a step back. He smiled " I know you might still be mad at me"

"Might, I felt insulted by what you did, you made me feel Rejected Austin, I thought we were friends"

Placing his hands on her lips, " shhh, we are friends Nala, there's no excuse for what I did but I'll make it up to you I promise"

Nala smiled but quickly put up a straight look, "How would you do that then?"

"Well…"

The school bell rang, interrupting Austin. The school hall would be crowded with students and he knew. Letting go of her hands, he walked back slowly, smiling.

"Come watch me play football"

Her mouth flew wide open, "Football, you are terrible at it" she screamed, the students were already in the all and she found it hard to have a clear view of Austin. What was he thinking she thought. She smiled, she had to go up to the library for her reading.

Suddenly she felt a hand go round her waist, drew her back, and before she could struggle.

"I did miss you Nala"

"Austin, people are watching"

"I seriously don't care anymore"

Nala broke away from his grasp, " well I do Austin" she turned and left him standing there.

What was I thinking, Austin asked himself. He made everything worse. He made his way through the crowd to go attend the next class and Hoped he Concentrates and not think about what just happened

*********************

3 pm and It was time for his detention, Austin hated the principal's office with everything he could think of, it reeked of old books, and for some reason, he hated that smell. Nala on the other hand happened to love it because she was quite the reader herself.

"Good afternoon sir"

He made his way into the office as the principal raised his eyes to look at him and gestured for him to sit down.

"I can't keep on having the same Conversation with you Austin"

Principal Jacob removed his glasses and leaned forward. "Your mother wouldn't want this for you, you know that right?"

Austin kept quiet staring straight at him in the eyes, Principal Jacob couldn't read the emotion coming from him but Austin was trying to prevent any breakdown so he tried as much as possible not to talk about his mum with anyone.

"Sir, with all due respect but I don't think I want to have this conversation with you"

" I could recommend a therapist"

"Sir please, I don't need any of those things, I came here for my detention and I'll be happy if we focused on that instead"

Principal Jacob smirked, stood up, and gathered some documents on his desk

"Go to The Coach's office, he's expecting you"

Austin left his office and walked down to coach Damian's office. Jade was surprised to see Austin walk-in

"And what are you doing here boy?" Jade asked Austin who was still standing by the door.

"Come in" Coach Damian waved to Austin to walk towards them.

"So how can I help you?"

Jade hit Austin on his arms " Hey, he's talking to you"

"Umm, Principal Jacob asked me to Join the Football team"

"What?" Jade ended up covering his mouth, trying to stop him from laughing loud

Coach Damian with a subtle smile, " Can you even play football Austin?"

"yes coach, I use to do so growing up"

"Come on man, you can't even…"

"Shut the F**k up, I wasn't talking to you" Austin howled at Jade. Jade was surprised to even see Austin reply to him that way. Coach Damian immediately stepped in holding Jade from approaching Austin

"Language, Austin, language"

"Jade, go to the field, we'll catch up and rally the boys"

Jade left the office fixing his gaze on Austin as he shut the door.

"I don't want you getting hurt or getting into trouble out there"

"I'll try not to do that"

"You'll try?"

"I won't get into trouble"

"Good"

Coach Damian walked over to the field with Austin. Other boys were there practicing different training drills. Austin checked his phone to see if Nala had left him a message because he couldn't see her anywhere. He felt bad after what happened earlier that day.

"EVERYONE!" the coach called the attention of other students on the field. He urged them to make sure Austin was made to fit in the training drills and taught the pattern of the team. Austin could feel Jade's gaze on him while Coach Damian Addressed them.

"Now everyone get into position"

Jade ran across everyone there and immediately took his position besides Austin.

"Do you even know what we are about to do"

Austin focused his eyes forward trying not to give Jade the satisfaction of teasing him

"Come on, I know you can see me Austin " Jade poked him

"Even a dummy would know it's a 100m race Jade"

"Oh well let's see what you got son"

Jade looked forward, fixing his grip and Feet on the ground.

Coach Making his instructions known to the students lined up that once they hear the whistle, they should take off.

Austin wanted to make an impression as a recruit and he sure did want to make sure Jade swallowed his big fat pride by finishing above him in this race.

As soon as the whistle was blown. Jade, ready to take off, scooped a little quantity of sand with his fists and threw it at Austin's face without anyone seeing.

"Arghh" He cried out, he lost his footing as he tried to take off.

"Are you okay?" Coach hurriedly ran towards him.

"Yes, I'm okay"

He takes the hand of Coach Damian to get on his feet. He tried to get off the sand particles left on his face.

"Ohh, mummy's boy, what happened?" Jade ran back, mocking Austin.

"What did you say?" Austin asked, moving fast towards Jade.

" I said mummy's….."

His fist hit Jade's chin before he could complete his words. Jade, retaliated immediately. He grabbed Austin's feet making sure he lost balance and pounced on him. Before he could start raining punches on him. Coach Damian lifted Jade off Austin. He hurriedly made it up to his feet, wanted to still go face to face with Jade but was stopped by Coach's hands.

"What's wrong with both of you? What exactly"

He looked at Austin immediately " and you, you are suspended"

"But sir you can't do that"

"Oh I just did, now take your things and leave."

Austin picked up his things showing no signs of remorse or trying to plead his case. He felt so angry at the world, he wanted to just end everything and everyone. He just needed peace and the only place he had in mind was his mother's grave.