Aloe Hasting has been having a difficult time adjusting to the new college year. Just over three months starting her sophomore year she hasn't been really into any of her classes, not paying attention, coming late and performing poorly on test. Even her friends are starting to become concerned, because they know this is completely out of character for Aloe. She is the girl that always knows everyone's schedule including her own, hands in work on time if not early, and passes test with a breeze. Even the only thing that can get Aloe out of her bed on an early Saturday morning is soccer practice. Being on the green turf with most of her closest friends, working together to accomplish a unified goal. Something about the way her heart beats against her rib cage trying to escape is confinement to burst out and be free. The way her blood boils through her veins feeling the pulsating in every aspect of be petit frame just wasn't going it for Aloe lately. Everything from the game to the cool afternoon sun which she use to take every chance she had to soak it up as much as possible was just now a dull shade of grey, the cheap bland of vanilla ice cream.
"Darling you're sounding dreadful. Maybe you should come home and take classes at the local university. I'm terribly worried about you." Her mother's voice was drenched with concern and motherly warmth. As much as Aloe loved her parents more then she thinks the normal child loves their parents, the last thing she needs is to go home and stuck back in that one shade of tan town.
"Ace! Where's your head? 'Cus it sure aint here." He coach barked from the sidelines during a scrimmage. She use to glow with acceptance and glory from that nickname. She was the first freshman to make the varsity in the last thirty years and at the same time scored the most goals then the entire team put together. But now the name was mocking her, sarcastic. Saying how she lost her touch how she couldn't and wont be as good as then. It wasn't only at matter of time before she was kicked off the team. Losing everything that she cared and worked so hard for.
Another month passed in Aloe's life. Her friends didn't both to call to ask her out anymore, she wasn't starting during any of her games, and barely holding on to a miserable C average by her fingernails. Days came and went with a fog and haze all the days blurring into each other until a certain soccer practice.
The team after a hard run, sweaty and panting was circled up looking at coach and a stranger standing next to him. As they discussed something in hushed whispers the girls started to whisper of their own.
"Hottie with a Body with there."
"He looks intimidating."
"How old do you think he is? Late thirties?"
"Do you think he could be or trainer? We haven't gotten one yet this season."
"Who is he?"
The questions wafted around Aloe and all of them where the exact ones she was asking. This man was the exact opposite of their coach. He was tall, easy six foot and some change, with broad shoulder like he could care the world without a struggle. Lean, cut and healthy, you could see he cared about his body, no love handles like coach. A face with sharp defined features, screaming he likes rules and regulations and expects everyone to follow them.
The moment that this man and coach stopped talking coach turned mouth open to quite us but was beaten by just the look the man gave, half on his accord and half on our own waiting for an explanation about why he was here.
"Well that never happened before." Coach muttered beneath his breath.
"Girls this is Mr. Ross. He will be your new coach until further notice."
Immediately we were in an uproar. We loved Coach Samuels. He was like out father away from home. He was more then just our soccer coach.
"Coach!" We were unified.
" How can you leave us?" one girl yelled.
"And not even tell us before you bring someone else comes?" our anger was high and coach was feeling it.
"Seriously coach what the fuck?" yelled Kelly who was always getting yelled at by coach for her mouth.
Coach opened his mouth but was beaten again by the man.
"Now girls..." two simple words got us quite and had our attention. Something in his voice strong without being loud and filled with authority. Only someone very brave or foolish would object to a voice like his.
"I know that you girls are feeling quite upset about the sudden change but please know that I am not here to change things or to erase the bond that is so strong between you girls and between you and your coach. I am simply here to help a fellow long time friend while he tends to his mother. Who is sadly very ill."
Kelly the first, like usual, with the big mouth. "Oh my god Coach! Mama Sam is sick? Why didn't you tell us we would have made cookies or something for her. We understand completely know."
Kelly spoke for the team when saying that we understand because we did. Coach's mother was part of our teams as anyone else. She was there to every game bringing us extra water bottles and snacks for after the game. She was the one we went to if we had a problem because coach was too feminine sensitive.
"Thank you girls. I'm sorry. I see my mistake in all of this. I should have told you girls early, thinking I was protecting you guys from unimportant stuff but now I see that its just as important to you as it is to me. But please be good in my absent. Mr. Ross is an exceptional coach and a very dear friend. So be good, listen to directions, and Kelly watch your mouth. I truly believe with his guidance you girl have a very good shot winning the championship. Now come here and give me a hug because I have to go."
All the girls let out a girly wail flooding towards coach, everyone wrapping an arm around the close person to her. We all watched him cross the field yelling and screeching things like "call us with updates" and "come visit". Then he was gone leaving us with a stranger.
