Coach Namir
“Alright, this meeting is going to be brief,” I said as I tossed the stack of papers on the desk. “It’s about the games and the program that Drew Collins will be hosting. Uhh…” looking down at the papers for my talking points, “it’s going to be a little different this summer.”
I looked at the coaching staff and assistants that sat in the student desk with a hard sigh.
My mind was scattered with other shit going on but here I am.
Trying to hold it together because I know I’m being watched for my reaction about the woman I’m dating being accused of not only attacking a student but kidnapping another.
Fucking Maggie. I told her to just stay low until shit gets sorted out.
I could hear the coaches begin to stir with anticipation of choosing their own athletes. Rubbing my prickly chin I sat the paper down with another heavy sigh.
“Damn right,” someone said with a pound of their fist on the desk.
“I’ve done the games and it’s nothing like it.
There is no sport, no job, nothing that can compare to what this will put your body through.
When we choose our athletes, we need them to be there mind, body, and soul because this will definitely fuck with your head,” I said as I tapped the side of mine.
Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door before it barged open as a group of…
“We need to talk about Maggie,” Asha demanded.
“You remember her, the woman you supposedly love or whatever and is now fucking missing.” I stared at her as she slowly looked around at the rest of the teachers.
Her mouth fell open just as Souxie gently grabbed her arm to pull her back.
I can see others standing in the hallway waiting to come in before Souxie gave a silent wave.
“We’ll be outside,” she said before nodding towards the teachers. The door closed shut as they began to fuss at one another.
“We got it from here, Namir,” Moore said as he stood up with his things.
He was smirking while the rest began to collect their belongings to leave.
When he came up to me, he clamped a hand down on my shoulder and stared directly into my eyes.
“You won’t be good to anyone, not her, not us, not anybody if you don’t take care of yourself first,” he said in a low voice. “When was the last time you slept?”
I scratched at my brow with another hard sigh.
“I sleep when I can,” was all I said. “Comes and goes. Usually in my office.”
“Take the rest of the night off and get yourself together. Come back ready to start fresh and focused. Nobody here, anyway, believes she did anything to that bitch ass man.” I smirked as Moore gave a firm nod and another pat on my shoulder.
“You have our full backing. I already see what this is about to turn into, and I don’t like it so be on your best toes. ”
I scratched at my head with a hard sigh.
“I told this woman that I was supposed to propose to, that I blame her for…everything. The death of my brother…my family… It’s the last thing I told her.”
“So when she comes back, you can apologize, kiss and make up like regular couples do. Say you didn’t mean it and take it back… We say things we don’t mean all the time, right?” I stared at him as his eyes widened. “A part of you believes it…”
“I know it wasn’t her fault. I know that.” I snapped. “I…She told me I wasn’t enough for her. I said I gave up everything for you and I’m not enough?”
“She hurt you, you hurt her,” Moore nodded. “Now she’s disappeared, which…in this place, this world… Nothing too unusual about it, especially if you’re her.”
“I blamed her for…” I didn’t even want to think about it anymore. It was all I could do not to replay the argument in my head. “I blamed her for being her.”
“You got your feelings hurt and you responded. Both of you said some damaging things but nothing you can’t overcome.
I’ve seen y'all move outside of this place. Y'all look good. You make sense and you look happy when you’re with her. It will all work out in the end, trust me. You’ve had all your life to be who you are in this world.
She only just found out last year. She has some learning to do still so give yourself some grace as well as her.
Now, go get some rest. You look like you woke up from hibernation too early. ”
“Wolves don’t hibernate,” I said as he nodded.
“Exactly.” Moore walked out with his things before speaking over his shoulder. “Keep your head in the game and be ready when it’s time. You understand?”
“Yes sir,” I said as he walked off. “Also, keep her friends in check before they become a liability.”
As soon as the classroom was cleared, I watched Maggie’s friends come walking in with a guy I didn’t recognize. Asha stood with her arms across her chest, attitude on her face and looked me up and down like she was disgusted at my lack of urgency.
“Let me say this,” I said in a calm tone as I glanced at the stack of papers from the meeting. When I looked up, they were all patiently waiting while the guy looked around. “Who is this?”
“Harvey Miller,” he said as he adjusted his glasses. “I’m the newest member of the group.”
Souxie rolled her eyes before quietly stepping in front of him with her body.
“Can you wait outside? This is a private matter.”
She didn’t have to ask twice since his phone began to ring at the same time when he stepped out. Souxie waited until he was away from the door when she turned to look at me.
“We need to talk.”
“Let me just say this,” I went on, ignoring her completely. “I don’t appreciate you barging in the middle of my meeting–––”
“Nobody barged in,” Asha argued. “We came in because at this point, you’re a little too calm for my liking when this girl is literally in love with you!
We’ve been waiting for you to react, to say something, to stand up for her honor.
Not a fucking word. You are playing nice in front of these people–––”
“Asha,” Isis muttered, trying to calm her down.
“No! Fuck that! Somebody has to know there are people that will react when she goes missing! We’re ready to come behind her by any means, even if you aren’t but best believe when she gets back, I’m gonna tell her the type of man you claim to be, you clearly aren’t. She deserves better. Period.”
I stared at her. Isis kept her head down, refusing to make eye contact while Souxie only stared at me. She didn’t tell them my plans. She didn’t want them to know she’d been talking to me. Asha threw her hands up.
“Well?! What do you have to say?! Where is she? Have you heard from her?”
“Look, we’re all a little frustrated right now,” Souxie said as she stepped in between like Asha, and I were bound to fight. “We came here because we wanted to know if you think she might be in danger? We are willing to stop everything and find her…”
“No, I don’t think she’s in danger,” I said, keeping my eyes on Asha. “I don’t know where she is, but I don’t think she’s in danger until she gets back here.”
“How do you know for sure?” Asha asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” Souxie whispered. “He knows her better than–––”
“So if this was my man, I can’t even imagine him just sitting here like shit is sweet–––”
“But I’m not your man,” I said, trying to calm myself down.
“Let’s get that straight right now since you seem to center shit around you when it comes to her.
I’m not nor will I ever be anything remotely close to being your man, and you’re not her.
What I do and how I choose to handle Maggie is my business. ”
“Oh you handled her alright when ol boy came at her. Now he has the entire grounds thinking she attacked him!” Asha argued. “What did you do to retaliate besides throwing a fucking ball?!”
“Asha?” Souxie whispered before turning to face her.
“You’re not going to get the reaction you want out of me Asha…I’m not going to argue or fight with you. I don’t owe you shit and I’m not going back and forth with you like we’re mates.”
“Okay so then what? We just wait for her to get back?” Asha asked. “That’s it?”
“Yes,” Souxie said with a nod. “Right, Namir?”
“All we can do.”
I began to gather my papers as I stood upright from the corner of the desk to collect the rest of my belongings.
“This is some straight up bullshit,” Asha muttered as they made their way out into the hallway.
“Asha?” I called out. She turned around, almost appearing startled at the sound of her name from my mouth.
“Don’t mistake my silence, my self control, and restraint for weakness.
I have bigger shit at play here. We all made our choice when she asked for our help, and we have to live with it.
Unless you’re my woman, don’t ever approach me and raise your voice like we’re familiar.
If Maggie were here, she wouldn’t even allow you to think you could step to me the way you just did. ”
“But she’s not here,” Asha snapped. “That’s the whole fucking point!”
“Enough!” Souxie snapped. “Namir said she’s not in danger. Clearly he knows something we don’t so let’s leave it at that. We can find other ways to help…okay? Come on.”
…
“How do you feel after some time off?”
Moore and I walked down towards the old football field as I managed a small smirk.
“I got enough sleep once I went home,” I said as I reached over the gate to pop the lock open. “Made a few calls…”
“You saw the lady I told you about?”
I gave him a small nod. Moore and a few others gave me connects to those who claimed they were able to find and seek.
I’ve spent more money than I can imagine talking to the best of the best in the spiritual realm and they all say the same thing.
Maggie is not here but she is safe. Even Seth, who rarely believed in anything outside of shifting, made some calls and saw a few people that gave readings, and they said the same thing since she’s been missing.
It didn’t make any sense but in my gut, I didn’t sense any danger, so I was just going to have to trust that she was okay and take care of home until she returns.