Jacob
after school or don’t have them at all. Going home to chill for a few hours and then having to drag himself off the couch
was just torture.
Which was what he was trying to parse out in his mind as he approached Coach Fitz’s office, hoping to talk to him before the
official, scheduled cheer practice began. Tucker’s words from Monday night were still ringing in his ears, and he’d been hearing
it from the rest of the team for the past two days as well. He had to see if he could get Coach to let him play in Friday’s
game. If he didn’t at least try, his friends might actually disown him.
Of course, he wasn’t sure where this left his commitment to the cheerleading squad. The last thing he wanted to do at this
point was leave Rory and the others high and dry a week and a half before homecoming and regionals. Maybe he could work out
some kind of deal. Cheerleader by day, soccer player by night?
When he knocked on the open door to Coach Fitz’s office, the man was in his chair with his feet up on the desk watching some
Owen Wilson movie on his laptop. Was this his professional development?
“Coach? You got a minute?” Jacob asked.
Fitz brought his feet down onto the floor with a thud and shut his laptop. He looked like Chad getting caught watching YouTube
when he was supposed to be doing his homework—guilty and a little ashamed.
“Sure, Jacob. Come on in.” He set his laptop aside and placed his elbows on the desktop. “What’s on your mind?”
“I’d like to talk about me coming back to the team,” Jacob said, standing in front of Fitz’s desk. He didn’t want to sit.
It felt like he’d lose the upper hand, however much of that he had.
“I don’t follow,” Coach Fitz said.
Jacob blinked. He’d expected for Fitz to either be excited to have him back or to throw him out of the office. A blank stare
hadn’t even made the list.
“Uh, I mean, I heard Kai’s not doing so great at striker, and the guys are really worried about losing on Friday night. We
haven’t had a losing season since before my sisters came through here,” he said. “Sorry if this is egotistical, but I think
you need me.”
Coach Fitz sat back in his chair and leaned way back, peering up at Jacob. “My understanding is that you did try out for the
cheer squad, and you made it. Am I wrong about that?”
Jacob shrugged. “No.”
“Then how exactly do you propose you rejoin the soccer team? The practices are at the same time. And the cheer squad is actually
cheering at our game on Friday night. Are you going to somehow be on the field and on the sidelines at the same time?”
Crap, really? He knew the squad cheered at one soccer game a season, but he hadn’t known that was this week. Ugh, what a nightmare. He was never going to hear the end of it.
“I just figured . . .”
“What, that you would quit cheerleading?” Coach asked, his expression incredulous. “Without finding someone to replace you?
When they have the most important competition of their season in ten days’ time?”
Jacob’s head fell forward, and he suddenly found himself staring at his sneakers.
“Do you really think I want someone on my team who would just bail on another commitment?” Coach asked.
“I don’t understand what you want from me!” Jacob blurted. His palms were sweating, and he wiped them on the back of his pants.
This was so unfair. He hadn’t even wanted to come in here. He was committed to cheerleading. For now, at least. He shouldn’t be getting raked over the coals about this.
“I want you to prove to me that you’re a mature young man who can make good decisions,” Coach Fitz said slowly. “And who won’t jump
ship on his team at the slightest hiccup.”
Your captain is the one who practically begged me to come here and ask for you to take me back. Which we all knew would mean
quitting on Rory. On cheer. Yet you’re totally fine with him being on your team.
“I guess I should go,” Jacob said, his face burning. He adjusted his backpack strap on his shoulder and turned toward the door. “Enjoy your movie.”
Then he ducked out before Coach Fitz could say anything else.