Tenacious Sky
Chapter 24

Finally.

Finally I would get what I came here for. I changed in the bathroom before going to the gym. Coach Race came over when he saw me.

"How's your foot?" He asked. I wiggled it before smiling.

"All better," I answered.

"Great. I want you to stay after practice for some one on one coaching with Sawyer and me. We got some catching up to do if you're going to compete the first competition in a month," he said. I was shocked to say the least.

"You want me to compete?" I asked. Coach Race chuckled before he nodded.

"Yes. You're talented, there's no denying that. Your basics are solid and you thinking is quick and coherent. I just need to help brush off the dust," he explained. I agreed enthusiastically before I joined the rest of the team as they did their laps. After our stretching and conditioning, we put our gear on and hit the practice mats. We all sparred with each other in short two minute matches before swapping partners. It felt like seconds had passed when in reality, it had been a few hours. After everyone was dismissed, I stayed behind and changed into the gear set with the touch sensors as Sawyer did the same.

"Good to see you're okay now," he said as he pat my shoulder. Coach Race went to check on something quickly, leaving just us in the empty gym for the time being.

"Oh right. I told Coach about what Ryker did. He talked to the soccer coach," Sawyer explained.

"I wasn't going to say anything," I said quickly. Sawyer smirked.

"Leo told me to. He said he didn't think you would do it on your own," Sawyer said. When Coach Race cane back, we took the mat and began sparring. Coach would occasionally stop to point out small things, but for the most part, he let the match run. After our training matches were over, I pulled my helmet off with a breath.

"Good work today," Coach Race said before he left the gym. I unstrapped Sawyer's best before I turned around to get my own vest unstrapped. There was hesitation before I was finally freed from my vest. "Thanks," I said before I turned to see Leo. Sawyer was standing next to him.

"When did you get here?" I asked with a small smile.

"Halfway through your private practice. You were good," He said proudly.

"You take this 'kid' thing seriously, don't you?" Sawyer joked before turning to me. "Good job today," he said before leaving for the locker room. I pulled the vest off with a sigh.

"How was practice?" I asked as I hung up the practice gear to clean it.

"Fine. We didn't do any starts today, so no problems," Leo answered. After I finished, Leo walked back to the locker room with me. Looking around, no one was left.

"It should be safe for me to take a shower now. I feel extra gross after the extra practice," I said, looking at my sweaty gym clothes. Leo smirked before sticking his hands in his pockets. "I'll keep watch. Go ahead," he offered. I thanked him before taking my clean clothes into the shower room.