9 FEBRUARY, TUESDAY, CONTÍNUED
Coach Roberts returned to us, "So how are they?"
"Shortstuff here is focused. He's got talent, but he is over-practiced and unnatural. His true aim is out of whack." Coach Emerson declared.
Ralph scowled at that. He had hit the bullseye every single time, but now he was glaring at the arrow in the corner.
"And if you're thinking that practicing more or hitting the corner of the board would solve the problem, you've totally missed the point." Coach Emerson told him.
Then he turned his attention to me, "Blue here, has talent and natural flair - but zero motivation and the attention span of a fly." Coach said of me.
Right. Thanks.
"Tell us, Samantha, why did you join the archery club?" Coach Roberts asked.
"I dunno." I admitted. Because it fitted in my schedule? Because it didn't look hard? Because my family voted on it? Because Savy said it was cool? Because Mrs Martinez from the Cooking Club hated me?
I looked down.
I probably didn't deserve to be here.
"Alright, let me put it this way, what was your aim when you signed up?" Coach Emerson asked.
"Something easy that would only be once a week, and on a weekday." I answered. Too honest? Or at least I probably could have phrased that better. But at the moment that was what came out of my mouth.
"And has it been easy?" Coach Emerson asked with a smirk.
I nodded, relieved that neither coach threw a hissy fit, "And fun too. I like the sound of the arrow flying."
"That's it?" Coach Emerson asked.
I nodded.
"You've really never used a bow and arrow before coming to this club?" Coach Roberts asked.
I shook my head, "I can fight though. But Karate Club was on a Saturday."
"Like martial arts?" Coach Emerson asked.
I nodded.
"Alright." Coach Emerson lifted his fist, "Show me."
Coach Roberts stepped back. The other trainees came to watch.
I just stood there. What the hell was happening?
"Just show me your moves." Coach Emerson said, "Don't worry, Blue. I won't hit back."
Some of the kids began to snicker, "She says she wants the join the karate club."
I did not!
"Okay." I lifted my fist and got into position, "But I won't use any force, you just want to see the moves right?"
"Yes, right. Please don't hurt me." Coach Emerson said. He obviously didn't think I could. Hahaha.
But I resisted the temptation.
And then I threw the first punch, and kick. Coach Emerson stumbled, even though I didn't really kick him.
"Your feet - you need to keep them further apart." I told him when he re-positioned.
"Again." He said. He stood more properly now and I realised he really wasn't taking me seriously before.
I went again, the exact same two moves, the third he blocked, the fourth the ducked. The fifth he didn't block in time. Luckily I pulled back.
I began to appreciate my trainers, like Flynn and Hank etc. Coach Emerson was too slow at the receiving.
"Maybe you should stick to shooting arrows, from far." I told Coach Emerson, "I don't think you'd survive hand to hand combat."
"I'm just a little rusty."Coach Emerson laughed loudly at that, "Alright, enough fooling around. I'm sure the rest of you have cooled down by now. Warm up again, everyone go!"
Every complained loudly. The Captain sighed and then shouted, "You heard the coach, let's go."
And while we were leaving to run, I heard Coach Emerson say to Coach Roberts, "The girl, Blue, her wolf is a natural fighter. I want to poach her over to the Lorent Girls Team. We can't give her the motivation to win here, but over there..."
We were running, just running around the hall. When I passed them again, Coach Roberts was saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't force it to drink."
Coach Emerson said, "But natural talent like that...such a waste."
I kept running, careful to keep pace with everyone and not run to the front and take over the lead from Captain.
Priya probably still hated me, and for some reason, I felt that everyone probably hated me now too. They were definitely looking at me differently. Maybe they blamed me for the extra run. Humans hated running. Or maybe it was because I wasted their Coach's time and thus everyone's time.
Third and final round around the hall, Coach Emerson was saying, "Shortstuff reminds me too much of my younger self. Geesh, I was such a hatable guy..."
And then we were done.
"Alright, hurry up! Let's go!" Coach Emerson led the senior team down to the outdoor range.
Coach Roberts got us to resume practice in the same groups as before, so I was stuck with Shortstuff.
"This time, use six arrows at a go." Coach Roberts gave Ralph and me special instructions, "Take your time. Concentrate on your breathing. Don't aim for anything. Focus on your form, and shoot."
This was the exercise that made me realise that the target board was just the right height and angle that as long as you were standing just so, with your posture just so, and pulled back just so, with your arrow just so, when you loosed the arrow it would fly with that exactly perfect sound in the air, and you would naturally hit the bullseye - every.single.time.
The entire beginner set up was made for you to hit the bullseye. Talk about being set up for the win.
Maybe the coaches were right, actually, their assessment was like their archery - deadly accurate.
Ralph was still hitting more bullseyes than I was. His score was near perfect. But he was tense, and determined to the fibres of his being to prove himself better than I was.
I was...distracted. The smells in the hall, rubber, sweat, and other musky scents. Why did the target board have only three rings? Why did they sometimes call the yellow center ring "gold"? Was it like how the Yellow Packlands called themselves the Gold Packlands?
How could I spell the sound of the arrow in the air? It's got a swish, and also a voop, and a bit of a zip...
But I liked it. It was hugely satisfying, like throwing a paper aeroplane really really far.
"You're not focusing on the right thing." Coach Roberts berated Ralph, "As a beginner, you need to focus on your form, not the target. If you get the form right, you'd get the target right eventually."
And then she turned to me, "Samantha, what should I do with you? You're not even focused on anything at all. Talent will only get you so far. The competitions don't just test your talent, it challenges your concentration, your focus, and your ability to cope under pressure. It takes endurance and perseverance to win and keep winning."
Why was I being scolded for that? I didn't ask for this supposed talent, that is if it was really talent. Part of me still felt it was probably just luck that the arrow landed in the middle of the board. Or my height - that was just right to land dead centre.
"You're both very young and talented. You've got many competitive years ahead if you want this." Coach Roberts said, "So I want you to focus on the long term. Even if you're not planning on going pro, you have four years of highschool competitions ahead, and very likely varsity games too. That's seven years, at least. I don't want you on the competitive team till next year because you need to win, not just for the first year, but for many years after. With each year you progress, your competition gets stiffer. Right now, focus on your form, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and just enjoy yourselves. The rest of it will come in time."
I made a quick bow, "Thank you for your guidance."
Ralph smirked, "I want to be on the competitive team by autumn. Just watch me. I will shoot my way to the top."
He looked at me, as if challenging me. But that made no sense to me. He's a boy... He'll be shooting against the other guys.
Plus I won't even be in this school by Spring, reminding me of the rock in my stomach.
After that, Coach Roberts spoke more to all the trainees. She concluded the session pointing out their general issues. They needed to focus on our posture too, but theirs included bowholds and minor safety issues she had picked up. She made me demonstrate the bow hold.
"Some of you watch the games on TV and think it's cool to flip your bows. It's not. This is a different type of bow." Coach Roberts said, "Please get the general basics right before finding your style."
After that, she dismissed us. The moment she did, we had to take down the range and store it away. I worked quickly, on my own by tackling the tasks that the other kids didn't like to do first. I didn't really want to be asked any more things. I didn't really want to answer anything that would make me further hated.
Maybe I should try talking to Priya again, but I was afraid to. I'm not sure why, but I suddenly thought of Madison and Elena... Maybe if I pretended I didn't notice, it would go away... Or at least be a bit like with Evelyn. I knew she hated me, but she didn't know that I knew. So we could still walk past each other without it being awkward for anyone else.
What was I aiming for? The question troubled me. I'm the alpha. I will protect the happiness of those around me.
But unlike archery, a goal like that wasn't as simple as releasing a single arrow at the target.
Maybe I should quit being the alpha and be a pro archer instead. Hahahaha. As if I had a choice.
I was the alpha. This was my destiny. I suppose I wasn't so much the archer than the arrow, my life shot out, I might as well enjoy the journey.
I wondered if arrows ever had to worry about their form or posture. As far as I could tell, they just flew where they were shot.
The life of an arrow...
"Blue! Come over here for a moment." Coach Emerson called when he came back with the seniors.
I went over reluctantly. Captian and Priya were in earshot, and they didn't move away.
"Have you heard of the Lorent Girls Academy's Archery Team?" Coach Emerson asked me.
"I know the school. It's in my Packlands. I didn't know they had a team." I said.
"You're a Lorent wolf?" Coach Emerson asked. He sounded so shocked, I wondered briefly if I should be offended.
"Kind of." I said, "My name ends with Lorent."
"Never thought I'd meet another Lorent out here." Coach Emerson mumbled, "What's your father's name?"
"Kingsley." I answered.
Coach shook his head, "Guess I'm out of touch. Haven't been back for a while. It would explain your alpha like wolf though."
And then there was a silence while Coach tried to work it out in his head while I struggled to figure out how to explain that I wasn't exactly a Lorent wolf (even though I was).
Coach finally asked, "So why are you out here in this goddess-forsaken school all alone?"
"My dad wanted to expose me to the outside world." I answered.
"How completely unorthodox." Coach said, "You should introduce me to him."
Then he gave me a white name card, "This is my number. Give it to your Dad, and tell him to call me."
I looked at the name card. His name was "Delta Lawrence Emerson."
"How many Delta Emersons are there in the Lorent Pack?" I blurted out.
Coach Emerson paused, and then he laughed, "Just two, Blue. My younger brother is Delta Jack Emerson."
Oh.
"Tell your Dad he has to call me. That's an order from the Delta. You're very talented and should pursue archery. The Archey Club at the Lorent Girls' School is second to none. It would have the resources to help you develop your gift. I'm old friends with their Headmistress, Lady Amber, as well as the head coach for the Archery Club. Your place at the school would be guaranteed if your parents agree to it." Coach Emerson promised.
"COACH!" Priya stormed over. Captain couldn't stop her, so he came over too.
"YOU CAN'T POACH SAM!"
"Oh, its you Loudmouth." Coach Emerson sighed, "Look, I'm not poaching. I'm transferring her to a club that can help her fulfill her potential."
"Like Candace?" Priya asked.
"Yes, and I remembered inviting you too, but you wanted to remain here with your brother." Coach Emerson said, "It's too late now even if you change your mind. A first or second year, I could do, but you're already a third year. Your shelf life as a highschooler is half over."
Priya took offence to that, "I HAVEN'T CHANGED MY MIND AND I NEVER WILL. STOP TRYING TO PRESSURE SAM INTO CHANGING SCHOOLS TOO! No wonder she said she was transferring..."
"What? She was?" Coach Emerson said.
Priya stopped talking and looked at me and then at Captain who was frowning. She covered her mouth, "Opps."
"Okay, wait. Let me explain. My family had arranged for me to transfer to the Lorent's Girls School next term. This was a family decision for a bunch of reasons, but I didn't know about the Archery Club. Before this, I've always schooled outside the Green Packlands. I'm kind of sad to go. I'm not all alone here." I looked pointedly at Coach, "I've met some good friends and seniors." I looked at Priya and Captain, so that even though they might brand me a traitor forever or hate me, they'd know I had appreciated them. I didn't mean to "switch teams".
"But my transfer has been set although I would rather keep it a secret till the end of term. I don't want to tell my friends cos I don't want the rest of my time here with everyone to be awkward and weird."
Was that selfish of me? To keep this from my friends?
"Yes, it's better to keep the goodbyes short." Coach Emerson said, "Well, good. Then I'll see you at the Lorent's archery club in Spring."
"But..." I never meant to continue archery after this term. I hadn't even considered about which club to join.
"Don't forget, you're a Lorent. I'm a Lorent Delta. I hate to pull rank, but you will show up for training next Spring. And no skipping training sessions!" Coach Emerson said.
I flared and crossed my arms. Hate to pull rank my a***.
"No? That didn't work?" Coach Emerson asked, "Okay, how about this, be a good girl, show up for training and Coach would give you candy."
"Is she a kid?" Priya asked.
"Whatever. Just show up for training." Coach Emerson said.
Coach Roberts came over, "I hope you're not threatening students again Coach."
"No, I'm just strongly encouraging her." Coach Emerson answered sanguinely.
Coach Roberts sighed, "It won't work. If she doesn't want it for herself, you can't make her shoot for it. Competitive shooting takes daily practice for years to hone. Our Captian and Vice Captain, here would attest to it. Talent isn't enough. You need passion."
"You like it, right Blue? I mean, you came to training today right?" Coach Emerson said with forced encouragement.
I nodded, "But I just like to make the arrow fly. I have homework. I have family stuff and pack stuff... My family and pack will always come first, so I can't commit a competitive team."
Coach Emerson groaned, "Blue, I'm not asking you to leave home and become a nun. I'm just telling you to report to the archery club when you get to the Lorent Girls School next term, okay?"
Well... I nodded. Okay, I guess.
"Good!" Coach Emerson seemed pleased. He turned and left.
Coach Roberts smiled kindly at me, "Coach Emerson has a passion for discovering and nurturing medallists. Work hard and maybe one day we'll meet at the inter-highschool heats."
Oh... I looked at Priya. Then we would be in different teams.
Captain left with Coach Roberts to check the equipment storeroom.
Priya shrugged, "I'll keep your secret, Sam. But you better keep your word and work hard at training! Then you won't have any excuse when I beat you at the interhigh!"
And then she left.
So I was forgiven? For betraying Winderhill? Or for switching teams? Actually, I'm still not quite sure what I had done wrong, but okay...at least there was some kind of truce?
The hall was cleared. I grabbed my things and went straight to the foyer where I knew my blue car was waiting.