#aaron minyard was in the damn driver seat

[heartstringgs]

why aren't more people talking about how Andrew let Aaron drive the Maserati to drop him and Neil off at the stadium. LIKE ??? HELLO ?????

[ashrelfury]

Andreil First Meeting, Andrew’s POV

“Take your pill and shut up. I’m sick of listening to you whine about being here. You chose to come.”

Wymack’s lips moved but I toned him out. My attention was too spread out to pay any of it to the coach. Behind me, Kevin brooded in his own silence, giving me just enough of his mind to slip me two pills from his pocket.

I threw them in my mouth and swallowed.

“The games already started.” Kevin mumbled low, his eyes on the road as he sat in the middle seat in the back of Wymack’s rented car. I sat up front staring out the window.

“What the fuck does it matter.” I said, annoyed already with this entire experience. I hated flying, yet Wymack had insisted on meeting some kid in no-where Millport just because Kevin wan enamored with his play. The entire fucking thing was stupid but I didn’t even contemplate staying behind. Where Kevin Day went, I went. He had a promise to keep.

“It matters because we might not get there with enough time to actually see him play.” Kevin answered me, despite the fact I didn’t really want an answer.

Wymack drove with one hand, the other one hanging out the driver’s side window, the tribal flame tattoos on full display thanks to his off-white tank. He was on edge and I knew why.

Neil Josten.

Kevin’s pick for the sub striker.

The irritation was at a pretty low simmer for the moment, but I knew that with the way it was slowly rising, I’d be causing some type of damage tonight. My aim was for the damn kid we were here to pick up.

I toned out anything else either man in the car had to say as my pills started to take effect. My mind buzzed and my fingers tingled and there was this manic little laugh stuck in my gut that I was very familiar with keeping down. I hate this shit.

We got to the game just as the second half started, and low and behold our fucked-up wonder-boy was still on the field, stance menacing and edged with desperation. This is what Kevin saw in him. The love of the game, the desperation to treat every play like it was the last, the drive to push everything he was into a stupid sport like some kind of suicidal lab rat. No wait, Janie was the suicidal one. Too bad she didn’t cut deep enough.

“You guys hang back. He sees you two he’ll likely shit his pants. Let me go in first and I’ll talk to him.” Wymack was saying as we all got out of the car. I didn’t bother listening. If Kevin went, I’d go too and he knew that, so he directed all his requests to the tall mother-fucker.

“Sure. Just make sure you get him. I want him on the team if this is the year I’m going to start playing again.” Kevin said, clenching his dominant hand in a fist and then releasing. I don’t know if the injury still hurt him and I didn’t care enough to ask. Any pain he felt he was doing it to himself and I couldn’t help him with that one.

“Yeah, Coach. Make sure you catch him, or I will.” I smiled wide, my face a little numb from the effects of the pills. I was going to be riding high tonight. I fucking hate this.

“Whatever, just don’t do anything stupid.” Wymack sent me a glare before marching straight into the back of the school, towards the Exy field.

“This is pathetic. Playing on a mangled little field in a no-where little town.” Kevin complained as he followed after Wymack and I behind him.

I didn’t care either way what happened tonight. Kevin wanted the guy, so I knew we would get him, but I was caution of the thought. From the very first video I saw him play, I knew there was something wrong with the kid. No one plays this sport like that with only two years under their belt. I’ve been around Kevin enough to recognize mania when I saw it, that kid was addicted to the sport. That in itself was almost enough to make me hate him outright.

If he turned out to be trouble for Kevin, or Nick, or Aaron, I’d have to step in and it’s honestly been a while since I had that kind of pleasure.

I hung back as Kevin and Wymack watched the kid play.

Once the game was over, I grabbed myself one of the rackets near the bleachers before me and Kevin made his way to the lounge to wait for Wymack to talk to the new brat.

I swung the racket in my hand, taking in it’s length in stride.

I hoped the kid ran. If the kid ran I’d get the chance to have a little fun, maybe use the racket like a baseball bat. I’ve always wanted to do that, I just never got the chance.

Today was my lucky day though. Only a few minutes into Wymack entering the locker rooms, the very kid we were here for came running out like the hounds of hell were on his tail. I couldn’t help but smirk as I saw my chance.

He was coming in too fast to stop himself, and I didn’t pull the swing as it connected with a satisfying sound to his stomach. He doubled over and fell to his hands and knees, not even wheezing because he couldn’t get any air to do it. I wanted to laugh, but Wymack’s voice stopped me.

“God damn it, Minyard, this is why we can’t have nice things.” He was furious. I only smiled.

“Oh, Coach, if he was nice, he wouldn’t be of any used to us, now would he?”

“He’s no good to us if you break him.”

I frowned, suddenly irritated again. “You’d rather I let him go? Put a band-aid on him and he’ll be good as new.” I looked down at the messy brown head of hair just as the boy finally managed to get some air and began to hack like a cat with a hairball stuck in it’s throat. Huh, that was a faster recovery time than I was expecting. He must be used to it.

I smiled as the kid finally looked up at my face. Brining two fingers up to my temple in an ironic little salute. “Better luck next time.” I told him.

“Fuck you.” The kid growled out. “Whose racket did you steal?”

“Borrow.” I said tossing the racket carelessly at him. “Here you go.” It wasn’t his, but whatever.

“Neil,” Another tall man came out of the locker room behind Wymack and I tensed, my eyes instantly landing on the man as he grabbed the kid’s arm and pulled him to his feet. “Jesus, are you alright?”

He’s fine, he’s on his feet, he’ll live. It’s more than I can say for most of the people I hit. I don’t say anything though as Wymack comes forward to stand between me and the new kid. “Andrew’s a bit raw on manners.” He says, and I roll my eyes reading the warning in the words. I put my hands up in an exaggerated shrug and move back, giving the kid some more room. “He break anything?”

I had to admit, if only to myself, that I was a bit amused by the situation. Despite the low rumble of anger in my chest, I could do nothing but smile. Manic and unwarranted as it was, it just wouldn’t drop off my face.