Kiss of A Titan
Chapter 39

Coach Robbins was left in silence like the others who had been quiet in the gym after hearing my apology. I raised my head slightly only to see a few rigid stares from the likes of Paige and Katherine. They were eyes of betrayal and contempt written in them but all they could do was just to watch us stand before them in sheer embarrassment. Coach Robbins advanced forward leaving the others behind to stare at us and stopped in front of Richard and I with his hands still folded across his chest.

"Alright, you're all dismissed but before the rest of you go outside...", He said and turned around, "Apart from Richard's mess, You guys did impressively very well in the game and I sincerely hope I'll be working with you when the main events comes, that'll be all", Apart from those who were still in their sport vests during the pep talk, The others left after Coach Robbins' closing speech and I wanted to leave but he stopped me.

"Richard, you're free to go but you should be ready for what's to come with whatever the principal decides", "I'll be prepared", Richard replied and headed out of the room taking his duffle bag along with him.

I watched him leave in his sports sweater with those who had got their personal clothing ready for departure and wondered if it'll be in the best interest for me to join him but I couldn't since I was left behind to have a chat with Coach Robbins who seemed ever more ready to listened to me but little did I know he something else in mind.

"Rosalie, I bet we got a few things we want to straighten out first before you leave", "Does it have to do with me having a phobia or.....?", "As a matter of fact, it does and I for one would have preferred you directly talk to me about it", "I know I not only sucked out there but failed everyone during the game", "Sure you did but it could happen again if not tackled in time before the main tournament", He said, looking at me suspiciously. His apparel was so menacing that I was quick to figure out what he had in mind.

"Wait a minute, are you considering in pulling me out of the team?", I question searching his eyes for reasonable answers but he was evasive since he didn't look straight at me in the eye.

"That was a thought, to be honest, I did thought about removing you from the team but that's far from what I've decided", "And what is your decision?", "That you can remained seated on the bench and cheer for your teammates during the tournament until I trust you enough to withstand the pressure of swimming for your team", Coach Robbins said scouring my face for traces of disappointment but all that was written on my face was profound discontented at myself instead of him. I felt even angrier with myself than I did at him.

"But that's too severe. I really wished I had a chance to swim out there for the event if overcoming being traumatized was the real reason I took to athletics", "And you'll fulfill that wish but that's if only you prove yourself to me and to everyone that you could contribute to the team in the games", "You expect me to practice harder, is that it?", "Exactly and let me give you a piece of advice", "I'm listening", "A word with the guidance counselor about this problem will cure your fears in no time",

"It's worth a try but the tournament is barely a week away, how do you expect me to prove myself before then?", "Honestly, that depends wholly on how fast you are able to deal with the apprehension and how fast you can groom your skill", "Sounds good, I promise I'll do my best to practice harder...", "And to spend a day or two listening to advice from the counselor on how to deal with your fears", He retorted and smiled a bit of his temper out of his visage, "Don't be too hard on yourself, everyone does have that kind of feeling when you thought what scares you the most is gone but it's still there, I get that. But what's important is how you deal with it out there in the crowd and if you can't overcome that, then you have no place in my team", "I'll try my best though it's not gonna be easy as it sounds", "That's why you have to put in a lot of efforts and your efforts will help you out", He said grinning broadly. His dark face which had somewhat been worsened by his temper earlier was utterly restored back into its former handsome features thanks to the bright smiles he wore on his face to chase away the apparel of his blunt countenance. At that moment, I felt comfortable with him though we were at the brink of ending our conversation.

"Thanks for the advice... I'll do well to straighten my routines harder", "Good to know and do keep your promises. You have thirty minutes to get changed and I'll be back to seal up the place when you're done", he said checking his wrist watch. "I'll do well to get changed quickly", "Go ahead with it then",

He replied promptly and left. It was only after he had left that I noticed that I was the only one left alone in the gym and without wasting much time, I quickly got changed into the team's sport sweater and got my bag ready to leave. Five minutes later, I was done dressing up and I found myself walking outside around the school vicinity. A lot of the fans that had come to watch the event were still roaming around the school premises having fun and quite a few of them were able to recognize me Judging from the team's jersey I wore on my way home. Nothing could help protect me from their stares, not even Coach Robbins who left a few moments ago was seen around the premises.

As I got closer to the grassy field aloof from the road where some other cars were parked, I saw from a distance, my aunt's saloon car parked in between a black Honda van and a red Jeep of miniature size.

I realized she hadn't left yet and it was clear that she was waiting for me to ride home along with her. As I strode further, I looked to the eastern side of the field nearby and saw that the school bus was filled with cheerleaders and a few of the other athletes from our team. The rest had gone home in their own vehicle and I wondered if Richard was hiding among those who were seated inside the school bus but I had no time to find out since aunt was apparently waiting for me and I had seen her waiting behind the steering wheel.

No sooner had I trekked closer to the parking lot, my aunt caught sight of me and came out of the car leaving Tom and Nora in the back seat.

She waved at me and I hastened my footsteps upon the dry green grass.

"Over here, Rosalie", She shouted to get my attention.

"Aunt! People are watching", I retorted feeling ashamed.

Though we both received stares from those inside the school bus, I kept going to meet her despite the pressure I felt from the eyes that were peering at us. The driver had unwittingly parked the school bus eastern side of the field but he had deserted the teenagers inside to attend some personal matters and hasn't returned.