I tried to listen to Connie's pep talk, but even her booming voice couldn't prevent my mind from wandering. The sweltering heat was crazy, and I had a match I wanted to watch on the telly. I tuned in and out, and at one point, I heard my name mentioned.
Right, I realized, she's introducing the staff. But was is only my imagination or did the girls cheer extra loud when my name was called? I sighed involuntarily as some of the other coaches smirked and rolled their eyes at me.
I knew from my experience last year that a lot of the girls followed my every move with puppy-dog eyes, and there were many who flirted too. But I wasn't interested. Don't get me wrong, all the attention, it's flattering. But they only liked me for my tan skin and dark hair. Nobody wanted to dig any deeper. And not just them, even girls back at campus. They were only interested in my physique, not who I was as a person.
Shaking my head, I tuned in just as Connie started the roll call for team allotment.
"Aaron, Susannah, team five", she barked as a wiry ginger haired girl bounced up to collect her team tees. Middie, I thought, watching the girl's gait. "Ailey, Rebecca, team one". Defense, I decided immediately. On and on it went, and I amused myself by guessing the positions each girl would play in. I greeted each girl on my team with a small smile and a nod. Detached and professional.
My mind flashed back to last night when Connie had literally ambushed the staff at dinner to talk about the antifraternizing policy of the camp. She seemed uncomfortable, but she had gone through with it, making my respect for her increase. And rules were rules, I understood that. I respected that.
"Walters, Lisa, team three". Connie's voice brought me back to the present as a curly haired girl walked up to her. The girl's eyes darted at me and she smiled shyly. I sighed again, uncomfortable. I wondered how much longer the whole thing would take. I was extremely hungry and my feet were killing me. And I needed to start strategizing. God! I'm turning into a machine, I thought with a wry smile.
"Vreeland, Bridget, team four" I turned to see the latest addition to team four. And that was when it happened. The world froze. Nothing else existed, except for the girl bouncing up to Connie. She was tall, gorgeous and she had the most beautiful hair I had ever seen. Golden like the hot Mexican sun, shiny like the glistening sand on Mulege beach! I wondered what it would feel like to run my hand through that hair, to brush my hands across her cheek, to look into her eyes and-shit! Snap out of it Eric! I shouted at myself. Get your head back into the game. Focus! I shook my head and oriented myself just as Connie wrapped up the meeting. And despite my very loud mental chastising, I stole another look at the girl, who was talking animatedly with some other girls.
Sighing for what seemed the 1ooth time today, I turned to face my assembled team. "Practice doesn't start till tomorrow, but I'll be leading a run today. At 5 sharp. Show up if you wanna. We'll convene at the equipment shed. Clear?" Without waiting for an answer, I stalked off towards the coaches' lounge, trying and failing to not think about Vreeland, Bridget. The girl with the golden hair. I couldn't help hoping I'd get to know her, but I wished I wouldn't.