1st A/N This is based off of the movie She's the Man, but I do not follow the movie exactly.
2nd A/N FOR RETURNING READERS: This is the newest version of Chapter One, rewritten 3/17/19. Dialogue has been added and edited. I suggest reading the newly posted chapters for scenes and dialogue that did not appear in the original version. Thank you all for sticking with me!
The young brunette boy, shorter than the rest of the boys on the field, approached the man that he had looked up to for many, many years. Ever since he was young and his family took him to watch soccer games at Debonair, Beck had wished and dreamed of being on the field like the high schoolers in front of him. But, there was a difference between himself and the others, one that had been preventing his dream from coming true. Until now, that is.
Beck walked over to the coach, standing by his side and waiting for the coach to start the conversation, knowing that it would take a second as drills have been running. But, it took less time than expected as the coach spoke up. "Oh, hey there 'Beck'." The way that the coach said his name caught Beck off guard, as if his name was the worst thing ever said by the coach. He had never addressed Beck as such, seeing as Beck had always been one of the best players, just not on the guy's team. "I heard your news." He showed no expression as he turned to look down at the short boy, towering over Beck. Now, that wasn't hard, he was about the shortest guy you would see at the school.
"Oh, really?" This honestly excited Beck, because he assumed this was going to go better than he had originally expected. "I'm honestly glad, it has been hard trying to explain it to everyone." Relief washed over Beck's body as he hoped the coach would just give him permission to take the field, though he didn't notice the way the coach was looking at him. As if he were a freak, as were most of the guys on the field that were watching the interaction.
"Yeah, I bet that would be easier for you." The coach said as he crossed his arms, and Beck was starting to get the vibe that the coach was not willing to hear him our, nor would he like to continue this conversation. As soon as he came to that realization, Beck felt more hurt that words could express. Throughout the years that Beck had been in high school, Coach Dinkleburg had acted as a sort of father figure for the young man. Beck's father was a professor as well as a bit of a world traveler, so there was always that need in his life. "I'm really sorry that you can't play soccer anymore, you were always one of the best on the field." No, he did not sound sorry at all. His remark didn't go unnoticed, because it was never Beck's intention not to play anymore, he was just wanting to play on the right team.
"What do you mean?" Now Beck was on the defense, crossing his own arms and straightening his back, his glare matching what the coach was throwing at him. "I'm here to try out for the team. I thought that was going to be obvious, the headmaster said he was going to talk to you about it." This was not the way Beck thought this conversation was going to go at all. Not that he thought he was going to be welcomed with open arms, but he wanted to work for his place just like everyone else had.
"I am so sorry, Bella, but this team is only for guys! No confused lesbians around." those words cut Beck deeper than any of the past comments he had heard from people. All he wanted to do was be accepted, but if this was the way that a full grown man was going to behave, he didn't want to know how badly the guys on the team would treat him if he were to be there as well. Not that he was going to give up on this conversation just yet, Beck was stubborn like that.
"With all due respect, sir, I am not a confused lesbian. You just told me I was a great player, and last fall you informed me I was better than half the guys on the team! You know I can handle this!" Beck was able to control his emotions very well generally, but at this point, he didn't care. His voice was raised as he was talking, and he didn't try to reign himself in like he normally did.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but I do not know that is a thing that I know!" His own voice was rising, and the wrong pronouns didn't go unnoticed by Beck. "This is a guys team only. I told you my decision."
"I am a guy! I am as much of a guy as you are, just with the wrong body!" It was almost as if Beck hadn't said anything as the coach spoke up again, this whole scuffle getting worse and worse. It may even get to the point where someone was going to have to hold Beck back.
"Look, we have two weeks before school starts. Then we open against Barden. A rivalry game. We have to win. And I can't have everyone laughing at me for letting a fucking girl on my team." He threw his clipboard as many members of the team had finally stopped with their staring and had made their way over to the two fighting on the sidelines. The goalie and team captain finally ran over, ready to step in if things got too far. He turned to Beck first, a soft expression on his face, and Beck for a second thought that someone would actually take his side in all of this drama.
"Hey, Beck." Bumper said as he arrived at the two fighting, standing ahead of the team. Bumper had been dating Beck's sister for quite a while and the two boys were very familiar with each other, so Beck was hoping that Bumper could talk some sense into Coach. "What's going on, coach?" Bumper asked, sensing the tension between the two, noticing the defensive position both guys were standing in.
The coach turned to his captain, a smug look on his face. "This girl here is trying to try out for the team!" He announced as he turned to make eye contact with each and every single one of his players. The small huddle surrounding Beck made him feel unsafe, and they all started to laugh as a result of the coach's statement.
"You can't be serious." The remark came from someone Beck had trusted in this world, someone that was supposed to be on his side, someone that promised his sister they always would be, this person being Bumper. He heard the laughter increase, some guys clutching their sides as if this was the funniest thing they had ever heard.
"All right, all right!" The coach had called to quiet his team down, though he still had that smug look as he looked down again to the small boy. "Look, Bella, you are an excellent player. But, girls aren't as fast as boys." Beck flinched after the coach used his birth name, wishing to never hear that name again in his life. "Or as strong. Or as athletic." He could hear the choruses of agreements as coach talked, and Beck only kept his eyes on the man that was berating him. "This is not me talking, these are scientific facts. Girls can't beat boys, it's as simple as that." He then brought his whistle up to his lips, probably in an attempt to end the conversation and get back to his practice until Beck spoke up.
"I'm not a girl, but fine!" He turned to Bumper, praying for once someone that wasn't his family would be on his side. Bumper knew how much this meant to Beck. "Bumper, you are the team captain. He'll listen to you. What do you think about it?" Beck inquired, and all eyes turned to the boy in the striped jersey.
As soon as Bumper was the center of attention, he straightened his back out and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I think that the coach said it all." Bumper responded, and the boys surrounding erupted into another fit of laughter as the coach patted Bumper on the back.
"Okay, just yesterday you told me that I was better than half the guys on this stupid team! You are one of the ones that encouraged me to try out!" He could see all of the questioning glances, some even offended as they looked to Bumper. But, he took it like a champ and just laughed.
"I never said that. Now, Bella, this is the end of the discussion. Why don't you go play with some Barbie dolls or something and let the real men worry about all of this?" Beck would never forget those words, and something that Bumper hadn't known was someone had been approaching the field, overhearing the comments made by him as Beck pushed Bumper, knocking the boy back a bit like the other guys in the group started to move to restrain the small fight that was threatening to break out.
"What the hell did you just call my brother?" There was a break in the crowd as a blonde headed, very pissed off girl entered the circle around Beck and Bumper. If looks could kill, every single person in that group would have been dead, because Aubrey had made it a point to look at all of them in the face. Seeing as Aubrey was popular, beautiful, and incredibly intelligent, she could do a lot of things to ruin the very important reputations of the high schoolers around them. She was very influential. But, her eyes finally settled on the guy that she had called her boyfriend, who was receiving the worst of the glare from the ice queen. It was almost as if she was daring him to repeat himself, but he was smart enough not to say it, even though she had clearly overheard exactly what was said.
Bumper didn't flinch for one second under his girlfriend's glare, not wanting to seem like a little bitch as he smirked. "I told HER that it was the end of the discussion." His voice was cocky, and this was not the Bumper that Beck had been used to seeing. Clearly, Aubrey wasn't used to seeing this side either and, without missing a beat, walked over. She lifted her perfectly manicured hand, and Beck swore you could hear the slap across campus as her hand connected with Bumper's face. She had even put enough force to spin him around a bit, and he automatically brought his own hand up to his cheek. Beck swore he would see a few tears forming in Bumper's eyes, which did make him feel a bit better.
"If you couldn't already tell, that was me ending this relationship. No one, and I mean no one," with this, she glared at the rest of the team, ensuring that they would all hear her. "Is going to talk to my brother like that." With that being said, she took Beck by the arm and led him off of the field. Bumper, wanting the last word and to not look weak in front of his friends, chased after her.
"Baby! Don't be like that. I…" Oh, Beck could not wait for this excuse. He could tell that Aubrey couldn't either, and by the way that she was digging her fingernails into his arm accidentally, she wasn't about to believe any bullshit lie he was going to spring at her. "I just don't want to see him get hurt!" Seriously, that was the best lie that you could come up with? Beck wondered to himself, and he knew that his sister was thinking the same thing as she rolled her eyes.
"Honestly, how gullible do you think I am? You thought that it would be cute to show off in front of your little soccer team. You thought that I wouldn't find out, which I am not quite sure why you would think that seeing as I hear everything. You humiliated my brother, and even worse you called him two things you know cut him deeply, and you meant to do it." She finally dropped Beck's arm, and he rubbed where her fingernails had dug in, thankful there wasn't blood. With just as much power behind this second one, Aubrey slapped Bumper on the other cheek. Her first slap was still glowing red, and Beck was sure that it wasn't going to fade away soon. He had to remember to take his sister out for ice cream later for this one. "You are such a piece of…"
Aubrey was cut off by the whistle the coach had blown. "Back to practice!" He announced as Aubrey picked up a ball that had found its way over to her, throwing it directly at Bumper's face. It collided with his nose as Aubrey turned and walked away, her brother following close behind her.
"That has got to be the most badass thing you've ever done. I never knew you had it in you." Beck teased her as Aubrey finally smiled at her brother, shaking her head lightly.
"Anything for you, dork." She said as she punched Beck in the shoulder because of his teasing. Beck only shook it off, smiling wide. "I guess you can be alright. Plus, I've been dying to break up with that loser for weeks." Beck could only laugh in response.