TOMMY POV:

I watched Jude trudge angrily out of the door, and I couldn t help but chuckle softly. She deserved it being as mouthy as she was. People like that just bug the shit out of me. They can t all be a ray of sunshine though. I hated knowing that I was going to have her for an hour every day. I don t have a high patience for people like her. There weren't many students that acted up today, though I already knew I was going to have some problems throughout the year.

That was my last class aside from cheerleading. I didn t mind the teaching, but the cheerleading coach thing bothered me a bit. I hated cheerleading, though I sure did love cheerleaders. College cheerleaders, that is. Being the coach was a regulation I had if I wanted to teach here. Apparently, there has to be more than one coach and they don t have the money to hire someone new. And I needed a job, so I took it.

I grabbed my suitcase and walked out, locking the door behind me.

Ah Mr. Quincy. The principal stopped me before I could take two full steps. How was your first day? No doubt he was coming to check up on me.

I faked a smile, Great. I love this place better than my last job.

Good to hear it. The kids aren t giving you any trouble?

Not yet.

As expected. He said, straightening his tie. Well I better be on my way.

Me too. I said, nodding my head before walking past him. The guy is not friendly at all. I m pretty sure he hates my guts, but truthfully, I could care less. I didn't come here to please people or to make friends.

I walked down the long hall until I got to the gym. I was already dreading what was ahead of me. I pushed the door open and stopped, staring at the girls in front of me. I know enough to know that while practicing, you don t sit in the middle of the gym floor talking. And that s exactly what was going on when I walked in.

Is this cheer practice or gossip class? I asked, raising my eyebrows as I walked closer. They all turned to look at me, giving me the amazed look everyone had been giving me today. It was really starting to get old.

We usually don t practice on the first day. Some girl finally spoke quietly when a few seconds of awkward silence passed.

I laughed. Is she serious? Who came up with that rule? Everyone get up and change. I m your new coach since your old quit, I guess? I don't know, but I'm you're new coach, so.. Looking the group over, I saw her. The mouth of the south right in the middle of the group. Jude Harrison. I groaned quietly while looking over the attendance list on my clipboard to make sure it was her. She might've had a twin.

"It's actually just a tradition type thing." I didn't have to look up to know that it was her.

The right side of my mouth curved up slightly, "Traditions change." I spoke sourly.

"Not this one."

Of course she had a remark. When does she not? I'm starting to think this hatred she has is only aimed towards me, though why would she hate me when she knows absolutely nothing about me? It kind of pisses me off. Not that I care; I just can't stand when people mouth me, though I sure in hell mouth back twice as hard. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, "Let's get moving. Be out here in...." He trailed off, peeking at the watch on his wrist. "Five minutes. And you don't have to stay late today if we get this done so let's get a move on!" Like I would keep them late anyway. I'm ready to get the hell out of here.

The girls scurried to their feet before rushing to the bathroom, a heap of whispering the whole way.

_______________________________________________________

"Alright," I started, looking over the group once again to make sure everyone was out here. "I'm Mr. Quincy. Coach Quincy, whatever you prefer. I see I have some of you in class. Anyway, I'm your new coach. Just secondary though. Mrs. Mills, is the main coach, and she more than likely knows more about cheerleading than I do. She'll be here starting sometime this week and she'll talk to you then. Any questions?"

"Why are you our coach?" One of the girls asked bluntly. A look of worry crossed her face before she rephrased the question. "I mean, you don't just wanna be the Algebra teacher?"

"It was a requirement here to coach if I wanted to teach. I guess they didn't want to look for another coach to pay the full amount. And I'll admit I don't know much about cheerleading. I'm not some perv though, I'm just doing my job."

"Oh.... alright." She muttered.

"Alright, so let's run a few laps. Let's see...." I trailed off, thinking. How many laps should they run without it being totally brutal?

"We're running?" I heard Jude ask skeptically. Surely she wasn't the only one thinking it. She was just the one to say something.

"I believe that's what I said."

"Pass." She said, shrugging her shoulders like it was no big deal. Who did she think she was?! It's MY class and I'm telling her what to do. It's not the other way around.

"It's not an option. Sorry." I shrugged back, acting like her hatred didn't bother me.

"Ugh! What the hell? Nobody here wants to run, and it's th-"

I cut her rage off, "Language! That's another five for you." I said sternly, trying my best not to bust up laughing. I really didn't care when people cursed. I had a trashy mouth myself, though I probably have to start discipling people that curse in class because we're at school.

I looked at her and she glared back. We weren't off to a very good start.

"So let's go. I want ten laps from everyone, except for Jude, who has a few extra." I threw her a smile. She glared back at me as the others scrambled to their feet and began running. Silently, she stood and joined them.

I didn't wanna stare, so I occupied myself with the clipboard in front of me. It was only necessary to look up occasionally to make sure they weren't cutting corners or anything. I looked over my lesson plan for the rest of the week. It was pretty laid out already. I was just assigning a few pages in the book. With going over the basics and previous math, the first week was always the easiest. I looked up, spotting one of the girls practically dieing out on the gym floor. She was doing a hunched over fast walk thing.

"You can get a drink if you want." I called out. She sighed reluctantly and walked to the water fountain.

A few of the girls walked over to me, breathing heavily.

"I'm done," One said. She smiled slyly at me and crossed her arms while the girls finished one by one and joined us. "So, did you cheer in high school?"

I made a bitter face, shaking my head slowly from side to side. "Nope. Not really my thing in high school." Not really my thing now either.

"Oh," She said, her voice a bit flirty. I ignored it. It's not like I hadn't dealt that with that today. "What was your thing then? If you don't mind me asking."

"Not really into sports. I like shooting hoops though." I said, moving my hands to look like I was throwing a basketball into a net. They laughed and I cracked a smile.

"So if you're not the head coach, are you still gonna be here? What will you do?" She asked curiously.

What was I going to be doing? I was going to stay out of the way when the new coach got here. "Well..." I started, choosing my words carefully. "I guess not so much for the cheering..... but for the working out part. Ya know, physical training." I shifted uncomfortably as her smile grew a bit teasing.

"Hmm, so you're gonna teach us how to work out? How fun."

I looked at the wall uncomfortably. This is why I hate explaining myself. "Actually we'll probably just work out in the weight room."

She grabbed a lock of her hair and started playing with it, "I love the weight room. That's where we worked out all year last year. I can't wait to see how you achieved those muscles."

"Actually I workout solo." I shrugged nonchalantly. I did actually like working out by myself. It gave me time to think. I glanced at my watch. There was still five more minutes before school let out but I figured they could go early. "But you all can leave if you're done with the laps."

"Alright, I guess I'll see you tommorow."

"Bye Mr. Quincy."

I nodded my head goodbye at them.

They grabbed their stuff and walked ambly out the door. "Good job." I said to a girl that was just now finishing. I noticed it was the girl who looked like she was dieing. She could use some support.

"Thaaanks." She breathed heavily. I felt kind of bad. But hey, you have to be in shape.

"What lap are you on?" I called out to Jude.

She looked at me, rolled her eyes and continued running.

Oh, so she wants to play like that? Apparently this girl doesn't know me at all. I don't put up with this. "That's fine, I can just add more laps. Or would down and backs work better?" I asked, crossing my arms. Down and backs were a person's worst enemy and the perfect punishment.

She stopped running and threw her hands up in the air, "What is your deal!? If you're so obsessed with running then why don't you go ahead and run a few hundred laps. Do it! Or do you enjoy watching my pain? That's kind of pathetic, ya know." She started walking towards me.

I rolled my eyes. There's always one that has to be a complete pain in my ass. ALWAYS. And I feel like they do it on purpose. I mean, teen rebellion; it's normal, right? But this is just personal hatred. "Well maybe you should watch you're mouth next time. IF that's even possible. And I'm starting to think it's not."

"Doesn't really matter what you think, now does it?"

"Well actually, being your teacher puts me at a higher level than you. So what I think is what can happen. Right?" I smiled a tight, annoyed smile. I could tell I made her angry, and it made me happy to know that.

"Fine. Can I leave?"

"Please, go ahead." I said reluctantly. I wanted nothing more right now for her to get out of my hair.

She brushed past me, grabbed her bag off the bleachers and headed for the door.

Oh, Jude?

She stopped and turned to face me slowly.

Just reminding you that you have that paper due to me tommorow. The corner of my mouth lifted in a taut smile.

Right. She mumbled and pushed passed the doors.