There's no specific order for whose chapter happens when. I thought I would change them around but I'm sticking to the original order I had during planning.

Intersession: Coach Rogers

Hudson Residence - 12:06 PM

Xavier sits on his empty bed. The sheets have been stripped like the room. The school year is now over so there was no use for their dorm room. His bags are packed and he's waiting for Angela since they're driving home together. He could've been home two days ago if she didn't have another exam.

He couldn't believe a year went by. After living here for so long, he couldn't wait to go home. After having an intense school year that was nothing comparable to high school, he couldn't wait to relax.

Xavier looks up from his phone and sees Ashton walk in, sighing out of relief. As much as Xavier loved Ashton as a roommate, he couldn't wait to get his own room again. He's positive Ashton feels the same way.

"Oh, good," Ashton says, "you're still here."

Xavier nods. "I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye."

"How sweet." Ashton puts a dramatic hand to his heart. "We'll be roommates again."

"You mean for next year?"

Ashton nods. "Yup. I filled out the online form for the both of us. Merida gave me your student number."

Xavier blinks. There was so much to ask about those sentences. "I thought we were paired anyways. Isn't it automatic?"

"You have the option to switch and I'm not getting a different roommate because you're easier to live with than I thought."

"Thanks, man … wait, what?"

Ashton disregards Xavier's question. "Besides, you love having me around."

"Sure, but did you really think I'd be difficult?"

Xavier feels his phone go off in his hand. It must be Angela saying she's already at his dorm's parking lot. He could tell her to wait but she'll get bothered, especially since it's for a petty reason like this. Xavier won't wait until next year to hear about this. He didn't think he was difficult.

"Don't worry about it." Ashton puts a hand on his shoulder. "Just confirm the email when it arrives. Don't keep your sister waiting. See you in a few months, roomie."

-o-

Rogers House - 16:53 PM

Xavier drove them home and once they pulled into the driveway, their parents immediately came out of the house to greet them. They even got their bags and brought them inside against their request. It's their bags, they can handle them. Once the bags were dropped off in their rooms, they got swarmed with comments and hugs about how much stronger they became. Thanks to Operations.

Xavier's in the mood to unpack his bags, throw his laundry in the washing machine, and grab some food. He wants time to relax and turn his brain off before catching up. But if his experiences taught him something, it's that they will talk to Angela first. Now, he can't be more grateful for that.

"When are you leaving for Washington?" Steve asks, taking a seat on the couch. He and Peggy occupy one couch and Angela and Xavier sit on the other.

"I have a week," Angela says excitedly.

"Any idea what you'll be doing?"

"No idea. I think administrative work."

"Xavier, what about you?" Peggy asks him.

Xavier looks up. He thought he had more time before questions came his way. "I'm coaching soccer here for the whole summer."

He knew about the job for a few weeks but didn't tell his parents until now. For all they knew, he would be doing some work-study like Angela or a summer course on campus. Why didn't he tell them? Because their faces look surprised? He guesses it's because he didn't want them to ask why he's choosing to stay home. Because he knows their assumptions. Anyone who knows him would know why he wants to stay in town.

"You don't even know how to play soccer," Angela says, giving him a face. "Are you forgetting that you did football in high school?"

Xavier wants to smile at her for helping him out but has to play along with the act. They're both bad liars but, hopefully, their parents will be too thrilled about their return to catch on. Come on, Sis, we got this.

"You have a week to pack and I have a week to learn," Xavier responds. "Hell, we could even switch. I'll pack your things and you teach me soccer after you teach yourself."

Angela smiles, about to break character but she composes herself. "That was the campus mindset during exam season. Or the entire year."

Xavier starts laughing. Screw their act. They didn't rehearse enough. Three hours in a car didn't give come with a lot of time.

Steve sighs happily. "I didn't miss this bickering."

"Yes, you did." Peggy looks at Xavier. "You'd better have not skipped out on opportunities because you're expecting Apollo and Britney to come back."

Again, he thought he had more time. "Am not."

His face heats up. They'll definitely know he's lying. Or sort of lying since that's not completely why. If Apollo and Britney just happened to come back during the summer, then he would already be here.

Angela faces Peggy with a plastered smile. "Actually, Mom, being a coach has its benefits. It promotes leadership, conflict resolution, communication, athletic analysis, motivation, encouragement, humility -"

Angela drones on and on for what feels like an entire soccer season. Clearly, she memorized a list of good coach qualities before coming home. It's as if she knew this conversation would be happening. Xavier wonders if she prepared this argument while waiting for him to arrive. At least she was still helping.

"Alright, coaching expert, what's your point?" Peggy asks, crossing her leg and waiting for Angela to respond.

"My point is that he's totally waiting for them."

He hates her. "I thought you were on my side."

Angela smiles. "You could've been by my side in Washington."

Xavier glares at her. "Knowing my luck, I would be stuck with you but I would jump out of the plane ride there."

"You know I wouldn't let you."

"We've been twins for twenty years, I've figured it out."

"We've been twins for twenty years, I know you're waiting for Apollo and Britney."

Xavier bites his tongue. Why did he bother resisting?

Steve sighs again. "You're right, dear, I missed this bickering."

-o-

[Weeks Later - 12:17 PM]

Group Chat - Project: New Generation
Members: Daniel, Merida, Britney, Apollo, James, Angela, Xavier, Emily

Xavier: Quick question, who knows how to bandage a sprained ankle?

[moments later]

Emily: Wasn't there a first aid course for future field agents?

Xavier: Not. Helping.

Angela: It's an elective that we can take during upper years. Maybe Merida has some Girl Scouts knowledge.

Merida: Not cool.

Xavier: Seriously. I have a kid crying and the internet is giving me a hundred methods while mothers are glaring at me.

James: You will be a GREAT team leader. I completely trust you to tend to my broken ankle.

Xavier: Shut up.

Merida: I'd leave it broken and break the other one.

Xavier: Merida!

Angela: Merida!

Merida: On James, not the kid.

Angela: MERIDA!

Daniel: So you hold the ankle at a 90-degree angle…

Emily: Should I give you a protractor?

-o-

Brooklyn Bridge Park - 12:24 PM

Xavier didn't think he would have this much fun being a coach. It thrilled him to see all the little kids in their uniforms being excited to play. They loved hearing his plans and coming up with suggestions. Hell, even practices were fun. He didn't think being goalie during practice shots would be enjoyable.

But, damn, he wasn't prepared for some things. Everyone judges everything. The public is always watching him although their kids would be playing on the field. Everyone thinks they're an expert. Maybe they are since he learned how to play soccer from a video online but he's in the uniform and has the whistle so he's in charge. They don't know him, his players or what he's trying to achieve.

All he's trying to instill is to have a good time. And winning would be great as well. But victory is out of his control. External circumstances are everywhere and can affect his team. Football was useful after all. Same skills, different sport.

If kids cried? He barely knew what to do. Now, he's dealing with a kid who sprained his ankle on the field while playing centre back. And the kid's crying which makes it worse. Everyone was so focused on the game and he was left with a sobbing child in pain and a first aid kit. Some of his friends were useless but at least Daniel sent instructions.

"Add ice on that when you're done."

Xavier looks up and sees Emily standing beside him. She's dressed casually in her jeans, sneakers, and running shoes. Emily crouches, moving her sunglasses from her face to her forehead to act as a headband.

"What are you doing here?" Xavier asks as he grabs an ice pack. "You got a protractor?"

Emily laughs in a breath. "I am a protractor. I was actually parking my car here when I got the messages."

"When did you get back in town?"

"A while ago. I was just readjusting to this time zone and waiting for the rest of you."

Xavier starts wrapping the ankle. "When are you leaving again?"

Emily gasps dramatically. "I don't see you for almost a year and now you're asking when I'm leaving again. Okay, Xavier, okay. I see how it is. Go back to being Coach Rogers and I'll buy your team some victory pizza."

Xavier, I understand, I didn't do much during my first summer post-first year uni. I did two months of summer school but nothing exciting. This summer, after my second year, I have lots of plans. (Publishing me is laughing because those plans got cancelled due to quarantine and now I'm doing four months of online summer school).