Offbeat

“Goal!” Coach Andrews shouted as his voice spread across the soccer field.

The whistle blew, signifying the end of practice. Half of the team, my half, cheered for victory while the other half clapped their congratulations, still chasing their breaths.

“Nice game, Stingrays!” Coach exclaimed as he headed over to us. “Play like that in the CF tournament and the trophy’s as good as ours.”

We huddled around Coach Andrews, panting as we tried to catch our breath. He gave a few comments for improvement, but I was only half-listening as I rolled the soccer ball under my foot, looking at the goalpost where I just sent my shots into.

“Nicely done, guys! Keep in shape and I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? You can go now,” Coach said before walking away to his office.

I grabbed the ball under my foot as my teammates bid me goodbye. I walked towards the changing room, my jersey smelling like freshly mowed grass and my shoes covered in dirt. I ruffled my hair, attempting to fix it.

“Hurry up, Ethan!” Nick shouted, still in his goalkeeper gloves. He’s my best friend since childhood. Our parents were high school friends and still are to this day, so they basically forced us to hang out when we were two years old.

“Yeah, hold on!” I shouted back before walking a bit faster. We reached the changing room and sat on a bench near the lockers. By the time we reached the shower room, it was already full.

“See, now we’ll have to wait.” He rolled his eyes before smacking my back.

“You could have gone in already and saved us a spot,” I scoffed.

“Or, you could use your Team Captain card.” He grinned, obviously joking.

“Great idea,” I chuckled. “I’ll use it when I feel like getting kicked out of the team.” I replied sarcastically.

Nick laughed as I lifted up my shirt, using it to wipe excess sweat. I wrapped a towel around me, patiently waiting for a spot in the shower.

“That reminds me, Coach Andrews wants to meet you after you shower,” he added.

“Oh, yeah? What for?” I asked, picking up some hygiene products from my bag. “Am I getting kicked out?” I joked.

“Eh...” Nick hesitated. “I wouldn’t say that,” he replied as he started removing his goalkeeper gloves.

I stopped and turned to look at him, feeling my heart drop into my stomach. I scratched my head in nervousness.

“Oh, shit... is it serious? Is it about the new members? I know they’re a bit off but they’ll improve,” I stammered, a bit of fear showing through my face.

Nick sighed before sitting closer to me to lessen the volume of his voice. I sat beside him, ruffling my hair as a distraction.

“It’s not that. He didn’t say a lot, but it’s about it again, dude,” He spoke quietly to not let the others hear as he emphasized the word it.

Thoughts raced through my mind as I stared blankly into space.

It? What the hell could ‘it’ be?

Was I not performing good? Am I failing at being team captain?

But that’s impossible, there’s no way this is about my performance. I’m the team’s best player.

Still, I didn’t say a thing, continuing to look confused.

“Your grades, Ethan,” Nick sighed.

My stomach twisted. Thoughts overflowed my head.

Not this shit again.

“He didn’t give me the details, but he told me to tell you to get your act together or you might lose your position on the field.”

“That’s bullshit!” I exclaimed as I stood up and threw my hands in the air.

“But you know it isn’t, dude. We’ve been over this,” He went on.

“I got my grades up!” I defended, my voice getting louder.

“Turn it down. Don’t cause a scene,” Nick said firmly, causing me to sit down against my will. “And come on, a D? That’s it, that’s ‘up’?”

“You know Lightsdale requires an A, or at least a B for athletes,” he added.

“Who even said I wanted to get in Lightsdale?” I scoffed.

I did.

I did want to go to Lightsdale, but it’s just too much pressure. It’s suffocating. I want to continue my career as an athlete, to have a future in soccer, but this stupid academic requirement has been eating me alive.

Everyone’s expectation of me being this all-star soccer player has been eating me alive.

“Don’t screw this up, Ethan. You and I both know how badly you want to get into Lightsdale, so actually try this time,” Nick said. Before I could even reply, he stood up.

“Now go on and get showered, there’s finally room,” he said, already marching happily towards one of the rooms as if he hadn’t just called me out a few seconds ago.

I sighed heavily before walking towards the shower room as well. I opened the shower, letting out a deep breath as I felt the warmth of the water hit my body. I let off some steam, the water loosening the tension I had just been in.

But the shower couldn’t drown me more than my thoughts did.

I can’t fail this anymore than I already have.

Not again, not when I’m already hanging by a thread.

After the shower, I headed to Coach Andrews’ office.

I stood outside his door, unable to bring myself to knock. It’s already been five minutes yet I still couldn’t face him.

What if I’m getting kicked out? What if this is beyond repair?

Before I could even knock, the door opened and I was face to face with Coach Andrews.

“You’ve been standing there for five minutes, son.” He chuckled. “Come in, stop dreading it.”

I chuckled back nervously as I entered his office. I sat on the couch in front of his desk, unintentionally holding my breath.

“By the looks of it, I assume Mr. Hiroyama has already told you the news?” Coach Andrews looked at me before opening a drawer from his desk.

“Coach... am I getting kicked out?” I asked quietly.

“Well, not yet,” he replied. “But I’ll put this straight. You’re near a dead-zone, Knightley.”

“I’m doing everything I can to get you to Lightsdale, legally, of course. I even filed a recommendation letter. But all of that will mean nothing if your GPA doesn’t meet their requirement, son.”

“I still have a whole school year, coach.” I replied. “I can get my grades up higher.”

“College applications only take the grades for the first semester. Seeing how the fall quarter just finished, you only have the winter quarter.” He shook his head.

Fuck.

I thought to myself. I have to achieve that B in one quarter? Is that even possible?

“Ethan, I like you, you’re a nice kid and one of the best team captains the Stingrays have ever had.” Coach Andrews spoke in a fatherly way. “But you really have to step it up. I know how good you are on the field, but don’t forget your academics.”

“What do you suggest I do, coach?” I asked, eager to look for solutions.

“Take another extracurricular,” Coach Andrews said firmly.

What? Is he out of his mind?

Another extracurricular? When I can’t even balance my academics with one?

“Huh? Another?” I said, looking confused. “I thought you said focus on my academics? Plus, the club fair just ended, I don’t think any club is looking for new members.”

“I did say that. However, alongside the bad possibility that it may not be enough, you need a back-up plan.” he said before handing me a flyer.

JOIN THE MARCHING BAND!

AUDITIONS WILL BE HELD NEXT WEEK! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED!

GET READY TO MAKE SOME NOISE AND FEEL THE RHYTHM OFLEFTS AND RIGHTS!

“MARCHING BAND?! NO WAY!” I exclaimed as I stood up, giving him back the flyer.

“What’s with the violent reaction?” Coach Andrews chuckled before handing me the flyer once again.

“Coach, I wouldn’t have time for that! My games and their performance are always at the same time! They play for us, you know!” I cry out. “And wouldn’t this take out more time from my academics?”

“But this gives you plus marks, Ethan,” he spoke calmly.

My ears shot straight. Additional marks?

“How so?” I asked, calming down a bit, but still very against the whole idea.

“People with extracurriculars that represent the school like sports, quiz bees, and pep rallies are given additional marks in some subjects.” He explained. “Take PE for example. You have additional marks in PE because you play soccer and you represent the school.”

“It’s not much, but it will definitely help your grades a bit.”

“But, coach, wouldn’t my schedule be tied up? I wouldn’t be able to actually join those pep rallies because I’d always have a game in sync,” I explained, letting out a frustrated sigh.

“You can coordinate your schedule with their band leader. And their pep rallies aren’t just for your games. Don’t forget they also open for school events like the Coastal Festival,” Coach Andrews said, fidgeting with his pen.

“But their uniform!” I cried out loud. “Isn’t there another way, Coach?”

Coach Andrews chuckled as he stood up. “Careful, Knightley. That’s not very team captain-like.”

I sighed in defeat. “You can do this, Ethan. You’re a bright kid, there are just things that happened to you — made you fall off. We both know this,” he said. I crossed my arms, pinching my shoulders.

“This ensure additional grades for you. But remember, you have to actually try. Focus and balance out everything in your way.”

“Think of it as the Knight’s Quest,” Coach Andrews chuckled, making a pun.

“That’s so corny, coach,” I said, shivering in mock disgust.

“Well, worth a shot,” He laughed, stepping closer. “But jokes aside, take this seriously, Ethan Knightley. You have a whole future ahead of you. Just don’t screw this up.”

I looked out the window, staring at the view of the soccer field before turning to face Coach Andrews once again.

“So if I screw this up... I’ll lose being team captain?” I asked, fear evident in my voice.

“I’m afraid that’s the case — and more to it as well,” He crossed his arms as he sighed. “Lightsdale, son, don’t forget.”

“Your entire future depends on this.”

My entire future depends on this.

It all depends on this quest.

I can’t fail again.

“Coach, where do I sign up?”