Thread: The Offer (Haruchai and Hummingbird)

Rosie stiffened when Coach K enveloped her in a warm, affectionate hug and very nearly went with her knee jerk reaction, which would have been just that, a jerk of her knee, but this was her Coach, one of the only actual adults in her life to ever make her feel like she was worth something, like she was good at something, great even, special. It took her a moment to reciprocate but she did, she wrapped her arms beneath his and pressed her cheek into the warmth of his chest, closed her eyes and let herself drift, held aloft by the strength of his embrace, felt him breath her in and didn't know what to make of that but when he let her go, forcing her to stand on her own again, she felt somewhat abandoned and very sincerely wished he hadn't let go. But I made us forfeit. she argued when he told her she didn't need to be sorry for anything, Over a boy-- she said and shook her head, got an ugly, bitter look on her face, A fuckin' dumbshit boy. she said and lost that distasteful expression, frowned and ran her hand through her still wet hair, felt her lip tremble, felt her eyes begin to betray her again and pulled her Bulls hat back on, didn't yank it to one side like she always did, hid under the bill and held her head low. I know she knows, Councilor Davies said-- she croaked when Coach K told her Mrs. Williams, her worker, knew about everything that had gone down but stopped cold when he told her Mrs. Williams had said she needed to collect her things when she got home, that she was being thrown out for not being actively enrolled in school, lifted her head and forgot about hiding her bloodshot, stinging, crying eyes, gave Coach K the full brunt of her grief and disbelief. But-- Rosie said and shook her head, But I'm going to be serving my detention here ! she shouted and put both hands on her head, swore loudly and fell into the chair in front of Coach K's desk, didn't care about crying in front of him anymore, her life was ending all at once and there wasn't anything she could do, first her game, then her scholarship and now her home? It was all too much and she was on the verge of straight up bolting when Coach K offered to put her up for the night but asked she kept it on the down low for the sake of his job, stared a little dumbfounded into his sympathetic brown eyes and didn't know what to say, he kept on, told her he had his truck and could help her get her shit, said he'd order a pizza and for whatever reason she asked if they could get some Coke too, like she was going to take him up on his offer. I mean the drink, not blow-- she croaked to clarify, and rubbed at her tears, wiped her hands off on her skinny, thigh hugging jeans, ran her hands up into her hair and bent inward briefly, sat up and shook her head, Sorry-- That's stupid-- she said and slid her hands to the back of her head, tugged at the nape of her lengthy, narrow neck and held her head low, I'm stupid-- she said quietly and closed her eyes so tight it hurt, let her hands fall down between her legs and sat back defeated, stared down at Coach K's brass name plate and saw herself, held her own gaze and after a silent few moments slowly nodded, pulled her eyes back up to meet his. Yeah, uh-- she said and sat up, I'd um, I'd like that-- she said and worried at her lip for a moment that he wasn't being real with her, didn't ask cos she was scared he'd retract his offer and leave her to spend the night in a shelter or something with only the things she could carry. Could you maybe come in with me when we get to the house? she asked, pushing her luck, She's going to bitch me out and--and I don't feel like she'd be as bad if you were there. Rosie said, meaning Mrs. Williams, If she even lets me in, last girl that got the kick came home to find all her shit in the lawn in black bags.