k a r r i s

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I didn't think I would get yelled at.

A few snarky remarks yes, but to sit quietly on a cushioned chair in Coach Benson's office while thunderous roars brimming with profanities filled my virgin ears was something I wasn't expecting. The funny part about all of this, was that Coach Benson didn't open his mouth. It was number 15, team captain, Ashton Irwin who did all the snappy lip. 

"You are a two faced little shit you know that?" Ashton yelled, his anger reverberating off of the walls with such intensity I swore the awards were rattling. 

"Ashton, calm down," Coach Benson cooed, lifting his head up from a small, thick handbook in his hands. 

"Calm down? How the fuck do you possibly expect me to calm down Coach?" Ashton slammed his hands agains the oak desk, causing me to jump in my skin. "This nerd," he paused gesturing at me, "has deceived the shit out of us! She came into our hallowed ground and tainted the ice with her, her... ew." 

"I think you're overreacting captain," Coach disclosed unexpectedly and Ashton's jaw dropped. He dramatically threw a hand to his chest and mocked a heart attack.

"I am not overreacting! She can't come into this place and destroy the traditions our forefathers have left on the ice," Ashton could be quite theatrical and his voice was dripping with exasperation.

"What traditions? Beer pong on the ice?" Coach suggested, looking back down at the book. "Irwin, you're being a drama queen."

"Am not!" Ashton argued, a childish tone in his voice.

"I'm sorry," I softly spoke, their eyes landed back on me. "I didn't mean to taint any ice or traditions or be disrespectful to this sport. I just wanted to try out for the team." 

"But you're a girl!" Ashton exclaimed, disgust in his expression. "Girls don't play hockey. This is a man's sport and even though you kinda look like a dude, you still can't play with us. You weren't even that good." 

"I beg to differ--" 

"Oh here she goes again with all this begging to differ horseshit," Ashton interrupted, rolling his eyes in annoyance. 

"I also beg to differ. Miss Villanueva is quite an impressive hockey player," Coach Benson proudly complemented. 

"What?" Ashton scoffed. "Who put douche water in your Red Bull?"

Coach looked at number 15 with a stink eye, "her slapshot was the fastest I've ever seen. Even faster than yours Ashton!" 

Ashton's scowl morphed into a smooth line, grumbling profanities under his breath. It almost sounded like he was speaking in french.

"I said some things in the past that I really regret Karris and I'm sorry," Coach apologized. "You've proven to me that you can play and that you do know plenty about this sport. I hope you can forgive me." 

I smiled, "I forgive you Coach. I just really want to be on the team."

"Hell to the fucking no," Ashton shook his head, crossing his arms across his chest. 

I shifted my attention from the angry, dimpled team captain to Coach Benson and looked at him with hope in my eyes. Coach had the last say and surely he'd have me on the team. Right?

"Karris," Coach sighed, and I slumped in my seat. 

This was going to be bad news, I could tell. He was giving me the same look; the same damn sigh that only comes with news you don't want to hear. I got it whenever my parents were going to ground me. I got it whenever teachers were disappointed in my work. And I got it when we found out my brother's murderer would walk away.

"I really hate to tell you this but the handbook is gender sensitive. We could get disqualified if you were a permanent performing player on the team," Coach explained, holding up a small, leather-bound book. Ashton's face lit up like Times Square while mine drained from all color. 

"Oh," was all I could say. I was heartbroken. 

"Well now that's all settled," Ashton grinned happily, clapping his hands together in emphasis of his thrill, "why don't you get the fuck out? Go do some nerdy shit like organize your calculator so Coach and I can discuss the boys who actually have a chance of being on the team."

"Thanks anyway," I mumbled in sorrow. I stood up from the chair, grabbing my helmet that sat at my feet. With my head hung low I turned away and headed for the office door. 

"Hold on for one second!" Coach suddenly bellowed, just as my hand grazed the doorknob. I turned around to find him pushing his chair back. "You can't play on the team but Karris your brain would be a wonderful contribution to this team. How would you like a coaching apprentice job instead?" 

"What?!" both Ashton and I exclaimed at the same time.

"Are you serious?" I breathed.

"You can't be serious!" Ashton chimed, his eyes wide. 

"I'm very serious," Coach stood up and rounded his desk. He approached me and continued, "you will be treated like a coach. You will help me make the team the best they can be, you'll help clean after the boys, and attend each game, including ones held at other schools. So what do you say?" 

I grinned from ear to ear and dropped my helmet in excitement, "yes! I'd love to! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" 

"Report to my office Monday right after class so I can fill you in," Coach smiled and gave me a pat on the back. He tilted his head towards me playfully, "see you on Monday, Coach Karris." 

"This is the worst day ever!" Ashton grunted unhappily, plopping down on Coach Benson's chair and banged his head against the desk over and over again. 

"Like I said, drama queen," Coach rolled his eyes. "Anyway, have a good weekend." 

"Thanks again Coach. See you Monday!" I waved at him and exited his office, Ashton's groans still echoing in my ears. 

I merrily sauntered down the hall towards the entrance of the girl's locker room. In between the two locker rooms, right front of the huge bulletin board decorated with random announcements and notices, were the rest of the hockey team and everyone else who tried out. Looking tired and defeated, they anxiously awaited Coach Benson and Ashton to come out with the final list of team members. As I passed by the boys, my presence was made known by none other than my brother from another mother. 

"Karris! What the hell happened? There was a lot of yelling come from that office!" Calum ran towards me with worry on his tanned face. He was out of his hockey gear and in a pair of skinny jeans and a Mayday Parade band shirt. His dark hair was damp and I could smell a fresh, fruity scent emitting off of his skin. 

"I didn't make the team because I'm a girl," I told him and Calum looked beat. 

"Dude, I'm sorry to hear that," Calum pulled me into a hug, my face squashing into his chest. 

"Cal you're crushing my glasses," my voice was muffled against his body and I pushed him away. I pulled off my specs, rubbing the glass against my jersey before placing it back on my face. 

"You don't look gutted," Calum pointed out, "I thought you wanted to be on the team. We're Kobe and Shaq, remember?" 

"Well, the reason why I don't look gutted," I mimicked the Aussie, "is because Coach Benson gave me a coaching apprenticeship instead."

"No fucking way?! Seriously? So you're part of the team but from the sidelines?" 

"Yup! I help out with plays, clean up after you guys and I get to go to every single game,"

"How'd Ashton like that idea," we turned our heads to see number 07, Luke Hemmings, leaning against the wall with a smug expression on his face. 

"How'd you think he took it?" number 24, Michael Clifford laughed. "You heard the yelling! Ashton was probably so heated, lava came out of his ears and asshole." 

"Yeah, he wasn't happy. But oh well," I shrugged.

"Yea, oh well! That's still pretty sick! I'm proud of you Karris!" Calum whooped, punching me playfully in the arm. 

"That's Coach Karris to you Mister Hood," I corrected with a satisfied smirk. 

"Oh, well excuse me," Calum threw his hands up in defeat, giving me a playful wink. "Well technically we did rock our tryouts so I think this calls for a celebration. Pizza?" 

I nodded my head with joy, "yes please! I'm starving! I'm gonna get out of this nasty hockey gear, shower and when I come back out, the final team should be posted-- with your name on it. See you in a bit!" 

"Okay, Coach Karris," Calum mused, shaking his head with a chuckle. 

I skipped away, pushing the girl's locker room door and entering the flowery-smelling sanctuary. After stepping out of my sweaty hockey gear and wrapping a towel around my body, I walked into one of the shower stalls, placing my glasses on top of the small shelf inside. Letting the warm water and Bath and Body shower gel relax me, I quietly sang to myself, feeling the excitement of my apprentice coaching position sink in. However, that happy feeling didn't last very long because before I knew it, my heart dropped upon hearing a voice I did not expect to hear. Especially in the girl's locker room.

"Stop singing nerd and step out of the shower,"

I froze, my eyes growing bigger by the second. I slowly dropped my hands from my hair and shut off the running water, listening for any odd noises coming from the other side of the blue, plastic curtain.

"Hello?" I called out. 

"Come out here and fucking talk to me," the voice demanded, echoing throughout the empty locker room. 

I stuck my head out of the curtain but using it to cover my very naked body. My vision was blurry and all I could see was a frazzled blob standing a few feet in front of me. I grabbed my glasses, placing it on my face and my eyes were met with a pair of very angry hazel ones. I felt my cheeks redden from awkwardness. Skinny jeans, a white singlet and a black beanie adorned the infuriated figure's brown curly hair. His muscular arms were crossed above his chest and I couldn't help but to stare at his bulky limbs. 

"This is the girl's locker room Ashton," I gulped. 

"Well nothing gets pass you nerd," Ashton hissed, dropping his arms to the side. He stepped towards me and I clutched onto the curtain, bringing it closer to my body. "Drop the apprentice job. I don't want you a part of the team." 

"What? Why not? I could be of help to the team," I protested. "I know the game and I know science. I can help you guys win." 

"We can win without your geeky presence. We don't need all your stupid math equations to nab the championship from a school you obviously still have ties to," Ashton sneered, referring to Brampcrest Academy. 

"I don't understand why you hate me so much. The rest of the team doesn't have a problem," 

Ashton chuckled for a moment before his lips formed a smooth line and a brow was raised, "I'm team captain and the boys listen to me. If they want to be a part of this brotherhood, they follow my orders. Coach Benson is around only to make sure we get shit done and to supply us with protein during our workouts. You have no significance." 

"I could be," I retracted back into my shell, feeling Ashton's intimidation radiating all around me and striking me with an uncomfortable sting. Also I was still naked, wet and began to shiver from behind the plastic curtain. 

"Not likely. You're just a stupid little girl who happens to have a nice slapshot," he belittled, taking another step towards me. Ashton loomed before me with so much superiority, I wanted to crawl into a gopher hole. "Decline the apprentice job nerd, or I'll make your life fucking hell." 

Ashton walked away and I watched him. I should've just let it go and left our conversation at that, but my mouth had a mind of it's own.

"I don't want to," my voice was quiet but Ashton could hear my words crystal clear. He stopped in his tracks and turned his head over his shoulder, sending me a spin-chilling, devilish smirk. 

"It's your funeral nerd," 

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Hi guys! Here's chapter 5 and I hope you all liked it! Ashton is quite a meanie isn't he? He should just let Karris be and get over it, but obviously he likes being a drama queen! But who loves Calum? He sounds like a great friend to have. 

If you like this chapter and my story, please don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE it with all your friends! Not many people read this story which is understandable because I'm still a new author, but I'm definitely not going to give up. I have lots of plans for the characters in this story and I hope my readers expand one day! Thanks again for reading guys! Love you all! <33

Also, if you haven't yet, check out my short story / spin-off called LA NOCHE DE BRUJAS. It's one of the winners of Fanfic's Halloween contest!