(I got hit with several back to back shifts over this weekend, sorry.)
>>5490764>>5491224>>5493316>>5495891Your extended thought raises more attention than you had anticipated, so you improvise. <span class="mu-g">Well, we don't want to impose on a family meal.</span> The reactions you get indicate this overreaction appears to have come out of the blue.
<span class="mu-b">"Who's 'we'?"</span> Meryl asks, giving you one of those 'we're talking about this later' looks. Your excuse cycle stops dead, and you look to Coach, delaying your response based on his input.
"You're not imposing on anything," Coach corrects, and his potter son agrees, though the artisan is a bit more suspicious now, sitting up and looking at you. You're less nervous, now, but there's something that falls into place when you talk to Coach. A Vegas hoodie?
He's a <span class="mu-s">hoodie-wearing guy</span> who looks like he hasn't shaved in a week and has deep bags under his eyes. You hide your dawning realization with a question: <span class="mu-g">How's the new team, Coach?</span> The sudden connection continues percolating in the background.
He seems happy that your mind is back on track, even though you know that's only superficially true. "Well, the fact that we haven't gotten a championship run since your group's golden season has stuck in the craw of a lot of the newcomers, so they've been doing their best to replicate it, including performing a shutout versus the Bobcats."
That's especially interesting, because the Bobcats nearly killed your season. You barely won a 35-28 slugout, when a last-second interception ended their final drive. When you finally got back home, your at-the-time girlfriend pestered you with texts... and broke up remotely when you were still fast asleep. She was kind of a bitch anyway.
<span class="mu-b">"What are you guys called?"</span> <span class="mu-g">Scoville Spartans.</span> <span class="mu-b">"Creative."</span> <span class="mu-g">Hmph.</span>
You skipped out on prom because of that, but hung out with some of the guys, so it wasn't a complete loss. The world's most dapper bowling team. You even convinced Chase to wear a t-
"I went to <span class="mu-s">Vegas</span> for the experience. That was a mixed bag. I learned a lot about myself. Some of it wasn't good."Your jaw instinctively closes. The concentration it takes to follow your own internal thought process and keep up in the conversation are being followed by the younger Kossi. He stares you down as Coach explains the details of the most recent bid for the championship, ended by a loss early in the season but redeemed somewhat by a rivalry victory after the loss the year previous. Meryl seems utterly confused, but you're too distracted yourself to poke fun. You just remembered who was wearing the hoodie. After all, it was about a week ago.
Wow, Chase really let himself go. <span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-i">What happened?</span></span>FUCK, of course. You nearly say that out loud. Everything fits. The real question, given recent events, is what he learned.
(1/2)
