A Different Kind of Guidance (closed for desperado1089)

[desperado1089]

Caldwell strode forward. "Well, it looks like I'll be able to keep my word to Miss Johnson. You've made the starting lineup. Congratulations." He read off eight more names from the list, almost all of them from the blue team.

"Nice work today. All of you. Get cleaned up and I'll see you all in two days for our last practice before the first game of the season. Fall out, Commanders!"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Well, it looks like I'll be able to keep my word to Miss Johnson. You've made the starting lineup. Congratulations."

His words, when he called out her name, left her thrilled. She had made the starting line-up. Clair looked around her and saw the other girls whose names were called, celebrating. Eventually someone said something about getting pizza. As the girls headed off to shower and change, Clair made her way over to where her coaches were softly conversing. She stopped a few paces away from them and cleared her throat. When they turned their heads in direction…

“Sorry to interrupt Coaches, but the girls are talking about going for pizza, we hope you both will join us.”

 

[desperado1089]

Head Coach Harding just laughed, and Caldwell said, "Alright, which one of you is the mind-reader? That was exactly what we were planning to do for you, except of course it would be our treat. Coming, crayon-eater?" Harding gave Caldwell a good-natured swat on his arm with one of the mesh shirts, and said, "Right behind ya, Chair Force."

Both coaches laughed and Caldwell said, "We'll meet you guys in the parking lot."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Alright, which one of you is the mind-reader? That was exactly what we were planning to do for you, except of course it would be our treat. Coming, crayon-eater?"

Everyone stopped in their tracks and rushed back to their coaches, jumping up and down and shouting. After all, free pizza was something to look forward to.

"We'll meet you guys in the parking lot."

Everyone scampered off to shower and change. They were eagerly chattering amongst themselves. Clair was with them and hurried through her shower and got dressed, gathering her backpack before making her way out to the parking lot. She was rather proud of herself this evening. She had made the starting line-up and was looking forward to their first game. A few of the girls caught up to her, congratulating her on her performance. She laughed, thanking them and complimented them in return, they were a team after all.

They gathered in the parking lot where their coaches were taking softly together, but at hearing the girls, they turned and waited for everyone. Coach Harding held up her hand and everyone quieted down as they waited for their coach to speak.

 

[desperado1089]

"Alright Commanders, you had a good practice today! We have our starting lineup for Game One, and one last practice beforehand. I'm very proud of all of you. Major Caldwell, do you have anything to add?" Harding turned towards Caldwell, who shook his head. "You said everything that I would have said, Gunny Harding. Commanders, fall out! It's chow time!" Caldwell held out his hand for the girls to all high-five on their way to their cars.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She took her turn to high-five Stephen and couldn’t help but grin even as her eyes shone with pleasure at her current accomplishment. She was feeling a bit cocky and brave and gave him a slight wink as she passed him before running to her car.

The trip to the pizza parlor hadn’t taken long. Clair parked her car and got out, locking it behind her as she almost skipped inside. Once inside a quick look around her she saw the other girls. Some of them waved her over and as she waved back, she moved in their direction. They started chatting animatedly as Clair sat down. She felt like part of a group now. It was a terrific feeling. Nobody was looking at her like she was some kind of three-headed monster, something to be avoided at all costs. Glancing up, she saw both coaches come in and head straight for the pizza counter.

Carol caught her attention and Clair smiled, chatting with the other girl. Her eyes, however, repeatedly, looked toward their coaches. She tried not to look too often, but then Carol nudged her with a shoulder.

“He’s a real looker, isn’t he?”

“Hm? Who?”

Clair blinked as she looked at Carol.

“Come on. Tell me you haven’t noticed how sexy Coach Caldwell is.”

Oh, how Clair knew that all too well.

“Honestly? No. He’s also one of my professors too.”

“Seriously? What class is that? I need to take it next semester.”

Before Clair could answer, the coaches joined them and Clair gave a soft relieved sigh.

 

[desperado1089]

Stephen heard Carol's question, of course, but he'd not heard the context; that said, he could probably guess. Regardless, he cleared his throat and said, "All right, Commanders, before we dig in, I have a few things to say. For a long time, our school has had a sort of military theme going on, but we haven't embraced that for a while. Don't worry, we won't start making you all do rifle drills or anything like that. What we will do, at least for our home opener, is have a flyover from my comrades at the base's helicopter wing and the base honor guard will present the colors for the national anthem."

Stephen didn't know how excited they'd be for something like that, so he didn't wait long to continue. "If we make it to the playoffs, you all will get backstage passes to the big air show that takes place every year, conveniently after the softball season is over, and that means you'll get to meet the pilots of the US Air Force Thunderbirds. But what you guys are probably gonna be most excited about is this: if we win it all, my wing commander will arrange a comfy Air Force transport jet to take us all to California to go visit Universal Studios!"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"If we make it to the playoffs, you all will get backstage passes to the big air show that takes place every year, conveniently after the softball season is over, and that means you'll get to meet the pilots of the US Air Force Thunderbirds. But what you guys are probably gonna be most excited about is this: if we win it all, my wing commander will arrange a comfy Air Force transport jet to take us all to California to go visit Universal Studios!"

The girlish chatter went quiet for a moment until his words sank in, then it became abruptly louder as they all cheered. Clair wasn’t sure if it was for the military transport or the fact they would get to go to Universal Studios. She suspected it was for Universal Studios. However, they had to make it to the playoffs first. It gave them something to strive for.

Clair sat amongst the chattering girls and watched them with a smile on her face. They, no doubt, would face some tough competition but they could do it. They would need to work together as a team, but it was possible. She glanced quickly at her coaches surrounded by the other girls all chatting. Her eyes lingered a bit too long on Stephen before she glanced away.

The pizzas arrived and were put on the long table and the girls dug in. One or two chatted with Clair as they ate. It was a wonderful night and Clair was happy to be part of it.

 

[desperado1089]

Stephen of course caught Clair's lingering glance and gave her a wink when no one else was watching. He fully intended to celebrate with her in their own, special way, but he needed time to prepare. So he was sort of stuck here but he genuinely enjoyed spending time with the team like this...just so long as they didn't get any ideas.

In any event, he was a tiny bit apprehensive on Clair's behalf, as anyone with enough curiosity as to which course Stephen taught would be able to look it up on the digital college catalog.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Clair was in a conversation with Carol and just happened to look up and caught Stephen’s eye. It took everything in her power not to smile, though she wanted to. She gave the room and the team a quick glance over before her eyes returned to Stephen and he winked at her. She could feel the blush rise in her cheeks just before Carol claimed her attention again. Luckily, it didn’t have anything to do with Stephen and his class. Inwardly she gave a relieved sigh. Her head snapped back to Carol and she gave the other girl a smile, answering her question about softball while eating a piece of pizza.

 

[desperado1089]

Excusing himself to the bathroom, Stephen took the opportunity to send Clair a text: I can't WAIT to get out of here and celebrate properly with you. When he got back to the party, he pretended nothing happened except for giving Clair another private wink.