Goal:

"First thing you boys need to remember is that Football is what you are here for. Although there's a lot going on at college, at work, at home or in any relationships you have; you need to keep your eye on the prize. You want to make it big time? Then you need to work for it, because even when you make it, the work doesn't stop. This is just the beginning, and if you put the hard work in now, your life will get so much easier at the end. You're already a year in, last year we focused on the theory and getting you all fit. This year we're focusing on the game. The reason you're all here is because we picked you because we know you are capable. The reason you picked this Academy is because you know we can get you where you want to go. So, let us help you by helping yourself and focusing on nothing but the game. You don't need relationships right now, girls will distract you. You don't need to worry about the drama inside the college between those high-class la-di-da fuzzybuttons. You aren't one of them. You're different. You aren't here simply because of money, you're here because you have potential. Do you all understand that?" Coach said, an inspirational tone running through his voice full of excitement. All the boys cheered in response and grabbed each other, pulling one another into a huge group hug.

It was the stuff of movies.

I had my voice recorder out but was taking notes at the speed of light trying to describe the looks on their faces as they gazed at Coach with such inspiration. Even I felt inspired after such a long day. I wasn't even offended at being called a 'fuzzy button', whatever that meant.

Once everyone had arrived, all cramped into the tiny space we were hanging out in, Coach immediately forced them out onto the pitch, chucking cones and stuff all over the grass and making them do 'drills', running through them, doing weird frog jumps and stretching each other out like they were at a massage parlour. I just sat there taking pictures, shivering before he made me come onto the pitch and explain what was going on. I couldn't, and so he gave me a voice recorder and made me record him talking. I still didn't understand fully but he told me before I wrote my first report, I needed to understand exactly what they did here, and he wouldn't let me write any reports unless I knew the basics. All throughout the day I kept catching site of Theo and Elliot. They seemed to be the 'top dogs' of the field, beating everyone at challenges and laughing with each other constantly. I hadn't been introduced to anyone officially but could pick a few out from what Coach told me about the team, like for instance I knew that a boy named Jack Hodgeson was the average height brunette boy with a mole on his cheek that played 'centre back' (whatever that means) and was the only one of the team that had a girlfriend. The only one in the whole academy, and apparently that was because he was the only one Coach would let have a girlfriend as he balanced his life so well, he could focus on football and still have a girlfriend. Apparently, the others weren't capable yet.

The rules here honestly confused me.

But, whenever I caught site of Theo and Elliot, Elliot was already looking at me, an intrigued expression on his face, whether he was stretching, running or playing. He made me feel nervous and almost self-conscious in a way I never had before. I had nothing to be worried about, but what he said that morning made worried. Was I judgemental? I didn't want people to hate me as that would make my life so much harder. I wanted them to all like me.

Once training was over it was time for a break where we headed into the restaurant. We were served food – everyone got the same – and it was the best tasting food I had had in years. Much better quality than what we got inside the college. Once we were served it everyone was beginning to sit down, and I stood around awkwardly. I didn't want to impose on anyone. I went to sit on a table that was empty behind everyone else, but as soon as I put my bag down Theo ran up to me, picked it up, grabbed me by the arm and dragged me over to the long table where everyone sat.

"Theo, what are you doing?" I asked, squirming in his grip.

"You're sitting with us." He ordered and put my bag down on an empty chair next to him.

"But I don't want to impose on you all, I-"

"Isla, babe, you're literally going to be with us 24/7 we've just got to get used to it." He said and pulled a chair out for me. I smiled at him for his chivalrous act. No one had ever done that for me before other than the Butler we had at home – but that was because that's what he was paid to do. I sat down and put my bag on the floor, keeping the voice recorder in my lap just in case I heard anything worth noting down later. I began to eat along with Theo when Elliot strode over. His tray in his hands, muscles taught in his arms and his hair messy. I swallowed hard at the state of him. I don't think I had ever been so physically attracted to anyone before. He dumped his tray onto the table and pulled the chair out opposite to me and sat down.

"Why are you looking at me like that you weirdo?" He asked, staring straight at me. I snapped out of my daze and my body heated up in embarrassment.

"Like what?" I asked and looked back down at my food. He continued to stare at me for a few seconds and when he didn't look away, I looked up again. "What?" I laughed nervously. I could see Theo ramming food into his mouth like an animal with a wide look in his eyes as he looked between us, but I ignored his foul manners and focused on Elliot. He sniggered and looked away as a smile pulled at his lips, wreaking havoc on the butterflies already sitting in my stomach. "What?" I exclaimed again, and he just shook his head and looked down at his food, picking up his fork and beginning to eat in a much nicer way than Theo was. I continued to look at Elliot for a few more seconds before the sound of Theo chamming made me feel sick. I turned to him with a disgusted expression resting on my face. "Theo please, stop." I asked, and he looked at me, the food in his mouth nearly falling out, causing me to turn my head away in disgust, my eyes squeezed shut.

"Stop what?" He asked, slurping the lettuce that had escaped his lips.

"The way you're eating." I said and looked down at my food, feeling less hungry than I had before.

"I'm not eating weird." He stated and rammed another three full forkfuls into his mouth.

"Oh Gosh." I murmured, and Elliot snickered.

"I'd get used to it if I was you, none of these pigs had manners. You just get used to it after a while." He said, his voice deep and gravelly as he looked up at me from his food, his blue eyes deep like the ocean. I gulped at the intense way he was looking at me and nodded slowly.

"Great." I murmured and picked up my fork, beginning to eat.

The rest of the break was full of lively chatter between the boys, across the large table. I stayed out of it, focusing on my food and learning about the bond they all seemed to have together – like they had known each other forever. Elliot didn't talk to me again, but I couldn't take my eyes off him. After break we headed into a large classroom where I witnessed my first confusing theory lesson. I never knew there was so much information behind a sport. The class was like a living nightmare for me; full of maths, science and sports. The only thing I would have been good at was the essay part. For the lesson I sat at the back taking notes, noticing what types of things they covered, and learning a little about the game itself. I felt more confident than before about the game, but I still didn't get how people enjoyed it so much.

Once the lesson was over Coach dragged me into the lunch hall, where we were given even more food that was delicious. This time I sat with Coach, at the other end of the table to Theo and Elliot.

"So, what you think kid?" Coach asked me, and I shrugged.

"What do you mean?" I asked and twirled a piece of pasta around my fork.

"Y'know. About this whole-" He gestured in a circle around his head. "-thing. The boys, what we do here, the typical routine etc." He explained, and I was grateful he didn't just shake his head at me and walk away like he had every other time I asked him what he meant.

"Oh-" I said and placed my fork down delicately on my plate. "The food is delicious. The boys I've met seem lovely enough, everyone seems to think I'm posh and judgemental but other than that they've been kind to me. The routine is cool, but a lot for a Saturday, really early." I muttered and yawned, holding my hand over my mouth.

"Yeah I noticed you've been chatting to Theo and Elliot." Coach observed, and I nodded.

"Yeah they seem really nice."

"I'm assuming Elliot's the one that called you posh and judgemental?" Coach asked, and I nodded.

"Yeah because I wouldn't sit on a beanbag." I muttered, and Coach laughed causing a few people to look over at us.

"They are nice boys, really. Everyone loves Theo, he sort of adopted Elliot when he came. He only joined this year whereas Theo's been here since the beginning and has always been the sort of 'top dog' if you will. Theo's more open than Elliot which makes him easier to like but once you get past Elliot's exterior, he really is a nice boy. He says what he thinks and never beats around the bush. He's brutally honest and that's why he's Captain." Coach explained, and I nodded in understanding. It made more sense that I had never even heard Elliot's name if he only joined as a second year and I felt like I knew a secret I wasn't supposed to know. It made me feel giddy with excitement. And the fact that he was Captain made sense, he did have a sense of authority around him that I knew meant I would do anything he asked me to.

"Oh right, I didn't know that."

"Not many people do." Coach said and put his knife and fork down on his plate with a clatter. "Right, you ready for your first team talk?"

And what a team talk it was. Coach seemed like he knew more about everything than he let on. He had a reputation within our college of being on a lower level than our normal teachers, he got given less respect, but in fact I almost felt like he was beginning to take rank over some of them. He had depth, a sense of realness and understanding the others didn't have. They were all like the rest of the pupils at the college – only where they were due to money. They had been shuffled through private schools just like the rest of us, and so, they never offered a sense of anything different to what we already knew. Coach seemed more normal – more like my Dad, almost. Someone real that worked hard to get where they are rather than having it handed on a plate to them like my Step Dad and every other person in the college.

Coach seemed like a real person.

"Right, now you all believe in each other and yourselves, I need to remind you all about the presentation evening on Monday. You will need to wear Suits and Headmaster Beau will be there along with a few other special guests. You're welcome to invite your parents and other family, but I need numbers by tomorrow morning so send numbers to me over text as soon as possible. Other than that, today is over – go and enjoy yourselves." Coach finished, and the boys immediately got up and headed off. I packed my things away slowly and as I was beginning to leave Coach called my name.

"Isla!" He shouted, and I turned around, a smile playing on my lips.

"You remembered!" I exclaimed, and he smiled back at me.

"I want you at the presentation evening. I think it will be a good chance for you to see how there's more to this Academy than just training early in the morning and eating."

"Are you sure? I don't want to intrude I-"

"Hey, think of it as a chance to show yourself off somewhere you're used to. A formal, posh evening where everyone's dressed up in suits and the girls have nice dresses and heels on, all glammed up like you seem to always be. You never know you might impress someone." He winked at me and my mouth dropped. He began to walk away, and I shouted back at him.

"What's that supposed to mean exactly?!"

"6:30 PM sharp Isla, no excuse!" He looked back at me one last time before leaving the room, leaving me by myself wondering what on earth I was going to wear.