Chapter 17 - Training trip

In a few months' time, the interuniversity competition would begin.

The whole Rapoxia team was eager to get out on the pitch and put in a great performance to secure victory. To achieve this, coach Santiago made a proposal. The plan was to use a weekend to train and get to know each other better. Everyone knew that he intended to use one of the newcomers on the court, they just couldn't say how he intended to make his risky moves.

So the whole team was gathered in front of the college at 6am sharp, with bags and rucksacks being put away. When the guys got on the bus and settled down to take a nap until they reached their destination, the coach walked up with a serious look on his face. The boys scampered like rabbits, paying attention to the predator in front of them.

— Don't forget that we're going to strategize for the first qualifying matches. We won't be there to play games! Not only will the coaching staff be keeping an eye on you, but your captain will also be watching.

— What if the captain joins in? — Ricardo laughed, along with the rest of the players.

Matheus shrugged and didn't seem bothered by the jokes, since it was very likely that he would actually join in. Coach Santiago cracked a smile, which was clearly not a good sign. 

— I had imagined this would happen, so I asked for extra help this time.

Behind the coach, the tall boy in the hood and mask climbed aboard. Everyone froze in disbelief at seeing the Joker himself with them. It was the most unlikely scenario. The silent and fearful reaction of the young men only increased the coach's victorious smile, as if he had won a game of chess with a hyper-intelligent strategy.

But there was one person among the players who didn't mind the silence.

— Hey, Nathaniel! Are you coming with us to our infernal training session? What a good thing!

The players quickly turned to face the alpha who was sitting on the last seat of the bus. The threat was imminent in their flaming gazes.

— Shut up, Jake!

— Humpf — snorted the coach, hiding his displeasure that one of his prey hadn't fallen into the trap — The farm we're staying at belongs to Guilherme's family, so if you break anything or do anything stupid, you'll pay dearly!

— Wow, Guilherme seems well off, huh.

—Yeah, what do your parents do for a living?

The beta, who was stowing his rucksack in the luggage compartment, turned to his team-mates and thought for a moment.

— My mum's a housewife and my dad's a major in the army. 

The players fell silent, looking away and pretending to be well-behaved. The smile returned to the coach's face as he declared reign in his own hell. 

— In any case, Mr. Callegari will accompany us to make sure you're on track. I hear he has some interesting skills.

For those who knew the rumours, such skills were something no one would want to see. And it was under indirect but certainly direct threats that the Rapoxia team travelled for three hours out of town.

Nathaniel's constant presence would not go unnoticed by the trainer, but no one would have thought that he would ask for his help to keep an eye on a bunch of young adults on a farm. Jake assumed that Santiago would also know about the rumours about the Joker, and would use this to his advantage.

His coach was a demon, that's all there was to it.

Still, the boys didn't let it get to them. Along the way they sang, joked and had fun, looking forward to the journey. Obviously the centre of attention was a beta boy, who was treated well by his classmates who were afraid of his father.

Halfway there, Jake realised that Nathaniel was sitting alone in the front seats. Away from the mess, as expected. Taking advantage of the fact that Junior was having fun scribbling on Matheus' sleeping face, the alpha walked down the narrow aisle until he was sitting next to the joker.

— Quiet, there? I imagine this kind of mess makes you uncomfortable.

Nathaniel removed his headphones and settled into the armchair.

— I'm fine, it's a relief that they can enjoy themselves even though I'm so close.

— There's no bad weather for them. It's not often that we go on a group trip, so they're really excited.

— Are you excited too?

Nathaniel stared at him intensely, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Since the last time they'd talked in front of the gym, Jake had become incapable of not looking at the joker. Those tickles he felt in his chest always appeared when they looked at each other, which was funny. 

It was like a cat chasing a light.

Being close, the alpha realised that Nathaniel's dark circles were red and deep. If he didn't recognise the signs of tiredness, he'd say it was make-up. On the other hand, it was a little worrying.

The boy tilted his head, waiting for his answer. Jake realised that he was staring at him without saying anything and looked away, sniffling softly.

— Well, yeah... I also like to go travelling from time to time.

— So you like travelling?

— Don't you?

The Joker lowered his head slightly and stared at the gloved hands holding his headphones. He thought for a while and then nodded.

— I used to travel when I lived in the United States, but after I came back here I didn't travel any more.

— You used to live in the United States? Wow, that's great! I went to Orlando when I was a kid, but only once. Then I only travelled to the national coast.

— Why didn't you travel any more?

— Hm... Because I was kicked out of the family. 

Nathaniel seemed surprised, and the alpha wouldn't blame him. Jake himself was surprised at the levity of admitting it. It just wasn't a secret. Three years ago it was the biggest gossip in the town where he was born. If he set foot there again, he would certainly be recognised and people would still talk about the McKenzie controversy.

When the Mckenzie heir was caught sleeping with another man.

Just remembering it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

— I'm sorry.

— Just relax. It's no big deal.

— That day, when you said you smoked to provoke some people, were they your family by any chance?

Wow, that was surprising.

How did he manage to hit the nail on the head?

Jake was stunned that Nathaniel had been so direct and clever in noticing. Besides, it had been a few days since that conversation. How could he still remember?

Jake's whole countenance reflected his satisfaction. He didn't need to give details, Nathaniel could tell from the air. Best of all, he would ask if he was curious. Wasn't that a sign that they had really become good friends?

— That's right. And just for the record, I haven't smoked since that day.

Of course, Jake doesn't like the smell of cigarettes on his clothes either. He just didn't expect anyone to say they preferred it to their pheromones. It was so surprising that another guy, who claims never to have his class awakened, should say that he preferred the smell of him... 

Nathaniel quickly looked away to stare at the window. But Jake noticed the tips of his ears turning red. 

How interesting.

Some time later, the bus pulled up in front of a large house. As soon as they saw the swimming pool, the guys reached a high level of happiness. This happiness was cut short by the technician who gathered them into the room. Some of them had to be grabbed by the collar and dragged into the small meeting.

— All right, although the four bedrooms upstairs are large and have a few beds, some of you will have to sleep in the living room. If you give me a hard time, I'll make you sleep outside. What's more, I'm going to divide you up into tasks...

The chatter continued seemingly without end. Jake looked around the flat and let out a low whistle. It was a spacious and well-furnished place; where they were, the kitchen and living room were open-plan, with a long table with wooden benches in the middle. Stretching his neck to the end of the room, he saw a small corridor where there seemed to be two more bedrooms and a guest bathroom. A dream house for the rich. It was funny that Guilherme didn't even seem like the rich kid type.

What really caught the alpha's attention was a huge photo hanging next to the door, where there was a chest of drawers with flowers and other decorations. In the picture, a man with boxing gloves and a raised fist was smiling happily.

— They must be Ares fans.

— Ares? — Jake asked, looking at his best friend and nodding in agreement — You mean that famous boxer?

— It's hard for anyone not to know him, but the guy was great.

— Was he? Why was he?

Matheus sighed softly, shoving his hands in his pockets.

—He died three years ago.

Jake hadn't been much of a sports fan in recent years, but he understood how a fan would feel about losing their idol. 

The whole emotional moment with deep thoughts was spoilt by the players' messiness

— And who's the Joker going to sleep with? — Junior asked as the rest of the team went to put away their balls and fight over the beds.

— Oh, he's going to stay with me in my parents' room — smiled Guilherme naively.

— Woops.

— Is it okay to sleep with him like this?

The beta scratched the back of his head and then shrugged.

— It's not the first time we've slept together, so we'll be fine.

— Get changed so we can start warming up! I want you sweating in this hot sun.

— Yes, sir!

And so the hellish training began.