Deadly Silence (complete) Chapter 44

The second week of school was when students were expected to decide on the extracurricular activities they intended to pursue throughout the year. Sports, academics, hobbies… there were a variety of different choices and few appealed to Vivian.

She’d never been part of a team of her own free will so that made joining a sports team out of the question. Academically she was a bit above average, at the public school level, and wasn’t sure she wanted to deal with something like that if she ended up being behind in the curriculum. This school was known to churn out top tier students but that’s after attending every year since primary, not just the two years before graduation.

There was no way she would even think about joining one of those groups until after she figured out where she stood compared to the others.

“Can’t decide?” Asked Miriam as she leaned over the sign-up sheet Vivian had been attempting to fill out for half an hour.

“None of it interests me,” she shrugged, shoulders rising and falling as she let out a sigh. There were other things she found more important to focus on than this.

“Well, what do you like to do for fun?”

“… Uhm… read? I used to wander around a lot when I lived in other places. Explore the area to waste time.” It was becoming apparent that not having hobbies was a detriment to living a balanced life, something Vivian had never really had before.

“Okay, well, not all sports teams involve team work,” the auburn-haired girl explained, pulling out the list of teams looking for members. “Some don’t even have try-outs. Like… golf, or track and field. I think swimming, too, but I don’t know much about what’s involved in most sports if I’m being honest.”

*Wasn’t Laurent on the track team*, Vivian wondered absently as she looked over the list. Would he be mad if she joined? “Aren’t the popular people on the track team?”

“Only some. Most of them play basketball or hockey, but the stars of the track team are pretty popular.”

Vivian hummed to herself as she tapped the back of her pen against her chin. Running was just walking but faster and she could already walk for hours. Would giving it a chance be so bad?

Making up her mind, Vivian filled out the signup sheet, apprehensive about how Laurent would react and whether she would even enjoy the sport, but deciding it would be worth doing just to get this sign-up nonsense over with.

Sheets turned in, it was the following week when the list of who’d joined what was released. The first meet up for the track team was Tuesday after school where they would discuss the logistics of the team.

The meet up was at the outdoor track, a large oblong shape that ran around the soccer field where the grass still looked lush and green, and Vivian had a suspicion it was most definitely fake. The track itself had eight lanes separated by white lines and was between her and the possible fake grass — there was no way she could make it across to check and back without everyone taking note of her movements. Curiosity would have to wait.

Those who’d signed up for the team were sitting on the bleachers, some in groups and others by themselves. Feeling awkward and out of place, Vivian found a spot away from the main groups of students and took a seat, wondering what would be discussed.

No one had specified to come prepared to run or do any physical activity and all the other students were still in their uniform, so what was there to go over?

“Alright, everyone!” A short man called out as he walked out front of the bleachers holding a clipboard. He wore a short-sleeve white shirt with the school’s logo in maroon front and center, worn jeans and even more worn shoes. From where she sat, Vivian wasn’t sure if the man was bald or just cut his hair super short, but he boasted an impressive blond beard that moved whenever he spoke. “Looks like everyone’s here,” he continued after the students had fallen silent. “For any newcomers, I am Coach John MacNeil, you are to call me Coach or Coach Mac, no exceptions.

“Track and field has three main categories: running, jumping, and throwing. Whether you’re interested in only one or all is up to you. Most events allow us to have a decent number of sign ups and if too many go for it then only those with the higher scores will be participating in meets. Even if you aren’t participating you are expected to show up and support your teammates.

“This week is for newcomers to figure out what events you want to take part in. You are expected to decide by next Monday’s practice. The events we have are as followed: In the running category we have 100, 200, and 400 meter sprints…”

Coach Mac listed event after event, only a few of which interested Vivian. Jumping and throwing were of no interest to her but the sprinting events held promise, mainly those that were pure running without any hurdles or passing of batons. Having little experience with teamwork and not trusting herself to keep up and not acquire the ire of her teammates should she be lacking, she’d already decided hurdling and relay race weren’t for her.

“Yo, Coach Mac!” Someone called out when the man finally finished listing everything off.

“Yeah? What is it?”

“We still stuck doing early morning practices?”

“Yep.”

A groan passed through the crowd of students.

“Oh get over it,” the coach laughed. “If you want to fight with the other teams for the track and field by all means have at it, but I for one am not taking on the rugby team without full body padding.”

Some of the students laughed at the joke and Coach Mac turned serious again. “Practices are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, six a.m. sharp. I expect everyone to do their own workouts on other days. If you’re a sprinter you better be going for a run on days without practices. Throwing? Buy a set of weights or hit the gym.”

“What about jumpers?” A different voice called out.

“Same as throwers but with your legs,” the coach barked and people laughed again. The atmosphere was relaxed even with the man laying out the rules they were to follow, which told Vivian the students respected him. She wasn’t quite sure how to feel about him just yet, but if the others liked him then she figured her choosing this team wouldn’t be so bad.

Unless she was terrible at running and ended up frustrating the coach.

“And don’t forget you’re supposed to wear your school gym clothes!” He reminded them. “If anyone else shows up in some fancy workout gear you will be forced to get changed and I will confiscate whatever you were wearing.”

Coach Mac gave them all a single nod and suddenly the students were talking amongst themselves again, a nervous but not unpleasant energy filling the air. It was contagious and Vivian found herself almost excited for the following morning when their first practice would take place.

“Hey you,” a familiar voice called out.