I didn't see why our basketball team had to have a training weekend with the members of our biggest rival team. It was a stupid idea. They were from the other half of our school, which meant that we were really meant to be one big team that played under two different names just in the hopes that we would perform better. We were meant to get on well with each other and not be competitive at all, but that was not the case.
We actually hated each other. We fought because each team thought that they were the 'better team of the school', which was stupid because both teams were pretty even. Our 'friendly' matches were taken way too seriously and had even ended in a few sprained ankles, for both teams. We were all too competitive and hated to lose. Plus, we never spoke to each other more than necessary.
The only reason that we were going on this training weekend together was because it was too good of an opportunity to miss – we would be training for three days under the country's top league basketball team. For some of us, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that was too good to pass up. It was too good for any of us to pass up, but the deal was that we all had to go together as one big team.
After all, the only way the teams had been able to get the funding was on the condition that both teams participated and went as one school team. I did not like the idea of spending a few nights under the same roof as the idiots from the other team, but needs must for this amazing chance.
Luckily, we had our own minibuses, so, we wouldn't need to travel with them. That was always a bonus. I didn't think that I could deal with being in the minibus with them for over three hours as we travelled around the country.
"What do you mean one of us will have to share a room with one of their team?" My teammate asked the coach after hearing the news in the lobby of the hotel after the three hour bus journey. We were all piled into the lobby of the hotel, our holdalls all slung over our shoulders as we tried to sort out the room situation.
"Well, there are an odd number of members on each team, eleven on theirs and nine on ours." The coach began explaining to us as the other coach was trying to explain to his team. "We have twelve rooms – one each for us coaches, five for their team, four for our team, and one room to be shared. The member of their team has already volunteered, sixth form captain Ethan Wyatt. I don't want to pick someone, so, I better get a volunteer."
The team was quiet for a little bit while they all hoped that someone else would volunteer. A part of me thought that it was a little annoying since we needed to get on with the actual training weekend. Well, no one else was volunteering and the coach was getting impatient. I rolled my eyes and raised my hand. "I'll go."
"Thank you, Tyler." The coach spoke, seeming grateful that at least one of us had volunteered. He headed back to the counter with the other coach and they picked up the keys before coming back to us. "Guys, follow me to the rooms."
We followed the coach through the hotel lobby and up the stairs to the second floor rooms, which just seemed to be an endless corridor with doors either side. At least we weren't that far from the stairs because I always seemed to think of hotels as mazes. The coaches had rooms 201 and 202. Our team occupied the next four rooms, and I was in room 207 with Ethan. I ignored the comment that Ethan's teammate made. "Wow, cap, you're sharing with Shorty."
"I'm sorry about what that guy said, he doesn't tend to think before he speaks. It would be really great if he had a filter sometimes. I suppose you can't help it that you're the shortest member of the team. It's not your fault that you missed the height gene in your DNA." Ethan said as we dumped our bags on the beds. I was a little grateful that he had just gone towards the bed that I hadn't picked. I didn't know how to reply to him, so, I didn't. I felt bad that I was probably going to make the weekend difficult for Ethan, but I didn't know how to have a proper conversation with any of that team because we had never actually gotten along since I had joined my team. "Look, Tyler, I hope that the two of us can get on with each other over the weekend."
"Me, too." I replied, looking at him. He was the tallest member between the two teams at six foot three. I was the shortest across the two teams – barely reaching five foot six. I kicked my shoes off, pulled my book out and scooted up the bed to lean against the headboard. We didn't really have anything else to do for today as the training would go. "I'm so glad that we have today to relax. That minibus ride was kind of hell. There weren't enough pit stops, in my opinion."
"Yes. Then again, coming up on Thursday was a good idea cause then we can train on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This is such a good opportunity that I was glad that none of us were going to miss out on it. I mean, after all, we're technically all the same team." Ethan noted. He sat on his bed, pulling his laptop out of his backpack. While he waited for it to load up, he turned to me. "So, Tyler, what are you reading?"
"The Heroes of Olympus series. My sister lent them to me a couple of weeks ago so I would stop complaining that I was bored. I was only just getting to the end of the fourth one, but she gave me the fifth one to bring with me just in case I got to it." I told him. I opened the book and a couple of cards fell out. I gave a little laugh. My little sister was such a sneaky devil! "So, that's why she was so determined that I take the book with me."
"Oh, when's your birthday?" Ethan wondered, noticing the two envelopes now on my lap.
"Tomorrow. It's my sixteenth. Oh, I better take this." I responded as my mobile phone went. I checked the caller ID before answering. I had already texted my mother that I had made it to the hotel, but I guess that she wanted to hear my voice, too. "Hey, mum."
After a long call about the travelling and the hotel, I noticed that I had got a text from the guys saying that they were going to have a look around the town for the afternoon. I decided to join them and told Ethan before heading out. I felt a little bad about leaving him, but he had his own teammates to hang out with.
I met the boys in the lobby and we all trudged out into the street. There were two ways which we could go, right to the training camp, or left to the town centre. It was a really well-placed training camp. We all headed left and went into town for the afternoon, before one of us got a call off the coach to say that we needed to head back to the hotel restaurant if we wanted to eat tonight.
When I got back to the hotel room after the meal, Ethan was already there and lying on his bed, headphones on and listening to music with his eyes closed. I didn't think that he had even noticed that I was back. He actually looked really peaceful. I felt a little bit bad that he had to be stuck with me for the whole training camp when he should be with his friends in his team.
I walked over to my bed, putting my carrier bag on my bed and pulling out some of the snacks that I had bought in town. We had found a Tesco, so, we had grabbed a bunch of chocolate and sweets. It was going to be like a home away from home. I decided to drop one of the chocolate bars on his stomach, sitting on my bed as he jumped up and pulled the headphones out. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Letting you know that I'm back. I thought you might want something sweet after tea since there wasn't any desserts. Here's a bottle of water, too." I explained, handing it to him. I kicked my shoes off and crossed my legs on the bed as I opened my own bar chocolate. "So, what have you got planned for the rest of the evening? The guys are going to just play games with their roommates but I don't feel like joining any of them."
"I brought my laptop, so, do you want to watch a movie? I have an external hard drive with a few films on." Ethan asked me, gesturing to the laptop on the bedside cabinet.
I nodded, and we ended up spending the next few hours binge watching a TV show, sitting next to each other on his bed. His laptop was on his lap, so, at some point, I started leaning on his shoulder to see the screen better. He didn't say anything about it, and neither did I.
I was a little surprised at how quickly I got comfortable around Ethan, and I hoped that I would be comfortable around my future partner and be able to just sit and watch movies with them, too. I ended up falling asleep while leaning on Ethan's shoulder.
The next morning, I woke in my own bed. Well, the bed in the hotel room that I had selected. The jogging bottoms and t-shirt that I had worn to travel in had now been slept in, too. How did I even get into the bed? The last thing I remembered was watching the videos on Ethan's laptop while using his shoulder as a pillow. I looked over at his bed. It was empty and made. Had he actually put me into bed? I heard the toilet flush from the bathroom, Ethan walking in a minute later. "Oh, you're awake. Happy birthday. I hope you don't mind that I put you in your own bed and went in your bag to get your phone charger. I swear that I only opened the zip, looking in, saw your charger, and pulled that out."
"I believe you. Thank you." I replied, surprising myself by also laughing. I don't know why but I quickly glanced at Ethan's finger, spotting his string. "Ethan, come here."
He closed the distance between us. I gestured for him to lean closer. When he was close enough, I grabbed the front of his shit and pulled him to me, so, I could kiss him. Then, I pulled away and groaned, making Ethan confused. "How are we going to tell the teams?"
"They'll understand." Ethan hoped, placing a kiss on my forehead before pulling my lips to his again.