Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
It was a show of support from the least expected corner. Andrew smiled in the face of his teammates' shock and suspicion. He didn't bother to explain where his confidence came from but lifted his hands and gestured at the strikers to either side of him.
"Really, you should be more worried about these two lunatics."
"That's what I want to talk about," Wymack said, moving to stand in front of the TV. "Dan and I spent this week figuring out the best way to deal with the striker line. You know I can't get us a sub yet. Kevin's played full halves before, but not since last fall. I don't think you've ever tried," Wymack said, and nodded when Neil shook his head. "Neither one of you can play an entire game in the state you're in now. We'll have to work you up to that one week at a time.
"In the meantime, we're mixing things up to stay afloat." Wymack glanced at Dan and Renee, who hadn't yet gotten off Allison's chair to join Matt on the couch. "Our solution isn't pretty, but it's the best we can come up with on such short notice, so pay attention."
His clipboard was sitting on the entertainment center. He picked it up, flipped a couple pages, and began reading. "The starting line-up for tonight's first half goes as follows: Andrew, Matt, Nicky, Allison, Kevin, Neil. First half subs: Aaron for Nicky, Dan for Kevin, Renee for Allison."
"Wait." Nicky shot Renee a startled look. "What?"
Wymack held up one hand to cut Nicky off. "Second half line-up: Aaron, Nicky, Allison, Kevin, Dan. Matt's on for Nicky, Neil's on for Dan, and Renee's on for Allison again." He let go of the papers and looked up. "Tell me you got that, because I'm not repeating it."
"Is that a joke, Coach?" Nicky asked. "Renee's a goalkeeper."
"Dan's the only one who can fill in for the striker line," Renee said, "and Allison is going to be touch and go for a while. Coach and I talked about it on Tuesday, so I've had some time to modify our extra gear. I know I haven't played defense since middle school, but I'll give it my best shot."
"Please don't take this the wrong way, but it's not you I'm worried about," Nicky said. "If you're going to play dealer who do we have in goal second half?"
Wymack looked at Andrew. Andrew looked over his shoulder as if checking for a third goalkeeper. There wasn't one, so he quirked an eyebrow at Wymack and dragged his thumb across his smiling mouth.
"Coach knows my medicine doesn't work that way."
"I know," Wymack said.
"What are you telling me to do?"
"I'm not telling you anything," Wymack said. "We had a deal and I'm not about to renege on that. I'm offering a trade, same terms and conditions as last year. Abby picked the bottle up yesterday and put it in the first aid kit. It's yours as soon as you walk off the court. All you have to do is play. How you play is up to you."
"They won't be ready in a week. How long do you think you can keep this up?"
"As long as you can," Wymack said. "So can you hold the line or can't you?"
Andrew laughed. "I guess we'll find out."
Wymack nodded. "Anyone else have questions?"
Nicky was persistent. "Coach, this line-up is insane."
"Yup. Good luck." Wymack clapped his hands at them to drown out any other arguments. "Let's move. Get your gear and get out of my locker room. Dan, Renee, if you can sort Allison's things out Nicky will take them out to the bus. Matt, you're helping me with the stick rack. I'm starting the bus in ten minutes. If you're not on it you're not coming with us. Go, go, go."
They split up to the changing rooms to find their gear. Their travel duffels were waiting for them on the benches by their lockers. Neil picked his up and turned it over in his hands, admiring the bright orange embroidery. His name and number were on one side and a fox paw was on the other. It smelled new.
He'd just put the last number in his locker's combination when metal banged further down. Neil jerked his attention back to his teammates. Andrew was opening and closing his locker for no apparent reason. He only did it twice before Kevin caught the door to stop him. Andrew didn't fight but shoveled gear out of his locker onto the floor.
"What is going on?" Kevin asked. "You can't last a full game without your medicine."
Neil was glad someone asked, because he had his own serious doubts about this plan. Withdrawal started soon after Andrew missed a dose and came in three stages: a psychological and physical crash, violent illness, and insane cravings. Neil had gotten glimpses of the first two stages. He didn't know how long it took for the third to kick in, but Matt once said Neil would be lucky to never see it.
Withdrawal shouldn't be a problem, since Andrew was required to stay on his medicine for three years as part of his parole agreement, except Wymack let Andrew come off his drugs on game nights. The court was too hectic and Andrew's gear too thick for anyone to notice when the manic smile left his face. If Andrew could stomach the crash for first half, he could take his pills during the halftime break and recover on the sidelines the rest of the game.
Andrew seemed to have it down to an art form. Neil hadn't even noticed a difference last week. But that was for one half, and now Andrew was expected to play a full game. The obvious answer was that Andrew would have to play with his drugs tonight whether he wanted to or not, but things were never that easy with Andrew.
"No, probably not." Andrew sounded far too cheerful for someone who was going to spend half of his night in serious discomfort. He crouched and began sorting out the mess he'd made of his armor and uniform. "We'll figure something out."