Everyone sat in their usual stops at the table. Mason sat in between me and Aly. Aly chatted with him all the way through lunch.

After lunch I walked Mason to his next class.

“So…you are going to join the soccer team?” I asked.

“Yeah, probably. You think the coach will let me join so late in the season?” he replied.

“I think so. Coach is always saying how we need some new players to help with ‘teamwork’”

“So I should be good to join?”

“Yep. Do you want to start today?”

“Yeah, that would be great.”

“Meet me by the gym after 4th period. I can show you to the locker room and introduce you to Coach Tucker.”

After 4th period I went to the gym and stood outside the door, waiting for Mason. A few minutes later he walked over.

“Hey.” he said.

“Hey. Ready to meet Coach?”

“Yep. I'm kinda nervous, not gonna lie.”

“Oh, don’t worry. He's a chill dude. Don’t say that to him though, he likes to be seen as tough.”

“Oh, got it.” he laughed.

I walked him through the gym and into the men’s locker room where the rest of the team was already changing. I went to my locker and took off my shirt, changing into some shorts and a t-shirt. Mason sat on a bench near me and started taking off his shirt. I turned around and saw him sitting there with his shirt off, going through his bag, trying to find clothes. Holy shit he had abs. And not like the barely there kind of abs, real, visible, abs. I stared at him for a little then I realized what I was doing and quickly turned back around to my locker. 

I want abs. I should ask him how he works out.

After we finished changing we went outside to the field where some of the guys were already running warm up laps. I took Mason over to see Coach.

“Hey Aiden, why are you standing here and not warming up?” he asked.

“Oh, uhm, this is Mason, he's new and wants to join the team.”

Coach Tucker peered over at Mason while Mason just stood there awkwardly. 

“Hello, Coach.” Mason said nervously.

“Hi, Mason. You want to join my team? 

“Yes, sir.”

“Show me what you got and maybe I'll consider letting you join.”

“Yes, sir.”

Mason and I walked away and started running our laps. By then most of the team was already done and sitting in a circle stretching together. After Mason and I finished the lap we joined the circle as best we could, we basically sat outside the edge of it looking through the gaps between people’s shoulders at the guys in the middle leading the stretch.

Once everyone finished stretching, Coach called us over to tell us the plan for the day.

“Alright, men. Today we’re going to start with some footwork and passing drills. James, Quinn, Peyton, setup cones. Dylan and Issic, get the balls out of the bag.”

All of the guys did as they were told and I took Mason to explain the drill we were doing. He caught on pretty quickly and we started practicing. He was actually pretty good, well as good as you can be at drills, but still good. 

We did drills for an hour then Coach split us into 2 teams for a scrimmage. Me, Mason and Milo were put on the same team. 

Our team ended up winning 8-3 with Mason scoring 5 of our goals. He's got a strong kick and near perfect reflexes. He also has crazy good footwork, better than me at least.

After practice was over Coach pulled Mason aside to talk to him about, I assume, joining the team. I went ahead to the locker room and started changing. 

A few minutes later Mason walked in, grinning ear to ear. He walked over to me. “I'm on the team!”

“Nice, man!”