Chapter 104: Back to practice

It has been awhile since Erick and Hamish had gone for their football practice. Rather, ever since the Open Day, they do not have any practice. So, they were a bit happy that they were able to practice once more. They felt like it was years since they worked their body out. Even the shifter practice had been put on hold due to the tragedy they had been facing lately.

It was coming to a new semester in Burkendall High School and the atmosphere was hyped and exciting with new students coming in and more activities coming up. The town itself was getting more bustling with the elections coming to an end soon.

At that moment, candidate Zant was getting closer to winning the mayor position but because of Hillard's popularity with most of the locals especially from the Kendall pack, he wasn't getting down himself. The other candidates, other than these two were far behind. Although Zant had tried to talk his way with the shifters from the Kendall pack, most of them were still suspicious of him, due to the fact that he was new in town. It was not that they were unfriendly towards newcomers but for them, it was better safe than sorry. Lachlan, who was the Police Chief, decided to remain neutral in this.

In the football field at the highschool, Erick was in his sports uniform and was done with his warmups. He was now getting ready to stretch when he felt Dane stirring in his mind. He froze and said in his mind, 'Dane?'

Soon after, he could hear Dane's irritated and raspy voice. 'What?'

'Dane! Where have you been?' Erick asked anxiously in his mind. Dane has been quiet these couple of days that he was worried whether there was something wrong.

'Sleeping,' came his answer.

'What had happened? How come you've been quiet these days?' Erick asked in his mind as he walked off the field, trying to concentrate on what Dane was saying.

He could feel Dane rolling his eyes at his questions, which made him a bit frustrated.He knew that he sounds like a nagging woman with him shooting all these questions. But he couldn't help it since he was worried about him. The latter didn't even make any movements or sounds. It was as if he disappeared from his mind.

It was a few minutes later when Dane finally replied. 'I'm fine now. Lately, many of my lost memories began to appear in my mind that it has become such a burden. It seems that I never realized that I lost some of my earlier memories. When I first merged with you, I never questioned who I am and what am I doing alive. But now, I feel something changed and hence why I collapsed.'

'We should go meet up with dad,' Erick said with a solemn look on his face. His father did tell him to meet him should Dane wake up. Hamish looked over and was confused as to what brought that look on Erick's face. Then he realized that Erick must be talking with Dane.

'Settle down,' Dane replied. 'We'll meet up with your father later. I still need to recuperate my mind.'

'Alright then,' Erick said as he returned to the football field.

Hamish, who was done with his stretches, turned to Erick and asked whether he was alright.

Erick just nodded as he started to do his stretches as well. His mind flooded with questions and speculations in regards to Dane.

Just ahead of them, Coach Gundlach was standing with his hand holding his whistle and another on his hips as he watched his players doing their stretches. He then shouted that they have fifteen minutes left for stretching and then it will be agility drilling.

Once everyone was done with their stretchings, some of the players went to place some markers on the ground, placing them three to five metres apart. While they were doing that, the others were doing their own things while waiting, such as high knee running in place, pushups and sit-ups.

After the markers were placed on their perspective places, the players began to line up as they were about to do their agility drilling. The first drilling was the sprint, zigzag and narrow drill, where the players would need to run in a zigzag pattern, speeding towards the markers. Once they reach the markers, they would need to slow down as this will lower their centre of gravity. And then they would step off the outside foot and continue to the next marker. They will continue this for five times. They will be given a rest for 90 seconds between the repetitions.

Erick stretched his arms up while he waited for his turn, chatting with his teammate who was standing behind him. When it was his turn, the coach was standing nearby, watching with eagle eyes. His assistant coach was standing beside him, with a clipboard on one hand and another hand ready to write the timing. The coach was holding a timer in his hand while a whistle was dangling on his lips. He blew on it after Erick was ready to sprint.

Erick immediately ran towards the marker, slowing down when he reached it and smoothly turned and continued on for the next marker. His movements were swift and slick.

Coach Gundlach nodded in satisfaction after he had stopped the timer and looked at the result. It seems like Erick has once again broken his record. He walked over towards Erick, who didn't even sweat a lot after the sprint. He slapped him on the back and congratulated him on the good job.

Erick beamed with pleasure as he nodded back.

There were a few more others who were still doing the agility drilling. And the whole practice took more than two hours and they have done more than three agility drillings. Other than that, they also had a short touch rugby among themselves.

By the time they were done, most of them were on the ground, laying on their backs, trying to catch their breaths. Even Erick and Hamish were breathing hard. Shortly after, they all went to the locker rooms to get a shower. Their coach shouted after them that there will be a meeting next week before practice.

An hour later, Erick and the rest of his teammates were on their way out of the locker rooms, where they talked about hanging out at the McClay's since it has been awhile. They began to talk about how they wanted to order this and that. Some even joked about how much Erick will eat this time. They were laughing loudly when Erick noticed someone was standing alone near the exit but out of the school grounds, looking as if he was waiting for someone.

He frowned as he turned his head towards Hamish.

Hamish understood what Erick was silently telling him. He then turned to Flynn and said, "I'll join you in your car."

Flynn looked at him in surprise and then to Erick and back again. "Erick's not joining us?" he asked, looking confused.

Erick gave him a wry smile and said, "I'll join later."

Flynn nodded and then turned towards the others. "Well then, lets go to McClay's then."

The others cheered as they went to their prospective cars.

Hamish turned his head to Erick and nodded. "I'll see you later," he said.

Erick just nodded as he watched them walking towards the parking lot. A few minutes later, he turned back around and saw that the man near the exit was also watching him.

With his duffel bag on his back, he shoved both of his hands in his pockets and walked towards the man.

Standing in front of the man, Erick frowned. "What are you doing here?" he asked with a suspicious look on his face.

"I was waiting for you, Erick."