#ted lasso
something something kindness as a transformative force
i think about nbc commercial era ted quite often
will the kitman! i just find that one shot of him juggling waterbottles funny- manifesting the ‘will gets better at juggling’ arc we’re all clamouring for in s3
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them!
you’re a godsend, ted lasso !
That’s the thing, though, isn’t it? If you’re with the right person, even the hard times are easy.
TEDLASSOAPPRECIATIONWEEK
DAY6:SEASON1ORSEASON2
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Words:1576
Pairing: Ted Lasso x Reader
Summary: Ted’s divorce papers arrived the weekend of a very important away game for Richmond. While the coaches’ attentions are focused on what seems to be an impossible win, Reader gets some shocking news from Higgins.
“Ted.” You bit your lip as you walked into the Manager’s Office. You felt your hands getting sweaty as you held the stiff manilla envelope in your hands. You hadn’t meant to get Ted’s mail. But when the post man had said delivery required signature and you happened to be at home on your lunch break trying to get some more unpacking done, you told him that you were Ted’s assistant and happy to sign for it. You hadn’t realized the delivery had been for his divorce papers. You conveyed all of this to the Head Coach before placing the envelope in front of him.
“Thank you, [Y/N] for making sure these got delivered safely to me.” He tapped the envelope, his expression unreadable.
“Now, that [Y/N] is back we might want to think about hitting the road.” Beard suggested.
“Great idea coach, [Y/N] can you hold on to these for me? I want to make sure that make it to Liverpool so I can look ‘em over later tonight.” Ted handed the envelop back to you.
“Oh sure I’ll just…wait where’s my suitcase?” You were certain you’d left your suitcase under your desk when you’d left.
“Roy and Nate the Great made sure it founds it’s way safely onto one of the buses. Nate’s been out there playing live Tetris all morning trying to get all the gear to fit and Roy was concerned about you having to carry something so heavy with your arm.” Ted informed you before stepping out of the Manager’s office.
You tucked Ted’s paperwork into your laptop bag and followed the coaches into the locker room. The Game against Everton wasn’t until the following day, so everyone had arrived in their street clothes. Gone were the bright blue, yellow and red kits and in their place were varying shades of browns, greys and blacks.
“Alright gentlemen.” Ted greeted the room with a watered-down version of his usual gusto. You wondered how many of the players could tell he was trying to “fake it till you make it.” It had been a rough week for the Head Coach. Aside from his divorce, which had begun to solidify and become real after looming over him for so long. Losing Jamie had been hard. Not just on him and not just because it made extra work for everyone; rearranging player positions, re-writing entire plays around the team’s current skill set, training and retraining accordingly.
It had been hard because Ted had been taking the loss so personal. He truly believed he’d been getting through to Jamie. The Man City loanee had come as close to baring his soul as Ted thought him capable only to be yanked away from Richmond at a very inconvenient time. He wondered if Jamie knew that Ted had nothing to do with him getting recalled. To the Head Coach the semantics of the situation were important. He wished he’d had time to say goodbye. Say anything.
Then again maybe it was better if he didn’t reach out to Jamie just now. Ted’s father had once told him he could have charmed the fangs off a snake. [Y/N] always seemed to believe the same, though she never used such colorful comparisons. Lately it felt like Ted had lost his silver tongue. He’d ruined things with Michelle years ago and still hadn’t been good enough a talker to build himself out of the hole he’d accidentally dug. He’d bungled things with [Y/N] and somehow managed to make things worse whenever he tried to fix ‘em. He supposed he’d bungled Jamie too much too. Enough that he hadn’t fought any harder to stay with Richmond than Richmond herself had fought to keep him.
“Who’s read to go show Everton what we got?” Ted asked, not reading the room. The energy around the locker room was worse than it had been when you and the coaches had first arrived. At least on that day Roy and the other players had been talking amongst themselves, juggling footballs on their knees or goofing off. This morning the room was near silent with players sitting before their lockers, saying nothing. They stared off into the middle distance or down at their trainers.
“Hey guys, seriously, come on.” Ted put away his forced smile. Relieved for a moment to let his face express something real. “Talk to me.” He asked them in earnest. “What’s up?” The players exchanged awkward and quiet glances.
“Nothing.” Sam Obisanya shrugged a little to quickly. “We’re fine.”
“Yeah. I’m alright.” Isaac agreed when Ted made eye contact with him. Roy thumped the top of his locker and wondered why it always had to be him. Why’d he have to always be the one to extend the olive branch? Their previous Head Coach had been a sexist asshole, but at least he didn’t care so fucking much about them.
“We’re in a shit fucking mood because we never fucking win at Everton and it sucks fucking shit!” The team captain explained.
“Aw, c’mon fellas.” Ted flashed and expression that said ‘That’s all’? before brining back his practiced smile. “How long’s it been since Y’all won up at Everton?”
“Sixty years.” Collin offered up.
“Jesus Christ.” The whole room heard Coach Beard whisper to himself.
“Wow.” Ted whistled. “That is a heck of a long time. Okay. So we’ve got that going on and obviously we’re all upset that O’Brien tore his butt.” Ted Gestured to Tom O’Brien one of the team’s Goalkeepers who’s locker was seated to his left.
“It’s my upper hamstring, Coach.” Tom corrected him.
“You tore your butt, son.” Ted disagreed. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of, okay. It happens. People tear their butts all the time in athletics. You’re not alone, man. [Y/N], how many fine young man did you see tear their butts in your eight years working for the University?”
“Oh, uh, dozens.” You said, unable to produce an actual number on the spot.
“Coach, you’ve torn your butt a couple times, haven’t you?” Ted now looked to Beard for confirmation.
“Three times.” Beard nodded.
You were mercifully saved from the butt related conversation when you noticed Higgins standing in the hall. He motioned for you to join him outside. You slipped out of the locker room while butts continued to dominate the locker room conversation.
“Higgins! I’m so sorry.” You apologized. “There was something you wanted to talk about the other day. I’ve been so busy helping Ted and Beard with all the changes I forgot to check back in.”
“Yes, well, I wasn’t sure if it was something I ought to mention at all actually. Frankly at this point I’m not sure there is much that can be done. Certainly not while you’re away at Everton…” He was nervous and rambling and his short choppy sentences were difficult to follow.
“Higgins, whatever it is, I’m sure we can figure it out. I mean Ted and Rebecca….” You started to say, but he interrupted you.
“No!” He gasped. “Rebecca is not to be trusted.” He looked around nervously ensuring you were along in the hall. “She’s been behind everything from the beginning. She’s reason there was that small issue with your housing when you arrived. She though that without you having a place to live you might quit and with Ted being so set on bringing an assistant alone, losing you might make him perform poorly. She is the one who paid to have the photos of Ms. Jones and Ted taken…”
“Higgins, Leslie,” You used his first name to get his attention. “Are you telling me that Rebecca has been trying to sabotage Ted and the team? That doesn’t make sense. She’s the Club owner she would only benefit from the team doing well. And if she didn’t want to own the club, she could have sold it so someone else or let Rupert take it in the divorce. Why would she want to hurt Ted or the team.”
“It’s not about hurting Ted or the players.” Higgins explained. “The Club had always meant a great deal to Mr. Mannion.”
“Rupert.” You leaned against the wall unable to shake the smug smile of Rupert Mannion from your mind. “She wants to ruin the club and its reputation so that she can hurt Rupert.”
“Yes, exactly.” He nodded. “It is such a relief to share this with someone else.” Your mind was racing. You suddenly had a hundred questions that you weren’t sure you wanted to know the answers to.
“How long have you known about this? Why haven’t you done anything to stop her? What am I supposed to do with this information? Confront her? I-i can’t! I’m not…Does anyone else know? Does Keeley know? I have to tell Roy! Ted! No. I can’t tell any of them. Not today. Not fuckingtoday. Not before this Everton game that they haven’t won in sixty fucking years! Why the fuck would you tell me this right before we’re about to get on the bus!” You exclaimed surprising both of you with your sharp hushed tone.
“Because Rebecca has informed me that I’m to stay here this weekend while you are all away for the game. Someone must keep an eye on her. She cannot be allowed to continue doing what she’s been doing. It’s not Rupert Mannion who’ll suffer if the club is ruined.” He said. “Has anyone discussed the football relegation process with you?”
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Words: 2267
Pairing: Ted Lasso x Reader
Summary: Ted is determined to make the next day a good day. Which might have happened if Jamie Tartt hadn’t been recalled to Man City.
“[Y/N], it’s gonna be a good day, I can feel it.” Ted announced the next morning over breakfast. “Yup.” He nodded, attempting to solidify the good vibes. “The Team is finally thinking like a hive mind. We even got Jamie acting like he’s a part of the team and not just a one-man team. Heck you and me, we’re having breakfast together. I reckon nothing could ruin this day.”
“Careful Ted,” You warned him as you sipped your morning cup of tea. “You might jinx us.”
“Jinx-schminx.” He waved you off. “I don’t believe in jinxes or curses or any of them other Harry Potter words. Although being a Quidditch Coach might be cool. How often you reckon professional Quidditch teams draft coaches from the minor leagues? You think they’ll accept the resume of a Muggle coach?”
“I think that if Quidditch were a real sport, even if they weren’t open to the idea at first, you’d find a way to persuade yourself onto a team. You can be very charming when you want to be.” You told him.
The conversation continued from there with Ted asking what career you’d like to have from the Harry Potter universe. You told him you hadn’t given the idea much thought. You’d have to get back to him with an answer later in the day. So then Ted wanted to know if there were any other fictional jobs you’d like to have. You asked if Pokémon Trainer was the sort of answer he was hoping for.
“Yeah, I can see that.” He smiled. “You looking after a pack of adorable little monsters. Who’s your starter Pokémon?”
“Depends on the game.” Just like the day before, your thoughts turned to how easy it was to talk with Ted. How easy it was to be around him. Despite everything that had happened between you recently he still was one of your favorite people in the world. Ted Lasso was your person. Sitting across from him at the breakfast table the past two days had felt like coming home after a much-needed vacation. The kind of vacation that makes you appreciated what it is you’ve always had.
“You feelin’ okay, [Y/N]?” He asked.
“Hmm?” You hadn’t noticed how long you’d spaced out. “Sorry I was thinking about Pokémon.” You lied. “There’s just so. Many cute ones, it’s hard to decide.”
“I’d have to agree with you on that one.” Ted nodded. “Henry’s always been partial to Pikachu but I don’t know. I’ve never been able to pick just one myself.”
When you later met up with Beard for the morning walk, Ted circled the conversation back to Quidditch and Harry Potter carriers. Beard informed Ted that he would want no part of Quidditch. His dream Harry Potter career would be something more tangible than flying on a broom. He didn’t provide any more context than that. This prompted the assistant coach to ask if other fictional careers were on the line such as Ghostbuster or time traveler were on the list. This sparked a debate on whether or not time traveler was considered a career since there wasn’t necessarily a paycheck, but it could still be a lucrative venture.
This new debate lasted through the walk to Nelson Road and as the two coaches walked into their office. In their defense you were also wrapped up in the conversation, that’s why none of you noticed Jamie’s empty locker or his kit swinging from a hanger outside of it. You sat at your desks. You booted up your laptop and logged into your work email address. Beard reached for his playbook. Ted had just begun to lean back in his chair when Roy leaned on the door frame of the manager’s office.
“I’m not sure if the room’s general lack of panic means you’re equally as thrilled about the newest update to the roster or if it’s the more likely option that you haven’t heard about Jamie yet. Which is a shame.” The midfielder added. “I was almost starting to not hate him.”
“W-What happened to Jamie?” Ted asked.
“There’s an email from Rebecca. Looks like it went out to the whole team.” You noticed the email at the top of your imbox from the team’s owner. You read it aloud for Ted and Beard. “To the players and staff of A.F.C. Richmond, I am sending this memo to inform all of you that Manchester City has reclaimed their player which they had so graciously loaned us for the season. Effective immediately Jamie Tartt ‘s loan to A.F.C. Richmond has been terminated. I believe I speak for everyone at Nelson Road when I saw that we wish Mr. Tartt good luck on the remainder of the season. Yours, Rebecca Welton.”
“She most certainly does not speak for everyone!” Ted said getting up from his chair. “I mean, we had a real breakthrough with him last night. Y’all saw that right? I’m gonna go talk to her.”
Roy stepped aside as Ted charged out of the office door. You shot Roy a look, motioning that he should try to stop the Head Coach. He only shrugged in response.
“What did you expect me to do?” Roy asked, “Hold him hostage?”
“Yes!” You hissed at him as you stomped past. You chased after Ted and caught up with him in the hall. “I don’t think this is a good idea, Ted. There’s probably nothing you can do. If Man City recalled him our hands were tied.”
“No. I’m sorry, [Y/N] but I don’t accept that.” Ted shook his head. He took to the nearest staircase climbing the steps as fast as he could. “She’s the owner of the team. She could have stopped it if she wanted to. I need to find out why she didn’t.”
You were fighting hard to keep pace with him. You were nearly out of breath by the time you reached the top of the stairs. You were gasping for breath but managed to call out his name as he barged into Rebecca’s office with the door swinging open.
“Ted!” He ignored you.
“What’s going on?” Higgins asked, rushing over to you.
“Jamie’s gone…back to Man City.” You told him between gulped breaths. “Ted’s not…happy about it.” Any further explanation was unnecessary. You and Higgins could hear the entirety of Ted and Rebecca’s conversation from the hall.
“You got rid of Jamie?” The Head Coach questioned with an elevated tone.
“Man City recalled him.” Rebecca explained calmly. “I told you Ted; they were concerned he wasn’t playing.”
“I finally got through to him!” Ted shouted back. “I mean yousaw it. We all saw it. With him and Dani we had two aces,Rebecca.”
“I thought, that was what you wanted.” Rebecca replied ever as calmly as before.
“Yeah?” Ted continued to shout. “Well, you thought wrong!” There was half a beat where he seemed to catch himself and realize he might be overreacting slightly. “I’m sorry.” He tried to calm himself. “I’m sorry for my tone there, okay. That was rude. Look, I’m trying to be cool about this, but I am just seeing red everywhere.”
“Well perhaps you should leave before you say something you’ll regret.” Rebecca suggested. Ted began to nod in agreement. He then seemed to remember the small pink box in his hand. He rattled them like a maraca before placing the box on her desk. “Your biscuits. I hope they’re not as good as you usually are. But dang it! They’re the best batch yet! I finally cracked the recipe!”
He growled in frustration before stomping out of the room and slamming the door behind him. Ted didn’t even look at you and Higgins. He stalked past you both and jogged down the stairs. You moved to follow after the Head Coach, but Higgins called out to you.
“I was wondering…that is um…there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.” Higgins fumbled over his words.
“Absolutely, I just…I’m sorry, but I think someone’s gotta keep an eye on the Coach. Just to make sure he’s not going around shouting at everyone one. This is his second time doing this in as many weeks. But I’ll come find you later, okay?” You didn’t wait for an answer before chasing after Ted.
You found him pacing outside of the locker room, tugging at fistfuls of hair on his head. You approached him slowly.
“So that happened…” You said quietly. He looked up. You weren’t sure if he was surprised you followed him or embarrassed about how he’d just been talking to his boss.
“You go on in, [Y/N], I just need a minute.” He said lowering his hands.
“I’m not going in there without you. We’ll take as long as you need.” You told him.
“I much appreciate it, [Y/N], but I think this might be one of those moments where us being alone together may actually be the opposite of helpful. Not because I don’t appreciate you or want your help but because…well right now just about the only thing I want is for someone to hold my hand and tell me that everything is gonna work out and it’s not appropriate for me to ask you to do that so…” His sentence trailed off.
“Ted, if you need some time, we can handle practice without you.” You said gently.
“No, I’m afraid me leaving early would send the wrong message to the team. I don’t want to make the other fellas think Jamie was right, that we can’t do this without him. We been playing great while he’s been riding the bench. The team’ll be okay. I just wish I’d had a chance to talk to Jamie myself before he left.”
Other players had begun to show up. This forced Ted to vacate the hall and migrate back into the Manager’s Office. When it looked like everyone had arrived Ted and Beard addressed the locker room letting them know that Jamie had been recalled to Man City and the game against Everton that weekend would be played without him. Ted then led the room through one of his classic feel-good speeches reminding everyone they’d been playing without Jamie for a while now.
With the locker room’s energy fired up, Roy led the team out onto the pitch. The team captain and the coaches went through training like normal. They ran all the same plays and drills and aside from a few changes in player positions hardly anyone noticed the absence of Jamie Tartt. When practice ended, everyone went their separate ways without anyone even asking why Tartt had been recalled.
“You were right.” Ted told you as you walked the small side street towards your apartment.
“About what?” You questioned.
“You said this morning that I was going to jinx us and I think I did.” He sighed.
“I also remember when you said you didn’t believe in jinxes.” You recalled.
“Well, maybe I was wrong.” Ted shrugged.
“Ted.” You stopped walking and placed a hand on his arm so that he would too. He looked over at you. “What’s the happiest animal on Earth?”
“A goldfish.” He smiled. “Because they’ve got a ten second memory. I’m not sure this is something I can be a goldfish about, [Y/N].”
“Goldfish don’t have a choice about being goldfish.” You continued walking and reached the apartment building before Ted seemed to recover from what you said. “I almost forgot, I wanted to ask for your help with something this morning. I need help hanging something. It should only take a minute.”
“I’d be happy to be of service.” He said following you into your apartment.
“Just something small for over the door. It’s in the kitchen, I’ll be right back.” You returned from the kitchen with a sheet of yellow construction paper. The middle had begun to fade and the edges had begun to darken from being taped up for so long. The word “Believe” had been written diagonally across it. Ted had a much larger handmade poster hanging above the Manager’s Office at the Dog Track but the one in your hands was the original. It had been taped over his door at the University of Kansas.
“You know on our last day at UK I went to take that off my door only to find it was already gone. I though the janitor or somebody must’ve thrown it out.” He told you with a low whistle.
“I was originally going to give it to you when we first got settled in and then my boxes had to go into storage, and you have that nice big poster now. I’d forgotten that I had this until I found it while I was unpacking.” You explained. “But since you’ve got the newer poster I was thinking I’d hang this one over my door so every day when I leave the flat I can remember, believe in belief.” You handed the paper and a roll of tape over to Ted.
“If this is a roundabout way of telling me to take my own advice, I got to tell ya, I am starting to get the hint.” Ted taped the sign above your main doorframe.
“Maybe. It could also just my roundabout way of telling you that I still want you to be one of the first things I think about in the morning.” You confessed. “Goodnight, Ted.”
“Good night.” He nodded. “See you at breakfast in the morning.” He started towards the door. “Oh and [Y/N]?” He looked over his shoulder. “You and Beard. You’re my two aces.”
TAGS:@ponyboys-sunsets / @writeroutoftime / @captain-starks / @garbinge / @darshs / @companionjones / @fanaticalfantasist / @svndancekidd / @uhohmando / @cedricscoffin / @hellohauntedturnstudent / @busybeingtrash / @avengerslover-yee / @stankface / @marjoherbo / @the-fanfic-fangirl / @illicitghosts / @cloudedbreath / @lovely—————-notlovely / @grippleback-galaxy / @marvelwasmadeforthebis / @lastpasttheposts /
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Words:2492
Pairing: Ted Lasso x Reader
Summary: Reader takes the day out of work to unpack in her new apartment when Roy calls to invite her to the Team’s training room cleansing seance.
The conversation over breakfast flowed easily enough. So easy, you almost resented it. You wanted to give Ted another chance, but you also needed to protect yourself. You hated how easy it was to slip back into a routine with Ted. When you’d both finished eating you stayed and helped him clean up. Putting away the milk and butter and cleaning up eggshells. Ted commented that he looked forward to doing the same again tomorrow. You couldn’t stop yourself from agreeing.
“Maybe we could bring back movie night, too.” You offered as the two of you stepped out into the hall. “Like a weekly thing.”
“A movie night?” Ted pretended the think about it. “That sounds great. Your place or mine? Doesn’t matter. Name the time and place and I’ll be there.”
“I’ll find us something good.” You promised “Have a good day at work, Ted.” You told him, reaching for the doorknob of your apartment.
“Always do, [Y/N].” He smiled. “Try not to have too much fun here unpacking.” With a wink he stepped outside.
“What is it about him?” You mumbled to yourself as you stepped back into your flat. Trying to determine what exactly made him so irresistibly charming even when you wanted to still be upset with him.
You got to work unpacking. You started in the kitchen since that’s where the majority of your boxes were. You began to truly appreciate Keeley’s suggested that she put the boxes in the rooms they’d be unpack in because moving boxes with a broken arm was nearly impossible. You powered through though, getting most of your kitchen boxes unpacked by lunch time. That was around when you received a text from Roy.
“You picked the wrong day to skive off work.” The message read. “Rojas twisted his ankle and now Lasso wants to hold a séance in the Club House.”
“A séance?” You replied back. “Your story is missing critical info Kent. What does Dani’s ankle have to do with a séance?”
“Don’t you know? Treatment room is haunted.” He replied. You could hear his gruff voice making the comment as you read the text. You wanted to reply back that this did nothing to explain the situation, but another text came back from Roy. Gaffer’s given us all homework. We’ve gotta meet at the Club House at midnight. We’re supposed to bring something we value.”
“Oh yeah. He’s gonna burn it. Beard and I have tried talking him out of doing a team bonding burn barrel a few times. I guess Beard finally gave in.” You’d barely just pressed send when another Text from Roy came back.
“So this isn’t a cry for help because of the divorce? It’s just usual Ted Lasso insanity.” He wanted to know.
“Probably somewhere in between, but definitely something not out of the ordinary for him.” You confirmed before opening your text chain with Beard.
“Finally gave in on the team building burn barrel?” You added a quizzical emoji for dramatic effect.
“He needs an easy win this week. See you tonight?” You assured the assistant coach that you’d be there along with the rest of the team before putting your phone down and getting back to packing.
When you heard Ted return home later that night, you told him you’d been filled in on his ritual to cleanse the “haunted” treatment room. He sheepishly insisted it was a coincidence that he’d thought of the team building exercise on the one day you decided to take off work. You informed the Head Couch that you were inviting yourself to the event, if for no reason other than to prevent him from setting fire to all of Nelson Road. Ted conceded that it wouldn’t be the whole team without you and extended an invitation for you to walk with him and Beard later that night.
You met Ted roughly an hour before midnight in the hall of your building. You walked together, talking casually once again, until you met with Beard in the usual place at the bottom of your street. Beard smiled when you saw you and mentioned quietly that the morning and evening walks haven’t been the same without you. You asked him if anyone had told him the circumstances which had led to you once again residing close enough to join in the coaches’ walks. When he shook his head “no” you began to recount the tale of Keeley helping you find an apartment without knowing Ted lived just across the hall.
There wasn’t much time before midnight when the three of you arrived at The Dog Track. Most of the team had already arrived. You recognized several of their cars, including Roy’s all black vehicle parked next to Keeley’s, in the lot. You wondered where Beard and Ted had even found a steel drum on such short notice. Surely there hadn’t already been one tucked away somewhere on the property.
Still, there was one in the center of the treatment room and the entire Richmond team was packed into the treatment room like a can of sardines. Well, you told yourself it was the entire team but Jamie Tartt was, to no one’s surprise, missing. What was surprising, was Rebecca Welton standing amongst the players, doing her best not to look as if the whole charade was beneath her.
“Roy,” Ted nodded to the team Captain. “Why don’t you get things started for us?”
“I was nine, when I was drafted by Sunderland.” Roy told the room as he stepped slightly forward, inches closer to the steel barrel than he’d been before. “And, uh, I’d never left London before. My grandad drove me all the way there and it was freezing, and I was terrified.” This earned a low rumble of chuckles from a few people around the room who dared to laugh. “I was fucking nine. Say something.” He dared, but the room fell quiet in response. “When I got there, he gave me this old blanket.” Roy held up a small woolen throw blanket. It looked as it if had been well loved and certainly seen better days. “He said it was to keep me warm and to remind me of home. And that was the last time I saw him ‘cause he’d passed away by the time I got back for Christmas so…” Roy inhaled a deep breath before continuing. “That is why blankie means so much to me.” The room fell silent, until Isaac dared to ask,
“Did you just say blankie?” He teased.
“No.” Roy growled. “I said blanket.” He insisted before throwing the blanket in the barrel. “Conversation over. Sam, go.”
Sam stepped forward as Roy stepped back. His sentimental piece was a photo of the 1994 Nigerian World Cup team. The photo was important to him because Sam had told himself he wouldn’t take it down until he himself had become a member of the Nigerian team. He told everyone that was still his dream as he placed the photo in the drum atop Roy’s blankie.
Players and staff continued to step forward one by one after that. Nate had brought with him a pair of sunglasses that someone had once told him made him look like Clive Owen. Richard Montlaur presented a sampling of sand he’d collected from a beach in Saint Barts. Apparently, it was the first beach where he ever slept with a supermodel. When Rebecca attempted to toss in that day’s paper, Ted probed her about it. The team owner explained there was something written in the paper about her and she was trying not to care.
“Fuck the haters.” She added before stepping back. Around the room the team whistled, nodded, and mumbled agreements.
Keeley and Moe both nudged your forward after a few of the folks around you had already had their go. You stepped forward with shaky hands as you removed a crumped piece of paper from your pocket.
“I wasn’t sure I still had this.” You told everyone as you tried to smooth out the edges. You were glad for the excuse to avoid eye contact with any of them. “It’s been about eightish years, and I’ve moved probably three or four time since then. There’s no reason for me to still have it, but this is my first contract with the University of Kansas. It’s the school that Ted and Beard and I worked at before we came here. It’s where I worked before I met them and it’s the school that Anna and I both went to. In America its common for students to do work study to help pay for college. Essentially you do odd jobs for the campus and they lob some money off your tuition or they give you checks every so often. Well at U Kansas, students get to pick their work study. When the Head of the Athletics Department asked if I was passionate about sports, I simply replied, ‘I come from a big sports family.’ Most of you have met my sister so it will surprise none of you that Anna played no less than four sports plus trained in multiple dance disciplines ever year.”
You’ve also probably figured out by now that I’m not coordinated enough to play any sport. At the very least we can put a big red mark through football.” This earned a light laugh from your captive audience. “But for whatever reason the Head of Athletics, looked past that very obvious flaw and hired me anyway. I think it’s important for all of us to remember that we don’t know we don’t always know what’s on the road ahead for us. So take a look around the room and just try to enjoy the time you have while you’re walking together because you never know when or where your paths will fork in different directions next.”
You balled up the contact in your hands before tossing it into the barrel. The room was quiet. The air had taken a somber tone. Some of the players had, like you and Roy, brought along more sentimental items. Two of three more heartfelt sentiments were shared until Collin placed the keys to the Ferrari he’d driven to work with into the barrel. After that the locker room’s usually tone of playful jesting had returned to the treatment room.
“Alright. Everybody go?” Ted asked when he was certain they had.
“No!” Jamie piped up from behind a wall of players near the door. It seemed that like you hardly anyone had noticed Jamie arrive. “I wanna go.” He added. The crowd parted and Jamie stepped forward holding an old pair of cleats. “These aren’t like my first boots or anything. Me Mum gave ‘em to me. She was the one who got me into football in the first place. Her and me dad split up when I was just a sexy little baby. She’s the reason I work so hard. I just want to make her proud. She doesn’t even care if I’m any good. Just wants me to be happy. Be a good lad. Once I got good though, me old man started showing up, didn’t he? You know bragging to all his mates every time I scored a goal. Calling me ‘soft’ if I didn’t dominate, you know. And I hated that. I actually fucking hated that. So I made a vow to be so tough that he could never call me ‘soft’ again. I wonder if sometimes I forget about making her proud. I don’t think that she would be lately.” Jamie tossed his boots into the bin and stepped back.
“Well, gentlemen and ladies,” Ted produced a box of matches from his pocket and shook them loudly to break the palpable tension in the room. “What do you say we burn this crap?” He lit a match and hovered it over the barrel.
“Maybe we should do this part outside!” Beard suggested before Ted could drop the match. All around the room players and staff expressed their agreement. Ted blew out the match and motioned for two of the players to carry the now very full bin outside. Once the barrel was out on the pitch, the Head Coach was all too happy to produce his matches and ignite its contents.
“I have to admit.” You said to Ted as he, you, Beard and Rebecca stood off to the side while the players gathered around the barrel drinking and chatting. “Team Building Burn Barrel worked better than I ever expected it to.”
“Yeah, I think you and Beard were right to have me hold off on it so many times though. I don’t think the lesson would have stuck with the college kids.”
“Would have been overshadowed by all the fire.” Beard agreed.
“Ted!” Higgins came jogging over to your little group. “The eagle has landed.”
“Alright.” Ted nodded before patting the man on the back in thanks. “I think the only way to know if the curse has been lifted or not,” Ted said loud enough for everyone on the pitch to hear. “We need to ask the spirits for a sign.” Ted closed his eyes and tilted his head upwards. “Oh spirits, speak to us…”
“Na-na-na…” Ted was interrupted but the sound of Dani Rojas’ voice. The footballer trotted onto the field, bother of his ankles appearing in perfect condition. “Dani Rojas! Rojas!” He chanted as he galloped towards his team. The crowd began cheering and clapping.
“I brought a bottle of Mezcal to throw into the curse fire!” Dani said when the group began to settle down.
“Hey-hey, Row-Jas look,” Jamie, who was closest to him, stopped him from feeding the bottle to the flames. “Whatever ghosts it were that made you trip over, they’re gone now, I promise, yeah? Crack that bastard open.” The sentiment again earned an exclamation of approval from the team.
“Jamie’s not wrong.” Roy agreed. “Ghosts prefer empty bottles that we’ve all drunk. Fact.”
“That is a team united.” Rebecca remarked as Dani cracked open the bottle and offered Jamie the first swig. “you’re very lucky that everything’s fine with Dani’s injury. I just never had you pegged as a gambler, Ted.”
“Oh, I’m not.” Ted assured her. “We knew Dani was okay hours ago. In fact it was my man Higgins’ idea not to share that info with the boys until after the ceremony.”
“Hey Coach!” Jamie called out. “You joinin’ the party or what?”
“What do you say, boss?” Ted looked to Rebecca. “A lot warmer over there by the fire.”
“I’ll respectfully pass.” Rebecca declined.
“[Y/N]? Higgins?” The Head Coach looked to the two of you, as Beard had already begun heading towards the fire.
“Can’t leave without you, you’re my ride home.” You joked, heading towards the barrel yourself. You joined in on the raucous rendition of Richmond Till We Die that Jamie had begun to lead the team through.
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