Elevator

"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind."

-Mahatma Gandhi.

"Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or friendship is a conversation."

-Oscar Wilde.

"All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal."

-John Steinbeck.

This chapter is dedicated to these amazing writers, phaylen Jkaloko RuthieBalo Diana_Simpson

The song suggestions for this chapter are eye of the tiger by survivor and don't stop believin by the journey.

Read and enjoy, vote and comment, thanks.

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♥ Ralph's POV ♥

I have been issued a strike twice, the red tigers lost to the black belt, another prominent school in New York. The black belt likes to console themselves that their school is better than Royal academy. They tend to turn everything to competition just to prove their point. Well, maybe football truly is a competition and the winner tends to be the legitimate best.

We have lost the game twice in a row now because of lack of cooperation from my teammates. Coach keeps drafting the same old strategic method that keeps backfiring on us and we keep loosing.

The principal is crossed, the school has a prestigious reputation, achievement and rank so she wants us to own up to our shits and rectify things. While Coach Liam is on the receiving end of her rants and pressure, he equally transfers aggression and anger to us but I tend to feel the pressure more as my position, passion and fame is at stake here.

One more strike from coach Liam and I will not only lose my position but also be kicked out of the team even though I have devoted my entire time, energy and life to the team.

The plan is to go see him in his office, talk sense into him and try to straighten things up. If the team and school will move forward then he has to give us the opportunity to draft our strategy that works for us, he has to let us follow our intuition and give every member a fair hearing and chance so we can cooperate and collaborate for a better result. Hell, even the mascot guy is tired.

Coach office is on the eighth floor of the school and I will only be a sucker to start using the stairs.

I walked into the grey-coloured elevator. A huge sparkling mirror faced me as it gave my reflection. I looked tired and confused. Stress was seriously eating me up. The mirror looked like it was cleaned every five minutes. Call me crazy or unrealistic but the school is so wealthy that they can spend thousands of dollars on getting the mirror clean and sparkled, but either way, they must be enriching some poor widow or cleaner that way.

The interior design of the elevator screamed beautiful and ridiculously expensive. A gold broader shined like the sun with a painting in the middle that resembled the once you see in ceilings of a big pentecostal or celestial church.

Everything looked beautiful and vibrant until, she walked in with a rigid posture, and furrowed brows knitted together.

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♥ Anna's POV ♥

I failed my last P.E test. It more or less like my results got swapped because there is no freaking way for me to have such a ridiculous score in one of my favourite subjects.

I confronted the coach about it and he told me to come see him at his office after lunch break.

I went into the elevator the moment it was open and my mood got sour at his sight. It was the arrogant jerk.

I simply stood at the opposite side he stood and I counted the number of floors the elevator passed in my mind.

His cologne hit me deep in the nostrils as his brown orbs followed my everything movement. Right from cracking of knuckles to the vibration of my foot. He didn't look like his usual arrogant and cocky self instead he looked innocent and pitiable today. He looked so humble and attractive. A compliment he will never hear me tell him to his face because it will only fuel his huge ego.

The sound of the elevator tinging broke my train of thoughts. We both made to move out at once and ended up brushing shoulders. He stood still and waited for me to move out before finally following behind.

The teachers have an entire floor to themselves. The floor cafe produces the best of food, the best quality of things and of course even the vending machine products are cheaper. Everything looked well organized and attractive.

Coach's office has different paintings of ball, field, football stars and medals.

The door held a tag that has coach written in bold capital letters. I watched as Ralph knocked and Coach deep voice echoed "come in." Before we both entered.

"On behalf of the school, you have finally being laid off your post. You can go and concentrate on your studies instead. The school will find a better captain." Coach disclosed in that authoritarian voice. I gasped in surprise and stared at a down casted Ralph. He looked so sad and angry. I never knew even the popular school bad boy also undergo pressure.

"The school will continue losing matches even without me." Ralph fired back as his chin remain rigid as he narrowed his eyes.

Coach's eyes widen in surprise and anger as he stood up cracking his knuckles as disbelief registered on her face.

"I beg your pardon?" Coach chided as his eyes turned a darker shade.

"I said this school will continue losing matches even without me. You know why? It because of you. Your old strategic and defenceless method will ruin this entire school and you will regret ever laying me off." Ralph ranted as his voice rose higher with each word.

"How dare you talk to your coach that way without any respect, have you lost your mind?" Coach squinted his eyes and walked towards a fuming Ralph.

Ralph chuckled darkly. "Ex-coach you mean, I will talk to you however I want to talk to you because you don't freaking deserve an iota or atom of my respect.

After all the things I have done for this school and the team." Ralph countered back and his knuckles looked very white from too much clenching.

"Nothing is working again, don't you get it? The team isn't cooperating because of you." Coach reiterated and sat on his table as his voice lowered.

"People who work together will win, whether it is against a complex football defences or the problems of modern society." I chipped in and for once they acknowledged my presence. Ralph looked appreciative of my comment as he sent a little smile my way.

"A school without a good football captain is in danger of deteriorating into medieval hall. Ralph is the best captain the school can ever have because he is diligent, it's his passion, he gives it his all, he has great leadership skills, he is popular, and everyone tends to look up to him."

"If with all these great qualities the team is still losing then maybe something is wrong somewhere. You have to look deep and ask yourselves what is going on. This is the time to stick together and not to quarrel over petty things because together you are mightier. The wise build bridges and the foolish builds barriers. So, it left to you both to pick the former or latter." I advised and folded my arms and leaned on the wall while watching the two of them look down in shame. Coach finally stared into our eyes as he listened to us.

"Like a basketball game, wars are not over till they are over. All we need is a new defence system, a new awakening, a new motivation, a new ideology, an entire different goals and objectives with peculiar ways of obtaining them." Ralph reiterated as a new look of hope and relieve took over his face. He looked happy once again as determination flowed through him like newfound energy.

"You are right kids. Get the kids to assemble for a conference on the field. We need to reassess things." Coach concluded. He stood up from the table and sat on his chair as he continued writing what he was previously writing.

"Am I still in the team?" Ralph probed with a panic tone as his fingers fidgeted.

"Tell them coach and captain wants to have a meeting with them," Coach added and a smile took over Ralph facial expression.

"Yes, coach." He admitted with a mock bow and a wink my way while I chuckled.

"Gray? Your result has been rectified you have an A." Coach finalized and I thanked him and walked out of the office with Ralph by my side.

"Thank you very much for what you did back there. I have been nothing but a jerk so far, hearing you defend me made me a reason and speak out because anger won't solve anything." Ralph started as the elevator opened. He waited for me to move in before finally stepping in.

"It nothing even though I agree you have being quite a jerk indeed. You have worked so hard for the team and you don't deserve to just be laid off." I afford and pressed the ground floor button.

"We have both started on the wrong side, and truly we might have misjudged each other. How about we forget all grudges and start on a clearer and cleaner slate." He divulged and removed his bangs from his eyes when it obstructed him.

"I agree with that and I'm sorry for the other day. It was uncalled for." I revealed.

"So what do you say to a new friendship between us?" He perused and stretched his hand for an official shake.

"As much as I don't like your cockiness and I never envisioned to be the bad boy's friend. Either way, it a deal." I concluded and shake his hand firmly while he winced in pain.