Page 31 of Coached By the Grumpy Gargoyle

He sounds younger than he did a minute ago. I hold his eyes and keep my voice low.

"They need to know what their son is up to, Cole."

Athena gives me a small nod. Gene sits down again and turns toward her, spreading his big green hands on the table. I've seen him reassure worried parents this way, taking his time, making sure they know how much he cares about their kid. I used to be proud to work beside him.

"Athena. You know me. You know what I've built here and what your son means to me. Recruiters are driving up tomorrow with offer sheets in their glove boxes. That's his future sitting in this room, and one piece of paper is about to burn it down over a scuffle nobody can even prove. I protect my players. Kids like Cole matter."

"And kids like Eli don't?"

She says it quietly. She isn't even looking at Gene; she's still looking at her son. Gene opens his mouth, then closes it. I've stood on his sideline for eight years. I can't remember the last time he failed to find an answer.

Athena turns toward him. "What have you been teaching my son, exactly, Coach Gene?"

The radiator knocks twice into the silence. Gene's hands draw back from the table. I want to hear his answer too, but he doesn't give her one. Cole stares down at his knees, leaving his coach to face her alone.

Warmth spreads through my chest and out along both wings. I know what this means. It means Rory is close. A moment later I hear her heels in the corridor, coming fast, and I turn toward the door before she knocks. I've spent all day wondering whether she'll ever willingly come near me again. Now she's just outside, and I have no idea why.

Rory comes in with her chin up and a phone in her hand and a terrified-looking Eli Navarro at her shoulder.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," she says, her voice clear and firm. "But this can't wait."

Her gaze catches on me, and she stops for a moment before looking toward Patricia. She wasn't expecting to find me here. I want to get up and go to her, but I stay in my chair.

"Ms. Hale, Eli," Patricia says. "You have the floor."

Eli plants himself in front of the whole table. His hoodie collar is still stretched, his taped glasses crooked. He looks at Cole, then at the principal, and stays where he is. I'm glad Rory is close enough for him to reach.

"Eli has been recording what Cole did to him in secret," Rory says, setting a phone flat on the table. "There are weeks of clips, proving everything Eli said. I'll wait while you watch."

She draws a chair beside Patricia and opens the folder. Athena moves closer, and Gene leans forward. I shift in my seat to see the screen. Eli stays beside Rory, looking toward the window.

The first clip starts with Eli working and Cole coming into view. I recognize the angle. The phone must have been behind the ball bags in the equipment cage, where Eli puts everything away after practice. He's been setting it there, going back to work, and waiting to see what Cole would do to him. My stomach turns as Cole approaches him on the screen.

The little speaker carries the sound of Eli hitting the lockers. Rory goes rigid. Athena leans closer to the phone, and I look across the table at Cole. He won't look at any of us. His entire cocky demeanor is gone.

The dates change as Rory opens more clips. I keep seeing places I've walked past, towels I've handed to that boy, work he's done for us without a word of complaint. How many times did he help me after Cole hurt him? How many times did I thank him and walk away?

Athena watches every clip Rory plays, all the way through. When the last one ends, she sits back and rests both hands flat on the table. She turns to me.

"Coach Stryge." Her voice is quiet. "You filed to remove my son from the team roster. Based on what I saw, I’m inclined to think this is an appropriate punishment for my son."

Her eyes hold mine. "Actions have consequences, and a young gargoyle such as my son knows better than to act like an honorless bully."

I stand up. Rory turns in her chair to face me.

"Sadly, Cole is not the only one who has been acting dishonorably in this matter." I look at Patricia, then at Gene. "Ms. Hale believed Eli from the start, and she’s the one who came to me with those concerns. This morning, Gene threatened her contract unless she withdrew her complaint. I was there during this exchange."

Gene glares at me, but I ignore him. I turn toward Rory. She's looking up at me without moving, and I can see how tired she is. I want to take her hand, but first I need to finish clearing her name.

"You were right. Whatever you put your name to, mine goes next to it. You are an excellent counselor."

Her lips part. She draws a breath and holds my gaze, and the hum beneath my skin sharpens until I can feel it in my fingertips. I don't know what she's thinking. But she's looking at me, and I let myself hope.

"Then I've heard enough." Patricia takes off her reading glasses and sets them beside her pad. "Cole, the removal request is granted. You're off the team, effective now. Tomorrow's roster posts at three without your name on it."

"Yes, ma'am." He can barely get it out. Athena remains beside Patricia, making no move to go to him.

"Gene." Patricia waits until he looks at her. "You tried to stop two members of staff from reporting a student being hurt. You've had twenty years to teach these boys better than that. You're fired as head coach of Saltford High. Effective today."