The Coach's Daughter

Chapter 25

I woke up to my alarm clock, which I had set the night before. Charlie and I were in the same position when we fell asleep.

I wriggled out of his grasp and got dressed. I slid into a pair of blue skinny jeans. Surprisingly they fit, considering how much leg muscle I have due to soccer. I threw a gray Mickey Mouse long sleeve on and moved on to my hair.

I straightened my hair, and then put on a gray beanie. Slipping on a pair of gray sneakers, I checked the time. 6:48am. I don't have to wake him up yet, I thought.

I took out some practice clothes and threw them in my soccer bag.

I walked downstairs, and into the garage, putting my bags in the trunk. I went back into the kitchen and started looking for breakfast.

I pulled out the loaf of cinnamon bread and opened it, taking out four pieces. I stuck two in our small toaster, while busying myself by getting the butter, plates, and cinnamon out, setting it all on the counter. I looked at the clock in our kitchen. 6:59am. Time to wake Charlie up, I thought.

I went back upstairs and into my room. Charlie was laying on my bed still, with one of his arms supporting his head and the other above his head. I sat on the edge of the bed, ready to wake Charlie up.

"Charlie, wake up," I gently ordered, shaking him. He didn't even stir, so I shook him a little harder.

"Charlie wake up," I said again, with more force.

"Mhm..." He mumbled.

"Charlie if you don't wake up, you don't get breakfast," I threatened.

"You sound like my mom," Charlie grumbled.

"Yay! He's alive!" I sarcastically yelled.

"Anna, it is seven in the morning. Please no yelling," he begged.

"Alright grumpy pants. Go get ready, come down when your done," I told him, kissing his cheek. I walked out of the room, quietly closing the door.

Going back into the kitchen, I continued making breakfast. I switched out the bread and toast, buttering them and sprinkling cinnamon over them. Once all four were complete, I set them on the table, along with two glasses of milk.

As I was sitting down to eat, Charlie came down in black athletic shorts, and a navy blue t-shirt. His hair was wet and messily sticking up.

"Morning," Charlie greeted, yawning.

"Morning," I cheerfully smiled. We both sat down, and silently started to eat.

We both finished minutes later. I picked up my dirty dishes and set them in the dishwasher, Charlie following my lead.

We walked upstairs into my room. I went into the bathroom and started to brush my teeth, with my dark blue toothbrush. Charlie came in soon after, and was about to put toothpaste on his finger.

I snapped in front of him, not being able to talk. He stopped what he was doing and asked, "What? I did it yesterday."

I shook my head. I held up my finger, motioning for him to hold on.

"Okay," he replied.

I opened the top drawer. I had many extra toothbrushes in there for surprise sleepovers. Ben, Alex, and Henry all had toothbrushes with their names on them. Alex's was black, Ben's a dark red, and Henry's pink. I don't know why he wanted pink. Such a strange boy. I picked up a green brush, and ran into my room.

Picking up a black sharpie, I wrote Charlie's name on the toothbrush. I capped the sharpie and set it down, going back into the bathroom.

I handed the toothbrush to Charlie, who grinned, gladly taking it. He then started to brush his teeth, while I rinsed out my mouth.

After placing everything back to its place, I returned to my room, looking around to make sure I hadn't forgot anything.

My back was to the bathroom, when two arms snaked themselves around my waist.

"Thanks for the toothbrush," Charlie mumbled in my ear.

"You're welcome," I replied, turning to kiss his cheek.

Charlie turned at the last minute, our lips connecting.

Moments later, we both pulled away. I grinned, looking up at him.

"C'mon. I gotta get you to school," I told him, remembering that I was going to the hospital.

"No way. I'm going to the hospital with you," Charlie protested.

I opened my mouth to say something, but closed it when I saw the determined look in Charlie's eyes. I sighed in defeat. "Fine," I huffed. He smiled triumphantly. "C'mon," I continued, "Help me find some games to bring over. I don't know how long we'll be there."

Charlie nodded, unwrapping his arms from my waist, sliding his hand down to mine. I lead him to the small closet down the hall from my room.

Opening the door, I turned on the light. Shelves upon shelves were stacked with games. Monopoly, Life, Clue, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Yahtzee, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Hi Ho! Cherry-O, Checkers, Mouse Trap, and a bunch of others. We also have a container of poker chips, for when we have parties. Our family liked to play poker a lot.

We grabbed Hungry Hungry Hippos, Chutes and Ladders, Mouse Trap, Checkers, Candy Land, and a few others, including the poker chips and a couple decks of cards.

Charlie took it all down to the car, while I grabbed one of my shoulder bags that could hold a lot inside it. Then I went into the kitchen, climbing onto the counter, to get into one of the high cupboards, where we kept our chocolate stash. I grabbed a huge bag of mini Hershey bars, using this as the money to pay for entering the game.

Hopping off the counter, I met Charlie at the car. We silently got into the car, me driving.

At a stoplight, I pulled out my phone, handing it to Charlie.

"Can you call Miss Paisley, and tell her to tell Principal Johnson we won't be there for the morning?" I asked.

"Yeah," Charlie replied. He called her, talking to her about the morning, while I continued to drive. Soon enough, Charlie hung up the phone, and set it in the cup holder.

"Thanks," I said.

"You're welcome," Charlie smiled.

We drove in silence to the hospital. I parked, and hopped out of the car. I picked up my shoulder bag and opened the trunk, putting all the games in my bag. It was bulging, but everything fit, thankfully. Looking around I noticed almost twenty cars, more than the usual four or five. I let it slip my mind as Charlie gently pushed me forward from the small of my back.

I started walking, Charlie behind me with his hand on the small of my back the whole time. Inside the hospital, we went straight up to my father's floor.

Standing in the elevator, I gently laid my head against Charlie's shoulder. He instantly wrapped his arms around me, folding me into a hug.

I weaseled my arms around his torso, leaning into him.

"I'm scared," I whispered.

"Your dad will be okay," Charlie comforted. "Even if somethings wrong, he'll fight. I know he will."

"But what if he doesn't?" I questioned worriedly.

"Why wouldn't he? He has you he needs to look after. Plus, if he doesn't, the soccer team will have to have a talk with him," he half joked.

I looked up and smiled at him. "Thanks," I replied. He smiled down at me.

The elevator dinged, signaling the end of the ride up. Charlie let me go, and followed me to my father's room.

I knocked on the door before opening it. Going inside, I saw my dad sitting up, with a giant grin on his face.

"Hey Dad," I greeted.

"Hey kiddo! Whats in that bag of yours?" He asked.

Now it was my turn to grin. "Games!" I exclaimed, walking over to him, opening the bag and showing him.

"Hungry Hungry Hippos, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Hi Ho! Cherry-O! and... Are those poker chips I see?" My dad asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

"You know it," I grinned.

"Does that mean-" he started.

"Right here," I interrupted, pulling out the chocolate bag from behind me.

"You didn't forget anything," my dad said proudly.

"I know how to throw a party," I joked cockily. My dad chuckled.

"Has Dr. Manning come in yet?" I asked.

"He's right here," a new voice answered.

I turned around. "Hey Doc," my dad and I greeted simultaneously.

"Hello, how are you feeling?" Dr. Manning questioned.

"Fine and dandy," my dad replied. I glared at him, making sure he's telling the truth. "What?" He exclaimed when he saw me. "I feel great!" He started dancing in the hospital bed to prove that.

I shook my head at him. "Its your head we're worried about Dad," I remarked.

"That feels fine too," my dad retorted. I gave him a pointed look. "Alright, I've got a small headache," he confessed.

Before I could say anything Dr. Manning interjected, "That's normal. It comes with the concussion."

"See Anna, I'm fine," my dad repeated.

"Then explain why you're still here," I snapped. He opened his mouth to answer, then closed it. I turned my attention back to Dr. Manning. "So?" I questioned.

"The results aren't in yet, I got news from the testing company that they got a little behind with shipping," Manning explained.

"When will they be here then?" I asked.

"Around lunchtime. They are being sent through the computer, so we will print them right away when they come. Until then, just relax and take it easy," Dr. Manning told us.

I nodded. "Thanks," I said. He nodded and left. I turned to my dad. "Anything you wanna do?" I asked.

"Yeah," my dad answered smirking, " But I forgot a pair of socks in the bathroom, can you grab it?"

"Sure," I replied. I walked over to the bathroom inside his room, and opened the door. I took a step in, and put my hand out, looking for the light switch. Instead I found a body. I held in a scream, and backed out of the bathroom.

"Did you find them?" My dad wondered, smirking.

"No, I didn't. Why is there a person in your bathroom?" I asked.

"What are you talking about?" My dad asked, still smirking.

"What's going on?" I questioned.

"Sorry I don't know what you're talking about," my father said.

"Charlie?" I asked, turning to him.

He put his hands up in a surrendering position and took a step back.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine." I continued louder, "But whoever's in the bathroom is going to be beat with a broom if they don't come out." Nothing happened. I picked up the broom, taking a step closer to the room. "Five," I counted. Nobody. "Four," I took another step. Nothing. "Three," another step. "Two," I brought the broom up, holding it like a bat, being only a step away from the bathroom. "One," I threatened, opening the bathroom and swinging the broom.

"Ow!"

"Hey!"

"Watch it!"

"Lemme out!"

Many different voices started yelling, mostly at me to stop hitting them with a broom.

I stopped swinging the broom and backed out of the bathroom. I had the broom ready when the people would come out.

Fourteen bodies flooded out of the bathroom. The first one who saw me with the broom shouted, "Guys she's got the broom again!" I instantly relaxed when I heard Alex's voice shout. "Oh, never mind," he corrected himself.

I looked around at everyone in the room. It was the team. "What are you guys doing here?" I wondered.

"Well, Ben told us how worried you were about your dad and how you weren't going to be at school for the morning because of the results. So we wanted to come be here for you," Eric explained.

"Really?" I asked. They all nodded. "You guys are awesome."

"We know," they all replied simultaneously.

"Don't get too cocky now," I said. A few people chuckled. I turned back to my father asking, "Did you know about this?"

"Maybe..." He drawled.

I gave him a pointed look and asked sternly, "Is Dr. Manning okay with this?"

"I guess you could say that," he replied evasively.

"Dad.." I sighed.

"Its not like somethings gonna happen," my dad reassured me.

"Knowing the group of people in this room, something will," I muttered. "I'm going to go get something to drink, I'll be right back," I announced, grabbing my wallet out of my bag and setting it down.

I walked out of the room, and towards the nurses station.

"Excuse me, where do I go to get to the cafeteria?" I asked the nurse on duty.

"Fifth floor, top floor," she answered.

"Thank you," I said.

"You're welcome honey," the nurse replied.

I took the elevator up to the cafeteria, where I bought a bottle of water.

I was back on the elevator, going down. I kept thinking about my father and everything happening. A few tears had escaped and were rolling down my cheeks. I looked up when the elevator stopped at the third floor.

A guy that looked around my age stepped onto the elevator. He had dark brown, almost black hair, and green eyes. He was a little taller then me. He saw my tears and asked, "Are you okay?"

I laughed weakly. "I don't think so," I replied.

"Me neither," he dryly chuckled. "I've seen you around here the last couple of days. My name's Steven, what's yours?"

"I'm Anna," I told him.

"That's a pretty name," he complimented.

"Uh... Thanks," I stumbled, uncomfortable with the situation.

Steven picked up on it right away. "I didn't mean it that way," he explained. "I have a girlfriend. That's why I'm here actually."

"It's okay... I have a boyfriend anyways," I half-chuckled. "What's her name?" I asked, referring to his girlfriend.

"Delia," Steven said dreamily. His eyes were full of love, but also pain.

"Why's she here?" I asked softly.

"She... Um.. She's got cancer," he choked out, his voice cracking.

I gently laid my hand on his shoulder. I knew what he was going through, in a sense.

"How bad?" I asked.

"Almost stage three," Steven whispered.

"She's still curable," I told him.

"I know. I just love her so much. She's already gone through so much. And I'm here for her as much as I can, but I'm still in school, I'm trying to find a job to help pay for the medical bills because her parents can't afford a lot- I can't lose her," Steven finally stated.

"Don't give up hope. She can still make it. Chemo, love, and hope will all help her," I spoke.

"Will you come to meet her? I know she would love you. She could use another friend right now," he asked me.

"Of course I will. I might not be able to make it this week, but I will definitely find time to come see her," I stated.

"Thank you Anna," Steven said.

"You're welcome," I replied. The elevator had gotten to the floor I needed, and I got off. I turned to wave at Steven as the doors shut. He waved back, heading somewhere else.

I walked back to my father's room. Stepping inside, I found the boys sitting on the floor playing a whole bunch of games. Alex, Ben, and Henry were all talking to my dad. I headed towards them and sat next to my dad on the edge of his bed.

"Whatcha talking about?" I asked.

"The game on Friday," Henry answered. "We're totally gonna win!"

"Don't be too cocky now," my father and I replied simultaneously. Henry stuck his tongue out at us.

I turned back to my dad. "Any game you wanna play?" I asked him.

"Hungry Hungry Hippos!" Henry shouted.

"Sorry dude. Taken," Mike and Craig said.

"Candy Land!" Henry yelled.

"We've got that one," Eric, Allen, Jeff, and Gavin replied.

"Chutes & Ladders?" He questioned.

"Sorry bro," Danny, Silas, Paul, and Micheal answered. Henry stomped his foot in irritation.

"Got anything else in there?" My dad asked, amused by Henry's behavior.

"Let me check," I replied. I picked up my bag, rummaging through it. Aha!, I thought to myself, Perfect.

"Hi Ho! Cherry-O! Is whats left," I said, pulling the game out.

"Yeah! Lets play that!" Henry shouted, jumping up and down like a little boy.

"Dad?" I asked.

"Yeah, that games fun," he smiled.

"Alright. Hi Ho! Cherry-O! is the game," I announced. "Who wants to play?"

"Me!" Henry screamed. He was smiling like an idiot.

"You can't," Ben said in a serious tone, but joking.

"What? Why not?" He asked, pulling out the puppy dog face.

"Cause you always cheat," Ben joked.

"Do not!" Henry pouted.

"Henry, relax. You can play. Ben's just joking," I explained.

"Oh... Yay! Wait a minute. Ben...." Henry dragged out.

"Yes?" Ben asked innocently.

"You're a meanybutt," Henry told him. Ben stuck his tongue out at him.

I shook my head at them and started setting up the board game near my father's bed.

***********************

Two and a half hours later, my father and I had gotten everyone to play one giant game of poker.

I don't know how long we had been playing, but we had already gotten to the last hand. It was between Charlie and me.

My father dealt, giving me my two cards. Nine and ten of clubs. Charlie and I paid to stay in the round, and my dad flipped the flop. A seven and eight of clubs came up, along with a two of hearts.

I evilly laughed internally. If I got a jack or six of clubs I would have a straight flush. I bet, and Charlie called. My dad flipped the next card. It was an ace of diamonds.

I checked, and so did Charlie. My father flipped the last card. It was a jack of clubs. Yes! I thought to myself, I've got this. It was my turn, so I betted.

Charlie called and my dad said, "Flip over your hands."

We did so. Charlie had two aces. A heart and a spade. He had three of a kid while I had a straight flush.

I smiled smugly. "I win," I announced.

Charlie looked at me with wide eyes. "You're a butt," he stated, pouting jokingly.

"Sure am," I replied nonchalantly. Everyone laughed.

The hospital door opened and Dr. Manning stepped inside. Everyone turned their attention to him.

"Did you get the results?" I asked eagerly.

"Yes I did," the doctor answered.

"Well?" I questioned impatiently.

Dr. Manning looked around, noticing all the boys. "How did all of you get in here?" He asked sternly.

"We snuck a few in at a time, and hid everyone in the bathroom," Mike replied easily. Many of the guys hit their foreheads.

Craig hit Mike upside the head. Again. "Why would you say that?" He asked, emphasizing the word 'why'. Mike shrugged.

"Doctor, if you would just tell us the results, we will all leave. These boys won't leave because you tell them to. They'll leave because their satisfied with the results," I explained.

I could tell Dr. Manning was debating this inside his head. Finally he nodded. "Alright," he agreed.

"So the results?" I reminded.

"Ah, yes." Dr. Manning continued, "So as you know, we discovered some indescribable extra tissue on your father's brain. So we took some tests-"

"Get on with it," a few boys and I interrupted.

"Sorry. So the analysts sent us the results. The results say that the extra tissue is just a part of your father's brain," the doctor explained. "The results said that the tissue has been there from birth most likely, and is not dangerous."

I smiled. "Really?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes, really," Dr. Manning assured.

I turned toward my father. He had been silent the whole time. "You're okay Dad. You're okay," I repeated, close to tears. "You're okay," I said again, my voice cracking. That's when the tears came. My dad pulled me close, hugging me tightly.

"I'm okay," he whispered in my ear. "Everything's gonna be okay." And I knew he meant it.



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Hey guys!!!! SOOOO sorry it took so long to update! I am super busy and I have been writing when I can! I'm graduating 8th grade this year and school is done in a week. So i have been doing last minute homework stuff, writing my salutatorian speech, and having soccer almost everyday after school.

But enough of my drama haha.

How did you guys like it????

What was your favorite part???

Did you guys like how Anna reacted to the team in the bathroom??

Are you guys happy that Anna's dad is okay?

(I have no idea if what happened to him is true in real life)

Can this chapter get 5 votes?? If it does, I'll try to post it really fast:):) (bonus for you guys!)

Vote! Comment! Share! Do whatever:)



P.S.- How many of you guys have heard of Who I Am by David Archeluta???? or Don't You Worry Child by Swedish House Mafia??