Chapter 17
After football practice I had to wait for Ryan to finish his tutoring session so I stopped by Mr. Thompson’s office. I knocked on the door.
“Come in Jason,” Mr. Thompson said.
“Hi Mr. Thompson. How did you know it was me at the door?” I asked
“I could see you on the camera I have over my office door.”
“Oh.”
“How was your first day Jason?” Mr. Thompson asked.
“It was good. I met some new friends and Ryan seems to be settling in okay.” I said.
“I saw all of you sitting together at lunch.”
“Yes, there are definitely some big personalities in the group.”
“Well you will be my eyes and ears of the group. You are the leader and I expect reports on them all. I chose each of them for this program and I expect excellence. Yes, I saw your little performance out on the football field this afternoon as well. I know your skills are advancing quickly, but you don’t want the others asking questions right now. Here are some supplements for you to take before training this evening.”
“Of course, Mr. Thompson.” I responded.
“Okay, I will see you at the training center,” Mr. Thompson said.
I left Mr. Thompson’s office and headed to the library to check on Ryan. I looked inside and saw him sitting at a table with the tutor. I left before he could see me and stopped at my locker to get my calculus book before heading over to the training facility. I popped the few pills in my mouth and took a took a sip of water. As I closed my locker, I was shocked to see Natalia standing there.
“Hey Jason. How was football practice?” Natalia asked.
“Hey Natalia. It was good. I met all the coaches and the rest of the team. Chase and I were made co-captains of the team.”
“That’s great Jason. Are you on your way to training now?” Natalia asked.
“Yes, I’m going now. I don’t wanna be late. Do you wanna walk over with me?” I asked.
“Sure,” Natalia said as she smiled at me.
Natalia and I talked and held hands as we walked across campus to the training facility.
“Well Jason what plans do you have for our date on Friday night?” She asked.
“I guess you will have to see won’t you,” I replied.
“I love surprises.” Natalia giggled.
As we walked in Maurice, Nick, Chase, and Vince were all standing around the pool talking. Natalia headed for the locker room while I walked over to the group.
“Hey guys what’s up?” I said.
“Well Jason you and Natalia look cozy,” Nick laughed.
“Shut up Nick. We’re just friends,” I said.
“Looks like more than just friends to me mate,” Vince said.
“Well I have to say you move quick,” Maurice said giving me a funny look.
“Hey guys give him a break okay?” Chase said.
“Alright guys let’s focus on our training please.”
Natalia walked up to the group looking amazing, wearing a bikini and carrying some scuba gear. Mr. Thompson walked over to the group to give us instructions.
“Okay everyone, get in line. Tonight, we will be practicing your underwater competency. You will be paired up in teams of two. Natalia you will team with Maurice. Nick you will team with Chase. Jason you will team with Vince. One of each team will put on the scuba gear and jump in the pool. The other on the team will jump in and simulate a disruptive water environment by grabbing for the mask and cutting off the oxygen to your partner. The purpose of this exercise is to see how you respond mentally in the water while under difficult circumstances. Get ready,” Mr. Thompson said.
I walked over to Natalia. “Good luck. Don’t be easy on Maurice,” I said
“Oh, don’t worry I won’t.” Natalia smiled.
I watched as Natalia put on the scuba gear and stood next to Maurice at the edge of the pool. I put on the scuba gear and stood next to Vince at the edge of the pool.
“You will all be timed for this exercise. On my whistle you all will jump in the water.” Mr. Thompson instructed.
Mr. Thompson blew the whistle and we all jumped in the water. Vince came for me right away wrapping his arms around me and pulling me under water. I held my breath as I went under but was able to escape his hold. As I came to the surface of the water I could see Maurice holding Natalia under the water. She then elbowed Maurice in the face and he let her go and she swam to the edge of the pool. Mr. Thompson blew the whistle.
“Okay everyone out of the pool, now.” Mr. Thompson shouted.
We all got out of the pool and sat down on the bench. As I looked over at Maurice, his nose was bleeding. The medic came over to look at his face.
“Hey Natalia, what the hell was that about?” Maurice yelled.
“Well Maurice, I was reacting just like you were an enemy. If we were in a real situation I would have reacted the same way,” Natalia said.
“She definitely a firecracker.” Vince said to us.
“I hope my nose isn’t broken!” Maurice stated.
“Sorry Maurice, I didn’t mean to hit you so hard.”
“Hey Mr. Thompson, why is she even here with us anyway,” Maurice said.
“I’m sorry Maurice, last time I checked I don’t answer to you and it looks like you need to toughen up some. Natalia is a valuable member of this team just like all of you are. Natalia did exactly what she was supposed to do. When you are facing the enemy, there are no rules. Following your instincts and training is what’s gonna save your life.” Mr. Thompson said.
“Hey Maurice, did Natalia hurt your ego a little?” I said.
Maurice started to walk away when I walked up to him and grabbed his arm. “Hey Maurice,” I said. As he turned around he tried to punch me, but with my quick reflexes I moved, and Maurice lost his footing and fell into the pool. Everyone started to laugh. He even began to laugh himself as I reached down to give him a hand to help him out of the pool.
“Hey, sorry man I guess I deserved that,” Maurice said.
“Hey, no need for apologies. We are all learning here. It’s gonna be hard,” I replied.
“Sorry Natalia if I was too rough with you earlier.”
“It’s okay, I can take care of myself Maurice. Sorry about the nose.”
Mr. Thompson walked over to the three of us.
“Is everything okay over here?” Mr. Thompson asked.
“It’s fine, sir,” Maurice said.
“Hey Jason, way to go mate. Maurice is a real asshole sometimes,” Vince said.
“Wow I hope this doesn’t cause problems within the team Jason,” Chase added.
“Listen, everything is fine. Let’s finish up training so I can go pick up Ryan. It has been a long day.”