Our Invisible String (Complete Version)

4 (Travis Version)

So, I'd stay away. I wouldn't avoid her; if life crossed our paths, then hey, I couldn't control that. But I'd live my life while she lived hers, because feelings came and went. Maybe it was just because I was seeing her again after so long, and the attraction I harboured for Taylor Swift would surely soon pass.

I left the teachers' lounge, crossing in front of the main office and going down to the gym. There were a few students milling around, catching up from their recent break. The fresh autumn air blew across my face as I entered the front of the gym where the offices were. On the right of the offices were the students changing room, and the hall down to the gym was in the middle. It was all so familiar to me, so I had declined needing a tour. It was still a little weird to think I'd be teaching students that I'd gone to school with, but they'd been years younger and probably wouldn't even remember me, which worked just fine. This wasn't my ideal career, but at least it was something to do with football.

Moving into the second office down – past the head P.E teacher's one – I opened the door and walked inside. It wasn't huge since I didn't have a job with tons of responsibilities, but I felt a small sense of accomplishment that it was still mine. Yeah, I'd do just fine here.

I had a desk, chair, and computer with a bookshelf covered in everything I might need as well as extra space for things I acquired throughout the year. There was a chair on the other side of my desk in case I ever had company, and I had a window out of the side by my desk, giving me a view of the field and the music building. I strolled over to the window, watching as I saw Taylor walking from the office, over to the building. She unlocked the door and propped it open, about to go inside when she lifted her head like someone had called her name. Her hand lifted in a wave, and I watched as a female student dashed over and gave her a hug.

I smiled to myself at Taylor's friendly relationship with the student. Of course, she'd be the teacher to throw formality out of the window and make friends without regard for her authority as a teacher. I guess that made sense; the music teacher was probably the last formal and the most hands on. Taylor really had grown up a lot from the shy girl scribbling in her notebook, turning into this friendly woman who seemed to get along with everyone. Well, except for me.

Taylor and the student walked into the building as they chatted, and I looked away, deciding I shouldn't be that person. Watching her from a distance would only slow down the process of pushing my faint feelings away, and I just wanted to put my attraction to the side so I could get on with life. Maybe if I did well here, I could catch the attention of someone high up in the NFL and sign on as a coach instead of a player. Now that, that would be a dream come true.

For the first part of the morning, I familiarized myself with my new job. I'd put out a notice to hold a meeting on the field at lunch for anyone who wanted to be on the team, and we'd go from there. I had a list from the last coach of everyone currently on the team, so they were coming too. Obviously, some of them had graduated, so I had spots to fill and a team to construct. Luckily my experience in a football team for years meant that I had an idea of what worked and what didn't unlike some idiot coaches who had never put themselves in their players shoes.

There really wasn't an awful lot for me to do, so I took it easy for the first part of the day. Just before the bell rang for lunch, I took my clipboard containing the list of current team members out with me onto the field and went over to the bleachers where I'd asked everyone to meet. I couldn't wait to get this started, to feel like even though my dream hadn't worked out, maybe the boys I coached still had a shot at theirs.

When the bell rang, students started filtering out of the different building, streaming towards the cafeteria to get their lunches. A few minutes after that, I noticed a few boys starting to come out onto the field, their lunches balanced in their hands as they walked. I stood up, smiling at them when they came over. The three that came over first introduced themselves as Dylan, Kobe, and Jacob, boys who were already on the team from last year. They told me a little about the team while a few others joined us, and I had to admit, it sounded promising.

"The last coach we had was kind of a jerk though." Dylan told me in-between bites of his sandwich. "He thought that his way was the only way, so we had to have our own practices behind his back and we kind of went off on our own during games. He got so pissed."

"Old guy?" I guessed, and all of the boys nodded, laughing that I'd guessed it. "Well don't worry." I chuckled. "I'm not here to crack a whip at you. I've played in teams before and I know that you boys know best about what does and doesn't work for you. We're going to work together this year and hopefully take you to the championships."

That seemed to really give the boys hope, and they looked happy to have me as their new coach. One it looked like everyone who was coming had arrived, I sat them down on the bleachers and introduced myself, giving a bit of backstory so we could be more familiar with each other. Everyone was really friendly, telling me their names so I could know them properly. I talked a little bit to the boys already on the team and then let them go, wanting to focus more on the ones wanting to try out.

"Great, so there's about seven spots on the team I need to fill, but I'm willing to extend that number depending on how you boys do. If there's more of you, that just means we'll be doing a little more subbing on and off." I said once I'd talked to the boys and familiarized myself with the positions they wanted to play and got nods in return. "Try-outs will be today after school from three-thirty to about five. Make sure you're on time, and I'll see you there."

Thanking me, the boys got up and wandered off. One stayed behind – James - looking kind of embarrassed.

"Uhm sir, would it be okay if I came a bit later or earlier?" He asked. "Auditions for the school band is at the same time and I really want to try out for the drums." I nodded, scanning the sheet quickly to look at what I'd written down next to his name

"You're trying out as linebacker, right?" I checked, and he nodded. "Alright, I'll get you in half an hour later if the band supervisor lets you go first. I'll have a word with them, you know which one it is?" The boy nodded, a relieved smile on his face.

"Thanks coach! The band supervisor is Miss swift!"

Damn it. Of course it was.