Trophy Red Alpha

“Alright!” the coach was holding a clipboard up to his ear. “I want those who are looking to be scouted to take this seriously!” The students of Gudman Academy were standing straight as the coach paced back and forth in front of them. The cool breeze brushed the yellow gym shirts and blue shorts with parallel yellow lines. Some sat Indian style on the ground to rest their legs. Others lightly stretched and flexed, so they can focus on what the teacher would advise. “There are many scouts here looking to complete and improve their all star teams. Your performance will still go to your grades although going beyond regular will get you bonus points.” Some of the teens' eyebrows shot up. About half were hoping to get scouted, while others saw it as an opportunity to save their grades. They then look to the bleachers sprinkled with tournament coaches, some headmasters and their champion students. It was either the full team or just the leader of the team relaxing as they waited patiently for the time to walk the field and meet the participants. “You’ll have five minutes to decide and ten to find a partner that you can benefit from. Just make sure you both agree on who is baiting, chasing, or hunting. Keep in mind that your grades are on the line!” The students began to turn to others while some knew who exactly to pick as their partner. A few were still waiting for a partner to come up to them. The goal is to show what use they can be to the teams that come to see them. The teams made their way to the field to interview the crowd. Except for one team. This was Gudman Academy’s trophy team. So far, it only consists of the Gudman bloodline, the Gud Boys. There’s Billy the youngest. Known for being a charmer, although he would strike out with the ladies from time to time. Nigel is the middle child with the nickname blizzard. His stare could send chills down his own father’s spine if the son was let down one too many times. The older and leading brother of the team was absent. Their father had taken the place of the leading brother to aid them in finding a replacement for the eldest brother’s position. Rumor has it that the firstborn has grown tired over time due to his engagement with a famous young woman. The incident at a tournament six months ago led to many of his supporters demanding the board give him a leave of absence for his health. Since then, no one outside his circle has really seen him. The other brother has also taken a mental leave due to stress of school work and the tournaments. “Aren’t you boys going to go interview the rookies?” Mr. Gudman, their father, looks back at his sons while sitting down in front of them. “Performance is my main concern.” Nigel leaning back with his legs crossed and hands in his jacket pocket. “I’ll interview the best choices to be the substitute.” “I do not see many options either.” Billy sat with his hands together as his arms rested on his spread legs. “Seems like a bunch of small gamers to me.” “Haven’t I taught you boys anything?” Their father’s eyes squinted at their comments. “Size is nothing compared to the passion of the hunt! Why, I was a mere pup when I chewed on my first coyote!” he slammed his cane from the thrill of the memory. “Not everybody can be born under a cold-blooded killer, father.” Nigel defended. “Well, you can teach them since you seem to have packed it down.” His father declared. Billy snickered at the statement. “And Mr. small gamer over here has no right to be talking about uselessness!” The old man turns to the youngest with mad brows. “You bring me a moose or a bear for once!” Billy frowned while Nigel was now the smug one. “I need both of you to step up your game soon, in case we have no choice but to become a duo. This is the last and only school left. We must pick someone either from here or from the last schools we visited.” As time kept ticking, a golden-brown skinned young lady was constantly approached by her classmates to be their partner. She declined them, stating she already had one. She completes her stretching and throws her silver hair into a ponytail. “Hey!” Billy shot out of his seat. “It’s Rosaline!” His heart was thrilled to see her. He was chasing her like a cat does to birds. “She doesn’t want to see you.” Nigel stabbed at his little brother’s expectations. “I heard she’s engaged to the king of the hunt.” “Just like you, all I did was heard.” He stuck his tongue out at his strict brother. “Billy Gudman.” His father’s voice struck him still. The dad’s faded red glare shook his existence. “We are here to recruit, not flirt.” Billy placed both of his hands in his pockets as he made his way to the field. “Y-yes, sir.” Rosaline stood next to a classmate who sat on the ground doing toe touches to stretch. She placed her hands on her hips amused at how much effort the student was giving. “Are you done yet?” Rosaline questioned. “Almost.” The teen responded while rotating her ankle. Rosaline observed the classmates once more only to be interrupted by Billy making his way over. Her violet eyes glared at him as he grinned wide while waving hello. Her intuition was picking up mischievous intentions from him. “Long time no see, Rose.” Billy spoke gleefully. “Mmhmm.” Her expression continues to glare him down. “How are things going for you?” Billy was hoping to get a conversation out of her. “Fine.” Rosaline turned her attention to her partner. The ebony lady stands and rotates her shoulders. “I think I’m good to go.” Billy was stunned to see who Rosaline chose for a partner. Mostly confused that someone of her pedigree would even think of this person. Claire Barris the runt. Her father found her a stray and raised her like her own. The town folk were against it. Compared to other girls, she was more boyish and rougher. Guys mocked her for giving off alpha vibes. But something was different. As claire stood up, Billy noticed that she was built differently. She was finally going through her mature stage. Instead of a squat-like figure, she had a curvy fit build. Her hair a more fiery red and her eyes an autumn hazel with a bit of green. “What the hell are you staring at?” Claire snapped. Billy came back to reality with the desire to punch the attitude out of her. “Claire, chill.” Rosalina gave a stern look. Claire dusted her hands and walked away. “I’ll be over here.” Rosaline watched as her friend sped away. She then gives Billy her attention. “What a Red - OW!” Billy was pinched by Rosalina on the neck. “It took a lot of effort to build her up. Now be a Gud man for a change, will ya?” She folded her arms. “All you did was rearrange the fat if you - OW!” Billy was pinched again. “Would you-“ “As soon as you learn to mature like the rest of us,” Rosaline clarified. “This is college now. You boys need to lay off of her, especially. It’s getting old.” “I lay off al- Ouch!” Rosalina slapped him across the head. “I WILL call Jamyl.” She threatened. Jamyl was part of the city council and officers force. He arrested the Gudman sons fearlessly plenty of times. He was happy to make an example out of them to make sure their generation didn’t get too cocky. A recent event nearly got them and Claire sent to a rehabilitation camp in the countryside. “Alright! Geez!” Billy surrendered. “I’ll treat her like a human.” “Besides, I want to win this year and I need Claire to be mentally calm.” Rosalina walked away to strategize with Claire. Billy headed back to the bleachers. What he hoped to be a romantic conversation turned into a pinching. Once he got to the stands, he noticed Nigel chuckling away under his breath. “I take it you were trying to stir up trouble.” His father spoke with disappointment. “You're in college, Billy.” “I know, sir.” Billy climbed past his father to sit next to his brother. “I feel like you don’t.” Mr. gudman kept his eyes on the student on the field. “Oh! Claire made it!” The slight cheer in his voice startled his sons. Why is he excited about her? “This ought to be a spectacle!!” he tapped his cane delightfully between his feet. The boys kept their mouths shut. They had comments, but they were also afraid of their father’s cane. Claire was nothing but a mixed runt to them. It was baffling enough that Rosalina took her as a best friend and now their father had eyes for her. That’s when the real reason why they are scouting on their own campus hits them. Mr. Barris is a great friend of their father. All the other students really couldn’t keep up with the four brothers except for Rosalina, and she’s a baiter. Rumors about Claire working for the butcher have been circulating, but nobody believes that she could hunt since she is a red wolf runt. “Nigel. You don’t think…” Billy didn’t want the thought to be true. “If so, she would just be helping me.” Nigel was becoming irritated. It got worse once they saw their father making his way down the bleachers. "I'm going to talk to Claire before they start." the old man was making haste down the steps.