"Xander, take a seat. Don't just keep standing there."
Xander dragged himself inside. The ticking of the wall clock was louder than it had any right to be.
Each tick hit Xander's skull like a damn hammer… amplified in that void left by the disappearance of that obnoxious voice.
He slouched in the chair across from Gabriella,casually…or tried to.
Any normal day, the principal's office would always smell like polish and papers, but right now, it was laced with her. That same floral scent from the corridor… like spring wrapped around gasoline.
And it was driving him insane.Quite literally.
She sat across the desk, knees crossed, that backpack on her lap, eyes on the floor.
Not a word. Not even a damn glance.
Principal D'Souza rubbed his temples…his voice was all worn out patience.
"Xander, this is the third time this month. You think I got nothing better to do than babysit you and your temper?Had it been any other student, they would have been long since expelled. Banned from any other school. I would make sure of that. But you… I bear with you because of your late father. And it's starting to seem like you are hell bent on tarnishing my reputation."
Xander forced a nod, jaw flexing. "Yeah, I get it, sir.Won't happen again."
"You don't get it. That is the problem, " the man snapped. "You are the face of the team, kid. Scouts watching, sponsors calling, and you…" He slapped a file shut. "...you out here throwing punches like it's a bar fight.And not just anybody.Your team mate.Victor.Our other star player!!! This is unacceptable…unacceptable…you understand?!"
Xander clenched his fists under the desk.
He could take D'Souza's lectures, sure.
What he couldn't take was that over powering…constant,lingering…faint, sweet scent…sliding under his skin like static.
He flicked a look at Gabriella.
She still sat there…all quiet. Like a statue. So calm. Not even twitching.Like she couldn't be bothered less whether Xander was even present. She looked absolutely indifferent… a treatment Xander was definitely not used to.
Principal D'Souza went on grinding like an engine that refused to die.
"You think I can just tell the board, 'Oh, Xander's a hothead, don't worry, he will cool off'? No,son. My powers too have limitations. And you are not a rookie anymore. You are a name attached to this school.You aren't responsible for just your own reputation.And you need to understand that very, very well."
Xander rubbed a hand over his jaw, staring at the blotched varnish on the principal's desk.
He muttered, half under his breath, "Yeah! Basically you admit that you need me…"
"What was that?" D'Souza barked.
"Nothing, sir."
The clock clicked again.
The air conditioner hummed.
That scent…floral, clean, maddening…spilled across his senses until it drowned the principal's words.
He didn't even realise he was staring at her again until her eyes lifted just slightly.
Sad somehow ,yet sharp, a lot unreadable.
She caught him looking…and didn't look away.
No challenge. No fear. Just that same unnerving calm that made him want to knock something over.
"Mr Hale!" D'Souza snapped. "You paying any attention or should I just talk to the wall?"
Xander blinked hard, forcing his focus back. "Yeah. Sorry, sir. I am listening."
The principal sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I have talked to Coach Henderson. He is furious. He wanted you off the roster for the rest of the season."
Xander's head shot up. "What? Coach said that?"
"He has a point," D'Souza said evenly. "You can't control your temper. You are good but you often treat the court like a cage fight. That needs to end now."
A dry laugh escaped Xander. "So what, you are just benching me? That's the plan?"
"No," the principal said slowly. "I am giving you one last shot."
That got his attention.
He straightened up…wary.
D'Souza turned his gaze towards the girl. "Gabriella."
She looked up, finally speaking for the first time. "Yes, sir?"
"I have reviewed your transfer file. Top of your class. Background in sports psychology. Captain of your previous school's management committee. " He paused, folding his hands together. "That too at a very strict, convent boarding. Impressive.From this day forward, you will be assigned to Mr Hale as his personal performance monitor. His academic, behavioural, and sports management handler."
"What!" Xander blinked. "Wait, what the hell does that even mean?"
"It means," D'Souza said, calm but firm, "if you want to keep your place on this team…or on this school…you answer to her. Every practice, every report, every off court record goes through her first."
Xander half rose from his chair, almost knocking it over. "You are kidding me, right? You want me babysat by some…"
"Watch your tone,son…this is your last warning…" D'Souza warned.
He slumped back, teeth grinding. "Unbelievable!!!"
Gabriella spoke again, tone even. "Sir, with respect… I must dec..."
D'Souza nodded. " Nope. This isn't up for discussion. If you want that scholarship like you mentioned,you will have to help our star performer.I need someone who can handle him. And frankly, you are the only student here I trust to keep detailed records without being intimidated by Mr Hale's…outbursts…because you are new…and seem capable as well.Let us put my theory to test."
Her gaze flicked towards Xander again. "He won't be able to intimidate me even if he wanted to. "
Xander gave a sharp, bitter laugh. "Yeah? You sure about that, sunshine?"
She didn't blink. Just like a ghost she replied. "Positive."
D'Souza raised a hand before it could escalate. "Enough. I am not asking you two to like each other. I am asking you to cooperate. Because if this doesn't work…"
He turned to Xander, eyes hard. "You are done here. No more games. No more captainship. No fame,nothing…" Then turning towards Gabriella he added. " And no scholarship recommendations for you too."
Silence.
Xander's pulse thudded behind his eyes. He could hear it over the tick tick tick of the clock.
He exhaled, low…bitter. "So that's my leash, huh."
"Call it what you want," D'Souza said. "Just don't pull it."
He stood up, signalling the end of the meeting. "You will report to Gabriella starting tomorrow morning. Practice schedules, behaviour logs, everything. Dismissed."
The chair legs scraped the floor too hard as Xander shoved back and stood up.
He didn't look at her again…but he felt that calm presence brush against his skin as she rose beside him as well…for a moment, their shoulders almost brushed.
That same scent caught him again…sharp, floral, too infuriating now.
He muttered, low enough for her ears only, "Don't think you have it in you to manage me, princess.Better back off and just listen to me…you make the reports the way I want them. "
Gabriella didn't even look back at him…she walked past him, squatting his pride like an annoying fly…all he could do was watch that calm stride and clench his fists, because somehow, for the first time in a long while, he wasn't the one in control anymore.