Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Around that bit of chaos, Jean was learning how to be a college student. It was a curious thought to have when he was starting his senior year, but it wasn’t until Wednesday afternoon that he truly understood how narrow his view had been. The Ravens’ lives had been tightly controlled, with dedicated instructors and compact classes tailored to work around their shortened schedules, so he’d never really spent time on campus. He remembered towering buildings and boring lectures, the shuttle that would rush the Ravens back to the Nest, and little else. Now Jean was trapped on campus from six to half-past two five days a week.
Monday and Wednesday were a series of easy hand-offs, Shane to Jeremy to Cody. Jean always had a lunch prepared, since he and Cat put together a week’s worth of meals, but Cody sought out one of the on-site dining halls for their own food. Afterward the pair found a sunny spot to settle down, and Cody drifted between easy conversation and comfortable silence until it was time to head to the stadium.
Tuesdays and Thursdays proved to be a bit more complicated, but Jean hoped it would get easier with time. Now that the school year was underway, Jean’s permanent schedule with Dobson settled into place. It was a wretched way to start the day, having to call her right after morning practice, but at least it got her out of the way. Somehow every single one of the floozies had a class during that period, but Tanner was free and willing to study at the library while Jean holed up in one of the study rooms for his call. As soon as Jean was free Tanner had a million questions for him about the Ravens, most of which Jean ignored unless they had to do with drills.
Jeremy had gotten permission to sit in Jean’s business microeconomics class so long as he wasn’t disruptive. He didn’t have to pay attention, but on Tuesday he gave it a good attempt out of some semblance of curiosity or solidarity. By ten minutes in his eyes had glazed over from boredom, and five minutes later he was fast asleep. Since he was quiet at rest and he was only attending for Jean’s sake, Jean let him sleep and focused on his own notes. Jean’s next class was in the same building, so he sat tense in his classroom until Shane caught up with him. Afterward Cody came by to snatch him up.
On Thursday Tanner thought to bring his laptop and a headphone splitter to campus, so he and Jean watched part of a Raven match after Jean hung up on Dobson. Tanner pointed out every instance he spotted the kind of shot Jean’s drills were slowly teaching him. Seeing it in action and knowing what he was working toward pulling off seemed to light a new fire in him. Tanner wouldn’t have any court time this year, as the USC Trojans recently started red-shirting their freshmen, but he was trying to cope by looking ahead.
“No one’s going to see me coming,” Tanner said, sounding pleased. “They’ll know my high school stats only and not that I was getting one-on-one training from the perfect Court.”
“Assuming you can ever learn the drills,” Jean said.
“I can!” Tanner made a face at him. “I’m trying.”
“Sometimes you do. Most of the time you are a walking disaster.”
“Rude! Sorry I wasn’t born creepily gifted, or something? But I can do it. I’m not gonna stop until I figure this one out.” He checked his watch before shoving his laptop into his backpack, and he hesitated to turn a serious look on Jean. “Hey, I was talking to Lucas about your drills. You sticking him on a light racquet, and all, I wondered if these would help him figure it out, but he said he couldn’t come. You two still fighting?”
“My personal opinion of Lucas is irrelevant,” Jean said. “He is a Trojan.”
Tanner kicked idly at the leg of Jean’s chair before getting to his feet. “That’s not really a yes or no, you know.”
“The drills do not have an invite list.”
“That’s still not—” Tanner gave a disgruntled sigh as he started toward the exit.
Jeremy was coming from class, so they reached Hoffman first. Tanner had another open period, since he’d stacked most of his classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, so he was in no rush to leave. Tanner practiced swings while he waited, complete with unnecessary “whoosh” sound effects. Jean tried not to hold his form against him, since Tanner was obviously doing this more for entertainment than proper study, but it was still irritating enough he had to look away. Luckily Jeremy was by to save him only a couple minutes later.
“He really likes you,” Jeremy noted as they got settled in their classroom.