Andrew Joseph Minyard

Andrew sat on the hood of his Maserati, idly rolling an unlit cigarette between his fingers. Half an hour before practice, Palmetto Stadium was bathed in the late-evening silence. The sun melted the asphalt. Andrew hated the heat, the heat, and especially the waiting time. The pills habitually got his blood pumping, making his lips twitch in a fake smile, but inside he felt empty.

The silence was broken by the sound of sneakers. Dan Wilds appeared from around the corner. The captain's face expressed determination mixed with irritation—a sure sign that something Andrew definitely wouldn't like was about to happen. Next to her walked a guy/girl, looking around fearfully, clutching a gym bag tighter. Another of Wymack's "problematic" finds.

Dan stopped three steps from the car, blocking the sun.

"Minyard," she snapped, crossing her arms. "Wymack's stuck in the dean's office. He's our new striker. Take him inside and show him around the stadium properly. Please. Without your stupid jokes, knives, or threats. Just the locker room, the lounge area, and the field. Can you handle it?"

Andrew slowly turned his brown gaze to the newcomer. Under his heavy, unnaturally cheerful squint, the newcomer visibly cringed and took a step back, almost hiding behind the captain's back.

Andrew slid off the hood. The armbands pressed against his wrists as usual, reminding him of the hidden steel. He grinned wildly, causing the boy to turn even paler.

"Reasonable?" he repeated, a dangerous, sarcastic laugh lacing his voice. "Dan, my sweet, you're asking the impossible of a man with a certificate. But since our precious trainer has abandoned his new stray puppy... Well, come on, rookie. Let's see how quickly you'll be willing to escape this hell."

He turned and, without waiting for an answer, strode toward the glass doors of The Burrow. Dan sighed heavily after them, praying that the newcomer would be safe when Wymack arrived.