The Tryout (Phase III)

Note: 1. Had to go back and save El Blanco, because I realised that there were nine rookies left after the battle royal. 

2. Changed scrubbing his chest to clutching his chest. 

The tense silence was broken by Daniel's roaring laughter and thunderous clapping.

"Wooooo! Well done!" Alexa hollered, clapping with less power, but twice the vigour.

Tonye nodded his head with more conservative claps.

Lopez growled, "So she shoved him, big deal,"

Vités raised his fist with excitement, "I will train so I can one day challenge her,"

The Viking grunted.

La Blanco sighed and shook her head.

"Suzanna..." Ramatla said.

Mostafa stroked his beard, "Have I at last found the alpha female of our species?"

Mallory and Semenov both walked out, dejected. Tonye stopped clapping and followed them.

Talon still a bit shook, smiled, "I knew it,"

While this was happening the two people in the ring continued to stare at each other. Suzanna felt her anger stand up from its chair and leave. In its place, sat shock. It was a big chair, so there was space for horror.

(WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST DO?!)

His eyebrows knitted together, which caused her to take a step back.

"Nothing about you makes any sense,"

"Huh?"

He rolled out of the ring and left for the locker room. Her whole body started to shake and she fell to her knees, still racking her brain as to what just happened.

Daniel took a moment to catch his breath, then straightened,

“Alright,” He had to take a few breaths and wipe a tear from his scarred eye. He straightened and ordered, “Line-Haha-Line oehp.”

The eight rookies did as instructed, with Suzanna being the last to join. Tonye came back with Mallory and Semenov in tow. They rejoined the line, bringing the number back to ten.

He joined the other two coaches and spoke,

"We're about to enter the third and final phase. If your name is called, step forward. If not, this isn't the end for you. Keep your head high and keep putting in the work. Believe me when I tell you, it will pay off," He was speaking to all of them, but his eyes were on Semenov and Mallory, who smiled and nodded respectively, "Comprendido?"

"Yes, Coach!"

"Suzanna Lee'aja,"

"Huh?! Y-Yes, Coach!" She quickly stepped forward

"Danys Vités,"

The young Haitian was next to her in the blink of an eye,

"Yes, Coach!"

"Viking,"

"Yes, Coach!" He growled, before stepping forward,

Two spots left. The others were getting anxious.

"Ramatla,"

"Yes, Coach,"

Final spot. This was a tough one that seemed to take ages. Tonye scanned the remaining rookies.

Lopez stood as big and scary as he could.

Mallory stood at attention, pulling forth all the determination he had left.

Semenov decided to follow his example.

La Blanco looked down and bit her lip.

Mostafa had his hands on his hips, looking up at the ceiling while doing another pec dance.

Talon folded her arms and tapped her index finger.

Finally, the selection was made,

"Mostafa,"

He got on his knees and screamed, "Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes! Thank you thank you thank you thank you!"

Alexa stifled a chuckle. Daniel scoffed,

"Alpha male..."

Mostafa quickly joined the quintet. Suzanna looked at him with empathy.

Lopez swore and walked out. Red Talon sighed and tapped Suzanna on the arm. The big girl looked down at her,

"Good lock," Talon said. Suzanna smiled and nodded,

"You too,"

With that, she and the others took their leave.

"Well done!" Alexa praised, "Now comes the single most intense challenge today," She paused with a deathly serious expression on her face, "You're going to be interviewed one-on-one by Mrs Gamal,"

Suzanna's eyes were suddenly the size of dinner plates.

(WHAT??!!!)

Vités and Mostafa were equally nervous. The Viking and Ramatla were stoic, but their hands twitched.

"What 'appens frahm dis point ahn isn't oehp to oehs, it's oehp to 'er. She cooehld 'ire all o' you ahr nahne o' you," Daniel said, bringing back his earlier menace, "So lesten oehp if you want to soehrvive,"

(SURVIVE?!)

"Gamal values 'ahnesty mahre dan anythin else. Wit 'er and wit yooehrself. De mahment she dinks you're takin 'er fahr a ride..." He narrowed his eyes, "...she'll throw you into de ahncombing lane,"

Suzanna gulped.

Alexa had her thumbs up,

"So just be yourself and be clear about your goals; if nothing else, you'll at least have about a quarter of her respect,"

She pointed to Suzanna,

“Suzanna, since you knocked Thompson off his feet, you get to decide if you want to go first or last. Choose wisely, the outcome could change drastically depending on how everyone else makes her feel,”

“R-right now?”

Alexa briskly nodded. Suzanna looked down and frowned deeply in thought, which made the other rookies uncomfortable.

“Teck tahck,” Daniel said, tapping his wrist with his finger, “Make de choice ahr it'll be made fahr you,”

Suzanna took a deep breath and said,

“First, Coach,”

“You sure?” Alexa asked, “You saw how intense she could be. Maybe you want to take the time to steel yourself, gauge your fellow rookies’ reactions,”

She had considered that, but…

“I want to make a good first impression and I think… the longer I wait the more nervous I’ll be,”

Alexa turned around and waved, “Okay. She’ll be back to speak to all of you in an hour,”

Tonye followed suit, his hand behind his back, “I suggest you prepare your responses and presentation. Buena suerte,”

“And take a damn shower,” Daniel dismissed them with his hand, “You all stink,”

Suzanna gulped and headed for the women’s locker room.

(I made the right choice…. Right?)

Meanwhile, in the men’s locker room, Simon was clutching his chest. His heart had finally calmed down.

(What the hell was that?)