Coach told us we were getting a new girl. They'd scouted her from Newton high, a high school three towns away. Damn far.
"Izzie, you're the captain. Make sure she doesn't get up to any trouble here, alright? She punched a kid at the old school, god knows why, but we don't need that here."
I tried my best not to roll my eyes, and instead let out a disgruntled sigh. "I know."
Crowley peered at me. "Come on, don't be like that. She's a real gold mine. We're going places this year. Also, you're both scholarship students. It'll be nice to bond, don't you think?"
I bit my lip, hard enough for it to bleed. That was exactly what I didn't want to hear. Coach didn't say it in a bad way, but the reminder of how out of place I was in this... prestigious institution was a thorn to my side. It'd gotten better over the three years, but sometimes it felt so....lonely, I guess. Even with Nate -
no, especially with him.
My phone rang at my side, and for a second I was grateful. "Gotta take this," I pointed behind me to the door, asking for permission. Crowley flicked her hands to shoo me away and I lept out of my chair, feeling my pockets.
It was Sasha. "He-"
The deafening music on the other end cut me short. I pulled the speaker away from my ear and tried again.
"I'm out right now and I won't be home tonight to look after the kids. We need milk too. Oh - gotta dash. Remember the milk!"
The call ended before I knew it and I was left staring at the screen. It was always like this. You'd think by now, I'd learn to no longer be disappointed any more by my own mother. Calling whenever she felt like it, doing whatever she wanted with someone to shokder her load. And a club in the middle of the day? She must be joking.
I pushed the irritating feelings aside and exhaled, looking at the corridor clock. One more hour of school. I'd get through it. I started walking back to my Physics lab.
Physics was a chore. The teacher was explaining god knows what about... Circular motion? I mindlessly doodled on the work sheet, and the oval line of motion made me think about track.
Track was my one saving grace. I wouldn't be here without it. No, I wouldn't be anywhere without it. I was the captain out of solely ability, and I'd kept the team running well over the past year.
I'd won multiple championships, but Newton high was out of our region so we'd never competed. But judging from how coach talked about her, she must be good. Better than me?
It was frustrating. I pushed hard at my pencil down at the page, the lead splintering to one side. I felt my eyebrows knor together, and I let out a deep breath. Track wasn't really a team sport. This new girl might boost up to nationals, but what would happen to me? Replaced?
I didn't know what I would be without track. And replaced by a girl like that, one who probably does whatever the fuck she wants - hearing about how she punched that girl - did not make me feel good at all.
I'd worked so hard to get where I was, lying low and working so hard - so, so hard, despite of everything. And this new girl - she'd either take my place, or she was gonna make my life even harder.
Shit. I could feel the corners of my almond eyes heating up. I pressed my hands to my face trying to suppress the tears, coverinng my face from view with my long black hair on the desk in front of me.
I wanted to get rid of her.
