No Shame (Book 2 - No Regrets)

Chapter Sixty - Rotten Core

KATIE'S POV

Ten minutes into the first basketball practice for the school year, I realize how out of shape I let myself become. After only two warm-up laps around the gym, my body is already aching. I make my way over to the bleachers to get a drink from my water bottle before finishing the last eight laps. I'm not the only one finding their bodies struggling to keep up, several other teammates are already at or returning from the bleachers.

Jena is one of the girls on her way back to finish the warmup. Her shoulder bumps against mine as our paths cross. The bump doesn't hurt in the slightest but I find my opposite hand still reaching up to rub my shoulder. My eyes watch Jena as I take a long sip from my water bottle. Her ponytail that sways left to right as she jogs around the gym. Seeing her puts a nauseating feeling in my stomach and makes me second-guess my decision.

None of us on the team were required to attend the basketball day-camp, all of us were merely strongly urged. The day-camp, as Coach Sherbert explained in the email, is a way for us to re-sharpen our bodies and minds for our upcoming season. Evidently I am in great need of re-sharpening, in more areas than just basketball. I feel as if I'm amongst a sea of strangers than my teammates.

Remaining on the basketball team wasn't a decision I made easily or even happily. My parents wouldn't have minded or cared if I dropped basketball. They have always let my extra-curricular activities be just that, my own. Perhaps it was for that same reason, I didn't seek their advice. Perhaps deep down, deeper than I am aware of, there was a passion and longing to remain on the team; but I needed someone else to tell me to stay. Maybe that's why I went to Cason.

Obviously I have no real say in what you decide. However, if you still enjoy basketball and are good at it. I don't see any reason why you should or would quit. His reply to my previous email read, amongst other answers to questions I had asked.

  Cason mentioned that Harper was athletic as well. She liked to jog to work whenever the weather was nice enough. I never understood the fun and would go as far to tease her. He wrote.

My phone pings with a text notification as I am putting up my water bottle. I take my phone out of the bag's side compartment. It's a text from Dominick. "I can pick you up today. We can grab a late lunch. My treat."

I scoff, "Already have a ride home. Also, I packed a lunch." I send back. Both are lies, but he doesn't get to know the truth.

~~~~~~

"Does anyone else feel like they got an *ss kicking, or it just me?" Sharlotte groans as she massages her legs.

"Don't even." Amber says taking a seat by Sharlotte on the gym floor. "I warned you about spending all summer in bed, lazybones." Her foot gives Sharlotte a light nudge on the leg.

"Like you didn't do the same."

"I did, but I'm not complaining." Amber sticks out her tongue.

Sharlotte rolls her eyes, "I'm done with you." She teases. "Katie, how did you spend your summer?"

"Huh?" I say, surprised to be pulled into the conversation.

"Yeah, what did you do?" Amber seconds. "We never got to hang out."

"Oh, umm.." I lean back from stretching my legs."You know me. I just kept busy."

  Jena lets a noise that sounds like a mix between a scoff and a cough from behind me. Neither Amber or Sharlotte seem to take notice. They carry on with the conversation. I glance over toward Jena, her back is facing me as she stretches out her arms.