the story of us [dean portman 2]

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡. 𝗜 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡: 𝗜 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦

     KNUCKLES cracking was heard from Sophie's area in the locker room where she anxiously sat. She was the first person on the team to finish getting ready and so here she was sitting on the bench and staring straight ahead of her. When she could no longer crack her knuckles, she settled for tapping her fingers against her thigh. Guy sat next to her, leaning back as he took a deep breath.

"You nervous too?" Sophie asked as she looked over at the boy next to her.

"A bit but I have faith in our captain," he shrugged with a teasing smile causing Sophie to playfully roll her eyes. "Seriously though, don't stress about it. We're going to play our hardest."

The girl nodded in agreement and leaned back just as Orion walked into the room. The coach waved Sophie over to follow him and the pair walked out of the locker room. They stopped several feet away from the door, both knowing the team would try to listen in on their conversation.

"Wilson and I have come to a compromise," Coach Orion said as he looked down at the team captain. "It's up to you if you want to join varsity instead of staying on this team. He would prefer you to make up your mind by the end of the day but he agreed that you should be allowed two weeks to make your decision. Whatever you choose, I won't take personally. You should choose based on what will help you in the future and what is better for you now. I know you've had some issues with the team in the past two weeks so if varsity will be better for you, that's alright. Either way, my office will always be open for you to stop by if you need anything."

Sophie nodded as she shifted her gaze to her feet. Today's game would impact her decision but not in the if they lose, she's going to varsity and staying if they win. Depending on how the team treats her during the game and after would dictate her answer. If they all treated her the way Guy, Averman, Dwayne and the girls did then she would definitely stay where she is. But if most of them continued to treat her the way they had been since she was made captain, she would think about leaving for varsity. She didn't want to play for a team that didn't treat her with respect.

"I appreciate you two compromising for me," the girl looked up at Orion. "I really do Coach. No matter what team I'm on, I'll hold you to that offer. I don't have a lot of people I feel comfortable talking to like that so having you to talk to is nice."

Orion nodded, patting her shoulder before walking off to his office. Ellie, the girl from Sophie's first period, ran up to her with a smile when she saw the girl in the hallway.

"Hey, I wanted to wish you luck before your game," the girl smiled as she stood in front of Sophie. "You guys are going to do amazing."

"Thanks Ellie," Sophie smiled kindly at her. "I have to get back to my team but I'll look out for you in the stands. Maybe after the varsity game we can hang out if you want."

Ellie agreed and the pair agreed to meet outside the locker room after the varsity game if Sophie couldn't find the other girl in the stands to hang out together. Sophie warned her that some of her teammates might want to tag along which Ellie was fine with, telling Sophie to invite her friend Dwayne. Sophie raised an eyebrow at the girl with a teasing smile which made Ellie roll her eyes playfully before leaving to find herself a seat in the stands.