We're Still Human

Chapter 8: What Happened to Peace?

"Oh you've got to be fucking kidding me," Joanne groans as Nadia struts into the gym. "Does she have to be here all the time?"

I nod. "I don't like it either."

After Audrey's odd return and patching up things with Kendall, things went smooth for a week. Today, I'm here with the track team for our first meeting before the volley team comes to take over. In support of Kennie, I decided that I'll stay and watch her practice, Mayne even join in. Nadia on the other hand, wants to handle things...different.

Nadia places a hand on my shoulder, and I step further away from her, looking at the girls. "Tough crowd," she jokes.

"I wonder why," I murmur. "Hey ladies, I'm going to keep this sweet and short; we have a long term to show our worth. I know a few that are good at hurdles, long distance, and short distance. Joanne is going to pass around a piece of paper, write what you're good at, pass it on to the next person, and then you can go for the afternoon, we'll be on the field next week."

"Wow, is that how you train girls?" Nadia huffs. "Are you guys okay with this?"

"Shit, anything to miss practice today," one junior says, handing the paper to the next person before getting up and giving me a high five. "Best captain ever!"

"You better be prepared next week Tanya!" I yell as she skips out.

"Always prepared!"

Nadia pulls me to the side. "I don't agree with this."

I smile at her sweetly. "Well you don't have to, the door is that way."

She squints her eyes at me. "Yasmina, do better."

"Wow that's the first time you've called me by my name, is that a sign of respect from you?" I gasp as she shakes her head, snatching the paper from the last teammate.

She ignores me and looks at the paper. "Everyone put one thing, how about the damn relays?"

"We'll pair them, we need to see these skills live and that is what we will be doing next week," I explain. "I'm not dumb."

"You are a little slow though." Nadia snatches the pen from me. "I'm good at everything."

I roll my eyes. "You wish."

"What was that, Thandie?"

I nudge her as Joanne plays with one of the basketballs. "I said you wish."

Nadia smirks, handing the paper and pen to me before heading over to Joanne. She guards Joanne and blocks her shot, running to get the ball. Nadia looks at me as she tries to shoot, but Joanne comes back to block her shot. Nadia spins and throws a three pointer from across the court, the ball going in smoothly.

"I wish, huh?"

Joanne looks at us, before nodding at me. "The volley team is coming soon, I'm out."

I put the pen and paper down. I jog to her as she dribbles the ball, her attempting to dribble past me before I smack the ball out her hands, running for it as she wrestles me for it. Once I get it, I sprint pass the court and attempt to shoot, which she blocks swiftly before getting a hold of the ball again, smirking at me as she bounces it slowly.

"Is that all you got?"

I groan and attempt to snatch the ball and she does her spin, but I grab a hold of her waist and spin her back again before holding onto the ball as she is, with us being stuck in the middle. We struggle for the ball before a throat clears, and I let go of it, watching as Nadia loses her grip and falls.

"Shit!" I extend my hand out to Nadia, who refuses to take it. Looking at Kendall and Sofia, I walk over to them, leaving Nadia on the court. "Hi," I say to Kendall.

She narrows her eyes at Nadia, then me. "Hey."

"Were we interrupting something? Or can we use our court?" Sofia asks me, rolling her eyes at me.

"I...Kendall, I came to watch you play."

"We don't have a game till next week," she mutters, letting the rest of the team in. "Shouldn't you be with your girls?"

"Yeah, shouldn't you?" Sofia backs her up.

"Now if you could do me a favor and stop interrupting my girlfriend and I?" I sneer at her.

"Oh be so for real right now, what about—"

Nadia places a hand on my shoulder. "Don't come for her, I'm the one that challenged her."

That silences Sofia, and surprises me in turn. I look at Nadia, who is staring straight at Kendall. Kendall nods slowly, looking her up and down.

"It would be nice if you stopped challenging her," Kendall says.

Nadia nods, patting me on the back. "It would be, wouldn't it?" She then walks out of the gym, throwing the basketball in the air. I catch it, looking at the door before setting my eyes on Kendall again.

"Yasmina—"

"Kendall, we have practice, remember?" Sofia reminds her.

Kendall pauses, before smiling. "Meet me on the court, I'll only be a minute."

Sofia sighs, before running over to her team. Kendall glances at me, disappointed.

"Are you still being 100% honest with me about everything?"

"Kendall, of course I am. Look, I know that looked bad—"

"It didn't look bad, it looked terribly intense." She states, and my mouth drops. "Whatever you two have going on, it's more than just...I don't know."

"I promise you, it's not what you're thinking."

"What is it that I am thinking, Yas?" She asks me. "Or what is it that I'm seeing?"

"You're seeing Nadia trying to bring a wedge between us, that's what you're seeing."

She shakes her head. "No, what I'm seeing is someone who is desperately trying to run from something, and she just doesn't want to admit what it is. I see someone enabling her fears, that's why she keeps letting her past step into her present. That's what I see. So yeah, this isn't what I'm thinking, it's what I'm seeing, Yasmina. Fix it." She holds my hand firmly. "Fix it."

And with that, she walks away.