Downfall of the nation's hero

Chapter 5

The practice goes as one would expect. The first official pre-season training follows the same schedule everywhere - during national team meetings, in high school, during the AAU season. The first several minutes are the coach's time to shine. They usually introduce themselves and the staff, as if no one has ever heard about them during the recruitment visits, and then they start talking about their goals for the season. Jordan Fox, my new head coach, is no exception. I swear I could name all of his cats when he finishes his monologue.

Next up is the infamous conditioning. I've always hated running. There isn't a more pointless thing. It's not even our sport-related. Yes, we have to sprint and have some stamina to perform well, but neither of us needs to run three miles under a certain time limit. That's something we should leave to track athletes. And don't get me started on the beep test, suicides, and worst of all - the seventeens.

When we all finish the last round of the seventeens, Fox is finally satisfied with our results, and I can't no longer breathe or stand on my feet, it's time to call it a day.

"I feel like a train just ran over me." Ren grunts when she falls to her seat in the locker room.

It's hard to disagree with her. Pre-season tends to make you question the decisions that led you to this moment of suffering. I'm lucky I had to endure the Lithuanian national team camp before the Worlds, so I was at leat prepared physically. Looking at my teammates, some of them weren't as fortunate.

Sophie, who's been quiet the entire practice, wipes off her forehead with her jersey and joins the conversation. "Imagine doing this for the fourth time. You still have three more years to get used to it."

It comes off a bit cold. I know she didn't mean it like that and that it's probably just her usual 'I'm so fucking tired' tone, but I can't help but notice how she's been avoiding both me and Ren out there. She's still pissed about our fight.

I let it go. She'll come to me when she's ready. Instead, I bring my focus to untying my shoes and letting my feet breathe. There isn't a better feeling than changing into slides. I pull out my phone to pass some time before everyone else takes a shower and leaves. I've been doing it ever since I had to hide my right arm. I don't want people asking or pretending to care. I'd rather wait here until they're all gone.

When there's only me, Sophie, and Ren left, I put my phone back in my bag and start undressing myself. Sophie shoots me a questioning look as she nods towards Ren.

"She knows." I sigh.

Ren glances at both of us before realizing what's going on. Then she mouths a silent 'Oh'. It's quite an uncomfortable situation for all three of us. Someone has to break the silence. Please.

"I told y'all," Ren decides to speak first, "I wanted to get to know Matonis."

Out of all the things she could have said, she chose the worst one. Sophie is still mad at me that I went there and this literally doesn't explain shit to her.

"And you did, I assume?" Sophie's question is more meant for me than for Ren.

I tell myself not to waste my precious energy on another fight, so I grab my towel and head to shower. I start with cold water, slowly increasing the temperature to wash my hair. Then I finish off soaking myself with freezing water to wake me up a bit while allowing my muscles to relax. I hear footsteps behind me when I'm done.

Assuming it's Sophie, I don't turn around. "Can we talk about it in our bedroom?"

The little laugh before the answer tells me all I need to know. "Not wasting any time, huh?"

I turn in a flash to see Ren grinning at me. Naked. We're both naked. Don't you dare to look, Audra, don't you fucking dare. I can't help but sneak a short peek at her body and... wow. She doesn't have defined abs or anything like that, but power is radiating from her. She looks so confident and comfortable in her own skin and to be fair, she definitely has a reason for it. One could say she's simply beautiful.