My Favorite Risk (gxg) (txs)

Chapter eleven

The next morning, I woke up at 4 AM on purpose. After last night and all of yesterday, I needed to return to my routine—square one. I changed into some gym clothes and headed to my local gym. When I got there, I decided to work on my arms to keep myself in shape for the next wakeboarding season. I know late February or early March is still far away, but time goes by fast these days. I need to be as in shape as I can be for practices and then competitions. 

After my workout, I made a quick stop at Starbucks. I got my usual iced chai and went back home to get ready for school. I sat in my bed for a couple of minutes to relax.

The room was cold, making it that much harder to swing my legs out from under the warm blanket. But I pushed through, reminding myself that if I got moving now, I'd have a little extra time for myself before heading out. Small victories.

I shuffled over to the closet, standing there for a minute, just staring. I tried to piece together something that would look put-together without taking forever to decide. Jeans and a sweater, I decided finally, reaching for my favorite gray one. Comfortable and, with a quick look in the mirror, passably cute.

After pulling on the clothes, I made my way to the bathroom, splashing some water on my face to wake up properly. I glanced in the mirror, assessing the situation. Tired eyes, a few rogue strands of hair that refused to lie flat—pretty much what I expected. I tied my hair back in a loose ponytail, hoping it looked more "casual" than "half-asleep."

I brushed on a light layer of mascara and a hint of concealer under my eyes. That was the best I could manage today. Besides, the team didn't expect me to show up looking like I'd just walked off a runway. They were used to seeing me a little frazzled in the mornings.

My stomach grumbled, reminding me I'd skipped breakfast yesterday. I hurried to the kitchen, put a bagel in the toaster, and grabbed the Starbucks drink I got earlier. As the chai sputtered and filled the air with that familiar smell, I glanced over at my bag, mentally running through the day. Practice was after school, so I made sure my clipboard, stopwatch, and all my notes were ready to go.

The toaster popped, breaking me out of my thoughts, and I quickly spread some cream cheese on the bagel. I took a few bites, juggling the bagel in one hand and my phone in the other, checking for any last-minute messages from the team. Just as I finished eating, I got a text from Jordan: "Don't forget the practice jerseys, please! Jake forgot his again, and he won't survive another lecture from you."

I chuckled, typing back a quick reply to let him know I'd bring an extra set for Jake. At this point, I should probably just carry a backup wardrobe for the whole team.

Finally, I slung my bag over my shoulder, grabbed my coffee, and took a deep breath. I had everything I needed—at least, I hoped so. Stepping out the door, I braced myself for the day ahead, feeling that familiar mix of nerves and dread. A new day, new challenges, and hopefully a few laughs with the team to keep me going.

Once I got into school, an uneasy feeling spread over me. It was as if my gut was telling me to turn around, get back into my car, and leave. But I didn't, instead I went to Brittany's room. I walked up and opened her classroom door and saw Scarlett in there talking to her. I remained quiet because their backs were facing me. I couldn't shake the longing feeling for Scarlett. I do miss her, but I will not be a choice...I've always been a choice in everyone's life. 

I sighed, setting my stuff down. "Morning".

They both turned around, recognizing my voice. "Good morning sunshine," Brittany smiled and hugged me, only to leave the classroom to use the bathroom. Now it was just me and Scarlett.