Faulty Trust || Katie McCabe

34

The days before training started back up were nothing short of confusing and utterly bizarre. Katie and I still weren't exactly talking to each other, but something had shifted between us.

We failed to act on the events of New Years, and chose to return to our stubborn selves.

Wally said I was being stupid and maybe I was, but if Katie wanted space who was I do deny that. But I needed her to be the one to reach out; I couldn't be the one to do so. Which Wally said was fair, but also still stupid because of how stubborn the both of us were. Maybe she was right, but I had made up my mind. Even if the what-ifs slowly ate away at my sanity.

Though that didn't mean I wasn't genuinely confused. It had also been radio silence from Katie since we kissed, and I was starting to think the worst. Had I done something? Had she made up her mind?

I couldn't figure it out for the life of me.

When training finally arrived I honestly couldn't be happier; the structure and schedule it brought to my life gave my thoughts less time to consume me. I was less anxious, and more focused than I had been in a while.

Structure had always been a big part of how I functioned in general. I had my schedules, I had my routines; all of it made me who I was. Without it I'd probably go insane; maybe end up in a completely different career. Who knows what my life would look like.

Probably utter chaos.

Our first session back was light, obviously, but that didn't mean it was easy. It was honestly filled with a lot more running than I'd ever want to do willingly. I hated conditioning with a burning passion, but I kept the muttering to a minimum. At least when others could hear me.

Training ended with a small scrimmage tourney that provided lighthearted banter. It got the teams spirit back up after hours of exhausting running. Almost like we'd all found a second wind at the mention of a scrimmage.

Katie and I got placed on the same team, and despite our lack of communication off the pitch we worked better than ever on it. She even curled a corner kick directly to my head allowing me to slot the ball past Daphne with ease.

It left me even more confused than I already was. She acted like nothing had ever caused tension between us which was far from the truth. I stood there watching her walk off the pitch at the end of practice with Vic talking animated about god knows what. For a moment my heart stuttered; for a moment my smile faltered at the sight of her completely ignoring what was tearing me apart inside.

I suppose some were better at masking than others.

I felt a hand in my shoulder releasing my gaze from Katie and onto Leah who'd come up beside me; Wally following suit. They didn't say anything but the glint in Leah's eye told me I should consider worrying.

Though she offered me a smile convincing me it was probably nothing as we turned to walk back to the changing room. As soon as the three of us entered, Beth proposed a team get together later tonight as a welcome back. Practically everyone agreed, and continued on with their post training routines.

My gaze wandered for a moment, catching sight of Katie slipping off her training top. I couldn't look away, I didn't want to look away, but I did. I ignored the way my heart rate picked up. Snapping out of whatever daze I had been in; I turned back to my own locker.

The locker room slowly emptied until just a few of us were left. Looking up, I realized just Katie, Wally, Leah, and I were still dillydallying. I stood up, stretching my arms over my head before collecting my things.

Unaware of Wally and Leah practically scrambling to collect their own belongings and darting towards the door.

"Alright you two," Leah began. "Neither of you are welcome to the bonding tonight until you figure whatever this is out."