Madison's Journey

Chapter 26: Madison's POV

"Alright ladies, let's start warming up. We are doing fitness testing. I want to see exactly where you are all at now that the season has started for most of you. We are going to do the outdoor fitness now and the indoor before dinner. After warmups we are going to do some skills testing and then we'll go into the beep test. If you do well we will end practice with another round robin scrimmage."

I start sweating a lot during warmups, 'God it's even hotter today than it was yesterday.' Christen seemed to notice that I was getting uncomfortable in my long sleeves and pants.

"Are you sure you don't want to change into something cooler? We don't want you passing out on us." I just shake my head that I'm fine.

'The last thing they need to see is my scars, especially after what happened last night.'

"Alright we are going to separate by position for the skills testing to help everything go a little bit smoother. Remember that this is not a competition and that each of you has your own individual goals that you need to hit. Don't do something to injure yourself because you are trying to prove something that you don't need to." I look over at coach, confused as I wasn't given one. She seems to have noticed because soon after she is walking over to me.

"Madi," she whispers down at me. "I just want you to do your best today. We don't have a baseline for you, so we just want to see where you are. Also go see Dawn real quick." I give her another confused look. "It's too hot out here for the long sleeves. You need to change before we can let you practice." I nod and walk over to Dawn even though I really don't want to.

"Hey kid," She says when I make it to her. She hands me a t-shirt and shorts. "Take a walk with me real quick." We head towards the bathroom, we are over halfway there when she speaks up. "Anything you want me to take a look at before you change?" I look down at my cleats and shake my head. She sighs, "Look kid. I know of your history. Jill shared it with me and our head medic so that we could be prepared for anything that may come up." I nod my head and roll up my sleeves. She manages to keep a straight face.

"And am I correct in assuming that your legs look the same?" I nod again. "Are any of them self-inflicted?" I shake my head frantically.

'That's the last thing that any of them need to think of me.'

"Alright go change. Then we can get back to practice."

I walk into the bathroom and change into the cooler clothes. I walk out and hand my set back to Dawn.

She gently takes one of my hands into her own and turns my arm back and forth looking over the scars.

"Unfortunately the others are going to have to see if you want to see any time in the field. That being said, you need to tell me if anyone says anything to you, and I mean anything. We aren't going to accept any type of bullying in this team. Know that we'll protect you ok? You're safe now."

'You wouldn't be saying that if you knew what happened last night.' I couldn't help thinking to myself.

I nod and we make our way back to the pitch. I run over and join the other forwards in some quick touch passes. I can feel the rest of the girls staring at me and I do my best to block it out, but it gets increasingly more difficult as the drills get more intense.

"Alright ladies, looking good! Go ahead and grab some water and then goalies and midfielders on the line. You are up first for the beep test." Everyone groaned as they walked away from their water. I watched as Tobin kept pace with everyone. The goalies were the first to drop out. They all managed to make it over 20. It wasn't until they reached 30 that anyone said anything to me.

"You doing good over here Mads?" It was just Christen. I nod and look back at Tobin still not feeling in the mood to talk to anyone. "Come on kid, can you talk to me? I'm just worried about you." I don't respond in any way to this. After another minute she simply lets out a sigh and wraps her arm around my chest pulling me into a hug against her.

They are finished less than five minutes later. Tobin won the group with a score of 59. When she makes it over to the sideline she practically collapses at my feet.

"What do you think kid? Can you beat that?" I shrug my shoulders.

"Don't-t know. N-never-r did th-this b-before."

"You've never run the beep test before?" This comes from Kelley. "Well Madi you are in for a treat that's for sure."

"Dosen't-t look-k th-that hard."

"Trust me kid, it's a lot harder than it looks. HAO holds the team record at 68 and she's not even on the team anymore."
"Not to mention squirrel's been chasing that record her entire career, and has fallen short every time. The closest she's come was when she was just out of college."

"True, but I've gotten closer every time."

"You keep telling yourself that."

"N-not-t w-worried." I tell them again. 'I don't think that any of them know that I am a multi-sport athlete. I may also hold a record or two back in the midwest for my track and cross country speeds.'

"Alright defense and forwards on the line. Time to see what you've got."

I walk over and stand between Christen and Kelley so I can pace myself properly. When the first beep goes off I settle into a groove pretty quickly. It doesn't take me long to be able to pace myself even with the increasing speeds. By the fourth level I have lost focus of everything except for the beeps. I don't even notice when Christen drops out at 51 or Kelley in level 61.

I don't come out of it until the tenth level when my test comes to a startling stop as I trip over one of my shoelaces that had come untied. I'm not able to stop myself and fall straight on to my face at full speed. I hear commotion coming toward me as I flip over on to my back and sit up holding my face.

'Well that hurt.' I think, pulling my hand away when I'm sure that my nose isn't bleeding. I try to make my way to my feet but am stopped by multiple sets of hands on my shoulders.

"Are you ok Madi? Does anything hurt? You have to tell us if anything hurts." That's Christen.

"Just sit a second kid. We have to make sure that you aren't hurt." Tobin.

"Wow Madi there is no way you could have never done this before. Not with a score of 90." And finally Kelley.

"Y-you're j-just mad th-that I beat-t you." I tell her taking in what she had said.

"No I'm not." Kelley insists.

"You sure about that Squirrel she blew your record out of the water."

"Shut up baby horse."

"Alright everyone back up so we can make sure that she is ok." Coach says finally being able to push through the girls who had gathered around me. "I told you not to push yourself too hard."

"Didn't-t t-ripped. Could k-keep g-going." I tell her and gesture to my untied shoelace.

"Of course you could have." She says with a laugh to herself. "Were you even trying?"

I shrug my shoulders, "Got-t in a g-groove. Only h-heard th-the beeps."

There is silence around me for a few moments.

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"WHAT!!!!"

A/N: Thanks for reading, sorry for the long wait. Let me know what you think!