Attention What If

Chapter 71

POV: Skylar

"Are you sure you're okay? I don't want to push you." Coach says.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I do some stretching.

"Skylar, on the news it said—"

"So when's the first trial?" I cut off my trainer.

They eye each other in worry.

"Skylar, if you aren't ready, it's okay." My coach assures me.

"I am ready!" I say louder than intended.

Everyone turns to look at me.

I clear my throat and speak quieter.

"Please don't take this from me. I've worked so hard. Let me do this." I plead with them.

"You're heads not in it, Skylar. You can't pretend that what happened didn't happen. This is the last thing you should be worried about. I want you to get better. You don't have a medical release." My coach stands his ground.

I clench my jaw.

"Just go home, get some rest. Take a few days off. There is always next time."

"This was the next time. Please just let me try, please." I beg.

"I don't feel good about this." He shakes his head. "The last thing you need is more stress."

"You don't understand!" I grab his shirt as he starts to walk away. "Don't take this from me. Please! This isn't stress for me, it's the opposite. I need this!" I beg as my eyes water.

"What you need is to reevaluate your choices and get your head on straight. Not to be here. I'm benching you." He says firmly.

"I don't need you!" I call as he walks away.

He pauses.

"I can do this on my own. I don't need you or the school backing me. I can do this independently." I threaten.

"Skylar," he sighs and turns to face me.

"I'm not going home," I say firmly. "I'm going to do this, with or without your support."

He shakes his head at me.

"You told me to get my shit together and prove that I wanted this, well, I am proving it now! I want this. More than anyone in here. I won't let you take it from me." I get face-to-face with him.

"Except you haven't got your shit together! You lied! You're still a mess, and I can't have that kind of mentality on my track. You're distracted; you're spiraling. The very fact that you are here instead of some hospital proves that to me now." He yells at me.

"This is all I have left!" I shout at him. "Don't try and stop me!"

"Listen to me," he grabs my shoulders and shakes me. "Your health and well-being are way more important than this. This track will be here for you when you are ready. Don't push yourself. You are already broken. If you push yourself now, you'll end up with nothing. Let me look out for you!"

"No!" I wrap my fist in his shirt. "No! I won't go! I'm staying!"

"Skylar," he gently pulls my hands off him.

"Please," I sob. "This is my chance. This is my time! Let me do this!"

He sighs and shakes his head at me.

"Just let her try," My trainer speaks up.

"I don't like this." My coach says again.

"Please!"