If Trouble Could Talk

First Impressions

"Did you see the look on Jen's face when you made that goal?" Georgie squealed excitedly as we brushed past the towels and bags hanging off lockers in the girls' change room.

"I don't think anyone saw that coming!"

"I don't even think I saw that coming." I dumped my bag down on a red bench in the corner of the room, "Why can't we just go straight back to the dorm to get changed again?"

Georgie looked at me like she'd had to explain this a million times.

"Because the dorms are part of the Residential Sector, and the sporting field is part of the School sector. And as Ms. Patterson explained at your orientation, 'You are never to cross the school sector into the Residential Sector or vice versa in anything but your day uniform during the hours of 7am and 5pm. Sleepwear, swimwear, underwear or sportswear is not appropriate!'" Her accent had adjusted by the end of this to that of a posh, Victorian-era governess - and I couldn't help but giggle.

"My gosh Georgie you sound just like her!" I snickered. She was laughing too by now. We giggled for a few moments before I began to cough. I'd forgotten this room was now filled with forty sweaty teenage girls spraying perfumed deodorant everywhere.

"So what happens now? Were the teams we just played in our actual ones?"

"No... We just wait now" Georgie was fishing through her sports bag for something. "They sort us into A and B grade teams - based on what they saw back then. In a couple of weeks we go to interschool comps - you know the drill; A grades play the A grade teams, B grades play B grades. We do that until the end of the season, then one of the schools wins."

She pulled out a white shirt - her school blouse. Took off her sweaty polo and chucked it into her bag. Without hesitating or dropping her shirt, she grabbed a can of deodorant from the locker above her and sprayed under her arms, creating a cloud of white dust around her.

"That one's yours" she mumbled briefly as she slipped her blouse on, pointing to her right side.

"Hum... Sorry?" I questioned as I watched the cloud of white dust dissipate above her head.

"The locker down the end, a girl was using it last term, I think she was expelled - maybe she moved? Anyway - it's yours."

"Oh. Thanks."

I picked up my bag and wandered down toward the opposite corner of the room. The locker was cracked open slightly, probably because it had no lock on it. I think they might have mentioned something about getting locks at student reception, but for now this was fine. I pinched the thin flap of metal on the corner with two fingers and pulled the door open.

Empty.

I don't know why I'd expected anything else from a vacant locker.

"So what did you think of that new teacher today?"

For a second I'd forgotten Georgie was there. "Not bad," I offered. Not sure what to say.

"Not bad? You mean definitely not Mr. Gatley! I think he was kinda cute, don't you?" We looked at each other for a moment before I returned my focus to the empty locker in front of me. The room was full of quiet chatter, but I could hear her shuffling through her bag once more for her skirt.

"He was fine" I finally replied, almost embarrassed to admit that I did think my teacher was cute - even if he was only a student teacher. "I'm just glad he didn't bite my head off for not having a hat. And thanks, by the way."

"All good. And me too; to be honest I-"

Georgie paused at what we both heard next, with a few clicking sounds, an old man was speaking into the PA system.

Hello students, this is just to let you know that the afterschool Soccer teams have been sorted. Teams are... as follows...

There was a pause.

"I bet I've got Gatley..." A girl sighed.

"I didn't think he'd have sorted them already," another told her friend.

It was as if the man was squinting to read a list of names scribbled down. But sure enough, with a few clicks; he was back.

Ah yes.

Boy's A-grade team is: Kevin, Julian, Mark, Sam, Finn, Dylan C., Riley, Thomas. Boys's B Grade...

I could hear shouts and wolf whistles on the other side of the wall as Gatley sounded off several more names. Our changing room however, had a whole different feeling to it. A lot of the girls looked nervous - like they were waiting for the results of their Midterms to be broadcasted to the entire school. In some ways this was kind of the same - I wouldn't want everyone on campus to know that I didn't make the A-grade team, even if they had no idea who I was...

Okay, now for the girls.

A-grade team is: Lauren, Jo, Hannah, Katie and Jen...

"Both the twins made it to A-grades... No surprises there" A girl standing next to me whispered. I suddenly felt stupid for not realising this when the two girls stood up to be goalies during tryouts.

Brittney G., Rachel. L., Hillary, Abigail, Bethany...

Georgie looked at me uneasily, I offered her a somewhat reassuring glance - however I was kind of nervous myself. And it didn't take long to do the maths; there were two spots left.

But any nervousness I had shifted almost completely in those next few seconds, when I heard the last two names being called out...

Georgie and...Kylynn?-Kaylynn.

He'd stuttered, probably because he had trouble pronouncing it; but he'd definitely said my name. A wave of reassurance washed through my mind as I looked back at Georgie - she wore an excited smile on her face resembling that of a child on Christmas morning.

The room became somewhat silent, with those who'd heard their names continuing to pack up their things - a wide smile painted on their faces. Others did the same, but they were now moaning and sighing as their names were being read out for the B-grades.

"We both made it!" Georgie whispered, struggling, but managing to keep her voice down enough to avoid inadvertently making other girls feel bad for not getting a place.

I knelt in the corner and pulled off my sports shirt when I noticed that some girls were already leaving. After managing to grab my blouse from my sports bag now hanging out of my locker, I slipped it on and stood up; trying to be inconspicuous.

"So we've got the new girl!" I heard in a holler that made me jump slightly, I reached for my sports bag again as I turned around to see two girls standing in front of me; it was Blondie and Lauren.

There was a moment of silence, I was about to look at Georgie with a "help!" expression on my face when Abigail's blank look became a wide smile, for a moment, it frightened me more than her stare.

"Hi! I'm Abigail! It's so nice to finally meet you!" Before I could say anything, she was hugging me like a first grader meeting her new senior buddy.

She released her grip after a few seconds, I would've said something. But I was too stunned at the fact that someone I'd never met had just hugged me.

"I'm so glad to have you on our team - you were great out there earlier! Remember that trainings are on Thursday afternoons for A-grades, okay? See you around love!"

And with that she was off, and I was once again standing in shock, with my mouth gaping open at what had just happened.

"Looks like you made a good first impression."

"What?"

I had completely tuned out again - dammit.

"She likes you. I have to admit I was worried at first. But it looks like you'll fit in just fine around here."