Through the Glass Door

Chapter Three: This Is Not My Life

"Girls, choose partners. We'll be working on volleying with the shuttlecock," this brings on giggles and a stern gaze from Coach Reese, "now hurry up!" Girls get up, walk over to the bin with friends, and chatter excitedly. Michelle is avoiding eye contact, so I physically have to get up and tap her on the arm.

"Hey, partners?" It's really a rhetorical question. The answer is always yes.

"Uh... what? Sorry, I'm already partners with... someone." Michelle glances haphazardly away, anywhere but at my face.

"Cool, you go get the rackets for both-" I stop, her words sinking in. She said no. "What? What did you say?" My voice is getting deadly and my face is flushing.

"No." Michelle walks away, looking oddly cold.

"Don't walk away from me! What are you doing? No one says," She's already gone. Now I just look like a fool, stuttering to myself. I shake it off nonchalantly. No one - and I mean no one- ever sees me lose control. "Your loss." I hurry to get a racket so I don't look like the loser who's always last.

This is where it gets awkward. I'm standing by myself, on a court, with no partner. I must be having a really off day.

"Who the heck are you?" Coach yells in this direction. Must be talking to someone else. She repeats the question, looking right at me. What the heck? I pout and look all innocent. Finally she just walks over here. "Who the heck are you?"

"What are you talking about? I've been in this class all year!" Coach shakes her head, still not getting it. Is it just me, or is this lady completely losing it? "I'm Cambry Anderson." My voice is flat. Everyone knows who I am, I shouldn't have to explain.

"Ok then, got it. Just didn't recognize you there without a scar... wonder how that disappeared. No need to get huffy. Get yourself a partner and play." She walks away, muttering to herself. "Coulda sworn I just saw that girl 5 seconds ago, with a scar. Been there all this year, just ain't natural..."

What? A scar? Since when? Like I said, that lady is going crazy. I sulk to the only other girl without a partner. "Let's just get this gym class over with."

"I'm with you." Whoa, she sounds just like me. I turn to get a good look at her. Whoever this girl is, she looks like my twin. Well, except that I'm perfect, and she's just... not. She's got this scar running from her temple to her chin. Poor girl, no wonder she doesn't have friends.

After a while we kinda get in sync with each other, almost like she knows where I'm going to be before I do. Weird. Whatever, if it lets us win, I don't mind. I love winning. By the end, this girl is beaming, and so am I. I'm glad that I could help her be happy for a change. I don't know why, but I actually feel bad for her, which is something I never feel for anyone. When the bell rings I go to high five her and she misses. Wow, loser. As bad as I feel for her, I can't forget that that's who she is, the loser without a partner.

On the way out of the locker room, I pass her again. I'm surprised, she's wearing the newest Prada heels and Juicy sweatshirt. Maybe she isn't a loser after all.

 I smile, she could be my kind of girl. She nods, and starts speaking.

"I'm Cambry."

"Hey me t-" I stop. She has the same name as me, she looks like me. What is going on? I back away, leaving her standing there looking shocked. I don't have a partner. Michelle isn't talking to me. This is not my life. What is going on?