Loving Carter (BWWM/INTERRACIAL)

Chapter Six

The meeting with the school board that I was dreading had happened over an hour ago. Somehow, I didn't even flinch when they decided that I would have to transfer somewhere else because they weren't going to pay for a scholarship, when the student couldn't play a sport they earned a scholarship for. The school board told me I could transfer to another university in Maryland to complete getting my degree for my business major, or I could return back to my hometown and go to college for less because it would not require out of state tuition.

I was going to stay in Maryland because my new life was here. I thought about going back to my hometown multiple times, but I didn't want to leave my new friends. I didn't want to leave my team; I wanted to come to all their games and support them, no matter how upset I would get because I couldn't play with them. Some things just were not meant to be and maybe me playing soccer was one of them. I knew down the road that I would recover from my injury and play soccer again, but I would never be where I was.

My dad was informed about my injury because Hunter had a big mouth and told him; I wanted to tell him myself, but I didn't get to do that. He already talked to me about college tuition and said he would gladly pay for it. Of course, he encouraged me to return back home to go to school, but I explained to him that I wasn't going to leave Maryland. He had no choice but to approve of my choice because he was steadily trying to prove to me that he was a good person. He would go to the grave trying to be in good graces with Hunter and I. What he didn't realize was that we forgave him for cheating on our mother and causing so much disruption to our family. He needed to realize that we just needed him to be there as a father, a good one who was there for us mentally. We were still working on that with him.

Decarlos was upset that I wouldn't get to be his roommate anymore, and that I wouldn't be on the soccer team, but he had to eventually get over it. The only thing that sounded promising to him was that I was going to continue living in Maryland. I knew my best friend and I knew he was never going to get over the injury that put a halt to my dreams for now. He was a good person and he wanted great things to happen to me—to us. All I had to do was reassure him that he could still accomplish all those goals for himself, and that he didn't need to worry about me because I was going to be fine.

I sighed as I unlocked the door to my dorm room, thinking about how little time I had left to spend with my best friend. I had just came from soccer practice because the coach insisted that I watch the players and help critique their skills. He also wanted me to inform the team that I would no longer be playing with them and that I was transferring. Some of the guys were genuinely disappointed, while others could care less because that would be one less person better than them they had to worry about.

I walked to my bed to start my exercises for my ankle, when I realized I left my bag with the equipment in the men's locker room at the school. I was going to do them while the guys were practicing, but the coach said he needed my help, so I opted for doing them later. Then, I walked with Carlos to the locker room, and I guess I completely forgot about only the most important bag ever. Being on crutches did that to a person. Not to mention, I took some pain medicine, which probably made me forget to grab the bag. I would've called Carlos to bring me my bag, but he was probably gone already and headed to the gym like he said he was.

How the hell did I forget the stupid bag?

I gently sat down on my bed and rested my ankle on one of my pillows, grabbing my phone out of my joggers pocket.

"Surprised I didn't leave this." I muttered to myself, rolling my eyes.

I scrolled through my contacts, looking for Nina's name. The day she gave me the card with her number on it, I saved her number in my phone, so I wouldn't forget about it. Although, it seemed like I had a thing for forgetting about doing things—like grabbing my stupid bag.

For some reason, my thumb hovered over her name and I was hesitant about calling her. I couldn't remember if she told me to text her or actually call her if I had any questions. Since I couldn't remember, I didn't want to feel like an idiot when I asked her what were some alternate exercises I could do, if I didn't have the equipment with me.

What if she was doing something way more important right now? Would she be mad if I contacted her this late? It wasn't even that late though, it was only about seven o'clock, which seemed like a reasonable time to me. Seven o'clock was about the time I used to have dinner with my family, so then again maybe that was a bad time. I wondered what she was doing, and I had no idea why I was making such a big deal out of this. All I had to do was call her. I had no idea what was wrong with me lately; it seemed like I was losing my mind.

I shook my head out of my thoughts and quickly pressed Nina's name to call her. She picked up on the fourth ring.

"Hello?"

"Um hi, this is Carter Worthington. You gave me your number." I said and face palmed myself for sounding so stupid.

"Hi Carter," she chuckled, "and I know who you are, you don't have to say your last name. So, what's up?"

"Sorry." I pursed my lips together. "And I mistakingly left my gym bag in the locker room at the school. I was wondering if it is some alternate exercises I can do. I'm so sorry for bothering you."

"Oh no, it's fine. I wasn't doing anything important. How close is the locker room to where you are now? I'd much rather you do the exercises we told you because it'll help with healing your ankle faster."

"I'm in my dorm room and it's a good ten minute walk from the school with my condition. I really just wanted to give my ankle a rest."

"You know, I could get your bag for you, if you wanted. I'm really not doing anything and I did tell you to call me if you needed anything."

"Oh no, I couldn't ask you to do that." I shook my head, even though she couldn't see me.

That would actually be great if she could grab my bag for me, but I would never ask a woman to go do something so simple for me—something that I could do for myself, but was too lazy to do it. Besides, I didn't really know Nina, and she probably was getting tired of me already.

"Carter, I really don't mind. It's my job to help you."

"Okay fine." I said after a moment of  pondering over the idea. "But I think I should go with you. They won't let you in the men's locker room, or the school for that matter."

"You make a good point." She laughed. "Just text me the address of your dorm and I'll pick you up."

"Alright." I said, then furrowed my eyebrows. "Wait—doesn't it make more sense if I go get it myself? I know I wanted to give my ankle a break, but it'll take even more time if you pick me up first, then take me to the locker room to get it."

"Carter?"

"Yeah?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Will you be walking the whole way to the school?"

"No." I shook my head again.

"Then it won't be a complete waste of time. I'll see you in a bit."