Playing For Keeps (Harry Styles)

Chapter 9

"It's too hoooooooot," Alex complains from beside me, dragging her stick and duffel bag behind her in mock fatigue along the gravel path. I raise my hand to my forehead to wipe away the beads of sweat collecting there, mentally squirming at the intense heat along with Alex. "I know, I know. But at least we have a kick ass tan and the possibility of running into soccer boys waiting for us," I sigh, but managing to grin a bit with an added wink to try and get her to reciprocate my humor. Alex turns her head to me and lifts her sunglasses with a growing smirk of her own. "Wow, Iz, we've known each other for barely three days and you already know how to bribe me into anything." Dropping her eyelid in a wink mirroring mine, we share a hearty laugh before once again succumbing to the overbearing heat that made even laughing a bit difficult.

We are currently trudging along the path that leads from our dorm room to the practice field, a path that winds all the lengthy way across campus. The end of summer heat still hung heavily in the air, indeed making the air a bit stifling as the sun burned into our backs. Stumbling a bit in my slow footsteps, I lean against Alex in an attempt to make room under the edge of the path which is shaded by white trees that she'd said smelled a lot like a girl's period; the recent memory makes me smile, prompting Alex to nudge my shoulder back and giggle.

We trudge along in this fashion for about twenty minutes more, exchanging light hearted complaints until our field comes into view. People are milling about, and we see a brightly colored sign hanging on the field's fence stating "WELCOME NEW BARNETT FIELD HOCKEY PLAYERS :)" with an arrow pointing to the left. Similar signs are hanging along our route as we follow other girls with hockey sticks until we eventually arrive to the building that looks like it houses the women's locker rooms, adjacent to the field.

We walk even further, past cool metal doors and into the blast of air conditioning that accomonies our new view of rows upon rows of richly colored red lockers. Alexa and I move to follow the sound of clattering sticks and loud laughter. Together we round the corner of a bank of lockers and see a large group of girls intermingling, standing or sitting on benches in a large area designated as field hockey's space by a large plaque adorning the wall.

I quickly make out Gemma in the crowd, and see that she notices me just as fast. "IZZY!" she squeals, breaking away from her small pod of friends to run to me with outstretched arms. Her slicked back hair still somehow manages to make its way into my face as she engulfs me in a strong hug; El follows suit with Alex beside me. "How are you guys feeling today?" they ask in near unison, which causes the four of us to laugh in equal synchronization.

"I couldn't be more nervous and excited!" I exclaim, letting my voice betray my giddiness.

"Good, babe, cause the show's just about to get started," Gemma says as she slaps me on the back and turns me to face the team. "These are your new teammates, girls!"

At Gemma's proclamation, the chattering girls all turn in our direction. In a heartbeat, Alex, the rest of the freshman players and I are greeted with a chorus of cheery hellos and waves. A warm, buzzing feeling similar to the one I'd felt in the morning rises in my chest again and I feel a wide smile appear on my face to match the rest of my team's.

When all is settled back to how it was, Gemma and El wisk myself and Alex in opposite directions, their grips firm on our wrists as they pull excitedly. "See you on the field!" I hear her call over her shoulder to me.

Gemma lets go of me when we reach what I guess to be her locker. My smile grows when she gestures with grandeur and a flourishing "tada!" to the empty and open locker next to hers. "Is this for me?" I ask, feigning surprise. In response, Gemma reaches into the pocket of her athletic shorts while directing me to outstretch my hand; after fishing around for a few moments, she successfully pulls out a lock and drops it in my hand with a grin. "Welcome to the neighborhood, neighbor!"

Seeming to lose control of my own body, I drop my bag and stick to jump up and down a few times before pulling Gemma into my own frantic hug and rocking back and forth. "Thank you for everything so far," I whisper happily into her ear.

She pulls me into a headlock then, and while digging her fist into my head she responds with a laugh, "No problem, I always wanted a little sister anyway." I laugh along with her, wrestling until I have her arm pinned behind her back.

It is then that a woman decked out in full Barnett hockey gear makes her way from the coach's office next to the bathrooms. Clipboard in hand, she makes her way to our group with a warm smile. Stopping in front of the group where I'd been standing minutes before, she begins to speak.

"Hello ladies! Might I say it is wonderful to see all of your faces here this afternoon, both new and old! I cannot be any more excited!" She pauses to allow the brief round of applause she is given before continuing. "As most of you already know, I'm Coach Amanda Klein - call me Coach K for short. Today is our first practice and I'd like to use our precious time on the field to assess where we are skill wise; basically, we'll be running the basic skill and endurance drills you might be accustomed to. Afterwards we'll get some circuits and scrimmaging in before calling it a day in about three hours. So let's get settled and get your gear on!" The team responds with a loud series of whoops and cheers. As she is turning on her heel and towards the doors to the field, the coach slyly adds, "Oh, and I hope you remembered a change of clothes!"

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