King of My Heart

C6: Pain

I can't believe that it's been a month since I met Bentley. Since the first day that I officially met him, he has walked me to and from class everyday, and he made sure that I got to swim practice and work on time. I did throw him for a loop when it was the first day of practice, that day I found out that he is a stubborn creature of habit.

"So, are we watching that movie now?" He had asked me that day when I got out of class.

"Nope." I told him, he looked like a little kid and I was his mother that just said he couldn't have a cookie before dinner.

"Why not?" He even sounded like one.

"Today's the first day of practice!" I was super excited to get back in the water after the small break I had for the first few days of school.

Needless to say that he was pretty bummed out. He had his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and wasn't looking at me. He was sulking.

"We can always watch the movie after practice is over with." I suggested, "Just make sure you have some food ready when I get to your house." I hooked my arm with his and he seemed much better after that.

After that day, it seemed like we got so much closer. Bentley slowly but surely became one of my best friends. It was a weird thought to process at first but soon I didn't mind. He still throws out a cheesy comment every now and then, but definitely not as much as that first day we spent together.

Right now, I was digging through my bag trying to find Ibuprofen. I always take three of those little pills before practice so my shoulder doesn't hurt that bad. I was freaking out because Coach told me to take four today, that was a sure tell that there was a difficult distance set for me this afternoon.

I finally found my medicine bottle and twisted open the cap only to find that it was empty. Damn it. Thank God I was in the locker room.

"Does anyone have some Ibuprofen?" I called out still hunched over my bag, desperate to find any that may have possibly fallen out of the bottle.

I only received negative comments from my teammates. Double damn it. Well, looks like I'm screwed for practice. I took a deep breath and let it out. Looks like I was going to have to skip the medicine today and just go for it.

I got changed into my swim suit and walked out of the locker room to sit on the bench before we started our team stretch before getting in the water. I kept wiggling my legs up and down, a nervous tick of mine, before my coach came up and sat down next to me.

"Emersyn, how was your day?" She asked nodding towards my leg movement.

"Great!" I lied straight through my teeth with a big smile.

"Are you sure about that?" She again looked at my bouncing legs that got faster.

"Yeah?" It came out as a question.

"You do know that you can tell me anything, right? If something has already happened between you and the Alpha, you can talk to me you know." That's what I loved about Coach Lauren, she was always looking out for her swimmers.

"It's not about Bentley. I kind of ran out of ibuprofen." I admitted looking at her waiting for that disappointed mom look that she has mastered.

Whoop, there it is. "Emersyn, you should be on top of this."

"I know. I'm sorry. I'll get some more after practice. I swear. I will even text you a picture of me getting some." I made a deal with her, that's one thing she can never pass on, a good deal.

"Deal. What are you planning on doing about today's practice then?" She asked, disappointed mom was back.

"I'm going to swim how I usually do and if it hurts to where I can't continue I will let you know." I suggested, giving her a hopeful look.