𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎 ✩

Chapter One

"Today would be nice, Al."

Coach Misty callously spat while the rest of the team teetered on the baseline, breathing palpably. They'd clearly been running sprints down the court. Some of them were beyond angry, strands of hair stuck to their sweaty faces and fists balled up as if they were ready to swing. I immediately placed my gym bag on the bench, cautiously glancing at the time.

I was only 7 minutes late, and they were conditioning already?

"Coach, My mum came home late a-and she was my ride here. It won't happen again, I sw-."

"You haven't showed up for the past 2 days. You've been constantly late these past several months. Find a way, not an excuse. You're the reason they're running, by the way." She turned away from me and blew her whistle, sending the squad down the court in a hurry to touch the opposing line in under 10 seconds.

The squeak of shoes was all that was heard for the next twenty minutes as we ran. Not to brag, but I was in excellent physical shape and could've made it up and down much more swiftly, alas, the looks of disgust that were being directed my way, made the clothes on my back weigh much more than they actually did. I kept my head down and bit my tongue when an underclassmen had the audacity to shoot me a nasty look and bump my shoulder.

At last we heard the double whistle, signifying that the practice was over. I ran my forearm across my forehead, the moisture glistening like stars. Coach gave me a look that made my heart sink. She was disappointed as hell. I hated making her upset. If only she knew the reason that I couldn't come yesterday.

As I was walking to retrieve my gym bag, the girls ballistically managed to catch my arm and practically drag me with them to the locker room.

•••

I was jostled against the lockers; a ripple of pain shooting through my body as a hand extended out to grip my jersey tightly. I felt my breathing quicken as my throat clamped up.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Al?! Do you even want to be on this team right now?"

I was too shocked to speak; my mouth parted slightly as I looked around at my team. I—

"You think you're so good. You think you don't have to show up to practice anymore? Do you think you're some kinda God?!"

Yes, Susan. Actually this team does need me. I average twenty points a game and hold this team together with my motivation and commitment. If it weren't for me, this team would've parted ways long ago. But I didn't say that, because that only happens in those films where the vulnerable girl stands up to her bully teammates and gets a standing ovation from the crowd.

This isn't a fucking movie, Alaina.

"What do you have to say for yourself."

I felt eyes searching my soul for answers while my hand rubbed my back of my sweat ridden neck.

"I have to go—."

I felt my voice crack as I excused myself from the locker room. Pushing through the crowd and making  my way out of the gym, I heard my mothers voice ring in my ear from a couple hours back:

Make sure you find a ride, I'll be out late tonight.

Well, Shit. It was 10pm and I had nobody to take me home. I wasn't about to march back inside and ask one of them for a ride. So, I did what any other seventeen year old would do if walking alone at night; I looped my keys around my index finger and held on to my bag a little bit tighter.