Cazzie Oneshots

You don't have to love each other

By: takemebacktothenightwemet
Coach Crowley knew the introduction of a new team member, especially one as talented as Casey Gardner, would cause issues. Once the competitive side started, Crowley had to step in.

The race was one thing, but Izzie's fall was another. And because it was hard to determine who started it, Crowley dragged them both by their ears into her office.

"You don't have to love each other, but you have to love each other."

It was different after that.

--

Teenage drama was something Crowley was more than experienced in, she'd got her fair share years ago back in high school. But the up and down relationship between Casey Gardner and Izzie, told a different story.

The joking around, followed by a tension that was hard to determine. It didn't help her runners, and it didn't help the rest of the team that her two best athletes couldn't stand to look at each other.

As the team Captain, Crowley went to Izzie first with a warning. "I don't care what's happened, but I want it fixed. This isn't good for the team."

Izzie told her she'd work on it.

--

It changed Junior year, their dynamic. She watched Casey grow faster, Izzie right by her side, all whilst an awkwardness grew. It was as if they didn't know how to act around each other anymore, barely knew how to speak.

Crowley saw the dwindled crowd, Casey no longer peered up at the stands for a presence, and neither did Izzie. Their focus remained on the run, or on each other.

Crowley also saw the stares, when they thought the other wasn't looking. The secret glances that could only mean one thing in the world of a teenager.

--

Her previous words played on her mind one late evening when Crowley was walking back to her car. She saw the track floodlights still lit and assumed someone had forgotten to turn them off. On her way, she took in the sight of Casey Gardner with her arms wrapped around the team Captain.

They were talking, though Crowley couldn't hear a word she could see it. See their foreheads pressed together, and the laugh that rumbled in Izzie's chest.

Crowley left the lights as they were, and carried on to her car. It made sense, she realised, but it hadn't clicked until that moment.

--

Crowley knew Casey was avoiding Izzie. Their interaction at the track meet was minimal and tempered, Crowley couldn't believe how much young relationships went from 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye.

Casey won, Crowley was ecstatic, but held back and allowed Casey to celebrate. If she saw her run away from Izzie, she didn't mention it.

But this meant offers. It meant bigger scouts and full ride scholarships to UCLA, if she was willing to work hard enough.

Crowley called her into the office, told her the news, the interest in her talent, and asked whether she was up for training harder than she ever had in her life. "Think about it." Crowley told her, and saw the conflicted look that crossed over Casey's face.

She wondered if Izzie had anything to do with that look.

--

If Crowley saw them hold hands through the corridors on the way to running practise, she didn't bring it up. If the girls had something to tell her, they would.

Casey entered her office again mere hours later, informing Crowley she wanted to go for it. She wanted to train for UCLA, no matter the cost. Crowley knew she was making the right decision; it would be a waste of talent to turn it down.