What If

Chapter 2

Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep...

I groan and roll over, cursing and questioning why my alarm is going off on an in-service day. My head is throbbing as I shuffle my hand across the nightstand and slam it down on the Snooze button. Grabbing my phone, I bring it close to my face and scream.

"AH, crap, no, no, no!" I groan and literally fall out of bed. Sending a quick text that I'll be there in 15 minutes, I throw on my favorite Lululemon leggings, an oversized Oklahoma State sweatshirt, and lace up the closest pair of sneakers I find in my closet. I haphazardly put in my contacts, brush my teeth, dry shampoo my hair, and throw it up in a ponytail before racing down the stairs, thankful I have my gym bag ready to go in the backseat of my car.

"Bye, Chewie!" I yell through the townhouse as I run out the back door into my garage and start up my car.

Throwing the car into drive, I pull out way too fast and use the Home app on my phone to shut the garage door behind me. I race out of my neighborhood and make it to Underwood High School at exactly 6 o'clock.

"Good morning, Coach!" The words echo as my team greets me on the football field, where they've gathered for our regular 6 AM Friday practice. "Sleep well?"

The girls giggle and I force a smile after swallowing the sip of water I just took. "Morning, girls. Sorry I wasn't here early. I overslept my alarm, but now that I'm here we can get to work. Spread out and start stretching."

The girls spread out across the field and my senior co-captains Jessica and Ashley lead the rest of the sixteen-member team in a series of stretches to warm them up. I take my spot up in the press box, ready to play their music and give immediate feedback on the dance we're prepping for next week's City Championship game. My hangover is killing me, but I do my best to hide it. My college days are clearly far behind me and any trace of my body's tolerance has gone down the drain.

I've been the coach of the Underwood High School Dance Team since my graduation from Oklahoma State University three years ago and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love my kindergarteners, but this job allows me to work with kids on another level and incorporate my love of dance, too. Despite my attitude about conferences yesterday, I genuinely love my job and am beyond thankful for it every day.

Thinking about conferences last night leads my mind back to the less-than-ideal visit and conversation I had with Carter last night. My heart sinks, again, for what must be the thousandth time in the last 24 hours.

"Hey, Alexa, we're all warmed up!" Jessica's voice snaps me out of my thoughts and I give a thumbs-up back.

"Sounds good," I automatically respond. "Okay, girls, first formation, please! Let's take it from the top, full out, and we'll go from there."

My girls set up in the center of the football field and all my thoughts surrounding last night are gone as I'm immediately wrapped up in watching them perform from the moment I play the music. Their pom routine to "Without You" by Avicii and Sandro Cavazza instantly lifts my spirits and I can't help but beam with pride at the effort and energy they put into the dance.

The hour of our short morning practice passes quickly – I give out corrections on formations, hand and pom placements, flexed and sickled feet in the kick line, and have the girls run the routine a few more times full out before calling practice.

"Okay, girls, great practice!" I motion for the girls to gather around me. "Great work. Just keep in mind the corrections we went over – point your toes in the kick line, don't sickle your feet, and don't bend your wrists when holding your poms. They look droopy and we don't want droopy poms."