"So am I going to get to hear your version of what happened?" Jordan asks passing me back the heavy med ball as I catch it in a squat.
"Depends, what versions did you hear?" I grunt out the last part tossing it back as she catches it with the same form.
"Last rep!" Smitty shouts walking by the different stations of everyone hitting their assigned workouts.
"Well, the first version: Stephan beat up Austin because he was shit talking his mom, the second: Austin shoved Stephan first so he pushed him back." She tosses it back to me.
"Not even close." I breath out catching it before throwing it back.
"You didn't let me finish-" she catches the ball. "And the third: they were fighting over you." She tosses it back her eyes narrowing at me while the ball lands harder against my chest.
"Focus!" Smitty snaps in our direction and I stare at the last ten seconds of the clock. My legs are burning, my core is tired and the last thing I want toying in my mind is Stephan or Austin.
"Time!" Smitty shouts and you can hear the exhales of relief and the collapsed bodies including my own falling to the floor across the gym. "Good work, enjoy the rest of your Friday's but not too much we have a game on Sunday." Smitty walks out while everyone begins to pack up their stuff, Jordan stands up and I hold out my arms as she pulls me up.
"So what happened?" She asks tossing me my water bottle and I exhale.
"I told him not to talk to Austin, he did. Next thing I know drinks are falling and Austins aggressively pushed into the bar, I left and he followed me into the hall."
"And then?" Jordan pushes.
"Things got weird, I started crying- barely" I correct myself. "I was just- overwhelmed, the lengths I go to avoid the asshole and he's at every event and then I find out he was talking about me-" I feel my cheeks heat up and the emotions rushing back. "It just brought feelings, shitty feelings back." I roll my eyes, "Made clearer all the reasons I avoid the events like that and people like him."
"And that includes people like Stephan?" She asks and the question lingers for a moment.
"No." I pause. "It doesn't." I state as the words settle in my chest.
"Sofia." I hear Smitty's voice carry from the hall and my head snaps upward to see her standing with her binder against her chest and her finger gesturing me to come.
"I'll catch you later." Jordan smiles before I make my way towards the unhappy looking Coach Smitty.
"I'm not sure what you heard about yesterday-" I start my voice raising slightly, my mind racing over the scene that I was present in.
"I heard." She answers. Shit.
Ive never seen Smitty fuming, sure I've also never seen her smile, but I'm definitely becoming nauseous just thinking about her reaction. "And thank you." She finishes.
"Sorry?"
"Good work with Harrisford, he called me this morning, said he was impressed, between this new sponsor and the money you raised with that movie night, we're looking good, Delezar." She nods and although there isn't a smile on her face I know she's thinking it. She begins to walk away then stops in her tracks to face me. "I'm thinking about entering a Canadien tournament, heard they have good ball there." She smiles before taking off.
+++
"And then she said, we could enter a Canadien tournament!" I exclaim through the phone pacing back and forth in my dorm room.
"Holy shit Sof, you could see your family!" Jordan beams. "And Michigan is a lot closer to Canada than we are to there."
"I know!-"
"So you get to see your hot brother!" She cuts me off.
"Ew." I stop my pacing.
"Well I mean, I would get to see your hot brother." Jordan clarifies.
"Shut up." I speak and we both laugh.
"This calls for some celebration drinks!" Jordan yells way too loud and I pull the phone away from my ear.
"Or some celebration goodnight sleeps, we have a game in a day-" I start.
"And it's Friday, which means you can get that rest in on Saturday, come on Sof..." She pleads and as much as I'd like to be the responsible captain, this news deserves a letting loose.
"Alright." I respond and the line goes dead.
"Great!" I hear from outside my door and open it up to see Jordan already dressed up in silver heels, her hair slicked back in a bun and a purple mini tube dress. "Because no wasn't an option." She smiles walking by me and into my dorm.
I grab my leather jeans and a spaghetti strap bodysuit from the closet before tying my hair in a slick low ponytail and reaching for my thin strap platform sandals.
"Oh god." Jordan groans and I look up to see her eyebrows furrowed.
"What?" I drop my shoulders, the sandals in hand.
"You're in all black, wearing pants and sandals." She starts, "I mean don't get me wrong you always look beautiful but Jesus that mans done a number on you." The corner of her mouth tug upwards.
"And how does my outfit tell you that?" I ask bored.
"You're dressed like a taken woman," She starts clapping. "A loyal girlfriend-" She wipes the fake tears from her eyes.
"Im comfortable and I happen to think this looks nice." My eyes bore into hers.
"Of course it looks nice, i'm just saying we're all aware of the male gaze and right now? it looks like your content with your man at home." She smiles smugly and I reluctantly shove my feet in the shoes before grabbing my purse.
"Let's go before I change my mind."
We walk the ten or so minute route to Jab although the commotion can be heard before stepping in. It's busy: a large group by the pool table, two drunk girls singing karaoke on the small stage, so much chatter not a word can be made, bodies pressed tight at the entrance and the mans cologne in front of me overpowering my nostrils.
"What a good night to come!" Jordan chirps before taking my hand towards the bar where two guys have just gotten up to leave with the girls they were talking to.
"Perfect." Jordan speaks before sitting down and I join. "Can we get two margaritas?"Jordan shouts over to the guy behind the bar and he nods in response.
I turn around in the swivelled seat facing the commotion, my eyes hovering over the many people chatting, dancing, drinking...
"He's not here." My thoughts are cut off by Jordans voice and then the drinks being placed down in front of us. "Thanks." She smiles shortly before returning her gaze to mine.
"Stephan?"
"No, Peter Marcus, you know the guy who wrote a whole song about you and infamously hangs at Jab." She stares at me as if it were obvious, before shrugging. "But if your minds on Stephan." She puts her hands up and a choose to ignore the smug look on her face.
"Ladies!" We turn our heads to Tommy who now approaches a beer in hand.
"Where's your other half?" Jordan eyes me briefly and I roll my eyes as she turns back to Tommy.
"You won't be seeing him for a while, Truman's doing a number on them after that whole banquet thing." He takes a swing of his beer. "Im assuming you already know." he looks at me while Jordan cups the side of her mouth terribly and I watch as she mouths the words: Their fighting.
"Fight it out, fuck it out." He shrugs. "I'm going to find myself someone to go home with or vice versa." He shoots up his eyebrows then smiles before walking away and heading toward a tall lanky blond guy.
"Let's get fucking turnt." Jordans eyes go wide before she aggressively swivels her seat back to the bar table chugging the rest of her drink.
"Go ahead, I'll make sure you make decent decisions." I turn to my drink taking a sip.
By the time I've matched the number of drinks Jordan had before she stopped counting, the crowd has thinned out, and the karaoke machine is packed away. I step away from the pool game and the group of basketball girls I was chatting with and head toward Jordan, who's dancing with some short brunette guy I haven't seen before.
"J, you ready?" I ask as I approach, watching her sway with him.
"We're good," the guy says, turning to me with a hard expression.
"Sof, like ten more minutes," Jordan pleads for the fourth time tonight. My eyes narrow as I take in the guy holding onto her waist, his grip far too aggressive for my liking.
"No, we're good," I say, locking eyes with him as I pull Jordan to my side.
"I'll take her home," he states, and I roll my eyes.
"Hers or yours?" I shoot back.
"Guess we'll find out," he smirks.
"Like hell you will."
"Sof, please, I've been training so hard," Jordan gives me her puppy dog eyes, but there's no way I'm leaving her with him.
"Absolutely nâ"
"I can stay and take you home later," a voice cuts in. We both turn to see Tommy, his hands in his pockets.
"Okay!" Jordan chirps, and the short brunette walks away. I narrow my eyes at Tommy, stepping forward. Despite seeing him have a beer earlier, he looks sober.
"You've been drinking," I start, not hiding my suspicion.
"Only had one tonight," he counters calmly.
"And that guy?" I press, squinting slightly. Tommy just shrugs.
"What about him?"
I exhale, stepping closer. "Anything happens, and I mean anythingâ"
He cuts me off, "Y'know he'd kill me if I did anything to cross you."
I turn to Jordan. "Location on, and you text me when you get home," I instruct. She nods, and I finally head out the door.
+++
By the time I've taken a showerâthe kind where you finish washing your body after the first five minutes but decide to stand there, letting the water run down your face as you drown in your thoughtsâI've received the 'home safe' text along with a photo of Jordan in bed. I walk out of the bathroom to find Ashlyn reading a book, a small book light illuminating the page she's on. I lazily flop onto my bed, expecting to drift off, but it feels like only five minutes have passed when there's a knock at the door.
My head snaps to Ashlyn, who's now looking at me, her book forgotten. "Are you expecting anyone?" she asks, drawing out the words.
"No," I reply, my tone matching her unease.
"Could it be Danny?" I suggest, and she shakes her head.
"Jordan?" she questions.
"She's at home," I say, getting up and heading towards the door. I glance back at Ashlyn, who's now standing beside her bed, peeking over to get a better view. I open the door a crack, letting my left eye peek out.
"Stephan?"
A/N: Thank you guys so much for 12K reads!!! Big smooch to everyoneâlove seeing your thoughts and comments. Much love <3333