"Give me one reason why not."
"I don't need to give you a reason. You should just respect my decision. Which is no."
"That's shite, and you know it," Felix huffs, as he plops back down on the couch next to Ramon. "You were just sayin' that you wanted to make some friends- well here's your chance!"
"Felix," Alison begins, pacing a bit, "I don't know the first thing about crewing…"
"You can start by just calling it 'rowing', Hon." Ramon smiles from the couch, stretching out so his feet are draped over Felix's lap. "It's the crew team, and we do rowing."
"Well you don't. You jus' do the yellin' bit," Felix smirks at his boyfriend.
"Yeah, I cox," Ramon states, tracking Alison as she paces by his head again.
"Yes, you certainly do…" Felix smirks before leaning in to kiss Ramon.
Alison rolls her eyes, "See! I don't even know what that is! What in heaven's name made you think I'd be good at it? At-at-"
"Coxing?" Ramon offers, coming up for air for a moment.
"Yes. That. See! I can't even say it- are you sure that's what it's called."
Ramon chuckles again. "Pretty sure, since I do it 6 days a week." Felix chuckles beside him again, though Ramon ignores it. "I'm a coxswain. And I think you'd be an excellent one as well. You meet all the requirements- you're efficient, punctual, a perfectionist, attentive and you are truly excellent at yelling at people and bossing them around…"
"I do not yell and boss people around!" Alison pauses, and drops a bit of the harshness-realizing she was proving her point. "But really though, why are you pushing this?"
"Listen, the Women's team is desperate. Their coxswain came down a bad case of expelled-for-plagiarism and their asking everyone if we know anyone at all who can fill in. Just for the remainder of the fall season- they said they can do a more expansive search over winter training once they're off the water again, but they just need someone stat or they won't have a boat for their Head Races coming up…"
"Coxing. Head Races. You know, someone truly gay must have started this sport…" Felix quirks an eyebrow.
"The English, Hon. And you know how gay they can be…" Ramon grabs Felix's shirt, tugging him back the few to his lips again for a quick kiss before adding to Alison, "Also you're small."
"What?" She says, stopping to look at him again.
"You know- small. Petite? It's a good thing in a coxswain. So, whatdayathink? At the very least- you can meet some new people. Make some friends?- Not that we don't love you to pieces…"
Alison pauses, mulling it over. Rowing. It'd been a long time since she'd done a team sport. Sure, she'd done soccer as a child (along with every other 2d and 3d grader) but after that she focused on dance and then just theater in High School. In short, much more singular, individualized pursuits. As a rule, she usually did not like team sports, favoring activities she could do and practice on her own instead of depending on other people for success.
And where has that led? Being on my own? She thinks. High school GPA of 3.6, the lead in the Spring production "Kiss Me, Kate", and very little else. She had always thrown herself into her work, be it school or acting, and consequently while she had several acquaintances, people she would eat lunch and small talk with- like Ainsley, her only real friend had been Ramon- who she's known since they were very little.
It didn't help the isolation that she spent her Freshman year at Community college, living at home and commuting. Despite her grades in high school and the few scholarships she got, she just didn't have the money to jump right to University after high school. So she stayed at home, worked at the same local diner she always had, saved her money and tried not to get discouraged.
Ramon told her University wasn't any big deal, but Alison knew better. She had dreamed of going since Elementary school. Learned Professors, the Quad, the freedom from her ridiculously suburban lifestyle- finally. Every movie and TV show told her this was supposed to be amazing- though so far it felt a bit like a dressed up version of her community college.
"Well, you may have a point. About meeting new people, that is..." She purses her lips. "I'm a Sophomore in college and I suppose I should make an effort…"
"Excellent." Ramon grins. "You're going to meet some cool people too. Hell- maybe you'll even get a date out of it- lots of eligible gentlemen on the team. And, I mean, that's how we met." He pinches Felix, who swats the offending fingers away.
"Yeah, my sisters are on the team," Felix adds. "Adopted sisters, that is. They introduced Ramon and I at the first team party last year and we've been coxing ever since." Felix grins and Ramon shoves him again lightly.
Dating was not exactly on the top of Alison's priorities list. Other than being the incessant victim of Ainsley's boyfriend Chad's flirting, and the occasional blind date or set up, Alison had very limited experience in that department. The way she saw it, she just hadn't met anyone she was interested enough in to bother with- which was fine by her, since she always had her academics or extracurriculars to keep her busy.
Alison rolls her eyes again at her two friends- now shoving eachother and chuckling on the couch. "Fine! Fine. I'll try it out. So what do I do? Where do I go? Also- I can't have this interfering with my auditioning for the upcoming productions…"
"Relax," Ramon says. He sits up, removing his legs from Felix's and now facing her. "It definitely won't. We practice in the morning. Just come over here, to the apartment, and we'll drive down together."
"Okay, what time?"
"We have to be there at 5am. So we'll leave at 4:45."
"5 AM?" She yelps.
"Oh please." Felix says, standing and stretching, before sashaying to the kitchen for some water. "You're up almost that early doing that ridiculous workout video of yours…"
"It's not ridiculous- it's 'Hip-Hop Abs' and it's an excellent workout, I'll have you know…" She nods curtly to Felix before addressing Ramon again. "I'll be here. Now, I should get back to the dorm-I'll see you both later." She collects her purse and jacket before heading out the door.
The walk back to the dorm was a short one. Ramon's tiny apartment was situated just on the other side of the road from the east corner of campus, making it very convenient indeed. Alison shook her head, feeling the little flame of jealousy spring up as she walks down the whitewashed hall of her dorm, approaching her room. Ramon has his own apartment. Albeit disgusting, he has his own place. She's well aware that the only reason he can afford it is due to some additional income from his… side businesses, but she ignores the rational, instead choosing to stick with her initial instinct of jealous frustration. It's not fair that he doesn't have to share. That he has all that space to do with as he wishes… Alison takes out her key, unlocking her dorm room door and opening slowly, having a good idea what lay in store.
…where as I, have this.
She sighs as she takes in the familiar sight of her roommate stamping out the joint and scrambling to open the window- fanning the pot smoke out with a handful of papers off her desk.
"Shit- Alison *cough * Sorry!- I didn't think you'd be home so quick."
"Cosima…" Alison pinches the bridge of her nose, squelching her eyes shut for a moment before opening them again. "We've talked about this-you could get us in trouble!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," She shakes her head, causing her long, dreads to sway. "But our RA barely leaves her room, so seriously, we're not going to get in trouble…"
"Not the point." Alison hangs her purse neatly over her bedpost before sitting down on the bed, and facing her roommate once more. "It's about respect. It's about respecting each other. We're going to be roommates for the next 9 months, and I would hope we could do that at the least…"
Cosima stares at her for a moment, before a slow grin grows. "You know, you should loosen up. My offer still stands if you want to partake…"She nods in the direction of the now extinguished joint.
"No. Thank you." Alison declines politely. She crosses her legs on the bed, and picks up her Intro to Psychology textbook, thumbing to where she'd left off in the assigned chapter.
"Okay, okay, it's an open invitation. Just sayin'," Cosima drops the papers from her impromptu fan back on her desk, just as her phone buzzes.
Alison peeks over the top of her book and catches her roommate grinning at her phone, busily texting a reply.
"Must be a good text..." Alison says as lightly as she can. She doesn't want to pry- but she's curious.
"Not really," Cosima says, laying back on her bed. There's a little flush to her roommate's cheeks, that she tried to mask but Alison catches it.
"Oh come on," Alison grins. "Who is it? Is it that tall guy with the glasses I saw you talking to after class last week? He had a cute smile…"
"Who? Scott?"
"Yeah, Scott then."
"No- Scott's cool and all, but it's…" Cosima bites her lip and to Alison it looks like she's deciding whether not to share. Finally she shrugs. "Well, if you must know, it's the TA in my Chemistry 205 course."
"What?!" Alison chirps. "A TA- Cosima you can't do that! It's not allowed."
"Hey, don't knock who I like! I mean, at least I'm going out and meeting people, instead of spending every evening hiding in my textbooks…"
Alison can feel the flush creep up her neck. She steels her face though, not wanting to give her roommate the satisfaction of knowing just how much it stung. And how unfortunately accurate it is.
Cosima realizes it though and sighs. "Sorry- I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. It's just… You're my roommate and we've been here almost a month and a half and other than your friend who lives off campus, I never see you go anywhere or do anything. It's college! This is our prime man! Enjoy it!"
Cosima's phone buzzes again, and she glances at it quickly before gathering up her jacket and bag. She turns to Alison, smiling at her. "And on that note- I'm gotta run. Look, just," she makes a motion with her hands, "just think about it. There's so much cool stuff to do- you just gotta make the plunge, right? I'll see ya!" She waves quickly before closing the door behind her.
"I'll meet people…" Alison mumbles to herself, brushing her bangs out of her eyes a bit before attending back to her book in her lap. I'll meet people. Starting tomorrow morning.
5am is much colder than she expected. As Ramon and Alison walked from his car to the boathouse, she silently wishes she had worn something warmer instead of just her pink North Face fleece. She did, thankfully, remember her matching ear warmer headband. At least her ears won't be cold.
They walk through the gate and into the boathouse itself- which Alison observes is nothing more than a giant warehouse-looking garage. Long skinny boats are stored upside down on shelf/racks on either wall. They walk down towards the other end where a group of 20 or so students are milling around. While t-shirts and sweatshirts varied, Alison is surprised that each and every one of them is wearing spandex shorts. She hopes her own Lulumons will suffice.
Ramon guides her over to a tall, frowning woman, scribbling on a clipboard.
"Coach S? This is Alison, a candidate for coxswain for you all…"
The coach looks over her clipboard, appraising Alison. "Do you have any rowing experience, love?"
"No."
"Any coxing experience?"
"No."
She levels his blank gaze at her again, and Alison isn't exactly sure what it means. She purses her lips a moment, before forming a small gentle smile. "That's okay. We'll help you figure it out. Thank you for coming."
The coach then turns to the group of girls to her left. "Alright listen up!" She hollers, and Alison jumps just an inch. "This is Alison. She's going to be our new coxswain. Now, she has no rowing experience and no coxing experience..." The group lets out a barely stifled groan. "Oi! Quiet! Now, by some MIRACLE one of the men's coxswains found her, so everybody CLAP because she's saving our rear-ends..."
The group glumly puts their hands together slowly, a few meager claps slipping out.
"Good." She nods, satisfied. "Now, where's Beth?"
"Here, Coach." A girl slides out from the crowd to the front. Alison is struck by her, unsure of why though. Do I know her? She looks familiar…
"Beth-I want you to help Alison out."
Beth's gaze flits to Alison, meeting her eyes, before- ever so briefly- running up and down the length of her. Alison feels a twinge in her stomach. She's sizing me up? She's literally sizing me up? She sees the Beth girl quirk an eyebrow at her and Alison can tell by the set of her mouth, that's she's not exactly impressed. "Okay, Coach S. You got it."
"Alright," Coach S moves on, unaware of the silent exchange between the two girls. "You're all going to be on the Ergs again today-" Another collective groan- this one without restraint, rises up from the spandex clad girls. "-QUIET! As I was saying, I want 20 x 500 meters today. I want splits written down from you all- and no more grumbling." She turns back to Alison, "You're coming with me in the launch boat, love. We'll follow the men's team out this morning so you can get an idea of what it's all about." She pauses, before turning to Beth again, "You come too. You can start helping her this morning."
"Oi!"
Alison turns her attention to another girl who's stepped out in front of the rest now. She has dark hair, and a Clash t-shirt with the sleeves cut off. "Why does Childs get to skip the workout! S'not exactly fair, ain't it?"
Alison makes note of the accent. This is probably one of the sisters Felix mentioned.
"Sarah, you know she'll do it, just later. And I picked her because she's the team captain so why don't you just worry about yourself. 20 x 500's. I want them when I get back." She turns, and heads out of the boat house. The girl with the English accent rolls her eyes and starts to heads off with rest of crowd, but not before giving pointed glare toward Alison. Before she could say anything, the angry girl- Sarah was it? -turns and heads towards the rowing machines at the other end of the building.
Alison feels lost, and turns back to Beth for assurance, but Beth is already pulling on sweatpants over her shorts and moving past her to follow the same route as the coach. After a brief moment of hesitation, Alison manages to will her feet to move and follows the girl outside as well. She walks a few paces behind Beth as they head down the ramp towards the water.
Coach S, already in the small motor boat, hands her and Beth a life vests. Alison sees Beth roll her eyes and the coach must catch it too, as she mumbles "Don't give me sass, it's required," before tending to the motor.
Beth dawns her vest with a sigh before stepping off the dock and into the aluminum boat. Alison notes how gracefully she does so, confident, an unwavering trust that her body will get it done despite both surfaces bobbing and moving slightly.
Alison begins her own transition with a bit more trepidation. She grips the edge of the boat with both hands before stepping in with her left leg. Unfortunately, with the shift of her body weight, the boat drifts a bit from the dock- just far enough for her to lose her balance and tumble forward inside. She lands, a mess of arms and legs on cold metal and warm skin.
Alison can feel herself flush as she realizes she's basically tumbled into Beth's lap. She tries not to look at her, instead righting herself and sitting on the metal bench, as if that embarrassment never happened. When she finally does glance to the girl now seated to her left, she finds a slight smile on her lips.
"Are you always this awkward?"
Alison narrows her eyes, and is about to retort when the coach starts up the engine, backing out of the spot which jolts her forward. She almost slides off the seat when she suddenly feels a firm grip on her arm, catching her from falling. Beth's hands are warm and the cold air doesn't feel quite as cold with them there. Alison repositions herself, now bracing her feet, so it won't happen again.
She looks to Beth, who's hand is still secure on her upper arm. The hold is not vicelike, but it's strong and secure, but also gentle, and so are her eyes. Alison feels a light flutter in her stomach and swallows her earlier retort. She didn't let me fall. She can't be all that bad.
Beth looks at her own hand, suddenly realizing it is still on Alison's arm, and lets go. Alison watches as that light, the little softness in her eyes is chased away and replaced with the same bravado and swagger from earlier. She smirks again, "Guess that answers my question."
Alison straightens herself, and brushes her bangs out of her eyes a bit. "Hopping in and out of boats all willy-nilly isn't something I'm exactly accustom to."
"Well," Beth begins, leaning a bit closer, causing that little flutter in Alison's stomach to return. "We'll just have to fix that won't we?"
Alison pauses, not sure how to respond. Beth just grins again, and pulls away. Sitting back as the coach cranks up the engine behind, sending them all speeding off towards the men's team in the distance.