April 2006
"That's what you get for trying to show out, freshman." Rosalie scowled as she slammed the locker closed.
Leah was half bent over, sucking in needed air. Doing fifty suicides up and down the court had been her punishment for once again taking the ball all the way to the net and not using her team as support. Rose seemed to have it out for her anyway and had ridden her back ever since the first time Leah showed up to training.
She'd just about had enough of the older girl's shitty attitude. It wasn't Leah's fault she was better than the blonde who seemed to not be getting anywhere with the scouts that had been watching the game the previous Friday.
Leah glanced over at the senior as she stood and wiped a towel over her face. "I wasn't. I was just playing ball."
"No, what you were trying to do is make me look bad." The blonde hissed, stabbing a finger in her direction.
Leah could feel the tension in the changing rooms charge as other conversations suddenly died down around them.
"Clearly, not so hard." Leah mumbled as she peeled off her training jersey and shoved it into her shoulder bag. Rosalie struggled to keep up with the plays and found it difficult to read the signs on the court. It wasn't any of Leah's business, but the girl was currently in the position she wanted.
"You know what freshman, you may think you're all that, but the truth is you only got on the team because Emily Young got her dumb ass pregnant."
"That's cold, Rose." Bella frowned as she wiped her face with a towel and threw it over her shoulder, ready to head to the showers.
Leah stiffened hearing Rose's taunt. She'd heard about Emily being dropped from the team but hadn't realised it was because she was pregnant.
"What?" Rose scowled, turning to Bella. "I thought it would be good for her to hear the truth. She wasn't the first pick, not even the second pick. Mostly just a default stand in."
Before Leah could snap back, the coach meandered through the locker room and gave her a pointed look. "I need to see you, Leah. Now. My office."
Ignoring the sniggering blonde, Leah sighed and followed coach towards the office at the back. Being ushered through the door, she sat down on the ruddy chair and lent her forearms on her knees, bouncing her knee impatiently.
"You wanna tell me what was going on out there?" Coach Platt asked as she sat in front of Leah behind a dark oak desk.
Rubbing a hand through her damp hair, Leah sighed again. "Nothing. Just some smack talk."
"Good," Coach replied, rummaging through a few manila files atop the desk. "I wanted to let you know you'll be in the starting five on Friday."
"Wha-?" Leah's mouth flapped open and closed several times. "But why? I thought you hated me. You're always riding my ass coach."
The athletically set honey-blonde woman stared at her with her icy grey eyes from across the table. "You think I would ride you because you had no talent? The moment I start ignoring you is when you should worry. You've got potential, Clearwater. Just as much as the girls here, more even. But you need to work on your temper and your team work. The team is there to support the plays. Not to sit back while you make yourself a star. You can't win a game by yourself and you know it."
Leah listened and nodded where appropriate. The woman was right. No matter how good she was, she would never be able to take on another team all by herself.
"Get out of here. Enjoy the rest of your night."
Standing, Leah grinned as she dashed out of the office. "Thanks, Coach."
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