Ch. 2
Practice

BPOV

Edward was an asshole. That much I had already determined. Why he hated me so much? That I was still unsure about. If it was about a power play then, a power play he would get. Nobody treated Bella Swan like crap. Not even Edward the sexy captain.

I followed Edward at a safe distance while he pointed out the coaches office and the bathrooms. The hallway we had been in opened up into a large space that held individual lockers with each team members name on it. Edward stopped and walked over to an empty locker.

"I suppose you can have this one. The door is broken, but you'll just have to deal with it," he said without turning to address me. I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see me. He was acting like a five year old who'd had a tantrum.

"That's pretty much it." He turned around, but didn't say anything. He just looked at me, and I at him. I avoided his gaze, but he kept glaring at me. He was starting to make me uncomfortable so I put my hands on my hips in frustration.

"Well I don't know about you, but I'm going to go watch practice," I said and turned on my heels. What a jerk! I made my way back thought the locker room and down the hallway to the door that lead to the field.

The sun was blinding as I stepped out and I shielded my eyes. I heard footsteps behind me and then Edward was there, standing so close that I could feel the heat coming from him. I didn't look back, and he was gone within seconds to catch up on the sprints the team was doing.

I walked over to the bench where Billy was seated and sat next to him. "Anything interesting happen yet?" I asked jokingly. Billy grinned and shook his head.

"Nope. Not yet. But I'm sure we'll have something by the end of the day."

Practice was brutal. The sun beat down on the field, coaches yelled back and forth, and players ran in and out of plays and drills. A few times a football came flying at at me and one of them I even caught. I had played sports back in the day. And we had to constantly remind Coach Clearwater to give water breaks because if it had been up to him he would've run the players into the ground.

Practice ended at 7:30 and they all went back into the locker room. I started making ice bags for the injuries that I knew were going to need it.

I waited outside the locker room door and stared out at the field that was my new home. The sun shimmered as it set, filtering through the tress.

The locker room door creaked as it opened and the first player came out. He glanced at me and nodded. I help up an ice bag. He understood my unspoken question and shook his head no before walking away.

I continued to stare off into the sunset sky that was a particular shade of purple and spilled into a vibrant red.

"It's a great view isn't it?" a voice said behind me. I hadn't even realized the door had opened again; I had been so caught up in the colors.

I turned around and came face to face with a guy who was probably around my age with pale blue eyes and light blonde hair.

"It is really gorgeous," I said, glancing back over my shoulder.

"I'm Mike by the way." He stuck out his hand. "Bella right?" He raised his eyebrows.

I clasped his hand in mine and shook it. "Yeah, that's me," I said. This guy seemed nice enough at least. I was feeling a bit of hope that not everyone on the team was as big of a jerk as Edward.

"Cool. Do you mind if I grab a bag of ice? I think I twisted my wrist or something," Mike said and held up his wrist.

I took his arm and moved it up and down, testing the movement and range.

"It is a bit swollen and you're a bit loose, but I think you should be okay for practice." I grabbed a bag of ice and placed it on his wrist. "How does it feel?"

"It's not too bad, just twinges a bit when I try to block," he said. I nodded while he talked and grabbed the plastic wrap to hold the ice in place. I wrapped it around tight
moving in circular motions.

"You're pretty good at this," he acknowledged when I was done.

"Well I have been doing this for awhile, so I should hope so," I laughed.

"Well, thanks and I guess I'll see ya around?" Mike waved as he made his way towards the parking lot.

I smiled. I liked Mike. He seemed decent enough especially compared to that asswipe of a captain.

I shook my head and pulled out my phone. I had a missed call from my mom. I was going to have to listen to that when I got home. But first, I had to wait for the rest of the team.

The door flew open again and it looked like most of the team came out in a large group.

"Haha, I caught that pass though," laughed one guy.

"Yeah, but that was just a lucky catch," another guy called. "I bet you wouldn't be able to do a repeat."

"Wanna bet?" the other guy challenged. They all laughed as they walked and a few made there way over to me.
"Hey, do you guys need ice?" I said. There were three of them. One had curly brown hair and looked like nothing but muscle. The other two looked like dwarfs next to him.

"Yep!" The muscly guy agreed. "I have a problem with my shoulder. So I ice everyday," he said wiping sweat of his forehead. "And I do exercises before hand too," he added.

"Oh ok." I grabbed one of the ice bags and placed it on his shoulder. "Is that about where you usually have it?" I asked.

"Yep!" He grinned. "So your name is Bella right?"

"Yes," I answered. "And you are..." I questioned grabbing the plastic wrap laying on the bench.

"Emmett. I'm Edward's better looking brother." He winked at me and laughed.

"Really?" I was surprised. They didn't look anything alike. Emmett seemed more good natured than Edward. I tried to scan his face for any resemblance, but I came up empty.

"Yeah, I know. We don't look related, but we are. And Edward's usually more brooding than I am. Kid can't even appreciate a joke." He rolled his eyes.

"He didn't exactly seem too happy, earlier," I admitted.

"He can be really...stubborn sometimes. So if he's a bit rude, he'll come around. Eventually. I think?" Emmett's face slowly spread into a grin. "I mean he usually does. And he's really not so bad, just grumpy," he shrugged.

"I hope so," I agreed. I placed the wrap on his shoulder telling him to hold it in place. I had to walk around him in circles just so I could get the wrap around. He was too big for my short arms.

"So I was thinking. Your real name is Isabella right?" He didn't stop for me to answer. "And everybody else calls you Bella. But that's too mainstream for me. So would you mind if I called you Izzy instead?" He asked as I circled around him one last time.

"Hmmm...only if I get to call you Emmy. Take it or leave it." I crossed my arms. He caressed his chin as if deep in thought. The other guys laughed.

"Deal." He stuck out his hand and I shook it.

"Izzy it is then," I laughed.

"Awesome!" He called. "We are going to be best buddies, just you wait!"

Emmett was quite amusing. He seemed like such an oversized five year old at heart. He grinned at the other guys around him.

"Oh how rude of me. Izzy this is Seth and Paul." He pointed to each one.

"Hello," I said. "Is he always this crazy and loud?" I asked putting my hand up as if to block my words.

Seth nodded. "Oh yeah, you haven't even seen him before and after a game. It's insane." He punched Emmett in the arm. Emmett punched him back and I laughed.

"So what do you guys need?"

"I just need a bag of ice for my hip flexor," Seth said.

"I usually get one for my ankle," Paul added.

I grabbed the first bag and wrapped it on Seth before moving to Paul.

"Where's Edward?" Seth asked Emmett, looking around.

"I have no idea. He's probably still in the locker room sulking." He glanced back towards the door. "I may have to go in there and actually drag his ass out," he chuckled at the thought.

"Most likely," Paul agreed. "Thanks," he said just as I finished.

"No problem. I guess that's everything?" It looked like most of the players were gone and nobody else had come out.

"Yeah, Edward's supposed to get ice too, but who knows," Emmet just shook his head.

He dropped the bag he'd been carrying. "Let me go check." He ran over to the locker room. I heard him yell for his brother once he was inside. I couldn't hear anymore after that and I assumed that Emmett had gone deeper into the locker room.

I looked at my watch. It was getting late and I was feeling the stress of the day. I wanted to go home and take a long nap. I sighed. Seth and Paul smiled encouragingly at me.

"Long day?" Paul asked.

"Yes and stressful too," I admitted. "I-."

I stopped mid sentence because the door banged open.

"You have got to stop sulking!" Emmett boomed. "Bella's tired and has been patient with your grumpy ass."

Emmett followed a rather reluctant and still grumpy Edward to where I was standing with Seth and Paul.

Edward's face changed when he heard Izzy though.

"Izzy?" He whispered. "Now she has a pet name?" Edward glared at me.

"I thought it was kinda cute." Emmett shrugged. Seth and Paul nodded. I smiled at Edward.

He only grimaced in response. "Well I don't think it's cute." He snarled. And started walking away. I huffed and reached into my bag. I pulled out a roll of ice wrap and threw it at Edward's retreating figure. It hit him right in the back of the head.

"What the fuck?" He snarled and turned around.

Uh oh. I'm in trouble now.

Hey guys!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I wonder what Edward is going to do now? Did you like Emmett and Mike and all the characters so far? Please review and let me know what you think!

I'll see you guys next Wednesday!

-Marie