Fragile strength

Chapter four;UhOh

I sucked in a sharp breath as the Dean pressed the gauze to my arm, the sharp bite of the antiseptic made me curl my fingers into my muddy skirt. The first aid room smelled faintly of disinfectant and grass from the pitch outside, I could still hear the faint shouts of the players outside, reminding me of everything that had just taken place.

Pressing a plaster down to my arm and spoke “Hold still”.

“I am”. I murmured, even though my body totally disagreed with me.

He worked quickly but his touch was also so soft and gentle, his brows creased focusing on my injury like it was the most important thing in the world right now but that’s wouldn’t be true. I’m never first choice for anyone.

“I didn’t mean to hit you”. His brows creased in guilt, he seemed to like saying these particular words. It doesn’t really matter if I got hurt. Really.

“I know that”. I said.

He glanced up once but quickly averted his eyes.

“You shouldn’t have been on the pitch”.

“I know that too”.

There was a pause, it made me uncomfortable a bit, I wonder if I said anything wrong.

“You’re not very good at breaking rules”. He said with a slight smirk.

“Oh just first day nerves”. I said feeling a little bit better.

“It gets better, I’m all done now”. I caught a slight smirk play on his lips but it’s was gone before I could make meaning of it.

“Sadie”!!. I heard a loud voice coming from down the doorway. It was Astrid. “We’ve got you!, they wouldn’t let us in, we had to fight our way through”. She heaved a heavy breath looking exasperated. “Oh my baby, I’m so sorry, we never should’ve brought you here”. Guilt covered her features.

Evie followed gently behind her glaring at Dean “Do you have to be such a knucklehead?”. She said sharply before focusing on me. “Do you feel alright?”. She asked softly.

I nodded my head sharply but that just made everything spin. “Yeah it’s alright I’m fine”. I didn’t want them worrying over me.

“Well take her from here”. Evie said flatly.

Walking through the hall felt worse than the fall, I felt so bare and seen and this was supposed to be a new start for me. My clothe stuck to me in a terribly irritating way and the dampness of my socks made it a whole lot worse.

“Surely she isn’t going to stay like this all day is she?”. Evie looked me over debating her choices.

“Wait”, Astrid said suddenly, stopping us near the girls restroom. “I’ve got something.

She drops her bag to the floor and reveals a neatly folded uniform. I looked over to Evie and we shared an amusing look. Who keeps a spare uniform in their bag?.

“What”!!, it became too small for me and I’ve been looking for who to give it to and it seems like it would fit you perfectly, I mean it’s not any different from the one you currently have on”. She said like it was completely normal to do that but I was grateful nonetheless.

“Thank you so much, I’ll go change, y’all can go ahead without me, I’ll be fine”. I said smiling slightly.

I change quickly, washing the mud off my body, lily clothes are slightly loose but I can manage.

By the time I was done, the bell rung. I start towards my next class but anxiety runs hard in my stomach so I spend the next two minutes walking back and forth in the hallway.

“Oh there you are”. A young woman called out in my direction. “Do you happened to be Sadie Grant?”. She asked.

Unsure why she would be looking for me, I nodded slightly. “Yes I am”.

She sighed loudly pressing a hand to her chest. “Oh thank God, I’ve been looking everywhere, the principal wants you in her office, come with me”. She said quickly.

The principal office is warm and calm, nothing seemed to be out of place.

“Im sorry I called you in like that, I don’t mean to frighten you, and you don’t have to worry about being punished for being on the field”.

Relief flooded through my chest. I folded my hands in my lap.

“Transfers can be overwhelming”. She continues. “How are you settling?”.

“I’m doing okay”. I said knowing fully well that was a lie.

She stared at me for a while. “Crestwood takes academic support seriously and I know school hasn’t been the best experience and a jump like this can be a little scary”. She said.

“I have decided to place you in a small tutoring group to help you ease back into things and to give you a little assistance”.

I hesitate. “ is it mandatory?”. I ask not really wanting to be involved.

“For now dear it is, but don’t see this as a punishment, I want to help you”. Her eyes were filled with kindness and honesty so I took her word for it.

She slides a slip of paper across the desk. “I’d like you to check out the class and introduce yourself to the students and teachers”.

I nod slowly. “Okay”.

——————————————————————

The tutoring room was a lot smaller than the normal classes.

Sunlight filtered in through a small window, the teacher stands quietly near her desk arranging paperwork speak crops her table.

I notice the small amount of students in this class all looking at me curious as to who this new girl is.

Instead of introducing myself, I walk straight ahead to the teacher and greet her.

“Hello, I was sent here by the principal to be familiar to my new tutoring class”. I said.

“Oh you must be Sadie”. She said beaming with a smile. Putting her hands on my shoulders, she turns me towards the classroom. “Everyone, this is Sadie Hughes, a new addition to our little group, pls be nice”. She said ushering me towards my seat.

I take my seat at the back and focus on my work, the room is quiet enough that I can hear the faint scratches of pen on paper.

“Dean Montgomery, you are awfully late”. I hear someone say.

My hand stills, nothing could have prepared me for this moment.

NO. NO, not him

He can’t be in this class. Surely he can’t.

I slowly raise up my head and there he is, standing in the doorway, broad shoulders filling the frame and his eyes locked on me.