Fate (GXG)

Chapter 10.2

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I was on my way out to this session that the guidance counselor had recommended I go to. Alexis had left before me. I had promised her I would text her when I made it there and then when I’m leaving. I told her to do the same. The meeting was being held in one of the auditoriums on campus so it was within walking distance. I pulled out my phone and texted Lexi. 

Me: hey I made it. Remember what I said NO s*x, Lexi. 

Lexi: Ugh fine. You’re putting me in this drought. Fine no s*x. We just pulled up at the restaurant too. I’ll see you later pookie. 

I chuckled at our text messages. Lexi was in a drought and it sounded impossible she could literally get anyone. Although saying I was in a drought sounded correct. Especially since I haven’t done anything before. 

I grabbed the program that was at the front door. Today they were showing new technology that they had been researching. I couldn’t wait to find out what they had discovered. Finding discoveries was amazing and I wanted to do something like that. Find something that could change the world for someone. I took my seat as the presentation started. I was seated close to the front. I could see research buyers getting out their notes and talking amongst themselves. The show started. 

The presentation wasn’t that long. They talked about how tearing ACLS is career ending for players in all sports. Even day to day activities aren’t normal after the tear. Normal people even have a hard time getting back to normal. So they introduced a new surgery that can improve mobility that puts people back to normal quickly and more efficiently than the current way that it was done. It was honestly amazing watching how the surgery would take place. The comparison they showed between the two methods. I could tell it was groundbreaking. The researchers in front of me were nodding their heads in agreement. So that had to be a good sign. I was in awe of the whole thing. I started to think maybe this is what I wanted to do. 

After the seminar was over I saw my guidance counselor waving me down. I knew I had to go over to him and tell him he was right. Either it was going to be now or tomorrow. Might as well get it over with and do it now. 

“Hey, you actually came. I didn’t think you were going to come.” He said smiling “so what did you think? Pretty cool huh?” 

“Okay you got me, I’m in love with it. The way they tested it on people from different age groups, from athletes to older regular people was amazing. That they found something that can be used not just for athletic purposes. Not to mention they didn’t charge them for the surgery. It was amazing!” 

“Soooooo…. I was right huh? I knew I was good at my job.” 

“Okay, okay..” I laughed “Yes I think I found what I want to do. However, I don’t want to be on a male team. Not going to lie. But I want to be at the top of the class. So what can I do? I’m ready.” 

He smirked at me “Now you’re talking. We’ll if you want to be number one. We’ll test you out of gen ed’s then start you with intro classes. At the end of the summer, the top three students get to become the athletic trainers of one of our top sports. In order to change lives, you have to know how the bodies work. The best way to learn is by watching them tending to their needs athletically. The top three will be personal trainers to a selected athlete or the team in general along with the team's actual athletic trainer and graduate athletic trainers. The teams that are up for grabs are the men’s  football team, men’s basketball team, and the Women’s basketball team.” He said that and could see my disappointment. Damn, I would have to be top three and there’s a two out of three chance I’ll be chosen for the men’s teams instead of the women’s team. But I knew this is something I wanted to do. 

“Okay, I’ll do it. When do we start?” 

“Tomorrow, you’ll test out and I’ll have your summer schedule ready. I’ll push for you and miss Lexis test scores to be graded immediately so we can get started.” 

“Thank you. I appreciate this.” I said to him. He was such a great counselor I couldn’t wait to take my test. 

He laughed “Hey, just doing my job. I don't know why but I see you girls becoming big in the future. So don’t forget about me when you accept your awards.” He said walking away. 

He was such a great man. And he was great at his job. I had to admit it. 

“Hey, I knew it was you. I thought I saw you earlier walking in. What are you doing here?” A voice said. I jumped and turned around and was met by the girl from yesterday. She smiled at me looking down deep into my eyes. I couldn’t tell at the time but she’s tall compared to me. Even taller than Alexis and Jocari. 

“Oh..H-Hey..” I stuttered. Why was I stuttering? Oh my god, I’m going to embarrass myself before even really talking to her. 

“I didn’t mean to scare you, I'm sorry. So, what are you doing here? Are you a young beautiful researcher looking to buy into my school's stuff?” 

She keeps calling me beautiful. I don’t know why but she keeps making me blush when she does it. It was bad enough that she’d constantly been on my mind since yesterday. I didn’t expect her to actually be here. She giggled a little “what? Do I have something on my face?” She pointed out the fact that I had been focused on her eyes and nothing else. I guess I’d been staring too long. Damn it why did she carry this effect on me. I’ve talked to so many people before her and she is just a girl. I mean a really pretty girl… nothing too crazy right? I mean she was fine as all hell. 

I just turned and walked to the exit. I couldn’t take the pressure to respond or handle the social anxiety of trying to not stare. 

I was leaving and had made it outside the building when I felt a hand intertwined with mine. 

“Wait, I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean to. Let me just start over okay?” She said. I stopped and took a deep sigh trying to calm my nerves. I turned around looking at her. Her eyes were soft looking and she was so addicting to look at. Jeez. 

“I promise I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. It’s just something about you I can’t help but flirt. So let me mind my manners.” She said while letting go of my hand. I shook my head in agreement, if only she knew I just was too shy. I didn’t think she was aggressive at all. I thought she was too damn fine to flirt with a girl like me. 

She continued to talk. “I’ve yet to learn your name and in order to do so, I guess I should tell you mine huh. Well, my name is Milani. What’s yours?” She said gently. 

I was finally able to speak. “Domino Lockhart.” 

“Well miss Lockhart, it’s nice to meet you formally.” She smiled at me. Her smile could kill. 

“You as well Milani, your name it’s pretty.” I tried to give her a compliment back. 

“Thank you, my father named me. Did you enjoy the seminar? Were you working tonight?” She questioned. She thought I was looking to buy into the procedure. 

“No, I’m a student here. Well, I will be tomorrow.” I countered. 

“Really? Great, that means I’ll get to see you often. If that’s okay with you.” She was such a gentleman I could tell. She definitely was polite and so nice. I couldn’t help but wonder what was the catch. Was she a serial killer? Was she crazy like Lexi was saying people are? She could tell I was thinking about something because she just smiled and laughed a little. “I wonder what’s going on in that pretty head of yours but I won’t press you on it. Can I walk you to your car maybe?” 

“I don’t have a car, sorry…” 

“Maybe I can get you an Uber back to your place or something. I promise I won’t hurt you. But a pretty girl out here at night. Someone’s bound to try and steal you. I can’t let that happen. My mother would disown me if I let you walk away alone.” as she said that I had no problem believing that she wouldn’t. She was so nice and easy to talk to once you get past her intimidating looks. She was the complete opposite of what Ariel was this morning. 

“Um.. maybe you could walk with me. It’s not far, maybe a fifteen minute walk. You don’t have to I could just call my-“ 

“No, no I’ll be more than happy to walk you home. Maybe even get to know you on the way there if you’d let me?” 

I nodded my head in agreement. I couldn't tell if she was flirting with me or just being nice. At this point, I didn’t know anymore. I didn’t feel as if I was cute as Alexis, even though she keeps telling me I am. And I didn’t feel like I was her type. I’m just average looking. I pondered into these thoughts forgetting that she was walking with me. I looked over and found her staring at me. She quickly looked away. I thought it’ll be rude if I don’t say anything at all. I just needed to do it. 

“So, you’re a freshman here. Are you here for summer school? Or you’re just hanging around campus?” 

“I’m here for summer school. My major is still undecided though. What about you? I take it that you’re going into sports medicine?”

“I wasn’t planning on it because I don’t like sports. Well, I don’t think I like sports. More like I don’t like the athletes that play them. But I fell in love with the seminar. I just knew I had to do that.”  

“Man, what did athletes do to you?” She joked

“They're all the same. They're rude most of the time. Cocky all the time. They also are arrogant, lazy, and did I mention assholes?” 

“I don’t think they’re all like that.. maybe you just met all the bad ones.” 

“Spoken like a true athlete.” I laughed. 

“Yeah, I am one. And I promise I’m nothing like that.” She smiled at me. We had finally made it in front of my building. 

“Well, this is me. Thank you Milani for walking me here. Maybe you athletes aren’t all the same. There’s hope for you guys yet.” I smiled. 

“Maybe, but hopefully just hope for me because I would love to see you again. If you let this athlete see you again.” She asked me. Her brown eyes mesmerized me for a second. Then she smiled showing her perfect white teeth. “I’ll take that as a maybe, see you around Domino.” I waved at her as I walked into my building. She watched me go in and walked away fading into the darkness. I couldn’t help but think about how sweet she was. I arrived in my dorm to a pacing Alexis. 

“Oh my f**k, there you are I’ve been worried sick” Lexi said going into full mommy mode. 

“I’m sorry Lexi, I was talking to my counselor and someone I had just met walked me back home. I forgot to text. I’m sorry.” 

“Hold up, someone you just met? Was he hot? Oooo was he one of those fine ass doctors in the making at your seminar. And Domino Pookie you can’t just let strangers walk you home. Remember crazy people exist.” 

“It wasn’t a stranger.. it was the same person from yesterday…”

“Oh make the guy that made you all bubbly shy. Well more shy than usual. Damn shame pookie. He must be too f*****g fine. He has you smiling your ass off.” 

“I am not smiling, Alexis,” I said knowing I was smiling. 

“Bullshit, it’s practically stuck on your face. He probably got you wet again.” 

“Alexis please stop.” I groaned sitting on the couch. She came and joined me, not letting go of the topic. 

“Domino, get serious, you're a girl and you have needs. I just know you’ve thought about it at least once. So explain, what does he look like? You clearly are attracted to him. What’s his name?” She was asking too many questions and I had the answers for them. I just didn’t know how I felt about those answers. I was so confused at the moment. But what better way to find out the answers with none other than your bestfriend. 

“Milani…” I said just to get her reaction. 

“Well… that’s an interesting name for a boy.. I mean we are in Cali so that makes sense.” 

I didn’t know how to break it to her that he wasn’t a man that he was a she. I grabbed her hand and her face went from excited to focused. She looked down at my hand on top of hers. “What’s wrong honey? Did something happen? I’ll f*****g kill him if he did something you didn’t want to happen. He’s dead, just tell me it’s okay.” See why I love her so much. She’s a ride or die type. 

“No Lexi. Milani is such a gentleman. She wouldn’t do something like that…” 

She paused and looked shocked “She?! Oh my god she’s a girl? Lord,” she smiled “your mother’s going to kill me. But b***h okay! Finally got you a girlfriend.” 

I laughed “She’s not my girlfriend and besides I’ve never been like this about someone.” 

She got serious and looked at me. I thought I had said something wrong. She looked away from me. “Well, we will see how this goes.. maybe you can show her off to Ariel.. and her ‘perfect girlfriend Logan’” that last part she said aggressively. I had no idea what happened and why her mood changed. Maybe she was mad about the Ariel thing still. 

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked 

“Yeah I just hate liars…” she responded.