Fate (GXG)

Chapter 17

Domino’s POV 

“Oh s**t,” Alexis said. I was still shaken cold from the words on my phone. It was Telling me congratulations, and that I’ve been chosen for the women’s basketball team. “Looks like practice starts tomorrow.” She said. 

‘That soon???’ I questioned myself in my thoughts. I haven’t processed today yet, I have to go and see her tomorrow? I threw myself over Alexis' lap like a baby and started whining. “Lexi what am I going to do?” She brushed my hair lightly trying to soothe my newfound anxiety. 

“Well, you can’t let her ruin what you wanted. You worked so hard to get the number one spot and to work on that team. f**k her. You can ignore her. She’s not the only one there on that team. So you'll be helping other people too.” She pulled me up to meet me at eye level. “Just go in there and do your job, you’re a professional and show her what she’s missing.” She winked at me. “Speaking of showing what she’s missing. I bet your girlfriend doesn’t know you almost kissed her.” 

I groaned and rolled my eyes and I felt my face redden. “Milani isn’t my girlfriend.” 

“Ah, but she wants to be. Tell me what’s wrong with her?” 

“We’ll just like Logan she withheld the truth from me. Even though it makes sense why it was still unnecessary.” I replied, turning away crossing my arms. 

She stood up stretching her body about to head to her room. “So if they both lied in a form and fashion… Why Logan? Why is it you felt hurt more by her actions than Milani? Both lied about their names..” I turned towards Alexis and opened my mouth to try to answer but I didn’t know… I closed my mouth because she’s actually left me speechless. She continued “When you fully understand why I’ll be here for you Pookie always. Goodnight.” She slowly disappeared into her room. Till she popped out a second later hanging out the door frame. “Oh, try not to have too many wet dreams about her... I kinda can hear you a little bit.” She joked. 

“ALEXIS! Goodnight!” I yelled out embarrassed by my bold friend. But I knew she was right. For some reason Logan who I’ve only had a paragraph worth of conversation with not only did it hurt me she lied. But the fact was she was the one I wanted to kiss the most. I got up and slowly walked to my room just thinking. The ultimate betrayal was the pain I felt watching another woman call her baby and I didn’t know why. 

Just the thought of her and Ariel doing only god knows why sent me into an ugly state of jealousy. Never have I ever been jealous of another woman before. Something in me wanted to stand up for myself. However, I knew I wasn’t ready for all that. Not only was I not ready but the girl belonged to someone else. 

I sluggishly threw my body on my bed and looked outside to the moon. So bright so beautiful and I just couldn’t help but wonder if we both were looking at the moonlight. 

***

I woke up to my screaming alarm… It was six in the morning and time to start my day. I woke up every day at six in the morning, every morning since summer school. I’ve always preferred to be up early so I choose my classes to be early as well. Normally I would have no problem with waking up but today I felt like a zombie. Last night I kept tossing and turning anxious for today's events. To add to that I had this strange dream replaying over and over every time my body drifted to dreamland.

In the dream, I’m running in what appears to be a forest of some type. I'm just running as fast as I can. With the wind behind me and the trees whistling in my ear as I speed past. I keep running until I'm in the middle of the forest with nothing but the moon's light shining on me like a spotlight. I stop reclaiming my breath and look up to the starry night above. Then suddenly a dark four-legged figure appears from the shadows. Voices around me start talking softer then gradually louder, increasing their voices all talking over one another. Then without notice, they all stop. The figure begins to walk towards me, that’s when I wake up panting. 

“What could it all mean?” To be honest I don't know but I whispered to myself expecting an answer. There was no need to dwell on it though, I need to get ready for class. I got out of bed and stretched my body, yawning from the lack of sleep. I took a quick shower washing my curls, did my hair, brushed my teeth, and got dressed all within thirty minutes. Today I decided to wear the simplest outfit I could wear from the Alexis fall collection she purchased. I was wearing a black bodysuit that looked like a baby's shirt with the way it snaps in between. Over that, I put on some black ripped jeans. Showing off as much skin as it wanted. 

I looked at my phone and saw ten messages from my parents and ignored them. I decided a while back after my birthday to unblock them. Still, not once did I respond to their messages, and not once did I open them either. I just still couldn’t believe they would do that to me, their only daughter all for what? I still tried to search for the answer myself and I just knew it couldn’t have been because of Jocari alone. Even Serenity called and texted me and she called me the most, more than my mother and father combined.

I had a few more minutes till I had to leave so I decided to make Alexis and I both a quick hot breakfast. Alexis was the complete opposite, when my last class was over she was on her way to her classes and didn't end until later. She stacked up her classes so she could have Monday, Wednesday, and Friday off.  Putting all her classes until late on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I told her that it would be suicide if she did it that way but of course, she did it her way. Alexis always knew her limits and she’s been doing great with the way she’s handled it. I texted her that I left food for her when she gets up and to wish me luck. 

My first class wasn’t far at all from my dorm. It was roughly about five minutes away from its walking distance. I made sure that just in case I’d ever overslept an alarm it wouldn’t take me long to get to class. I had classes every day, unlike Alexis. I had two classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Also on those days, I had a lab as well. My classes weren't too long either and after the lab, I was done roughly around lunchtime. On the other days, I only had two classes but those were the longest and I didn't finish those till one in the afternoon. And after my first two classes, Milani would always be there waiting for me and so she could walk me to my next one. Same as today she walked me to my first three classes. It was only when Alexis would meet up with me instead, then Milani would disappear. I was finally done with my lab and the teacher let the class go a little late. I walked outside to see that neither Alexis, Milani, or even A-I mean Logan were outside waiting for me. Checked my phone to see a message from Alexis. I opened it and read it.

‘Hey Pookie, I had to run some errands today so I won't be there. You should be fine with your stalker and ghostly girlfriend around. Love you, see you for dinner after practice, good luck. And remember I’ll beat her ass if she touches you. XO’

I couldn't help but laugh at the last reminder. I sighed out and headed to the café to get some lunch. For the first time in a while, I was alone with my thoughts. Our lab class was canceled by our professors due to a family emergency so I had nothing to do at all. It was too early in the morning to go to the cafe. They were preparing lunch right now and didn’t open for another hour. And I didn’t have to report for practice tonight till late around six. 

“What to do?” I said out loud walking around campus. I thought really hard about it. Guess I should get started with my homework tonight. The library it is. 

The walk from my class building to the nearest library was roughly twenty minutes. And within those twenty minutes, my mother and father called me. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to answer their calls. Then of course on schedule Serenity called me… something in me became angry and I just replayed my mother’s words to my father that night. She told him he got what he wanted as if my future and my love life was on the table for a bargain. I couldn’t help but feel she was the reason. 

My hands gripped my phone with frustration. And I impulsively answered the phone. 

“Hello?!” Serenity’s voice called out. I didn’t respond. She kept listening in on my breathing... “Domino honey, are you there?” Still, I didn’t respond back. “Honey, please say something I’ve been worried sick about you, both me and your father, please. He doesn’t know I have you on the phone right now. Just say something. Please. I need to know you’re okay.” 

I don’t know why but her saying she was worried about me and that she cared for my well-being sent me over the edge. “Really? Do you care now? Or you’re happy that my father got what he wanted and almost gave up my life for it? How about this stop pretending like you care about me!” I yelled into the phone and hung up. That was the first time I’d ever yelled at Serenity and instantly I felt wrong about it. I wanted to call back and apologize but I knew I couldn’t. I was still hurt. But this was a side of myself even I was unfamiliar with. 

“Hey? You okay?” A male voice said. I turned to see Nate from the party that night when I met Logan. 

“Yeah, just, I don't know” I murmured looking up at him. 

He just smiled. “Whatever it is, just remember to breathe okay? So whatcha dooooing?” He had this mischievous demeanor shining from his eyes. 

“Um. Nothing? Going to the library?” 

“Is that a question or a statement? So, want a study buddy? I see you’re alone and you know I could help you out with whatever’s stressing you out. And I'm pretty funny.” He said smiling. 

“I mean… I guess?” I said 

He just pouted with these animated puppy eyes. “That’s not an answer. Pleaseeee.” He held on to the e until I gave him an answer. 

I giggled “Okay, okay, Yes.” 

We walked into the library together and I couldn’t help but gasp. This was my first time here and it was huge! I looked up to see four extra levels filled with what I assumed were books, study rooms, and computer rooms. It was a bookworm's paradise. Aka my paradise. “Wow” I whispered out. 

“You think this is big, you should see the main library. That one is maybe three times larger.” Nate smiled at me. “How about you grab a table and I’ll go see if they have this book I need.” He said walking towards the receptionist. I found a table on the main floor. I wanted to go explore but I didn’t want to make it hard for Nate to find me either. 

I sat down pulling out my homework for the rest of this week so far. It wasn't something I couldn’t finish after practice tonight. But I just wanted to get ahead. Because I knew after seeing her again my mind would be all over the place. As soon as I opened my textbook it was immediately closed. I looked up to see an angry Ariel hovering over me. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” She said in an angry whisper. We were still in a library. It was nice to know she had some etiquette. 

I squinted my eyes at her and then looked down at my textbook. “Uh? About to study?”

“Don’t play dumb with me b***h. You know what I mean.” 

“No? I don’t?”

“Oh yes, you do. I told you to stay away from what’s mine and what’s mine is Logan. So tell me why the f**k were you two together?” Ariel said back, leaning closer to me. Trying to intimidate me. 

Something inside me took over like earlier when Serenity called. I scoffed “Sounds like something you should ask her and not me. That sounds like a problem between you two and not me. So leave and find the girl that’s not claiming you because she isn’t here.” I mumbled back 

Ariel was stunned and so was I “What the f**k did you just say?” 

It was too late to take back what I said and the words that slipped out confidently took the sudden confidence with it. “I-I I mean… what I meant was..” I stuttered back. 

“b***h, what the f**k did you say?! I told you to stay away from what isn’t yours. How hard is it for you to understand?!” She yelled, she now had everyone’s attention. I saw nothing but pure hatred in those brown eyes. Fear quickly overcame my body. 

“The hard part she’s trying to understand Ariel..is the part you don’t seem to get either.. that part is that Logan belongs to you. Because according to Logan and last time I checked she didn’t belong to you.” Nate's voice yelled out from across the room. We both turned to see him marching towards us. He stepped in between us staring her down with the same hatred. “Back off Ariel. You mess with her you f**k with me.” He growled back. 

“She and you will know your place.” She challenged him right back. Ariel was just as tall as I was and he was almost a foot taller than us both. Yet she didn’t feel threatened at all. As if she believes she could take on his strength with zero effort. 

“f**k you, Ariel. I’m not afraid of you and as long as I live I’ll never be afraid of you.” 

She chuckled “Be careful big boy… promises promises.” 

“f**k off Ariel, oh and by the way you delusional b***h… you’re single and so is Logan and if I hear you threaten my here friend I’ll personally handle you.” He clenched his fist. He wouldn’t hit a girl, would he?

Ariel took her hand and slid it up his chest seductively and my eyes widened the way he snatched her hand touching him. “Handle me? You could never. Only Logan can handle a girl like me. As she’s done countless times.” That last part she looked at me. And I don’t know why but that pissed me off. Still, I just let her say what she wanted. She smirked back seeing that I wasn’t going to respond and walked away in the other direction. 

Nate sighed out “Logan why did you date the devil herself?” He turned to me “Are you okay? I know she can be a major bitch.” 

“I’m fine and thanks Nate you didn’t have to do that.” I smiled slightly.

“Couldn’t help but to save such a pretty lady like you from the evil witch.” He said and we both laughed. 

Time went forward quickly with Nate, and I learned a lot about him. He was on the Men’s basketball team and was a sophomore. He was twenty years old and had a little sister back home. His parents abandoned him and his sister so they lived with their grandmother. He told me how she was getting really old and he had little to nothing to his name. That basketball was his way out of where he lived and he had to make it happen for himself and his family. He also explained how Logan had helped him and his family. 

I couldn’t help but think about her while spending time with him. He explained that they were all close to him, Chad, Jayson, and Logan. That they were like extended family. Then, the words he said earlier to Ariel kept playing in my mind over and over. The fact that they aren’t together eased my thoughts more. By the time I knew it, it was time for me to go back to my dorm and get ready for tonight’s practice. 

Nate walked me back to my dorm room giving me a big and surprising bear hug. I could tell he was a huge hugger. I laughed as I felt my joints cracking a bit. He told me that I’ll do great tonight and to not worry. I was stunned because I didn’t tell him that I was going to the practice. 

I arrived at the basketball gym an hour early as the head trainer requested. Dress in my team polo shirt and plain khakis. If Alexis could see me now she’ll pass out to see her hard work in my wardrobe wasted.  To my surprise, I saw another girl from my class there as well. I looked at her confused and she looked at me smiling wide. She walked up to me after the head trainer told us to head downstairs to the training room and grab some things off a list he made us for today. 

“So aren’t you excited?!” She said breaking the ice. 

“Nervous actually and confused,” I confessed. I was confused because the competition said that only three were to be selected. Making that one for each team. 

“Well let me not ruin the surprise but just to say you are one lucky girl. I’d kill to be in your place.” She smiled nudging me playfully. Before I could ask her about this surprise she left the room to go back to the court. I sighed and followed her up the stairs. 

When I got back up I saw the players shooting the balls around on the courts and Logan talking to what I assume was one of the coaches. She didn’t look happy, in fact, she looked irritated. The look on her face was still very attractive and I couldn’t help but find her very attractive and how assertive she was. The door closed very loudly, taking my gaze from Logan and changing the focus on the door. I turned back to see the coach and Logan looking in my direction. I couldn’t help but blush and walk away. They soon resumed their conversation. 

The head trainer called me and the random girl over to him. “Alrighty, ladies welcome. Now I know Domino you’re wondering why Kim is here with us and it’ll be explained soon.” We all looked over to the head coach and the players. But one particular player looked very familiar. I squinted my eyes trying to focus on her. She looked at me with a frown on her face. Suddenly I knew it was Milani! I looked at the other girls on the team. They looked at us with indifference on their faces. Minus one. Of course, that minus one was Logan who had a smirk on her face. She was looking directly at Milani. The coach blew the whistle and the players got into position for the next drill. 

Suddenly the head coach and Logan were walking over. Her eyes felt like they were focused directly on me. She looked like she was trying to read me which wasn’t hard because I think everyone could hear how hard my heart was beating. That was a dead giveaway. They finally reached us. The coach spoke first “Hello ladies my name is Coach Howell,” he said.  “And this is Logan our captain. We both would like you to be welcome as our assistant trainers for the team.” He paused. Logan just kept her eyes on me with an expressionless look. “So, normally we only take one but this year we have two. One of you will be a personal assistant trainer to our star player. That is none other than you Miss Domino.” The coach said.

I quickly turned to the head trainer and he smiled a toothy grin. “You're not only the best in this year's class but the best we’d ever seen here at the university so we had to make it special just for you. So you will be the personal assistant to Logan here. You will make sure she is in perfect form. You will log her progress and make improvements for her. If she needs recovery you’ll tend to it. So whenever she’s in the gym even on off days… you’re in the gym. If she’s hurt you’ll attend to it immediately even off the court. You will notate everything. From how much weight, to how much she lifts, even to if she sprains her ankle.” He paused to catch his breath while I was still trying to comprehend what was happening. “Think of it as practice for your own firm. Which no doubt you’ll have.” 

The Coach cleared his throat, drawing my attention back. “We will exchange all contact information between all of us and you and Logan will exchange numbers and schedules. You’ll get official letters to your teachers if you guys are needed to be taken out of class. Welcome to the team now let’s practice. Logan?” Coach said. She just looked at me and turned to walk away to start practice. What the hell is going on? Now I’m her personal babysitter?