The Fall Ball

Chapter 6

I come out of the locker room and can tell that coach Kamden does not look happy. He is glaring at me and I’m not sure why….

“What took you so long?” he asks me.

"I got in the locker room just as the bell rang and changed as fast as I could." “Well since you are the last one out of the locker room and are late you can start by running a mile and then you can join the rest of us on the courts for volleyball,” he tells me and then walks away.

It takes me forever to run a mile, the whole class is watching.

Our gym is huge. We have a track that runs around the room for when we have to run a mile or more. 1 lap is ¼ of a mile, so 4 laps in one mile. We have volleyball nets that can be put up in the middle of the room. It gives us 2 courts, usually with boys on one and girls on the other. We also have basketball hoops that hang on the walls. This is because wolves have heightened senses and stamina. It is easier for them to play on the more spacious court.

As I walk over to the side of the room, I start to jog my mile. I don’t push myself too much. I’d rather take it slow. As I finished my first lap, I heard the coach yell at me to pick up my pace, so I did. As I speed up, I notice that I don’t seem to be out of breath like normal.

By now, even if I take it easy, I am a panting and huffing mess.

I decided not to dwell on it and pick up speed again. At the end of my third lap I still feel perfectly fine and not winded at all. I decided to push myself the last part of the mile to see how I do. I finished faster than normal, and I still feel okay. I walked over to the coach to see where he wanted me to go.

“There is no way you could have finished that fast,” he tells me.

"I did all 4 laps. I just pushed myself harder than normal." I say.

“I don’t believe you and since you want to try to lie you can run the mile again, this time I will be watching you,” he says.

I walk away upset…

I started running again. This is ridiculous. I already did this I shouldn’t have to do it again. I can feel my anger bubbling inside of me. So I speed up in hopes of working off my anger. Coach is watching me closely.

So I speed up, I have 2 laps left. My plan was to run as fast as I could. I finished my mile and walked up to coach. He stares at me with a look of confusion on his face.

“How did you do that?” he asks me.

"What do you mean? I just ran the mile like you asked." I answer him.

“How are you not out of breath? You're usually the slowest person to run a mile, but today you did pretty well. Could probably beat most of your classmates today if we had timed it.” He says while watching me.

"I don’t know I just used my anger to fuel me and ran the mile. I feel fine though."

Coach blows his whistle. Signaling that it is time to head into the locker room, shower and get ready. I walked in after all the other girls. I take the shower furthest from them all, as I don’t want to deal with them and their comments today.

As I am rinsing my hair, I hear Ashlee say, “Look at this, little Miss No Wolf. She seems to have gotten better at running, too bad she can’t be invisible. I’d rather not see her naked body anymore."

I roll my eyes at her. I may not be a model, but I am not ashamed of how I look, and I don’t care what she thinks of my body. I finish my shower ignoring her and her friends and all of their remarks.

I decided that I am not going to my last class of the day today. Its only a study period anyways, and I am all caught up on my class work. And there are no tests coming up.

After getting dressed I get ready to leave the school. Coach Kamden stops me… “how did you do it?” He asks me.

"I’m sorry, what?" I say back to him while putting my backpack on my back.

“How did you run the mile today without breaking a sweat? You are not fit, and you struggle most days so now I want to know how you did it today?” He says.

"Well I don’t really know, I was angry for having to do it the first time, then you didn’t believe me, so I was even more upset. Then I noticed that I was doing really well and wanted to push myself to see how well I could do." I explain to him.

“Well I’m proud of you, and can’t wait to see how you continue to improve, you're almost eighteen right? Maybe you do have a wolf who is extremely late for showing up,” he says to me.

"Yeah, maybe," I tell him as I walk away.

Way too much going on today to try and understand why I am able to be more active and not out of breath.

Maybe it was just my anger. As I head home, I just want to be free of all thoughts.

A few blocks from home I can smell cookies, and not just any cookies, my favorite ones….

Oatmeal chocolate chip…

A neighbor must be making them. I wonder if mom will make some with me when I get home.

With that thought I started to run home. As I get home the smell gets stronger, and I rush into the house. I noticed Mom at the oven.

"Oh hi Rose, how was school today?” she asks me.

On the tray are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies…

How did I smell that so far away…? I’m just staring at the tray and Mom laughs, “Yes Rose they are for you. Let them cool first so you don’t burn your tongue.” She tells me with a smile.

"Okay thanks," I tell her, still trying to understand what is taking place today.

What did the dream mean? What does the book have to do with Lilly from my dream? Who can I talk to without them thinking I’m crazy?

I hear the door opening as I think about everything that has happened today.

“How was everyone’s day today? I brought the Alpha home for supper tonight. He wanted to check on Rose," my dad says.

The Alpha? Perfect… Alpha Jake may know more about the meaning behind my dream, and he has always been kind to me.

"Hey Alpha Jake," I say walking into the living room.