Forbidden Love

Chapter 4

{Emily}

Tryouts are never easy in Middletown High. I demand the best of the best for my team. I won't allow weaklings to enter the team. Coach approved of my methods of recruiting girls so she stepped aside while I did the work. 

In the girls' locker room, there was a fine line between the mutts and vampires. Naturally, we got the better side of the locker room. My girls, the vampire girls who've been on the team for years, had a separate uniform to wear. A body-hugging black tank top, black spandex shorts, and black knee socks. The girls trying out wore a baggy white shirt, spandex shorts, and crew socks. 

My girls and I were the first ones out. Orion was right. The bleachers were full of mutts. Not a single vampire to be seen. We prefer to attend the day of an event. They were here to support their pack members and their Alpha-Females. I could feel Orion's penetrating gaze go up and down my body. It was enough to make me flush.

"Are you okay?" Jasmine asked, pressing a hand to my forehead. "We haven't even started doing anything."

"I'm fine," I hiss and swat her hand away. Talk about embarrassing. The girls trying out then piled out of the locker room. There were about twenty of them. Coach wasn't pleased. She preferred having her team with only vampire girls. We're the strongest and fastest. Quickly, I tie my long black hair in a high ponytail. 

"Listen up," my voice radiated with power and most of the girls cowered. The voice of a pureblood practically wants to make you bow down to them. "My team is the strongest and fastest team in the district. We're only vampire girls. So that means that I'll only take the best of the best. Got it?"

They mumbled a quiet 'yes'.

"Good." I settled my hands on my hips. "Alpha-Females to the sidelines."

The Dawn Howlers glared at me with how I treated their Alphas. Anyone would've squirmed under their stares but I didn't. I signaled for Julia to hand me a volleyball. When she does, I throw it at the nearest girl. I caught her by surprise because she wasn't paying attention. That's why I threw the ball to her. 

"You're out," I said. The girl trudged back into the locker room. Nineteen left. The rest seemed to be paying the proper attention. "Each of you will serve and one of my girls will hit it back to you. If you can't withstand the force they throw it at you then you're out."

A couple of complaints ran through them. I quickly pointed at the girl who was chattering the most. "You're first." I didn't like the form she took when serving. It looked like she was playing baseball instead of preparing a serve. "Out! This is baseball!"

I placed them in a line along the sidelines and the next girl came up. Her form was perfect. The only thing I needed to fix was her wobbly elbows. Wobbly elbows are no good for the team. Before she served I blew my whistle. "Out. Fix those elbows and in the spring you can try again."

She nodded and the next girl came up. She managed to serve the ball correctly. I watched closely as Julia hit the ball back. At lightning speed, the ball was above the girl and thudded against her chest. She was wiped out. "Out."

In a couple of minutes, I was down to the last five. None have managed to get past my strict requirements. Three girls were totally wiped out by Jasmine. I was left with two now. Venus was cheering this girl on. The Alpha-Females best friend. What a cliche. However, I found no error as she served and Jasmine hit the ball back. In fact, she had a firm figure and slammed the ball back to Jasmine. 

I blew my whistled to stop any further play. I glanced at the coach who was surprised at this girl's capabilities. I looked at my girls who seemed irritated at the fact that I'll have to accept this mutt into the team. Even they saw no error in her play. 

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Kiera Woods." 

"Okay, Kiera Woods," I drawled heavily with a roll of my eyes. "You're in the team."

The mutts from the bleachers roared with cheers. The first mutt to enter an all-vampire girl volleyball team. Kiera gave the last girl and encouraging smile. I saw the similarities to their faces. She served and was the blunt of Jasmine's annoyance. The ball hit her chest harshly that she flew back a foot. I shoot Jasmine a look but with a flicker of approval in my eyes. My girls snickered as Kiera shot them dirty looks. 

But this girl was bouncing back to her feet. I ran to her immediately, crouching beside her. Her collarbone was badly bruised. "How many fingers am I holding up?" I ask and wave my hand in front of her.

"Five," she whispered. 

"Do you want to go to the infirmary?"

"No, I'm good," she groaned as I helped her to her feet. She leaned on me as we walked to the bleachers. 

"What's your name?"

"Isobel."

I hummed in response and settled her on the bleacher right below where Orion and his buddies were sitting. I didn't make it in their good graces. Leaving Isobel behind I scold Jasmine quietly.

"Jasmine, you know that they'll expect me to punish you somehow," I rub my temple. "But I can't afford to bench you for the next game."

"Are you defending them?" Jasmine questions curiously.

"Only in your dreams." Glancing at the Alpha-Females I say, "Hit them with all you got. They'll be able to handle it because they're Alphas."

"Got it, Captain."

Turning back to the Alpha-Females I summoned Vanessa to serve first. Perfect posture, serve and counterattack. She did it all without even trembling. All sisters were the same and all sisters got into the team. 

It annoyed me to the extent that I wanted to kick them out for no reason. 

"This concludes-" I start but Jasmine's light tapping on my shoulder stops me. "Yes?"

"Your phone's ringing."

"Leave it on mute."

"It's Noah," Jasmine whispers. "He insists its something important."

"Can't you see we're being stared at as we hiss at each other," I sigh. 

"Of course I can! I'm not stupid but I wouldn't even come near you if it weren't important."

"Fine."

I grab my phone from Julia and I feel Coach's eyes on me. I give her an apologetic look. "Noah. What's the matter with you?! I'm in the middle of something important."

"Emily," his voice breaks and I pale.

"What's wrong? Noah, you're scaring me."

"He finally did it. He killed your mother. Presley killed Jaqueline," he was sobbing at this point. Presley was my father and Jaqueline my mother. My father is capable of many things and I knew that one of these days, he would terminate my mother's life. And he actually f*****g did it. "Emily?"

My body was shaking. Physically and emotionally. I lowered the phone away and slammed it on the wall. It's sickening break echoed through the gym. I crushed what was left in my palm. Jasmine shook my shoulders furiously.

"What did Noah say?" She demanded. "Emily?"

"He finally did it." I cursed under my breath and kicked the wall. "I don't want to form theatrics here but I have to go."

"That bastard," she growled and rested her forehead on the wall. She mumbled, "Go, I'll tell coach you had an emergency to attend to."

I ran to the locker room and didn't bother changing. I swung on a sweater and collected everything in my gym bag. Stares followed me as I headed for the gym exit in a hurry. I needed to get out before I cry. Orion's stare followed my every step until I was outside. 

And then I cried. I cried for the first time in a while.

***