Page 15 of Pack Giroux

I don't like being singled out like this, especially when things are already seeming tense with my teammates, but what choice do I have when the coach tells me to?

"You did really well out there today," she says with a quick look over her shoulder to make sure that I'm following.

"Thanks," I tell her, taking a quick swig of my water.

She doesn't say anything else until we're in her office. I don't bother shutting her door since she doesn't ask me to, and this shouldn't be anything serious.

"Have a seat, Ms. Ellis," she tells me, motioning to the seat across from her desk as she takes the one behind it.

I do as she says, looking around the room at all of the awards and accolades. My old coach always told me that she was formidable on the court, even in her days of playing, and that's evident in all of the trophies and awards lining the walls and shelves.

"So, how are you liking North U so far?" she asks.

"It's great," I reply easily.

"Not like it's hard to compare, hmm?" she asks gently.

I knew that she was told a partial story of the circumstances of how I ended up here. I'm just not sure how much detail she actually knows.

When I don't answer, she skips to the next question. "How are you getting along with your roommates?"

"We're good," I lie. It's been a few days since our trip off campus, and I've barely spoken a handful of words to any of them. Nichole just hasn't been around, but the others and I have purposely avoided each other. At least, I know I have, so I'm assuming they're doing the same.

Her lips press into a thin line like she can read the lie inmy words. "Well, you weren't supposed to be rooming with three alphas. I put in a special request for you and a few of our betas to share a room. It was approved, but somehow glitched in the system. If we need to move you at any point in the year, you just let me know. It's hard enough starting in a new place with new people. Plus, the culture shock must be harder than any of it. There are special concessions in place for omegas. I'm not sure if you've been to the center or not, but they are a deep well of information and offer several different forms of counseling."

"I'm okay, really," I tell her.

“I’m not going to disagree or not believe you when you say that you are,” she says. “However, for the University’s policies, I’m going to need you to schedule an appointment to talk to someone at the center.”

“It’s policy for mandated counseling?” I ask, making sure I’m hearing that right.

She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have phrased it that way. It’s my policy. I’ve only had two other omegas on my team in the past five years, and no, it’s not discrimination in the least. It’s just hard for us to find the ones fully committed to the sport and have a given talent for it. But, my first omega didn’t have the best home life, either, before she came here, and I wish I would’ve recommended her to the center a lot sooner. When I discussed this with the university, I was given permission for it to be one of my rules. To be on my team, this is a requirement. You’ll be surprised at how much it’ll help.”

My gut clenches at the thought of telling someone where I came from, but my new coach already knows, and she isn’t acting like it’s a big deal. Maybe I am being a bit dramatic about it.

Then she goes and seals the deal. “Look, I’m going to be honest with you right now, I like what I’ve seen so far in how you play and your attitude. I’m going to want you on the court for ourfirst game, possibly all season. I want you in the right headspace for that kind of pressure.”

“Did Coach Williams tell you everything? Like the compound and everything?” I ask, judging her reaction.

She takes a deep breath and sits back in her chair. “Not all of it. I’m assuming some information was off limits, but I know enough to think this meeting with the center will help work through some things in your head. There are more of us than you think that suffered at the hands of others as children. It’s what we do with ourselves and make of ourselves that matters. We can’t give them that control over us.”

I nod, knowing she’s right because it’s what I’ve been trying to tell myself for weeks before I ever decided to even leave. “How do I get in touch with them?”

She genuinely smiles. “Normally, you’d call and set up an appointment with them, but they do walk-ins, too, if you need it. Don’t be upset, but I went ahead and scheduled you one for this afternoon. I hope you’ll consider going and not rescheduling.”

“Sure,” I reply. I haven’t been given an option at this point, even if it doesn’t sound half bad, I might as well go ahead and get it over with.

As I’m heading back to the locker room to shower, I pass Whitney who’s got her face turned toward one of the other girls as she walks, whispering. They both look at me with a weird expression. For a second I fear that they’ve overheard me and Coach talking, but I convince myself that I’m just being paranoid.

The locker room is clearing out when I walk in, so that means I’ll be able to grab a solo shower if I don’t want to go all the way back to my dorm to do it. It’ll save me time, because Coach didn’t give me but just enough time to shower and get ready and grab food before I have to go to the center.

Digging through my new gym bag full of team clothes andthings from the university, I settle on a pair of black shorts and a light-grey sweatshirt, both with the word Wolverines written on them in a plum color. I grab a quick shower, planning on a longer, better one when I get back to my dorm later tonight anyway.

A little over an hour later, I’m rushing over to the center so that I’m not late. Coach really didn’t give me a lot of time to do anything in between practice and this. More than likely so that I wouldn’t overthink it and try to back out. Kind of makes me wonder if either of her other girls tried that. I should’ve asked more questions when she was being so open about it, but the idea of having to share that dark secret with anyone had me stressed out to the max. I think I’m okay with it now, because she was right, everyone has something in their past that they’re not proud of. At least mine was out of my own control. This is very muchinmy control.

As I walk in, a blast of cool air hits me, giving me a quick chill as it catches on the sweat that started to bead on the back of my neck on the way over here. After giving the polite woman at the desk my name, she informs me it’ll be just a moment and she calls someone on the phone.

I don’t know why the fear strikes me all of a sudden that she might be calling the compound to come get me, but it does. There’s half a second where I consider running out the front door and never looking back. Maybe I need this more than I think I do. Coach may have been onto something.

---