Page 1 of Strong Side

1

No Partner, No Play

Rockwell

“Ilove these briefs and wear them every ti—” A call cuts off the TikTok I’m filming from… I look closer. The Dean of Palm University.Great.

You never want to get a call from a lead privileged white man on a Monday morning; I reluctantly answer the call. “Dean, how can I help you this lovely morning?” I know he can hear the irritation in my voice, but I can’t find it in me to care. It’s my senior year, after all.

“Rockwell, could you please come to my office as soon as possible.” My blood runs cold. I’m on a sports scholarship for sand volleyball andsand volleyball only. No academics, no rich parents to bail me out, and sure as hell no student loans.

“Yes, sir. I’ll be there in fifteen.” I hang up before he can say anything else. My TikTok is sitting there half filmed, playing on repeat. I save it to drafts, mentally noting to film some more when I get back. The brand deal isn’t due to the company for a couple of weeks, but I do not like to rush to complete them.

Social media and brand deals are how I make extra income to survive. Thank whoever is listening that the NIL ruling passed because I would’ve been royally fucked without it.

I shoot a text off to Sanders, my doubles partner, to make sure he's up and ready for practice in a couple of hours.

Rocky

Are you up, shit bag?

Three delivered messages from me over the weekend. You better be up.

1 Throwing on some joggers and a cropped tee, I grab my protein shake and my keys, lock my apartmentdoor, and jog down the outside steps. I live above the Delectable Desserts. It’s a little artisanal baked goods and food store. The bougie people in this godforsaken town love this damn place. The owners, Kevin and Nancy, just so happen to rent out the little apartment they had built above the shop. It’s the cheapest rent within a fifty-mile radius of Palm University, and it just so happens to be a five-minute drive to campus.

I park outside the admin building, walk in, and nod to the receptionist, one of the nicest older ladies you’ll meet. I guess she was ready for me. “Dr. Andreson is ready for you.” The fact that he makes her put the “Doctor” in front of his last name makes me want to throw up. It probably wouldn’t bother me nearly as bad if he was a nice person.

I knock on his door, and it’s immediately pulled open by Coach Taylor.

This can’t be good.

Coach grits out, “Sit down, Rocky.” I have a deep-rooted respect for Cameron Taylor. He looks out for his players and treats us with the respect we deserve. He truly has our best interests at heart and wants us to succeed in all aspects of life. Something tells me he and I have more in common than he leads on.

“I don’t understand what’s going on.” I try to keep my tone even.

The Dean is looking at me, sadness actually covering his face.

This has to be bad for this prick to be sad.

“Aaron Sanders is being accused of raping a woman at the party this past weekend. Charges were filed, and he was placed in jail, but his parents got him out on bail. From this point forward, he is kicked off the team and expelled from the school indefinitely.” That’s why this piece of shit was sad. One of his own got caught and made his precious school look bad. It’s been no secret that the Dean is best friends with Aaron Sanders’ dad. That’s why he’s had no accountability his entire collegiate career.

Until now.

If that were me, I would still be sitting in jail, but then again, I would never do that to anyone.

You don’t take what isn’t yours.

Sanders is the epitome of white privilege; daddy of his pays for everything, and if anything goes wrong, a check is thrown at you to act like it never happened. I’m honestly surprised he actually has charges.

“Surprised his parents weren't able to pay the poor girl off. He deserves to rot in jail for that.” I can’t help myself. They both know how horrific Sanders is. I can usually ignore his shitty behavior, but this is a whole new leveleven for him. “I won’t have him as a doubles partner ever again.”

The Dean barks, “We understand, Rockwell.” Well fuck, must’ve hit a nerve. Pissed him off talking about his besties kid. Birds of a feather and whatever the rest of that saying is.

Coach breaks the tension. “At this point in time, you do not have a partner; you will move to the top of the alternate's list. Your scholarship is still safe as long as you continue to show up to practice and help the rest of the team. You’ll be in limbo unless another teammate becomes available.” Fuck, this is not what I needed my senior year trying to push to make Team USA.

“What are the odds of me getting another partner I can play with by the time the first game comes in February? You know I want to make the US team, Coach.” I’m trying so hard not to sound whiny, but fuck, this sucks.

“You never know what could happen, Rocky. Just keep your head up and train like you have been. Stay ready.” I give Coach a nod and murmur a quick thank you to both of them, striding out the door of the Dean’s office. I guess I’ll head to the gym early and work off some of the steam rolling off me.

---