Finding Avery

Chapter 11

Avery POV - One Week Later

"Pass!" I hear.

I pull my leg back and quickly stumble, falling flat on my face.

"Ugh."

I hear a whistle, "Alright, that's enough for today guys! Grab water and stretch!"

I roll over onto my back, "F-fuck!"

"Hey, here." I see a hand come into my view.

I grab it and let Keely pull me up.

"Th-thanks."

"You're getting better." She says.

"N-not fast e-enough." I say.

"You'll get it. It took me a while after my TBI."

I nod and see Alex talking to the coach.

I walk slowly over to my stuff and kick my shoes off without untying them.

I grab my slides and slip them on then stand up.

"How're you feeling?" I look over and see Jess.

"Fr-frustrated."

She bobs her head, "Okay, how's your leg feeling?"

"Hu-hurts."

"Can stretch when you get home."

I bob my head, "W-When do I g-get my m-meds?"

She stops walking, "Tonight, you know that."

I sigh and nod.

"Hi Aves! You looked good out there!" I hear Alex say.

I shrug, "I-I suh-suck."

She smiles, "All a work in progress. Which teammate were you talking to?"

"K-Keely."

"She's cute." She says.

I bob my head and turn to find her, "Yuh-yeah. Guess s-so."

"You should ask her out." She says.

I shake my head and sigh.

"Why not?"

"Nuh-not inter-interested." I turn to walk away, but she grabs my forearm.

"Hey. Talk to me." She says softly.

I look down, "Br-broken."

"Avery." She says.

I look up and see her looking at me sadly.

I shake my head, "N-no talk."

"I'll let it go for now. Ready to get home?"

I nod and start towards the car.

"Want to try to drive?" She asks me.

I look down at my leg and then look at the car and start to feel anxious.

"N-no."

"Avery, you don't have to be scared, alright? Just in the parking lot." She says.

"N-not. Ju-just drop I-it."

She sighs and gets in the driver seat and I pull myself into the passenger seat.

"I'm going to have to write out your whole schedule for mom and Jeri while I'm gone."

"Guh-gone? Thought-thought we were cuh-coming w-with." My anxiety starts to increase.

"You are once we get to Mexico. You're not coming for the lead up matches."