“Well coach, as I said before, you do not need me to keep track of their grades and there are other counselors that can assist you. If you do not like my methods, why not just ask someone else?”
Without another word Mia was up and walking. Making sure not to look back to see if Coach Reed was offended. Mia walked, with her head held high, back towards the safety of her office. Safe? How was the office safe? This woman had stormed into her office just this morning. She did not know why she felt the need to shelter herself from this aggression, hide from the angry eyes. Mia had only been in the school a few hours and felt as though she was back in high school with her own personal bully. Mia stopped before she hit the door, the realization freezing her in place. Mia knew she could not let this woman run her life. She would not run away. In spite of Coach Reed, she would stay in the cafeteria.
Mia spent the remainder of the period talking with some of the students she had met earlier in the day. A couple times she glanced in Reed’s direction and found her talking to a tall blonde who was practically sitting in the her lap. Coach Reed’s eyes seemed to follow Mia around the room.
What the hell was she staring at? Did she think I was just going to roll over and beg for her to forgive my behavior? How dare I not grovel at her feet? Of course I will do anything you want. How may I serve you? Uhh… Mia had to continuously calm herself or she would let the searing heat of her thoughts come out in her words to the students. They deserved better than someone distracted and angry. This was not the caring and patient person she strove to be every day. How had this woman gotten under her skin so completely from such brief encounters? Mia mentally slapped herself when she realized she was getting distracted again. Stay focused!
The moment Mia stepped into her office and closed the door, there was a knock. Mia opened it to see a tall man with graying black hair. He had a neatly trimmed goatee and was wearing a gray suit with a blue tie.
“Principal Wood what a surprise. Is there something I can help…”
“I just wanted to see how you are doing. Are you settling in okay? Do you have any questions?” Wood said as he looked around the small office, focusing on the supplies visible on her desk.
“No sir, so far I am finding every…”
As seemed to be the norm, Principle Wood cut her off.
“I heard Coach Reed asked you to be her athletic counselor. That is quite an honor.”
“Not in so many words. She just wanted me to meet the players and see how they are doing. How they are juggling sch…”
“What is the difference?” Wood asked perplexed. He looked agitated and seemed to be going somewhere with this. Mia hated leading conversations and was sure she would not like the outcome.
“Well Sir, I am only going to meet with them once. If they should come to me after that…”
“Ms. Sanchez.”
“Yes Sir.”
She decided the simple answer was the only one he would let her get out.
“I am personally making you our new athletic counselor. You will see EVERY athlete once a week. They will bring you their progress reports…”
“But Sir…”
“Ms. Sanchez, it is rude to interrupt someone mid-sentence.” Seriously!
“Yes Sir, but.”
“No buts. Athletes will bring you their progress reports and you WILL initial them. Is that understood?” I’m gonna kill her!
“Yes it is…”
“Oh and stop calling me Sir. You are making me feel old. It’s Richard.”
Mia shook her head in agreement as Richard left her office. There was no point in trying to get a word in. Darn it all, now she is doing even more than Reed wanted. I can’t believe she told the principal. What are we five? How spoiled is this woman? Just wait until I get my hands on her!
Chapter Three
Nikki had been distracted all day. How could Mia think I don’t care? I want her assistance because I care. I shouldn’t have lost my temper this morning. The bell rang and Nikki headed down the hall to her office. I have to find a way to make her understand. Nikki didn’t want a different counselor. They were all fine counselors, but she had heard from Richard that Mia came with glowing recommendations. Even though she had not been doing the job long, she exceeded all expectations and always put the students before her own needs. He said there were letters from parents and fellow teachers.
Richard called her old school and spoke to the principal.
“Mr. Lang said he was sorry to lose her and almost considered giving a bad recommendation to keep her. She was the most promising counselor he had ever seen. I have never heard an employer speak so highly of anyone and I have hired a lot of people.” It was the kind of person that Nikki wanted caring for her players. A person that would do anything to help them. I have to find a way to bring her around.
Nikki was so deep in thought; she jumped when she saw Sam in the office already.
“Are you okay? You seem a little on edge.” Really how could you tell?
“Just thinking.”
“What about? Does it involve you and me going to a small romantic restaurant?” Sam asked with a smile. Nikki shook her head, sat down and swiveled her chair toward her desk.
“No. Is that all you think about, your social life?”
She leaned over Nikki’s shoulder, “Of course not. I also think about…”
The door swung open, slamming against the wall before Sam could finish her sentence.
“How dare you! Who do you think you are?”
Mia was standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips.
“Excuse me?” Sam asked.
“Sam, could you give us a minute? Mrs. Sanchez and I need to talk.” She pouted her lips and exited the room, slamming the door behind her.
“Who do you think you are? Do you think that everyone has to do what you say?”
“I’m guessing you had a chat with Richard?”
“Yes,” Mia said forcefully, “Are you five? You really had to go tell Daddy I wasn’t playing nice, just because you didn’t get your way. And it is Ms. NOT Mrs.!”
Nikki just stood there, unsure what to say. She had not expected this encounter. She thought Mia would be a little upset but screaming at her seemed to be a bit excessive. She was completely speechless from the sight of Mia in the doorway. Her curly brown hair, no longer in a bun, was now swaying around her face and down her back. Her button up shirt was now untucked, accentuating her wonderfully full hips. The buttons on her shirt were partly undone to reveal a white tank top. Yeah, right, the shirt. That is definitely what I’m looking at; not the cleavage that’s showing over the top.
“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Mia awaited an answer. Nikki could practically see the steam coming from her ears.
“Come to dinner with me and I will explain everything.”
Nikki could not help her wandering eyes. How did she not notice before? The more Mia yelled, the more Nikki wanted to kiss her.
“What? No, I want an answer now! Why me? You could have just asked someone else.”
“I don’t want someone else, I want you. Come to dinner tonight. We can talk about where to go from here.”
What are you deaf too?
“I’m not going anywhere with you. Why does it have to be me? Tell me!”
Mia was hovering over Nikki in her chair.
“I insisted, and still do, on you because you would give me an honest opinion. Because anyone else would just agree to any suggestion I had. By the way, the progress reports were a good idea, thanks.”
“Oh yeah, and who suggested that I sign off on every athlete’s, every week?”
Mia was still furious, no matter how charming this woman was. She was not wiggling her way out of this one.
“I did. But, I never said all athletes, just the softball players. Guess Richard liked the idea.”
Nikki shrugged her shoulders and put on a weak smile. The kind kids had on their face when they got caught
with their hand in the cookie jar. Sweat, Innocent, and Mia knew it was bullshit!
“Well, the good thing about your suggestion of signing the report, is that I don’t have to see you!”
She turned to leave. Nikki jumped to her feet and grabbed Mia’s arm. She wasn’t ready for Mia to leave yet. There was so much more to discuss.
“Let go of me!” Mia shouted.
Nikki reluctantly released her grip and watched as Mia stormed out the door and down the hall. There was a group of on lookers as she exited. Obviously they had overheard the yelling. Well, Nikki thought, there was no lack of passion in her. She watched as Mia walked down the hallway and around the corner. She didn’t know what it was, but Mia ignited something in her. They had done nothing but argue with each other all day, and Nikki had enjoyed it. Maybe not the fighting, but the debate.
There was something very different about her. People around here did not fight or argue or stand up for themselves. Not like Mia. Wonder if she is this passionate about all things in her life? The way things were going Nikki never had to worry about finding out. She found solace in the fact that at least she made Mia feel something. Regrettably, she found her insufferable. Where did Mia get the crazy idea that she wouldn’t see me? Nikki would make sure that never came true.
As Nikki sank down into her seat, there was a knock at the door.
Sam stuck her head in, “Is it safe to come in?”
Nikki waved her into the room.
“Who was that?” Sam asked pointing out the door.
“Our new athletic counselor,” Nikki replied with a laugh.
“That head case is supposed to give advice to our players. Who would suggest that? From the look of it, she isn’t even stable enough to handle the regular students.”
Nikki couldn’t keep the smile from her face.
“Actually, it was my idea.”
“What? Why?”
“Well Tom is gone and she is willing, sort of. Besides, she has some good ideas. We are going to start progress reports to keep track of who needs extra help with their school work.”
Nikki felt that she needed to defend her. After all, Mia having an attitude was at least partially her fault. Okay, maybe it is all my fault.
“Well I hope you know what you’re doing.”
So do I.
“We better get going,” Reed stated, “I would hate to make us run laps for being late.”
The smile returned to Sam’s face and she hip bumped Nikki as they left the office.
“There are other ways you could punish me.”
“Connie, keep your head down. Watch the ball.” Connie prepared to hit again. She readied her stance, pulled her bat up, and she did it again.
“Connie what are you looking at? Why are you pulling your head out? The ball is in front of you, not behind your back.”
Connie replied, “I don’t know, I just do.”
She immediately slapped her hands over her mouth.
“Ladies, Connie decided you all wanted to go for a run today. I want ten laps around the outside of the gym.”
“Why ten laps coach?” Jenny asked.
All Nikki could say was, “I don’t know.”
Sam giggled a little and went into the hall with the girls. “Ladies, you are to run together. That does not mean you can be a turtle. You are ALL to yell out the number you are on every time you finish a lap. Nice and loud ladies. If we don’t hear it, the lap doesn’t count.”
The girls took off as Sam blew her whistle.
The halls were empty. No one was around to watch their punishment. Practice was late enough that only varsity athletes would still be at the school.
“One,” the girls shouted as they pass by Coach Reed.
“Pick it up ladies. Going slow will just earn you more laps. Let’s get these done with so we can get back to practice.”
“Two.”
“Coach this is practice,” one of the girls said.
“No. This is not a scheduled run. It is a disciplinary run.”
“Three.”
“Much better. Keep it up.”
Nikki looked out the window at the stormy day. So much for practicing outside tomorrow.
Then Nikki caught a glimpse of Mia, holding a yellow umbrella, crossing the parking lot. Why was she here so late? NO! Not during practice. This was the time to focus.
“Four.”
She could faintly hear Sam yelling words of encouragement. But, Nikki couldn’t stop thinking about Mia. Is she going home? Where is home? Why isn’t she married? Will she go out of her way to avoid me now?
Sam looked out the window to see what Nikki was staring at and saw nothing but rain.
“Man, you are really bummed out about the weather.” When Nikki didn’t answer Sam said, “Nikki…Is there anyone there? Hello, earth to Nikki?”
“What,” Nikki said as she snapped back to reality.
“Are you okay?”
“NINE,” the girls hollered.
“Yeah, why? Hey, I never even heard eight.”
“They said it and every other number they were supposed to. Maybe you need to get some rest. I mean you look great, but your head isn’t really all there today.”
Sam looked Nikki over as if to confirm her judgements.
“TEN!”
“Get a drink and report back to your stations. Connie, come here.”
“Yes coach,” Connie asked as she panted, trying to catch her breath.
“Now that you have had time to think it over, why are you pulling your head out? And don’t tell me that you are unsure, it is the same thing as saying “I don’t know.”
“Well… coach, I think it is just…a bad habit. I never knew I was supposed to keep my head down. But I will work on correcting it.”
Connie seemed proud of her answer.
“Okat. Your eyes should follow the ball into Mary’s glove. Don’t watch your bat. Come see me after practice if you want to work on it more. Go get a drink.”
“Thanks coach.”
Connie trotted away smiling to herself.
The rest of practice went according to schedule, if not a little late, running drill after drill. Practice ended as all others did, with sprints.
“On the line,” Sam shouted, “You will run a sixteen.”
“Umm…coach, what is a sixteen?” Connie asked.
“You will go down to the end, that is one, then back again, that is two. Each time you touch a line you will call out a number. Understood?” Reed explained.
“Yes” bellowed throughout the gym.
“Run these hard, otherwise we will have to do them again. Ready?”
Sam blew her whistle and the girls were off. Sprinting, straining and trying to push harder. This was the kind of effort Nikki liked to see. If they finish the way they started, I will let them off easy tomorrow.
“Let’s go ladies, push it out,” Sam cheered.
As the girls finished, they waited on the line. All of them hunched over, grabbing at their knees. The players began to clap, encouraging their fellow teammates to finish. When the last girl crossed the line Sam dismissed them.
“Pitchers and Catchers need to stay after again. Everyone needs to go see Ms. Sanchez in guidance. She is anticipating all of your arrivals. We are going to start progress reports. You will get them signed by all of your teachers and have Ms. Sanchez sign them as well before handing them to me. I expect all of the equipment to be up before you leave. Please stop in my office Monday before practice for an empty progress report. Practice is at ten tomorrow. Be proud, you have all worked hard and are making great progress.”
Sam gave her input on today’s practice and dismissed the group.
“Alright, I want catchers with Coach Porter. The Pitchers will stay here with me,” Nikki instructed.
The pitchers were lined up in front of the padded wall. Each girl had a box made of tape on the wall. That was their strike zone. A rubber pitcher’s plate was placed the appropriate length
from the wall.
“Ladies, I want you to work on outside and inside pitches. The box is an average strike zone. You are to throw twenty inside pitches and twenty outside, only strikes count. I will be walking around to assist, if you need it. Take your time. There is no time limit. This is when your pitches need to be perfect, late in the game when you’re tired. Get a partner and warm up before you begin.”
The girls started with wrist flicks and slowly made their way to full rotations.
Nikki walked over to Sam as the Catchers were putting on their equipment.
“I want to go ahead and get them started so I can see them before the pitchers. Mary, are you ready?”
“Always coach.”
“Good, I want you to block the ball. Everyone pay attention so you know what to do.”
Nikki watched as Sam threw the ball from side to side, and up and down. Anywhere the ball went, Mary was there.
“Good job, who’s next?”
After watching one rotation, Nikki returned to the pitchers. With a few adjustments here and there, the pitchers finished up.
“That’s all for today. Make sure you are stretching before and after practice. Your arm can get stiff. Get ice if you need it. See me if you are having any problems.”
As Nikki watched the girls leave the gym, she heard a voice from behind her.
“You seem more focused. Once you get going, nothing can distract you. I wonder if that is true about everything you do.”
Nikki didn’t even want to try to answer that one. She started for her office with Sam in tow. Sam was like her little puppy, always begging for scraps. No matter where she went, Sam followed. When would it end? Don’t puppies eventually grow up?
“So what are you doing tonight?”
“The same thing I do every night, going home.”
Sam looked hurt, but Nikki was too tired for her games. After locking her office, Nikki headed home.
Chapter Four
After leaving Coach Reed last night, Mia went back to her office. Why was she looking at me like that? And why would she need to wait until dinner to talk to me? Like I would want to suffer through a meal with her. I hope she was late getting to practice. It would serve her right. Who cares anyway? She should have just found someone else to indulge her impulsive behavior. Mia was put at ease by the thought that she would not have to see Nikki until Monday.
Trusting Again Page 3