"I have no clue what their problem is, but last week seemed like a team hazing thing. Now it's just the three of us. That can't be right, can it?" I asked as I put the car in reverse.
"It's bullshit. I have no clue what we did to be put on Tara's shit list, but I'm not letting her walk all over us," Becca added from the passenger seat.
It was Emily that tried to defend the seniors. "Maybe it won't be that bad, guys. Maybe they'll have breakfast or something for us at the practice fields." Becca and I rolled our eyes.
"And then maybe we'll gab about boys until practice starts," Becca added sarcastically.
The seniors were waiting for us when we pulled into the parking lot, and I felt like I was about to stand in front of a firing squad.
"There are our three favorite rookies. So kind of you to show up," Tara oozed with her arms crossed in front of her chest. I'd never met someone whose personality clashed with their looks as much as Tara's. She was gorgeous and sweet looking with perfect features that seemed to morph into a girl-next-door appearance. Yet, her true nature was anything but sweet. What had her childhood been like? Was she bullied or was she the one doing the bullying? I’d bet my left boob it was the latter.
"Let's start with some laps, girls," Tara instructed. My first instinct was to protest, to call her out on her bitchiness, but at that point I still hoped that if I played her game and proved to her that I was a willing subject, then she'd back off.
We did laps, sprints, up-downs, and push-ups until Emily threw up and begged to stop.
"Seriously, I feel sick and we still have practice later," Emily begged.
Tara's hard eyes shifted to Emily. "You're right. Emily, since you're obviously the weakest link, you'll do double what the other girls do."
No. That was it. Picking on Emily was taking it too far. Emily didn't deserve any of this. At least Becca and I talked shit about Tara behind her back. Emily was the unassuming victim.
"I'll do Emily's stuff. I'll do double."
Emily's warm eyes flitted to me and I saw hope flash behind her gaze.
I could handle Tara. I'd handled girls like her my whole life. Today wouldn't break me, but Emily looked like she was at the tipping point and I wouldn't let Tara force Emily to quit the ULA soccer team. It wasn't worth it.
Sofie stepped forward with an odd expression on her face. "I think that's fine. Let's let Kinsley take both of the girl's spots since she's so generous."
I stared daggers at Sofie. Did she and Tara get off on being cruel? How did they sleep at night? Oh right, standing up in their coffins, because they were fucking vampires.
Tara's eyes lit up. "Oh, great idea, Sofie! Becca and Emily, you've done enough. Kinsley will keep going for the both of you. Start doing up-downs, Bryant. We'll tell you when to stop."
My middle finger was itching to flip her off. I would have done it, too, but then I saw relief flash across Emily's face. If I fought them, they'd make her keep going.
"You can do it, Kinsley. Just imagine how sexy you'll be in a bikini," Becca called with a defiant air. She couldn't do anything to Tara, but she could cheer me on.
I smiled at Becca and started doing up-downs. I didn't protest once. I thought about the Olympic tryouts, I thought about how hard I'd worked to get to where I was. One bully wasn't going to stand in my way of achieving my goals. Especially not when I had Becca and Emily cheering me. A second wind came over me and I pushed myself harder, accepting Tara's challenge and meeting it head on. If she wanted me to sprint, I'd sprint faster than I ever had before. If she wanted me to do crunches until I threw up, I'd do it with a giant smile on my face. Bullies never win.
"What the fuck is going on here?" A dark voice yelled, and I looked up from where I was doing push-ups.
Liam walked up to the group, dressed in a black t-shirt and black workout pants. The dark clothes combined with his sharp, angry features made him look seriously dangerous. What was he doing here? Was it already time for practice?
The seniors were all lined up, looking confident with their arms crossed. Becca and Emily had been crouching down next to me, trying to keep my spirits up.
"Oh, nothing, Coach Wilder. Kinsley and the other rookies wanted to join us at the fields for an early workout.” Tara shrugged.
Bullshit. God, the way she could manipulate people was truly scary. I would have loved to have a chat with her parents, but something told me they were locked in a basement somewhere.
He never once took his eyes off me, and I pleaded with him to see through her lies.
"That's enough. I don't care what's going on here. Practice is starting soon and you all need to head into the field house." Did he believe her?
I pushed back onto my heels to catch my breath. I was exhausted. I felt like I'd just finished running a marathon and I knew I wouldn't last through practice without passing out.
The seniors turned to head inside but not before throwing me threatening looks. Did they think I was going to rat them out?