Chapter 4: Complicated

 

 

Drake

I looked at the clock as it hit 7:50 a.m. Everyone was here except for Onika. Shad looked over at me with a pleading look.

“Look man she’ll be here,” he said but I shook my head.

“Everyone start stretching while we talk.” I blew my whistle and walked away from them with Shad and Mere. “She’s gone,” I told them

“Just give her another chance. She probably has a good reason.” He tried to get me to change my mind.

I looked him right in his eyes and said, “I had simple rules and if she can’t even follow them then she’s gone.” Just as I finished my sentence she came running in.

“Coach Graham I’m sorry I’m late,” she apologized. I didn’t say anything to her. I took in her appearance while she went on about how she was sorry. She once again looked like she was up all night.

 “Everyone go down to the track and give me three miles!” I blew my whistle and they followed Shad and Mere out to the track. “Follow me,” I stated and walked to my office. I heard her huff and follow behind me. I closed the door and sat at my desk. She sat in front of me and stared at me.

“I had simple rules. I had three simple rules and you couldn’t even follow those. I’m sorry but I have to cut you from this team,” I told her.

“I’m sorry I was late! If it was any other one of these girls then you would have been understanding and heard them out but when it’s me, you automatically cut me! You’ve been out to get me since you’ve been here. You know I’m better than all those girls out there yet you want to cut me.” She went off at me while I just sat in my chair. I was two seconds away from snapping at her.

“You think I want to do this!? I know you’re the best on this team! You’re even better than me but I can’t make exceptions for you just because you’re the best! Life happens and consider this a lesson well learned,” I snapped at her.

“Fuck that! Fuck you and fuck this shit! I’m done.” She got up to leave but I quickly spun her around and toward her tiny figure.

“You will never talk that way to me ever again. Do you understand me?” I stared down at her. I saw slight fear in her eyes but she quickly stood her ground.

“I don’t give a fuck who you are. I will talk to you any way I want. You’re not my coach remember?” She responded smartly.

“Sit down,” I told her calmly. Her harden face had soften and she looked at me weird.

“No,” she said simply.

“Onika sit your ass down in that chair.” I tried to keep my calm.

“No,” she still refused.

“WHY WON’T YOU JUST LISTEN TO ME!?” I yelled at her.

“Because you’re irrelevant!” She started to get mad. The sight itself was kinda sexy but I pushed those thoughts out of my head.

“I’m trying to hear you out so I can have a reason to actually keep you on this team!” I was beyond done by this point.

“Well if me being the best isn’t a reason then I don’t wanna stay on this stupid dance team!” She turned to walk away again but I turned her around and slammed her against the door. I swore that I heard a slight moan escape her lips. I rested my forehead against hers and spoke softly.

“Please sit down,” I pleaded. I rarely ever pleaded with anyone but she was way too talented to let go of. I backed off of her and she walked towards my desk and sat down in my chair. I smirked slightly and stood in front of the chair. I put my hands on the arms of the chair and leaned down a bit.

“Why were you late?” I asked her.

“My sister got really sick and we were in the emergency room all night and well into this morning,” she explained. I suddenly felt like such an ass for the way I treated her.

“Is she okay?” I asked. Onika nodded while staring up at me. It felt like right in this moment the only thing I wanted to do was close the gap in between us. I leaned down a little and she started leaning up. We were close enough where I could feel her breath. I noticed her breathing unsteady and I was too. Just as I was about to kiss her, we heard the gym door open and the team coming back inside. I back away fast while she tucked a piece of her behind her ear and looked everywhere but at me.

“I guess that’s my queue,” she said as she got up and grabbed her bag.

“Onika wait,” I sighed. She turned back around and raised an eyebrow.

“You can stay on the team,” I told her and she smiled.

“Thank you Coach Graham. I promise you that you won’t regret this.” Her smile made one form its way onto my lips. She walked out of my office while I sat down and ran my hand over my face. What was I about to do?

 

 

 

Nicki

I sighed as I left Coach Graham’s office. How did all of this happen in ten minutes? I feel like I’m going to be sick. I sat my stuff down by everyone else and join the group. Shad smiled at me and then continued talking. Cassie looked at me and rolled her eyes. I don’t have time for that girl. She is so irrelevant that it’s ridiculous. Shad said he and Coach Chimere were going to check up on Coach Graham so we all sat around and talked. I grabbed Nae and dragged her away from the group.

“What happened in there?” She asked me while trying to catch her breath. I forgot they had to run three miles. I guess there was a plus side to getting into an argument with Coach Graham.

“He basically kicked me off of the team so I went off at him. When I tried to leave, he spun me around and toward over me. I swear to you that I was a little scared but I didn’t back down. He tried to plead with me but I was done so I tried to leave again and he slammed me against the door. I swear to you that I moaned when he did that. It was so embarrassing but you know I’ve always liked it a little rough.” I stopped for a second for us to laugh.

“Okay and what else?” She asked while staring at me.

“He told me to sit down so I sat down in his chair. He listened to my excuse and he started to lean in. We were literally about to kiss until we heard you guys come back in.” I shook my head at the thought.

“Whoa! I thought he hated you?” She scrunched up her eyebrows.

“I thought so too but I guess not. I mean what girl doesn’t think he’s sexy but he’s twenty one! My aunt would kill me.” I thought about how bad everything would turn out.

“Well you’re almost eighteen so it doesn’t really matter.” She shrugged and glanced over at Shad. He was walking out with Coach Graham and Coach Chimere. We immediately made eye contact. He stopped walking and just stared at me for a second. Everyone else was occupied so I guess they couldn’t tell. I was almost afraid to break the eye contact but I didn’t have to. Shad called his name and we both looked in his direction.

“What was that?” Nae asked as we joined the rest of our group.

“I don’t even know,” I sighed.

“Alright so you all know that today is another cut. We will be only cutting one girl and I’m sorry to put you on the spot but Galaxy, we have to say goodbye,” he stated.

“Um that isn’t fair!” Cassie was quick to her feat.

“Why is that?” He asked her.

“We all saw Nicki come in here late. You said if we were late then we would be gone. Why is she still here?” She crossed her arms.

“I suggest you mind your own business unless you want to be gone,” he dared her. She quickly shut up and sat back down. His eyes wondered over to mine and I mouthed, “Thank you.” He nodded and let a slight smile grace his lips. I never noticed how big and soft his lips looked. Nae nudge me when she saw me going into a daze. I snapped out of the thought and saw him chuckle a little before continuing talking to us.

“I’ll see the rest of you tomorrow.” He blew his whistle to dismiss us.

 

 

Nae

“Nic.” I grabbed her arm and told the girls we would meet them by the car.

“What’s up?” She asked with a worried expression.

“Did Blake use to live in California?” I questioned and was well aware of what the answer was. I don’t know how she thought that I wouldn’t recognize her.

“Yeah how did you know that?” She scrunched up her eyebrows.

“I swear to you that she looks exactly like my old best friend from Cali,” I told her.

“Okay maybe it is her. Why don’t you just ask her?” She was confused.

“I already did and she told me she never lived in California,” I sighed.

“Do you guys have like some bad history or something?” She seemed eager to know. I mean I would want to know if we were my best friend and cousin.

“I guess we kinda do. You remember when I moved to Cali and Blake was the first friend that I made. We were super close but then she stopped talking to me all of a sudden. It hurt because I thought that I did something wrong. Then I met Aaron,” I took a break and Nicki shot me a disapproving look. She knew all about him.

“Go on.”

“We both know that he was a bad influence on me. There was this stupid party that I wish that I never went to but I did. He drugged me and shit happened but then I remember Blake helping me. She made sure I got home safe and I tried to apologize for anything that I might have done to push her away but she shut me out. She told me never talk to her again and that it was for the best. I never saw her again until she moved here,” I explained.

“Wow um let me talk to her and maybe I can figure something out,” she suggested. I nodded as we caught up to the group. Blake eyed Nicki and me. I guess she thought that I might have told her something. I looked at her but she quickly looked away. I turned around to find Meyshia in a dark corner. She looked like she was searching for something but then I saw her get on her knees. She was giving someone head. Slut. I nudged Nicki and she looked over. Her mouth dropped and so did mine when the guy’s face was in view. Coach Graham.