Unwritten Desires

Eleanor 

I spun my locker combination with more force than necessary, my mind still stuck on my recent breakthrough. 

Was that really it? 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Thea was actually the kind of person who would want to protect her reputation. I mean she was a straight A student for crying out loud and back at home, she was the quiet middle child. 

I didn't exactly have siblings but I always heard how middle children were often ignored and overlooked by their parents but if you ask me, Theadora's parents showed equal love to all of us…them…whatever. 

I slammed my locker door shut after dropping off my books only to find Sofia standing right beside me. I was so busy getting lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realize she was there. 

"Is anything the matter?" She raised a brow, eyeing me with a suspicious look. 

"No." My eyes flicked between my closed locker and her face. "Why do you ask?" I questioned clutching onto my backpack straps. 

"You just rushed out of the lab and you didn't even wait for Jake and I to finish up." 

"Oh…" I blinked. "…well you know how much I dislike Liam. Being paired up with him for Chem was more than enough punishment, I didn't want to spend any more seconds with him." I said, telling her half of the truth. 

"Oh, that checks out." She let out a small laugh before we both started walking down the hallway. 

"What do we have next?" Sofia glanced at me, her brow furrowing in curiosity. 

I was still, however, lost in my thoughts so it took a second to register her question. "Gym," I finally answered, adjusting the strap of my backpack again. 

Sofia then let out a dramatic groan. "Ugh, why did I even ask?" She threw her head back as I stifled a laugh. "Can't we just not have gym classes?" 

"Yeah, well unless you suddenly switched your schedule, you're stuck with it." 

"Unfortunately," she sighed. If I was going to be honest, I was a bit surprised Sofia didn't like gym classes, I mean, she looked athletic, plus I was pretty sure that she also worked out. 

Maybe she didn't just like sports in general, or maybe it was the coach she didn't like, who knows? 

"Come on, let's just get this over with." She said, bumping me playfully with her shoulder. 

Together, we made our way to the gymnasium, the large space already bustling with students. Some were stretching, others chatting in small groups, and a few were lazily tossing basketballs at the hoops. 

Sofia and I quickly hurried to the girls' locker room to change into our gym clothes before heading out again. The coach, a no-nonsense woman with a whistle permanently hanging around her neck, was already clapping her hands together as she tried to gather everyone's attention. 

Maybe that was why Sofia hated this class so much. 

"Alright, listen up! We're starting today's class with volleyball drills before moving into a game. Pair up and let's get started!"

I heard Sofia let out an inward groan but still kept her face neutral. Volleyball wasn't exactly something I hated but I couldn't say I liked it or enjoyed it either. 

"Come on, you're with me," Sofia said, grabbing my wrist with a grin. 

I followed her with a small chuckle as we stepped onto the court starting the drills. We started with simple passes, bumping the ball back and forth between us. I tried to maintain my focus and push away any lingering thoughts about Thea and everything had been running smoothly…

…that is until I caught a glimpse of Naomi.

The coach called for teams to be formed for an actual game. Luckily, Sofia and I ended up on the same team, along with a few other students I barely spoke to. And on the opposing side was Naomi, glaring daggers at me. 

She obviously had something planned for me, I knew her. There was no way she was going to ignore what had happened in the classroom that day. But unfortunately for her, I already knew what that thing was. 

I just needed to wait for lunch time and that's where everything was going to happen, for now, we were just going to keep exchanging deadly glares at each other. 

Just then, the ball collided with my face hurting one of my eyes and I let out a small scream which was followed by the high pitched sound of the coach's whistle and a few murmurs and gasps. 

"Dori, are you okay?" Sofia reached for me with a worried look in her eyes. 

"Yeah, I'm fine." I assured her, massaging my eye with the heel of my palm. "I wasn't paying attention, that's all." 

"Oh. Are you sure it's not bad?" She asked again, reaching for my left eye when I pulled my palm away. 

"I'm fine Sof." I told her causing her to let out a small breath. 

"She's fine," Sofia raised her voice so the coach could hear her. With that the game continued and I just pretended that I didn't see the smug, overconfident look that Naomi was sending my way. 

As the game went on, the opposing team kept on setting up strong attacks, but Sofia somehow managed to dig the ball before it hit the floor, sending it my way. Without thinking, I jumped and spiked it over the net, sending it flying past Naomi's reach. 

Boom. I grinned. 

And then came the sharp whistle, signaling the point for our team. 

I said I didn't enjoy or hate playing volleyball, but that didn't mean I wasn't good at it. I just had neutral feelings towards it, but maybe today I might have enjoyed it just a little bit after seeing the less than pleased look on Naomi's face. 

"Nice one, Dori!" Sofia cheered, giving me a high-five. 

After that whole scenario I felt like the game had turned into a one on one between Naomi and I. She was also good at volleyball but obviously not as good at me. 

I was the Student-Athlete President back in my college days for crying out loud. She was definitely no match for someone like me. I mean I'd give her a little credit, if she wasn't an entitled, pompous, selfish bitch. 

I guess the rest of the team and the coach also noticed the 1v1 that was going on. The coach even had to stop the game and reprimand us both and of course I listened, but Naomi didn't and as expected the coach benched her. 

From the way people were gasping and staring, I could tell that it was the first time something like this was happening. 

Oh well, that's what she gets for messing with me. 

Soon enough, the game came to an end leaving everyone with sweaty hands and heaving breaths. 

"Alright, hit the showers," the coach called. "Good game today and Miss Roberts…" 

My heart skipped a beat when I heard her call me. 

"If you've always been that good, why haven't you joined the school team?" 

Right. Thea wasn't good at sports. I was. 

"Umm…I'll join as soon as possible?" I winced out. 

"Good." She said dismissively. 

I let out a slow breath, grabbing my water bottle with Sofia squealing behind me before we headed towards the locker rooms. 

I was about taking off my clothes and heading into the showers when I felt someone tap my shoulder. 

I turned around to see one of my classmates…some girl whose name I couldn't quite remember. 

"Hey, Theadora right?" She raised her brows and I nodded slowly, still unsure of what was happening. 

"Coach Ramirez is asking for you. He said he wants to see you at the pool." She explained. 

"Coach Ramirez wants to see me?" I fluttered my lashes with a frown. 

Why would Coach Ramirez want to see me? I know I didn't swim in his class last week because for some reason, anytime I got close to the water, I felt really sick. 

So then why…

"What's wrong?" Sofia cut off my thoughts, as she walked towards us with a towel to her head. Apparently, I was supposed to shower after her but now this came up. 

"Coach Ramirez wants to see me." I told her. 

"Huh…" her brows dipped as her eyes darted between me and the girl who had come to call me. "Oh…" her eyes lit up. "Maybe he wants to ask if you can be his assistant swimming coach." Sofia said, jumping excitedly. 

"Assistant swimming coach?" 

"You know…because of your hydrophobia. Maybe seeing your help out last week made him realize that they're other things you can do to get your grades besides pool maintenance." Sofia shrugged. 

Hydrophobia? I wasn't hydrophobic but maybe Thea was. So then, why was it also affecting me? 

Ugh. 

"Is that why he's calling me?" I turned to the girl, who had just been staring at Sofia and I. 

"Maybe…" she shrugged with a small smile. "He didn't really tell me why." She shook her head slowly. "He just told me to get you for him." 

"Oh…" 

"Yeah…" she said, grabbing a gym bag that was obviously hers from the bench. "…I'll be going now, you should hurry, it's been a while since he called for you." She said before leaving. 

"You should definitely go…" Sofia nodded frantically. 

"So you don't think I should shower first?" I lifted a brow. 

"Girl…you're not even sweating. Just go, hurry up and finish, then you can shower and we can go back to class." Sofia took the towel from my hand. 

"You sure?" 

"Sure I'm sure." She said waving off my question. "I'll be waiting for you." She gestured for me to get going. 

"Okay…" 

I wasn't exactly sure if what Sofia said could be true but I just decided to go so it wouldn't be disrespectful. 

I made my way to the pool house ignoring the dumb stares I was getting. I mean couldn't a girl walk around comfortably in her gym clothes.

Ugh. 

When I arrived, the pool house was completely empty, but that was expected. No one was supposed to have classes today. The sound of water lapping gently against the sides of the pool echoed through the large, and the faint scent of chlorine burned my nostrils, making me feel nauseous. 

God, I didn't get how this reincarnation body thing worked, I remembered how I always loved the water and how peaceful it was, but now just looking at it made me sick. 

The overhead lights cast a dim glow over the water reflecting shadows along the tiled walls, creating an almost eerie atmosphere. 

I scanned the area, expecting to see Coach Ramirez, but he wasn't here. I decided to go look around but the sharp sound of footsteps behind me interrupted me. 

My brows furrowed and I turned around to find Naomi walking towards me and my nose crinkled. 

Of course this was her idea. I should've known.