The three of us, all silently followed the rest of the crowd to the locker rooms to change back into our street clothes after our first volleyball practice together.

There was an almost oppressive silence hanging over Beth and me after her abrupt and mostly unexplained apology. Neither of us really seemed to know what to say to the other. This led to the current strange and out of place silence between us that persisted the entire walk back. All the while we were surrounded by other girls in the hallway who were chatting with each other animatedly.

Like the rest of the laughing and cackling group of young girls that were with us, we headed inside the locker room and sought out the lockers where we had left our clothes. Like usual, Mira took hers and headed off to find an unoccupied bathroom stall to get changed in. This left Beth and I relatively alone for the first time since the game had ended.

I looked over at her to see if she planned on saying anything, but she was still just diligently removing her clothes from the locker and beginning to remove her regular gym clothes.

Even after a few more seconds of me just staring, waiting for her to say something, she still seemed adamant about remaining silent.

My face scrunched up into a slightly annoyed pout at her lack of reaction or response, but I also didn’t feel all that courageous about breaking the silence myself. Letting out a slightly exaggerated sigh, I also started the process of swapping outfits in the continuingly uncomfortable silence. Occasionally, I would still peak glance over to see if Beth was doing or behaving any differently, but her expression continued to remain a stoic mask, hiding any and all of the emotions I was trying to pick up on.

Honestly, I was nearly at the breaking point myself, and was just about to be the one to start talking first when Beth, of course, beat me to it.

“This is awkward.” She said to me with a small smile on her face. “Why are we both being so weird right now?”

“I don’t know.” I told her honestly. “You started it.”

“I guess.” She admitted before letting out a small but deep sigh and turning to look at me more directly. “Again, I’m really sorry Jenni. I shouldn’t have pressured or forced you into joining the volleyball team. It just… seemed like a good idea at the time is all. I don’t really know what I expected being on a sports team together would be like, but it wasn’t this.”

“I mean, I get it.” I replied earnestly. “I feel the same way about wanting to spend more time together, but this… would not have been my first choice.”

Beth let out a small awkward laugh at that.

“I know, sorry.” Beth with her face angled slightly downward. “I was seriously being kinda selfish. Forgive me?”

I turned to look at her more fully, as she stood their patiently waiting for my response. Her expression was still fairly guarded, but he body language was extremely tense, and I could tell that she was feeling more than a little embarrassed from acting this way.

“Don’t be a dummy.” I said to her with a bright smile. “Of course I forgive you.”

Her own smile spread wide on her face as she rushed over to give me a tight hug.

“I’m sorry I’m such a pain sometimes.” She mumbled into my shoulder as she was hugging me.

“It’s fine. I’m used to it.” I replied softly rubbing her back gently in an effort to comfort her.

Breaking apart from the hug, she wiped her slightly red-rimmed eyes a bit, and reached down to the set of papers she was supposed to sign. Picking them up and holding them out in front of her she ripped them in half and let the pieces fall to the floor.

“I mean, that’s a nice gesture, but we could just, you know, not fill them out.”I said with a small smirk as I watched the torn pieces of paper drift and slowly and make their way down to the floor.

“Yeah, but that’s not nearly as dramatic or emotionally punchy.” She told me with a playful grin.

“Emotionally punchy?” I questioned.

“Yeah, you know, something that gives your emotions a good punch.” She explained while somehow not at all explaining.

“Hmm, right. Well, anyways, I still should probably have an extremely awkward and socially terrifying conversation with Coach Philip about not continuing on with the volleyball team first. Otherwise, he’s just going to be hounding me forever about not showing up to practice and stuff.” I said while daintily closing my locker so as to avoid making excess noise.

“Sounds like I plan. I’ve got your back.” Beth said with a confident smile.

“Me too. Well, for the whole quitting thing, if that's what we’re doing.” Mira said while walking up toward us.

“How much of that did you hear, exactly.” I questioned while squinting at her relaxed unassuming form walking up to stand beside me.

“Whichever part was about us quitting.” She said with an exaggerated shrug.

“And which part was that.” I asked, intensifying my suspicious squint toward her.

“The important part.” She replied simply.

“Fair.” I said, accepting her answer without any further argument.

“Great, uh, let’s go then.” Beth said slightly awkwardly, noticeably having made no effort to interrupt or complain about Mira’s presence.

As the three of us gathered our things, torn paper and not, we made our way toward the locker room exit before being blocked by a trio of familiar faces.

“Done with whatever little emotional heart to heart you had going on?” Jackie questioned, as her imperious expression and posture loomed over us.

“Uh yeah, we’re done.” I said slightly annoyed at being blocked, and even more so for being bothered for talking with my friend.

“Good, because we also wanted a word, and it seemed… rude to interrupt while you were both hugging and crying into each other’s arms.” Jackie said with a small upturned edge to one side of her lips.

“Right, so you wanted something from us or what?” Beth demanded, speaking up from my side.

“Yes, actually, we…” Jackie said before quickly losing her momentum and cocky demeanor. Quickly, she cleared her throat and recomposed herself. “Originally when we came up to talk, Letitia wanted to have a word, but after hearing you mention your thoughts on quitting the team we started to discuss the same thing.”

“Really?” I said with a raised and skeptical eyebrow. “Why would us quitting prompt you to do the same thing?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Besides that, hasn’t Niki over there been on the school’s volleyball team every year of high school so far? Why quit now?” Beth asked.

“Because Coach Philip is an a-hole.” Nike instantly replied.

“Yes, that, and we had originally only decided to join the team with Niki as a way to spend more time together with Letitia after… everything that happened.” Jackie said while looking back at a much quieter version of Letitia than I was used to.

“Right, it was my idea for us to be on a team together, but that was before Coach butthead became a raging d-bag all of a sudden.” Niki practically shouted.

“I mean that makes a lot of sense, actually.” Beth agreed. “Seriously though, what is up with him lately. Is he on some kind of drug or medication that is fucking with his mood or something?”

“Probably.” Niki agreed. “And if he isn’t on any anti-psychotics, he should be.”

“He used to be so much nicer.” Mira added quietly.

“Anyways, so that is why we’re also done with all this.” Jackie said while gesturing around the now mostly empty locker room. “And, the reason why we’re wasting our time talking with you.”

Her last comment made Beth’s face scrunch up in obvious irritation. She looked like she was having a real hard time fighting back the urge to lose her temper and go off on Jackie right now.

“I, uh also, wanted to talk with you all about what um, happened at that party. But I guess we can do that later.” Letitia added while avoiding eye contact.

“We can talk about it on the way. Let’s go.” Jackie said while turning about and marching out the door while expecting everyone else to follow her.

Niki and Letitia obviously did, but Beth and I just looked at each other with a mixture of irritation and uncertainty.

“Let’s just, follow them.” I said in defeat. “We’re going to the same place anyway.”

“Guhh, I hate it.” Beth complained while making loud unnecessary stomping sounds with her feet as she also marched out of the locker loom.

Looking back over to where Mira was still quietly standing, I asked. “You coming?”

“Huh, yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?” Mira asked while still not making an effort to move anywhere.

“Just checking.” I said with a slight smirk as I too headed out of the locker room with Mira following closely behind.

“So you wanted to talk about what happened at the party?” Beth loudly asked as Mira and I emerged into the hallway.

“Yeah, uh, I only just wanted to say thanks is all.” Letitia said shyly. “I’m like, super grateful that you helped me then. You as well Jenni.”

“I uh, oh thanks.” I responded with obvious nervousness.

“No really, thank you both. I um, I’m not really good at this kind of thing, but I wanted you both to know how grateful I am.”

“It’s… appreciated.” Beth said diplomatically. Likely still a bit unhappy about having to prioritize Letitia, one of Jackie’s friends, over one of her own close friends.

As we made our way over to the door to the offices for the physical education department, Jackie continued taking the lead as she led the six of us deeper into an area we students typically didn’t wander around in.

It was always strange to see the semi-private spaces the teachers and other staff occupied. Like getting a glimpse into seeing what they were actually like as people, instead of the stalwart symbols of authority they portrayed in their normal roles as teachers.

We passed by cubicles and individual offices with closed doors and curtains until eventually we came to a door that had Coach Philip’s name attached to it.

Jackie knocked lightly on the door the moment she arrived, showing no hesitation about confronting a teacher and starting what I would find to be an extremely stressful and unnerving conversation.

“Come in.” I loud voice said from the other side of the door.

Accepting the invitation, Jackie turned the handle, opened the door, and walked swiftly inside. All of this was done almost the instant she got permission, and practically in one fluid motion. How was Jackie always so confident. It was as baffling as it was impressive to someone like me.

Our slightly too large group crowded into the office together as Jackie continued to take the lead in the negotiations with Coach Philip.

“So, what’s all this about then?” He asked with obvious curiosity.

“The six of us have decided, unfortunately, that we no longer wish to continue as members of the school’s volleyball team this year.” Jackie said in a strong even voice and without preamble.

“I see…” Coach Philip said as he eased back into the squeaky chair he sat in behind his desk. “All of you then?”

“That’s right…” Jackie continued, but my attention was abruptly pulled away by a sharp elbow into my side.

“Ow!” I responded while turning to glare at the source of the elbowing. “Mira?”

“Do you smell that?” She asked in a very hushed voice that she leaned in very close to my ear to say.

“No?” I responded while making an effort now to smell anything strange in the air.

“There’s some weird alchemical smell coming from something.” Mira informed me.

“Weird alchemical…” I looked at her with more concern on my face now. “Here?”

“Yeah.” She said simply.

“Are you sure? Where?” I said extra quietly to her while taking a hopefully not too obvious look around the room.

“Yes, I’m sure. I don’t know where. That’s why I brought it up.” She said while continuing to scan the room around us.

“Look, I get it. I’m not the regular coach for the girl’s volleyball team, but Mrs. Armstrong will be back in no time, so why not wait at least until then before making any big decisions.” Coach Philip said in a strained but polite tone of voice.

“I appreciate your suggestion Mr. Philip, but we’ve already…” Jackie continued, but I stopped listening and turned my attention back to Mira.

“Anything?” I asked her quietly.

“I think… I think it’s coming from something on his desk.” Mira answered slowly.

“Like what…?” I asked rhetorically while examining the contents of Coach Philip’s desktop. My eyes quickly landed on a blue-colored water bottle resting at easy arm’s reach from Coach Philips's seated position. “What about that water bottle?”

“What’s in that water bottle?” Mira said suddenly and very loudly, causing everyone else in the room to jump slightly and turn to look at her.

“Pardon me?” Coach Philip asked calmly.

“I said, what is in that water bottle?” Mira repeated.

“Water. Why do you care?” Coach Philip deflected while giving Mira a cold even stare.

“Why does it smell so strongly of mandrake root and troll’s blood then?” Mira asked equally loudly as the last time.

“M-Mira, why are talking about those things so loudly right now for frick sake?” I demanded in a hushed but still clearly audible voice.

“You should listen to your friend there, and mind your own business.” Coach Philip said even more coldly.

“What are you two talking about?” Beth said moving to stand even closer to us.

“Seriously, is he really on drugs? Was I right?” Niki said with an out of place smile from assuming she had correctly guessed what was happening before it was revealed.

“Quiet Niki, what’s going here Coach?” Jackie asked without a shred of fear or concern visible in her voice or her demeanor. “Are you taking some kind of illegal substance? Is that why your personality has changed so dramatically recently?”

“Young ladies, I will not be questioned by you regarding my choice of beverage or whatever dislike you may have for my behavior now or in the future. If you have a problem with my conduct, I suggest you take it up with Principal Temple.” Coach Philp said while keeping his body relaxed, but his eyes remained locked with Mira’s.

“I…I’m not sure that’s even Coach Philip…” Mira said in a slightly more subdued tone of voice.

“What? What do you mean, what’s going on with whatever is in that bottle?” I demanded while turning my attention away from the others.

“W-whatever is inside that bottle contains large amounts of mandrake root and troll’s blood. Those ingredients can be used in a lot of things obviously, but together they are most often used in potions related to shapeshifting.” Mira said, noticeably more nervous now as she looked at Coach Philip.

“Hmm, well you’re not wrong exactly.” He said with a slightly too large and unnerving smile. “Given that I suppose you can’t smell all the other ingredients, I’m not too surprised you’re missing out on the nuance, but this particular brew is more focused on maintaining and stabilizing one’s form rather than changing it.”

“Beth, you and the others should leave now.” I said in a voice much more serious than Beth was used to me using.

“No, no. Stay, I insist.” Coach Philip said while getting up to his feet. “It’s unfortunate really, I was supposed to just keep an eye on you for quite a while longer, but since I’ve been outed I guess I really only have no choice but to move things ahead to the very end already.”

As he said this, a thin vertical seam began to form itself down the length of Coach Philip’s face and body.