Chapter 19

“Sanchez!” Coach Zeke boomed. “W-what?” I blinked. “You’re getting slower! Sanchez, you cannot lose concentration now! It’s a week before the meet!” I pouted, “I haven’t been getting good sleep,” I replied.

            “Well,” he scratched his chin, “You’ll stay at the Athletes Wing until the competition. Pack up.”

            “B-b-but...”

            “NOW!” He roared.

 

            I quickly packed my things and headed to the Athletes Wing. Training wasn’t over yet, but there were a lot of other people. I stood by the entrance, waiting for Isis to come. “May I help you?” a fit looking man tapped my shoulders. “Uh, hi, Coach Zeke insisted I stay over here until my swimming meet next weekend,” I replied.

            “Hold on, I’ll give him a call.” He snapped his fingers and gestured to follow him, and I did. He led me to what I would think of as a common room. Very cosy and homey, the room was furnished very nicely. As the man got off the phone, he turned to me and said, “I’m Richard, just call me Richard. I hate being called ‘sir’ or ‘Mr’. Right this way.”

            The corridors were very wide, compared to the Elite Wing. Everything wasn’t exactly properly in place. Training equipment lingered along the corridors and everything was very nature themed.

            “Here you are, room 5, Athletes E-Wing, don’t worry, your coach made sure you were bunking with your teammate Isis Fletcher. Set your stuff at that corner,” he smiled. The dorm, like the common room was very cosy and rather messy, I might add. Scattered everywhere, clothes, equipment, books, shoes, admittedly, I was shocked. Back at the Elite Wing, everything was neat and in place.

            “Oh, Zeke scheduled a massage for you at 8. Ask for Xavier.” I thanked him and he left. I stared at the empty dorm room. Half of the room looked girly and the other half was well, dull, so I assumed the dorms were co-ed.

            I dumped my bags on the floor and went to wander around the campus. It was like a whole different school! I mean, high school at the Institute was definitely packed, like as packed as public school (but with tons of classes). I didn’t know the Institute was a full boarding school...

            “Sasha! What are you doing here?” Isis boomed. “Coach Zeke! He made me stop training, pack my bags and stay here till the meet next week! Outrageous I say!”

            “Well, he’d want his star swimmer to get the best rest...” she mumbled. “Sorry?” She blinked, “Oh nothing...”

            I stared at her blankly. She plastered a fake smile on her face and said, "Come on! I'll show you around!" That was it. I knew it; she was certainly not pleased with me. I knew I would have to get to the bottom of this if I was going to stay here for the time being.

            "So here's the relaxing centre," she gestured at a very nicely crafted door. "So I'll come here later for my massage?" I asked. "Yeah, just remember to tell them you have an appointment booked by Coach Zeke."

            "Any specific reason why?" She shook her head, "Not really. Just if you go without an appointment, the massage is really crap."

            I nodded while taking mental notes. She showed me the library (yeah, the Institute has THAT many libraries. I’m in awe too), the bathrooms (co-ed... I'm a little weird out by it. I thought co-ed bathrooms were only invented for porno movies or something), the pantry, the other dorms and the private gyms (E-Wing tenants are entitled to use the 'Luxurious Gym". Honestly, it was overwhelming. Not only was I still in state of shock from the tour of the Elite Wing, the Athletes E-Wing was just as prestigious but for sports.

            I lay on my bed as I tried picturing how the trip next week would be like. The Los Angeles meet was a national competition, and I've only participated in competitions among the tri-state area. I'm really nervous, but a small part of me is dying to compete. Not only is the meet a somewhat escapade of all the drama, it's also going to help me clear my mind. Oh! I'll beg coach to let me have a day off (highly unlikely that request will get approved but what the heck) and try to track down my gramps.

            I buried myself in the covers of the comfortable bed and tried to sleep. I know it’s inevitable, but I didn't want to dream about Marilyn Sanchez again. It scared me, and I didn't want to face it again.

I got up early the next day and went to the teacher’s lounge. I immediately saw Dan’s aunt “Morning!" she greeted. I smiled, "I love how you're always so positive and chirpy!” I beamed. She laughed, and then said, "Your paper. If I were your teacher, you'd definitely get an A+! I'll have a word with Mr John," she offered. "Do you think he'll get mad at me for asking you to mark my paper?"

            "Heavens no, child! I'm sure he'll be fine with it," she coaxed. "Taking a stand for what you stand for is very much encouraged here at the Institute."

            "If you say so," I tried smiling. "Thanks...?” just realizing I didn’t know her name. She laughed, “I haven’t introduced myself have I?” I shook my head in embarrassment. “Call me Ms Jaclyn.” “Uh, okay. Thanks Ms Jaclyn! I’m sorry, I got to go, I have Lit now...” She smiled, “Hailey’s your teacher eh.” I nodded as I headed for the door.

 

            The corridors were unusually quiet today. I quickly grabbed my books from my locker and headed to Lit class. On the way there, I saw Deb, Liz and Jess, that moment, I knew I didn’t want to face them nor walk past them awkwardly, I turned and went to the bathroom.

            “Sasha?” I heard Jess call, poking her head into the toilet. “Hey,” I mumbled. “Listen, about what we said...” she trailed off staring at her toes peeping from her heels. “Oh Jess you’re so soft,” a voice shot from behind.

            There stood Liz and Deb, ready to pounce. “H-h-hey guys,” I stuttered. Were they going to kidnap me? Kill me?

            “We want to apologize. First and foremost, for jumping to conclusions, and secondly for chasing you out of your own dorm, so we apologize. We were being babies and clearly not in our right state of mind,” Deb finally blurted.

            “You didn’t actually... Oh you know what never mind! Come here!” And we hugged till the bell rung.