Chapter 25 #4
I quickly find an empty locker in the locker room along the far wall.
I unpack my water bottle on the bench before getting into my workout clothes.
I attach the new lock I brought with me onto the locker door after packing everything in.
I’m alone in here, probably because of my talk with the coach.
Heading back out to the court, I see the coach setting up a group of students to play volleyball. I find a spot to stretch my muscles before starting a slow jog. There are a few guys and girls running on the track, but everyone seems to do their own thing.
As I’m jogging around the loop, I notice a tinted glass wall along the far side of the track I didn’t notice this morning.
When I jog closer, I see it’s a gym, and Nick is inside lifting weights.
There are a few other guys bench pressing and several girls on the treadmills.
I was wondering where the workout area was in the building.
Guess I found it. Picking up my pace a little, I focus back on my run.
I’m definitely out of shape, but I remember how to breathe properly.
Following a 30 minute jog, I pause for water and to stretch my body again.
Coach comes over as I’m stretching my legs.
“You’re definitely a runner. It doesn’t take me days to figure that out.
You’ve got a nice stride and good breathing practices.
Do you remember the times you were running as a sophomore? ”
“Two minutes 25 for the 800m and 75 for the 400m.” I reply, grabbing my shoe to bend my leg back, stretching my quad.
“Those are excellent times. You’ll be an asset if you can get back in shape, Summer. I’d like to give your old coach a call, if you’re agreeable.”
“Okay, sure, Coach. Do you need me to get his number for you?”
“No, I can search for it. Now get back on the track,” she waves.
I hop back up and start running. I push myself faster this round while being aware of my body, and my legs last until the end of class.
I go to the side to stretch while people rush out of the gym.
Once I’m loosened up, I head into the locker to grab my gym bag.
I’m going to need to get some Epsom salts and herbs quickly for muscle recovery.
I should have thought of that before now.
Nick is standing outside the building again when I step out. “Hello Nick.”
“Do you want a drive to Z’s office or wait for Seb?” He asks me.
Wow, I’ve gotten two sentences out of him now. “Drive please. Also, I think that’s the most words you’ve spoken to me since we met.”
I get an eye roll, then he’s walking. I quickly catch up and follow him to the parking lot, hopping into the Jeep passenger seat.
Nick buckles in before he backs out of the parking lot.
It’s only about 10 minutes from the school to Finn Enterprises.
Nick pulls up, hops out, and scans his thumb to open the door.
He looks over and raises an eyebrow at me.
Guess he’s not coming in. I get out and grab my bags, saying thank you.
I receive a nod, and he’s off once more.
Shaking my head at him, I walk in and head for Zander’s office. The door is open, and he’s sitting behind his desk reading some papers. “Hi Zander.”
He looks up and smiles at me. “Well, hello there. Come in and close the door. How was your first day?”
“Mostly good?” I respond, flopping down in front of his desk.
“That sounds like a question. I assume Alex got your classes straightened out this morning since I didn’t hear from you?”
“It was done by the time I got to the office.” I grab the page Alex gave me this morning. “I need you to sign this form so I can drop it off at the office tomorrow.”
Zander reads it over, then signs it and passes it back to me. “So, tell me all about your day.”
“Um, well, I have 3 books I have to read for English before finals in June since they didn’t cover the same books in Virginia.
Chemistry and Biology were good. Alex booked the Saturday after next to help me with the labs I missed, which is only 3 for both classes.
History is following the opposite schedule to Virginia, so I’m familiar with what they’re studying the rest of the semester, so I’ll go back and study the January to March stuff.
My track coach is my gym teacher. I’ll be training for track during class.
I have until mid-April to meet qualifying times for any distance I want to run.
After Friday, she’ll assess if I have enough endurance to attend practice on Mondays and Wednesdays after school. ”
“The classes all sound good. I’m not very familiar with track, I’m afraid. Is getting fast enough for qualifying times a possibility by mid-April?”
“That’s only a few weeks away, so it will be hard. Oh, I’m going to need to get some Epsom salts, herbs, and essential oils for muscle recovery right away. Do you know of a place around here for that stuff?”
“The Epsom salts you can get anywhere, but I don’t know about the herbs and essential oils. I’d try E for the herbs and maybe Alex for the oils? Or Google,” he smiles. “Any problems today?”
“Um, nothing that wasn’t handled,” I say, looking down, fidgeting with my backpack strap.
“Summer,” Zander says, “please tell me.”
I raise my gaze and notice the worry on his face. “Just one issue. Someone pushed me into the lunch tray racks. The guys were there and took care of me. I told them I have an aversion to touch.”
“Are you actually okay? Your forehead is red.” He leans over his desk to get a closer look, brows drawn down.
“Yeah, I am. I’ve learned to deal with those kinds of things over the past year.”
That doesn’t seem to be what he wanted to hear, as a frown joins his face. “Please keep me informed if someone is bullying you or triggers you, Summer. I’m confident the guys will manage it, but please tell me too.”
“I can do that,” I nod.
“Good. Do you have something to work on for an hour while I get back to work?”
“Yup, lots.”
“You’re welcome to work in here, or the conference room is empty. It’s your choice,” he offers, his face relaxing again, now that I seem fine.
“I’ll stay here for now,” I tell him. I sit beside the desk, placing my bags on a nearby chair and text E and Alex about the herbs and oils.
They’ll get my texts after practice. The place I used to order from takes about a week to deliver, so I search for other reputable companies.
Not finding what I want, I switch to my coursework.
It’s hard to do much work without my laptop, so I grab the book from English class and continue reading.
An hour later, Zander and I leave his work.
My legs are stiffening, but it’s manageable so far.
He takes me out to dinner at a local restaurant that serves fresh tacos and orders a sampler platter so I can try everything.
I enjoy most of the tacos except the crab and shrimp, as I’m not a huge seafood fan.
When Zander gets up to pay the bill, my phone rings. “Hi E,” I answer.
“Hi Summer. I got your text. What herbs do you need?”
“I’m looking for, like, bulk dried herbs. Not the stuff you get in a grocery store, but high-quality air-dried or low heat dried. I’m not familiar with the stores here, so I’m unsure of where to search.”
“Hmm, I’ve got some fresh herbs at my house, which doesn’t help you. I’m not sure where to look. I don’t know of any place in Mt. Pleasant. There might be something in Charleston, though. Text me a list of what you’re looking for, and I’ll see if I can find something.”
“Thanks, E. What about arnica cream? Where’s the best place for that?”
“You’ll want the stuff Alex uses. It’s the best we’ve found. He gets it from someone at the college. I bet he has some too, since they’ve just started training again for the diving season.”
“I’ll ask him. I sent him a text earlier, too.”
“Ok Summer. I take it you were running today?”
“Yeah. I’ll be running every gym class for the foreseeable future to get back in shape.”
“Alright, I’ll text or call you later if I have any luck finding the herbs.”
“Thanks, E. Bye.”
Zander comes back, so we leave the restaurant. I text E and Alex a more specific list of what I’m looking for as he drives. He stops at a pharmacy so I can pick up some Epsom salts, and by the time we get home my legs are hurting badly. I inform Zander I’m heading for a shower and bath.
I decide to text Sue while I’m soaking in the tub, to tell her I made it through school today. A knock interrupts our text conversation. “I’m in the tub,” I holler.
“Hi Summer,” comes Alex’s velvety smooth voice. “I have some items from your list.”
“I’ll be right out,” I call back. After informing Sue that I need to leave, I jump out and dry off.
I took only pjs into the bathroom with me.
At least it’s a t-shirt and shorts, but I don’t have a bra.
Nothing I can do about it, so I quickly dress and go back to my room.
Alex is standing in front of the bookcases with his back to me, looking at Mara’s journals, so I quickly slip into the closet.
Pulling on a sweatshirt, I step back into the bedroom.
“Hi Alex,” I smile. “I didn’t mean for you to drive all the way out here tonight. ”
“It is no problem, Summer. Nick told me you were running track today. I assume that is why you were looking for the arnica cream,” he says, handing me a small brown bag.
I sit on the edge of the bed, opening the bag to find a tube of arnica and lavender essential oil.
“Thanks. I really appreciate it. I haven’t run in a while, so I’m going to be sore.”
“That is the only oil I had at the house, but I have more arnica cream if you need it,” he tells me.
“How much do I owe you?” I root through my bag for my wallet.
Alex waves me off. “Nothing. Can I inquire what the other herbs and oils were for? I am assuming you use them for recovery, too?”
“I do. I used to make my own bath soak and recovery cream when I was running. It worked much better than anything I could buy. I grew and dried most of the ingredients myself, but I don’t have that garden anymore, and I couldn’t find any local options online.”
“The arnica cream comes from a sports medicine professor at the college. There is one apothecary in Charleston you can look into. I’m unfamiliar with the quality or freshness, but you can call them tomorrow.
They are closed already today, unfortunately.
I do not know of any other local source of quality dried herbs.
The oil came from a lavender farm located a few hours from here. They have dried lavender too.”
“I’ll give the apothecary a call in the morning, thanks, Alex. I always ordered from a company on the west coast. I might place an order with them, but I’m not sure how fast it will get here.”
“What is the name of the company? I can call them and have it here tomorrow?” He asks, taking out his phone.
“No, Alex. Thank you for offering, but no,” I smile at him. “I’ll put a rush order in with them tonight. I trust their quality, so it’ll be worth the wait.”
“Will your legs be okay until they arrive? I realize a massage therapist is not an option,” he says with a frown.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll do Epsom salt baths and use the arnica cream until I can make my own,” I reassure him. “How was your practice today?”
“May I?” Alex asks, pulling out my desk chair. I nod as he takes a seat. “It was fine. Bay and I dive year-round, so we are just increasing the frequency now and incorporating some new dives.”
“First, thank you for the beautiful desk and chair before I forget to tell you. Second, I’ve never seen a diving competition before except for watching the Olympics on tv. When is your first meet?”
“In a few weeks. They are usually on Fridays after school; the time depends on where the competition is located.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing you guys compete.” It should be exciting to watch. I’ve always loved watching it on television.
“Will you be joining us this weekend for the basketball playoffs?” Alex asks.
That’s right. Seb told me the final tournament was coming up. “Absolutely.”
“There is a pep rally on Friday morning, and the games start after lunch. Only AP Biology classes are scheduled that day.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that,” I reply. Who doesn’t love a short school day?
Alex nods, standing up. “I will take my leave, so you can stretch and apply the cream. See you tomorrow, Summer.”
I offer to walk Alex out, so we head for the front door. Zander says goodbye to Alex as we pass the living room. “Thank you again for coming such a long way, Alex. I appreciate it.”
“You are welcome, Summer,” he smiles. “Goodnight.”
“Night, Alex.” I close the door, walking back to the living room.
“How are you doing after your bath?” Zander asks.
“It helped. I’ll apply arnica cream and order the remaining items online, and organize my schoolwork.”
“Sounds good. Come join me when you’re done. We’ll start another Marvel movie. I’m grabbing some brownies,” Zander tells me.
“Ok I will.” Heading back to my room, I get the arnica cream applied, then grab my laptop.
I go through all the syllabi I got today and add the quizzes, tests, and assignments to my calendar.
I search for the sports team schedules on the school portal and include the track and diving meets as well.
Placing my online order for herbs and oils, I pay a large fee for rush delivery. Hopefully, it gets here quickly.
Zander and I watch the second Captain America movie while I lie on the couch stretching. Seb texts asking how I’m feeling and if I’ve used the arnica cream yet. These guys gossip as much as old ladies, I swear. I make lunches for Zander and me before going to bed.