Chapter 5 #2
“Are you claustrophobic or something?” Keira asked, Amelia’s distress distracting her from her own worries.
“What? No, not really. Why?”
“You just seem a bit stressed.”
“I’m fine.”
“Just like your ankle was fine after I knocked you over?” She raised an eyebrow. Something definitely bubbled under Amelia’s attempt at a calm exterior.
Amelia sighed. Keira didn’t think she was going to get an answer, but after a long moment of silence, she spoke.
“I just…I don’t like making mistakes,” Keira had to strain to hear her, despite how close they were sitting.
“We got locked in, it happens.”
“Yes, but now we’ve dragged Michelle back out. I don’t like being an inconvenience.”
The pain in Amelia’s voice made Keira’s heart break. Astute, confident, on court Amelia had somehow been replaced by someone smaller.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Keira smiled kindly. “I’m sure Coach Grant won’t see it as an inconvenience. She’ll probably like having a funny story to tell at team dinners.” Keira chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, but somehow, Amelia shrank further.
Placing a hand on Amelia’s back, Keira tried to reassure her.
Suddenly they were back in Heath Park, the sun sparkling in Amelia’s eyes, and Keira nearly snatched her hand away.
Amelia’s tense, toned muscles were easily noticeable through her t-shirt.
The sensation distracted her, and she almost missed what Amelia said next.
“I know everyone else makes mistakes, but I can’t. Not as a doctor and not as captain. How can Coach Grant rely on me if I can’t even leave the building on time?” Amelia scoffed.
“It’s not ten yet. They locked up early.”
“Oh.”
Amelia exhaled, relaxing a little. Keira both reluctantly and relievedly removed her hand. They lapsed into silence. The only sound came from the vending machines humming in the hallway. Keira rubbed the palm of her hand with her thumb.
“You know it’s not healthy to worry that much, right?” Keira asked gently, “and that you don’t have to be perfect at everything?”
“I know. That’s what the GP said when he prescribed anti-anxiety medication.” Amelia laughed derisively.
“Is it working?”
“I wouldn’t know. The side effects of my old one were unmanageable. I’ve not been taking this one long enough to know if it’s working yet.”
Amelia fiddled with her necklace. The small pendant with two precious stones set into a silver infinity sign drew Keira’s gaze.
“What about you?” Amelia asked. “You don’t exactly seem comfortable either.”
“Nah, I’m fine.” Keira said, trying for flippancy.
The space between them expanded with her untruth, as her intrinsic need to be indestructible destroyed the tendrils of trust growing between them.
Amelia looked hurt by Keira’s obvious lie.
She immediately felt guilty, especially after Amelia’s own honest vulnerability.
Keira clenched her hands into fists and took a deep breath.
“My Dad’s not well,” she started, her words tumbling out abrupt and staccato.
“Cancer. I don’t like leaving him on his own for too long.
” Her voice cracked as she stared at the floor.
“But I’m trying to give him more space. He regularly reminds me that he’s not a child that needs constant supervision. ”
No one else at the Blizzards, except Coach Grant, knew about her situation.
Knowing made people look at her differently.
Like a single gust of wind might knock her over, shattering her into a million pieces.
She didn’t want anyone, especially Amelia, to see her as vulnerable. Keira braced for impact.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Amelia sounded kind. There was no trace of pity in her voice. “That must be hard.”
“Yeah, it’s…a lot. I dropped everything and came back as soon as he told me. My mum died when I was young and…” the words caught in her throat. “He’s all I have.” Tears prickled Keira’s eyes. She aggressively wiped them on her t-shirt, looking anywhere but toward Amelia.
Without a word, Amelia slid towards Keira and wrapped an arm around her.
The side hug was awkward, but it took everything Keira had not to crumble into it.
They lapsed into silence; Keira not having the confidence to say anything further, and Amelia seemingly giving her the grace she needed to gather herself.
Even the vending machine seemed to respectfully quieten down.
Once Keira felt more like she was back on solid ground, she pulled away slightly, and Amelia removed her arm.
Their thighs remained close; Keira felt the heat from Amelia like a blanket.
“Do you think you’ll go back to America once he’s better?” Amelia eventually asked.
“No, I don’t think so. I mean, my whole life was there, but…this was a reality check. I don’t want him to be an eight-hour plane ride away. He’s not getting any younger.”
“That makes sense.”
Keira glanced at Amelia. A gentle smile graced her face.
Keira’s gaze lingered on Amelia’s eyes, as the expression in them tinged with uncertainty, and a little curiosity.
Time seemed to slow down. Keira’s heartbeat swiftly kicked up a notch.
When Keira’s gaze dropped to Amelia’s lips, Amelia inhaled sharply. The surrounding atmosphere stilled.
A sudden knock on the glass made the pair spring apart as if electrocuted. Coach Grant grinned at them through the glass doors as she unlocked them. Amelia bounced to her feet, nervous energy somehow worse. Keira waited a few moments for her brain to re-boot.
Did that nearly just happen?
She shrugged in confusion, got down from her perch, and picked up her bag.
“Muppets, the pair of you,” Coach Grant said teasingly. “I’d expect it from a rookie, but I’m surprised you got caught out, Amelia.”
Amelia’s eyes almost imperceptibly widened. Keira thought she resembled a schoolchild getting told off by the teacher.
“They locked up early,” Keira offered, side-eyeing Amelia.
“Did they check everyone had left?”
“No, I don’t think so, but I might not have heard them over the shower.”
“And I had headphones on,” Amelia added.
“Hm.” Coach Grant pressed her lips into a thin line. “They should at least have checked…”
The trio lingered for a moment.
“Anyway, you’re probably keen to get home so…” Coach Grant waved them towards the doors. Amelia led them out.
“Thank you for coming to get us, Coach,” Keira said jovially.
“Of course, just don’t make a habit of it. I wasn’t far off getting ready for bed.”
“We’ll try not to.” Keira laughed. Amelia smiled weakly.
Keira returned to her car. She simultaneously felt better for having worked on her outside shooting, and worse for having let herself get…
distracted. She thumped down in the driver’s seat, assuaging her guilt by telling herself it would never happen again.
She glanced across the car park, briefly locking eyes with Amelia before she got into her own car.
That could be easier said than done.