Chapter 53
Nika
Wednesday
Nika walks into the clubhouse, wiping sweat from her brow.
Jess, breathless from the morning session, follows close behind.
Jess is a good player, but not quite as fit as Nika, which is why they can be such good friends.
Jess is also one of the few people who didn’t join the Ariana-gate pile-on.
Nika takes a slug of water from her bottle, pushes open the changing-room door and makes her way past the first bank of lockers.
It’s quiet this morning: only she and Jess have come in during break; the others are still on the pitch.
She turns the corner to the second bank of lockers and stops.
There’s someone there, crouching on the floor.
Nika freezes, startled. Then confused, as the person on the floor looks up.
It’s Greta O’Donnell. And she looks…panicked?
At first, Nika can’t make out what she’s doing on the ground.
Then she spots something familiar. Her hockey bag—bright pink and brand new—open on the changing-room floor.
And her lunchbox, also open, beside it. What the— Inside the lunchbox, Nika can see the granola bar and the brownie she packed for herself this morning.
The brownie looks different though, like there’s brown sugar or…
sand on it? She steps forward to take a closer look, but Ms. O’Donnell slams the lid back on and gets to her feet, clutching Nika’s lunchbox.
Confused and indignant, Nika reaches to take it.
“Leave it.” Ms. O’Donnell’s face is bright red.
“What are you doing?”
“Just…leave it.”
Jess is shoulder to shoulder with Nika now, still breathless.
Nika reaches again to take the lunchbox, and Ms. O’Donnell takes a step back.
“Why can’t I have my lunch?” This is bizarre.
“It…it might be dangerous for you. Your nut allergy.”
It dawns on Nika now. A familiar grainy flour she’s seen inside packets in the baking aisle.
Not brown sugar, not sand. “It was ground almonds.” Nika’s eyes widen.
“You put ground almonds on my lunch?” She turns to Jess, then back to Ms. O’Donnell, mouth open.
Nika enjoys a drama and is very happy to ramp up the theatrics when needed.
But there’s no ramping up needed now. She’s genuinely shocked.
“Oh my god, Ms. O’Donnell, are you literally trying to kill me? I need to phone my mum.”