Impossible by Komal Lewis Read Free Book Online Page B

me.
    My eyes narrowed as I walked over to the group and caught Kance’s eye. I shot her a smile which she didn’t return. What was up with her? Shrugging it off, I turned my attention onto Coach Morgan, ignoring Elly, who was standing beside her. I tried to appear excited, despite the sinking feeling in my stomach.
    Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.
    “Are we ready to start, coach?” I asked brightly.
    Coach fixed me with a severe look. “Not quite. I’d like to speak to you first.” She motioned for Kance to join her.
    I drew closer to Kance and lowered my voice. “What’s going on? Are you mad at me or something?”
    “How could I possibly be mad at you, Ashton? You’re too perfect.” Her words, unexpected, sent a shock through my body.
    My heart was pounding so loud that there was no way no one could hear it. Everyone’s eyes were on me and, for once, I wished the attention was on someone else. There was something seriously wrong. There had to be. Coach never looked at me that way—like she was disappointed in me—and Kance never treated me the way she had moments ago.
    “Ashton, I take reports of bullying very seriously,” Coach began.
    “Okay, Coach?” I said, careful not make eye contact with Elly, and Luca’s shirt. I didn’t really get what this had to do with me.
    “It had come to my attention that an incident occurred this morning which involved you.”
    I darted a glance at Kance, but she was pointedly looking at Coach with a sneer on her face. My stomach sank. “Um, I’m not sure what incident you’re referring to.”
    Coach crossed her arms impatiently. “Elly is saying that you spilt coffee on her, taunted her about her weight and told her she couldn’t be on the team.”
    “That’s a ridiculous accusation!” Deep down I knew it wasn’t ridiculous and that I was a horrible person for doing that to Elly. But I couldn’t just have any old person joining my team. I couldn’t have her competing for Oliver’s affections, and I definitely couldn’t have her talking to Luca.
    Coach frowned at me. “Kance is backing Elly on this one. She’s the one who brought this incident of bullying to our attention. She felt horrible about the way you’d treated Elly and wanted me to know. I don’t see why your friend would lie about something this serious.”
    I didn’t need to turn around to picture the smug expression on Kance’s face. I could practically feel the aura of smugness radiating off her. She had set me up. She had put the idea in my head to make me dislike Elly. She’d wanted me to do something to Elly so she could get me into trouble. What I couldn’t understand was why she would do this to me.
    “Do you deny it, Ashton?” Coach Morgan demanded when I didn’t respond.
    “No, it happened,” I said in a small voice. “I made fun of her weight gain and told her I didn’t want her on the squad.”
    Coach’s face fell and she took a deep breath. “What you did to Elly doesn’t show team spirit, Ashton. We’re supposed to support each other like a family; otherwise the cracks are going to tear our squad apart. It’s so disappointing saying this, because I thought you would’ve made a wonderful captain, but I can’t have this kind of behavior in the squad. I can’t let you be the captain.”
    I shook my head in disbelief. “No, please, you have no idea how much I want this, how hard I trained for it. Punish me in any other way, but don’t take this away from me.”
    Coach set her mouth in a firm line. “Ashton, I’m sorry, but your behavior is inexcusable. You cannot sabotage and bully someone from your own squad and we can’t have you leading it. I’ll call your parents to let them know what happened so the school can take disciplinary action against you.”
    Tears sprung to my eyes and it took all of my willpower not to cry in front of everyone. There was one burning question that I had. “Who’s going to be captain now? The pep rally’s tomorrow and