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She thought of the girl in the freezer as she wrapped her hands around the travelto chase away the bitter chill that slid through her veins at the thought

Violet lagged behind the other girls who’d left the locker roo in her locker, and now, as she sat on the sidelines of the gy everyone as they paired up, she dropped down and retied her shoes for the fifth tiy She knew she was just as likely to injure herself trying to play a ga to locate the echoes of the dead Maybe more so

And unfortunately, everyone else knew it too

Today, at least, they were only doing drills No one-on-ones, scries, or team play Just plain old, ordinary drills She could handle that, couldn’t she?

But even now, Violet watched as the girl with the back brace for scoliosis picked someone else to be her partner And, one by one, everyone around her paired up, until Violet was the only one left standing

Violet left her spot on the white line and eased closer to Chelsea "Couys, can’t I just play with you?" She hated that she hining, but she hated it even nored her as she and Jules executed perfect, high-velocity chest passes between the two of the back to Chelsea

Chelsea’s lip curled as she caught the ball, and she shook her head at Violet disappointedly "No And that’s why You’re afraid of the ball, Vi You can’t catch it and you can’t throw it" Chelsea holstered the ball at her waist and looked dubiously at her friend "Can you even dribble?"

Violet shrugged "Not really," she adain She throws too hard, and she yells at me when I miss Everyone stares at us"

Chelsea shook her head, launching the ball back at Jules "I’m sorry, I really am But you suck at basketball"

Violet did her best not to shrink away this ti to show that she could be part of their tea drills?"

Chelsea closed her eyes as she dropped her chin to her chest She clutched the ball in both hands and let out a long, drah Violet didn’t even need her to answer now--she knew Chelsea was giving in Chelsea was her best friend, after all, and while she tried to be indifferent--to everything and everyone--Violet knew she couldn’t resist her friend’s puppy-dog eyes for long Jules wouldn’t be thrilled--Violet would definitely slow theue either