Chapter Text
Izzie is able to go throughout most of her day without bumping into the new kid from Newton. However, as the day dwindles on she knows she will have to interact with her at practice. Having this knowledge just consistently darkens her mood throughout the day. So by the time she’s at her last class, which happens to be her only class with Nate, she doesn’t want to be bothered. She’s partly worried that the new kid will go tell coach that she wasn’t exactly the most hospitable, which wouldn’t particularly bode well for Izzie since coach specifically assigned her to show Newton a warm welcome. And while her mood may be dark a dreary, Nate seems to be as chipper as ever.
“What’s got you in such a sunshine and roses mood?” Izzie grunts.
“What? A man can’t be happy to see his girl?” Nate somehow always manages to say the right thing at the right time.
Izzie’s face converts from that of scowl to a dopy grin, “I love you.” She mutters as she gives him a peck on the lips.
At times, times like this, things with Nate felt so right and he fit with Izzie perfectly, he felt so warm and solid. But Izzie also knew that warmth fades and solids turn into liquids so she never fully allowed herself to give away every part of herself. Still though it felt nice to pretend that all was right in the world even if only for a moment.
“So, what had you in such a ‘skies are grey’ mood? Missing your man after a long, cold, weekend apart?” Nate teases lovingly.
Izzie just rolled her eyes, “No you dork, it’s just we got this new girl on our team. She’s the girl from Newton that punched Bailey Bennet in the face.”
Izzie waited for a response but none came. “Well, I’m upset because I’m already so stressed out with everything at home and keeping the team together. Plus I’m trying to keep my grades up so I can get scouted and leave this hell hole of a town. I just don’t need another problem in my life.”
“Well isn’t it a little rash to judge someone based only on stories you’ve heard? What if this new girl ends up being super cool..?” Nate adds hesitantly not wanting to set Izzie off.
“Not you too!” Annoyed, it takes most of Izzie’s self-control to not lose her temper. “Coach already told me all of that but I thought at least my boyfriend would be on my side. Guess not.”
Nate sighs, “Look, I’m not trying to start something, I’m just saying maybe she’s not going to be as bad as you think. You’re known for over thinking things.”
With that the bell rings ending their conversation. Not being able to have the last word leaves Izzie thinking about what Nate said. Maybe Newton won’t be that bad. It’s just hard for Izzie to think positively, after being disappointed by those closest to her so many times. Izzie then decides to give Newton the benefit of the doubt and neither think positively or negatively about her. Letting Newton prove her worth to the team.
When class ends, Izzie parts ways with Nate after making plans to meet up when she’s done with practice. Izzie likes being first at practice in order to set a good example of what is to be expected from the girls. One thing Izzie hates most is when people are late. It makes it seem like they don’t care enough to make you a priority in their day.
Izzie likes to meet up with her girls in the quad to stretch and then jog over to the track as a nice warm up. Briefly she wonders if Newton knows this, but then remembers she doesn’t really care and will find out soon enough.
One by one her team mates start to show up and the usual conversation ensues. A vast majority of the girls didn’t show up to practice over winter break because they were too busy traveling the world with their millionaire parents. Izzie however, attended every practice and not only because she’s the team captain and wants to set an example. But also because her mother couldn’t afford rent half the months let alone a trip to Europe. It’s not that her mom didn’t make enough money. Her mother’s problem was where she chose to spend her money, which in her case was booze and her shitty boyfriends. Izzie actually decided to take over the family’s finances when the gas was turned off twice last winter because her mom either forgot to or deliberately neglected to pay the bills. And no gas meant no heating, which meant Izzie and her siblings had to use body heat and microwaved rice pillows to stay somewhat warm.
Izzie loves her team mates but sometimes she finds it so exhausting to pretend to relate to them, when they really have nothing in common. So most of the time Izzie just listened adding in a couple nods, smiles and how cool’s to show she was listening. Her team mates never seemed to mind that she rarely contributed to the conversation, most of them preferred the sound of their own voices anyways. The only thing that they cared about anyways was that Izzie could run fast a won races for the team.
After a couple minutes of meaningless conversation Casey manages to find the team stretching. “Hi.” She says as she jogs down the steps.
“You look tired Newton. Tough day?” Izzie asks, partly to see if Casey will tell the rest of the team that Izzie didn’t show her around like she was supposed to. Izzie decides that if Casey tells the team, she judged her correctly and Casey really is just a shit stirrer. But if she doesn’t tell then maybe there was a misjudgment on Izzie’s part and Casey isn’t all that bad.
“No, it’s been great.” Casey breathes out as she begins to stretch.
This surprises Izzie, but she decides to test Casey one last time. “Find your way around alright?”
“Yeah.” She looks up at Izzie and nods, almost as if to say I could tell everyone right now, but I won’t. “Actually, this super helpful girl showed me around.”
Even though Izzie should be relieved, Casey’s response annoys her to no end. She’s being too nice and Izzie doesn’t know what angle she’s trying to play. But instead of saying something snarky she decides to just keep quite.
“Isn’t this place great?” Quinn says to Casey as she’s upside down, stretching out her hamstrings. “You’re gonna love it. Are you Bulimic?”
“No.” Casey chuckles at such a direct question.
“Ah good, I don’t need those kind of influences in my life.” She breathes out as she stand up from her stretch.
Izzie just watches her team mates interact with Casey. She kind of regrets having started out on such a bad foot, because watching how easily her team mates converse with Casey makes her feel like she did herself a disservice by making a mountain out of a mole hill.
“Cool shoes.” Penelope tells Casey. This makes Izzie notice them, and they’re just normal, worn out Nikes. Although you’d never see another girl on this team with worn out shoes. “My mom made me get new ones for Christmas, Which is dumb because we were in Paris and the Euro conversion is redic- plus I like when they’re all old and worn, like yours.” Penelope rambles on unknowingly insulting Casey’s shoes.
“Thanks” is all Casey says.
“We were in Aspen again, so boring” Quinn wines.
Penelope rolls her eyes, “My parents are this kick where they take us to a new European city each year. It’s exhausting!”
Quinn grunts in agreement. “What’d you do for break Newton?” Izzie kind of likes how the team has adopted her nickname for Casey.
“Um, nothing much.” Newton offers up hesitantly. “Went to target a couple times.”
This makes the whole team crack up, well everyone except Izzie that is, who just scrutinizes Casey’s stretching. “Um I think I’m stretched.” Casey says after an awkward moment passes. She points at the path to the track field, “Is this the path here?”
“Yeah.” Penelope answers.
“Okay…” Newton just jogs off to the path without another word.
“She’s hilarious!” Quinn tells Penelope after Casey leaves. Izzie on the other hand isn’t sure what to think of Newton. So she just keeps quite, like she usually does with her team mates and finishes stretching.