Next: London *Discontinued

-12-

Mel's POV

In the meantime it was shortly after half past six and I was sitting alone at a table in the dining room. I knew that most of the girls had eaten earlier and although Emily tried to talk to me all the time, I just wanted to be alone. Sadly, I poked around in my salad because I wasn't hungry anyway. Until 15 minutes ago, I was on the phone with Jill to tell her about the incident. I also knew that her voice calmed me down. It was probably the only thing that built me up in the situation. Although the thing I was craving most right now was one of her hugs...

"Have you talked to Emily since we spoke earlier?", Dawn's words ripped me from my thoughts and I looked at her with surprise. She smiled slightly and sat down at the table with me.

I pushed my full plate aside and shook my head.

"I know that I should..."

"But I understand that you don't want to," she said to my surprise, and I tilted my head slightly.

"What Emily did to you was not right. You know that, I know that... she knows that too, though. It was noticed during our conversation earlier. You can't avoid the conversation forever. Also because you share the room. But like I said... I understand if you want to give her the silent treatment."

I looked at my plate and Dawn's eyes followed mine.

"Come. We'll go to the others. It's almost 7 pm anyway. Will you do me just one favor?"

I looked at the coach and nodded slightly.

"Take an apple with you. You'll get hungry later as little as you have eaten."

I looked at her questioningly. "Were you watching me?"

Dawn smiled slightly. "No, but I'm guessing you didn't eat much."

We both got up and I did her the favor and actually took two apples with me. Then we went to the meeting room and I had to find out that all but Vlatko were already there. Uncertainly I sat down on one of the free chairs, which were positioned rather apart from the group and tried to ignore the looks of the others.

I could still hear someone asking, what I was still doing here before the coach entered the room. Then Dawn got up from her seat and she went to him. I took a quick look at Emily. She returned my look sadly and I turned away from her.

"You'll get your schedule tomorrow after the first training. Please be in the lobby at 8 am," he explained briefly, looking at all of us. Everyone nodded.

"So...I don't know if Emily or Mel told you about the conversation," he continued and everyone else shook their heads.

„However... there will be no consequences. But that's only because Mel was relatively gracious to Emily. Actually we had to send her home," he said and everyone looked at me.

"But... I'll let Emily speak. That was Mel's condition for her to stay."

"Since when is she allowed to make conditions?!" Alex immediately stepped in and I automatically ducked my head. But before anyone else could say anything, Emily took a deep breath.

"Because she would have every right to do so... Vlatko is right: I should have been sent home. But Mel asked that I may stay. The only condition was that I tell you what happened that night. The truth...", she said uncertainly and suddenly she had all eyes on her.

"What do you mean...the truth?", Carli asked in surprise and Emily sat down a little more upright. Then she ran her fingers through her hair unsteadily.

"What's the best place to start," she thought aloud and I looked at her.

"Tell them about my birthday. From the beginning," I suggested quietly and she nodded slightly.

"Okay...so it was like this: We surprised Mel on her birthday and stood outside her door with plenty of alcohol as a team. Then we sang for her and finally celebrated. I was pretty nervous the whole evening because everyone kept telling me that Mel has a huge crush on me and that I should finally take a step towards her. Soberly I would never have dared to do that. That's why I was drinking. Maybe a little to much. Mel was never alone, though, so I agreed with Alex that she should just leave early so that I need another place to sleep."

"Which worked out fine," Alex stepped in and gave me a quick look.

"Yes, but there's more..." Emily said and had Alex's eyes on her again.

"When the last of the team left, Mel and I were alone. I knew that now was actually my chance to make the first step, but I didn't dare. Only when Mel wanted to make the couch ready for me...then I finally dared to ask if I could sleep in her bedroom. When we were in bed, I was the one who wanted to be near her. I was the one who kissed her. It just felt so good that I wanted to go further, but Mel blocked me. I was so drunk that it hurt me so much...then I...", Emily told and then looked at me guiltily. She hadn't wanted to finish that sentence earlier either.

"Ran away," I said, feeling the shocked looks of the others on me.

"Wait...you just left?!" Alex asked and Emily sighed.

"No. I had still reproached Mel that I could mean nothing to her if she rejected me like that. Mel had told me she loved me. But... I don't know... I was drunk and I wanted to hurt her, too. She begged me to stay, but I left," she confessed and I sighed softly. Somehow it still hurt to be reminded of that...

"And then you went to my place?" Alex asked, and Emily nodded slightly.

"Yes. It was in the taxi that I realized what a huge mistake I had just made. But I didn't want to admit it then. I was too proud... When I was with you, Alex, you asked me what happened and I thought I could hurt Mel by making up this lie. I didn't expect you and the team to take it so seriously..."

There was a depressing silence in the room. When I looked around briefly, I noticed that the coaches were no longer there. Apparently they wanted to give us as a team the opportunity to settle this alone. You could see that all the girls felt quite guilty and I sighed softly.

"How come you never tried to clear it up?" Alex finally asked me and I looked at her in surprise. But before I could answer, Ashlyn took the floor.

"Because we never gave her the opportunity. Do you remember, Alex? We were all firmly convinced that Emily would not lie to us about this. Mel had tried so many times to talk to us... with you and I can't get myself out of it, either... but we never let her. We wanted to show Emily as a team that we were completely behind her. But we treated Mel like crap. We didn't talk to her one more word and at some point she stopped trying to talk to us. Even during practice and the games we deliberately gave her such bad passes so that she gets less time to play. We were really shitty to her. Without exception...we really fucked it up," she said quietly and I closed my eyes briefly so no one could see the tears that were burning in my eyes again because of Ash's statement.

"And we just believed you..." Christen whispered, "We also took away Mel's opportunity to tell us the truth."

I looked back at my hands and Alex got up from her seat. Then she came to me and crouched down in front of me. Gently she took my hands in hers and made me look at her.

"I'm sorry...Ash is right: at least it would have been my job to listen to you. To give you a chance to tell your side... Will you give me a chance to make it up to you?"

I nodded slightly and Alex stood up. Then she pulled me gently into the stand and hugged me. Relieved, I returned her hug and suddenly found myself in a group hug.

„Okay, guys. That's enough," I smiled slightly  and some people laughed. Then everyone let go of me and I noticed Emily, who was still sitting in her chair, thinking. She looked up at that moment, though. When she saw my eyes, she got up and disappeared. Sighing, I looked after her and felt Alex's arm on my shoulders. So I looked at her uncertainly.

"Go to her. She's probably in your room."