Who: Coach/MJ/Scott What: lacrosse practice Where: the high school lacrosse field When: Sept. 12th Warnings: low Status: closed/g-doc
MJ liked her college classes. Really. Even if she couldn’t attend MIT here. But, she already missed lacrosse. Funny, considering she’d never been into sports before her arrival here. However, MJ really liked how her body felt now that she actually ran and worked out. Today, since she had time and wanted to go check out the new recruits, MJ decided to go attend practice.
She got there a little early and stood, waiting for Coach and possibly Scott. MJ hoped Scott actually did attend, so they had a good cop, since she knew she’d be similar to how Coach ran practices.
After a minute, though, MJ started on some stretches and drills since the field would soon be filled with students.
“Good to see you Jones.” Finstock made his way from behind the bleachers with his usual clipboard and most importantly, his whistle. He was looking forward to the new seasons and beating the other high schools in town. Maybe it was a little unfair that their high school was the only one who had people from different worlds, but, meh.
“Have you seen McCall today? Thought he said he’d show up today.”
MJ looked at Coach when he approached her. “I haven’t talked to him today, but I thought he mentioned it too.” She stretched again and looked at the players taking the field. A few from the previous season waved at MJ and she returned the greeting.
She didn’t have a clipboard, but MJ now possessed a whistle.
“I was thinking, maybe we should see if there’s interest in a scrimmage league? For those of us who graduated.”
“Oh, good idea.” The idea of a scrimmage league was fun. Maybe he’d even play? Could he still play? This was debatable. He was old and he’d done a lot in his time that his body wasn’t the same as it was even in college. “You need anything to make it happen, you let me know. - Ah, there he is!”
Scott hurried onto the field. His new class on animal behaviour class was really fun, but it was hard too and the lab today had taken longer than he realized. Still, he was feeling good about it. He was in his third year now and he hadn’t gotten kicked out. In fact, he was doing really well.
He shouted some words of encouragement to one of the kids who was struggling to run the laps required of them while he jobbed toward MJ and Coach. Once he arrived, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry I’m late. Looks like we haven’t really started yet though.” He nodded to MJ. “Glad to see you’re back.”
MJ looked up and saw Scott hurrying onto the field. “I’ll definitely let you know, Coach!” She wanted an opportunity to keep playing. Maybe Scott would feel the same. When he shouted words of encouragement, MJ shook her head. The kid did need encouragement, but he also needed to work on his conditioning.
“Glad to see you’re here, McCall.” MJ grinned. “Nah, we were about to start.” Which she left up to Coach since it was actually his team.
Speaking of starting, Finstock looked out at the kids who were all out to try and get better and briefly smiled. This was the best part of his job. The smiling didn’t last long, though, since a few kids started goofing off.
“Hey!” He blew his whistle. “Alright, alright! You know the drill by now. Get into teams. McCall and Jones, you’re against each other.”
Very typical of Coach, they didn’t actually know the drill because they hadn’t done this sort of thing before. Scott could guess what it was from being a lacrosse player for so long. He spoke loudly so people could hear. “Okay we’re doing a scrimmage. You guys can be on my team.” He picked a handful of people. Most of them were the weaker ones, but that was always sort of Scott’s thing.
He looked at MJ after the kids started to sort themselves out. “What’s it like being back?”
MJ remembered getting thrown in the deep end with Coach, and appreciated Scott taking charge.
“Anyone not on McCall’s team is with me!” She saw a couple former teammates eyeing MJ and she did not blame them. At no point did she offer unwarranted praise, but she did work on providing constructive criticism.
“Alright. I mean, it’s weird being back, but I also only went home for…a short period of time for both there and here.” MJ blew her whistle. “Smith, actually pick a side. I don’t care which, but standing in the middle isn’t helping either of us.” Smith thankfully stepped to the left on MJ’s side.
“I haven’t experienced the whole going home and coming back thing, but I know a lot of people who have. Then you have people like my mom who leave for a long time and come back exactly where she had come back from when she was first here. That’s something I have no idea how it works.” Maybe it worked in milliseconds? Scott didn’t think too hard on that sort of thing since he would get a headache from it.
“I guess being away for a short period made people worry less though, which is good.”
“Greenberg!” A kid emerged from the school late to practice. Finstock did not know why or how he was cursed with having to deal with a whole family of Greenbergs in town, but he was. How did two people have so many inept children? “Glad can finally make it. Ten extra laps!”
MJ thought how odd she only went home for like not even half a day. But, whatever. “I think it’s good that your mom came back. I like being back, even though some day I hope to go back home and experience MIT.” She shook her head. “I think people still worried, with all the disappearances after the cruise, but yeah my stuff still being here helped.”
She watched as Greenberg started to run. MJ blew her whistle to wrangle her team. “O’Connor, goalie. And this time actually try. Don’t just watch as people score on you. Try dodging once in a while.” When the kid bothered to try, he could play goalie well. They just never knew what version of OConnor they’d get on any day.
Scott watched as Coach put all his attention on ‘encouraging’ Greenberg for a moment or two before bringing his attention to his team like MJ did. He was a little less direct as he told everyone their positions. “The biggest part of being good at lacrosse is anticipation. If you can read what the other team wants to do, you’re golden.” He said a few more encouraging platitudes before sending his team out to the field.
“I’d be worried if Malia was gone, even if her stuff were here.” He nodded to confirm. “I guess Peter’s glad you’re back too huh?”
MJ looked at her team and finished assignments. “Just do your best.” She could be nice. “And please remember to stay hydrated. I don’t need anyone getting nauseous. If you haven’t got a water bottle, please get one.”
“Just play to your strengths.”
At the question, MJ looked at Scott. “Isn’t Malia your girlfriend? I don’t think Peter would worry the same way?”
Scott looked confused, but since MJ remembered him and lacrosse and all that, he had no idea that she could lose memories of other things. “...Yeah, she is…” He paused, then looked a little worried like he might have put his foot in his mouth. “Did you and Peter break up before you left? Sorry, I didn’t know that…” Crap.
MJ blew her whistle. “Everyone take two minutes and do some running in place. McCall and I need to have a quick chat.” She practically dragged Scott away from the team.
“What do you mean ‘did we break up’? When the hell did I date Peter?” She looked confused and bewildered; two things she didn’t enjoy.
Scott’s expression was matching MJ’s. He, too, was confused and bewildered. “Uh… Well I don’t know when you started, but I think it was at least while you were here the last time?” It was normal for Scott to be confused about things, but this felt extra confusing. “I thought you two dated back home too for some reason.”
MJ bit her lip, feeling so confused. Had Liz lied to her? Peter too? But why would they lie to her? And why wouldn’t she remember dating Peter? Especially if she dated him back home.
“I…” she stopped. “I don’t remember any relationship from back home. In fact, I don’t remember ever dating anyone.”
His brow furrowed a little deeper. Scott was probably going to get a headache. “Maybe it has something to do with the Dome? Maybe it did something to you?” Scott knew the Dome could do a lot of things and it obviously wasn’t the first time that it messed with people’s memories. Why it would target MJ was a bit weirder, but it was still possible.
“I was told Peter and I are best friends back home, but I don’t remember him. I can see Ned clear as day. Liz, Alyssa, you, Coach. But Peter? Nothing. So maybe it’s the Dome, but…I think it’s specifically me? Because why wouldn’t I remember Peter?” Then she shook her head. “Let’s go back to the game. I want to not think about this for a few minutes. Game time?” she asked Scott. Obviously some conversations would be happening soon. Not with Scott, though.
Scott nodded. “Yeah, for sure. Let’s do it.” He felt bad. Had he just said something wrong? Had he opened pandora’s box? Who knew. But he’d help MJ focus on something else for now.
He turned to the group. “Alright guys, let’s go!”
“Finally! I was wondering when your little Kumbaya would end! Greenberg, you’re on McCalls team!” Coach blew his whistle for good measure. wrap!