22

Joe was quite nervous on Monday morning as he sat in the same training room where he had trained with Elle for the past week. On the one hand, his performance today would determine whether he would train normally with the team starting Wednesday, but on the other hand, he was hoping to run into Elle because he really needed to talk to her.

His disappointment was great when Nick entered the training room alone and it didn't look like he was expecting anyone else either. After Joe greeted Nick and shared that he was glad that Nick had come through his corona infection so well and was now back, he wondered if he could just ask for Elle.

"Elle has been keeping me up to date with reports for the last few weeks and according to her, you can go back, I'd just like to check, okay?" Nick studied the file while Joe winced briefly at Elle's name, thinking for a moment that Nick could read his mind.

But if Nick had already mentioned her name now, Joe just had to take the chance. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, been working really well with her the last few weeks. Where is Elle today anyway?" he asked, trying to look as casual as possible.

"Oh, she's having some kind of continuing education with Paul today about the duties and responsibilities we athletic trainers have during training week. They've been blocking the conference room all day. I would have taken her with me today and done the introduction tomorrow, but we have a meeting tomorrow with all the staff, coaches and all, to plan how we're going to handle the Covid measures in training camp. That will take all day tomorrow" Nick sighed.

"Oh ok. Just thought because she's been taking me on the last few weeks she'd want to be here today too" Joe mumbled. "I know, I know Joe. I'm not a pretty young girl that you're trying extra hard to look good for in front of her, but please give it all you' got today anyway so I can pass you off for Wednesday without a doubt, ok?" Nick grinned at him and Joe just nodded, "I'll do my best".

After practice, Nick had been quite pleased and had given Joe the approval for Wednesday, which Joe was very happy about, he went back to the locker room. He would practice a few more throws today, as he had done several times during noon the last few weeks.

When he arrived at his seat, it immediately caught his eye. In one of the compartments was the black Tshirt that Elle had worn when she had slept over. Had she been here? Why hadn't she handed it over personally?

He picked it up and immediately the scent of washing powder rose to his nose. She had washed it, but why hadn't she just handed it to him personally when they would see each other? Did she think he wanted the shirt back so badly or was she avoiding him? Or maybe she just hadn't thought about it and had just quickly put the Tshirt here for him in her free time before she had to go to the meeting with Paul.

"Bro, are you okay? You're looking at that tshirt a little too long" Ja'Marr brought Joe out of his thoughts. "Sorry, got distracted" Joe mumbled and stuffed the tshirt in his bag, at least that way he didn't have to see it again.

"oh ok, how was practice with Nick? Are you starting Wednesday?" Ja'Marr inquired. Joe nodded. "Yep, Nick cleared me" Joe stated. "Nice, congrats man" Ja'Marr raised his hand and Joe clapped in.

On Wednesday morning, all the players and coaches met in the big conference room for the start of training camp. As Nick had already announced, all the staff had had a meeting on Tuesday regarding Covid rules and procedures for the next few weeks, so the players had been asked to take Tuesday off and also not come to the facility to workout.

Zac clapped his hands to get the attention of all the players and asked them to be quiet so they could all hear him. "Welcome to training camp 2021" he started and everyone broke into claps and whistles.

He explained what the next few days would be like, what the important dates were and how the players were to conduct themselves in terms of Corona. There was no mask requirement for those fully vaccinated, but they asked to wear masks in enclosed spaces, excluding training rooms and locker rooms, simply for safety.

They were also told that, to ensure contact was limited, not all staff would be involved with all players and that the staff had therefore been divided into Defense, Offens and Special Team, but that there were also some who were involved with all or several groups.

Especially with massages or check-ups, it was not necessarily possible to pay attention to who was responsible for whom, but rather who just had time, which is why there were extra hygiene rules for the staff here, but the players did not have to worry about that.

"I wish us all, fun, success and good weeks. You can find out who is doing what, when, from the personalized schedules at your places. If you need special treatment for check-ups or pain, please contact Nick or Paul and they will make an appointment with you" Zac said in conclusion. Everyone clapped again before Zac left and everyone went to the locker room to look at their plans.

For Joe, the first thing he did was go to strength training with the other quarterbacks as well as a few other players from the Offense team.

Along with Ja'Marr, he walked down the hall to their room. "So, do you think Elle is scheduled with us?" Ja'Marr asked with a grin. Joe shrugged his shoulders. Truth be told, he'd been thinking about it too, especially since he still wanted to talk to her about what had happened Saturday night.

When they arrived in the room, however, the only person standing in the room so far was Joey, coach for strenght and conditioning, the head fitness trainer.

"Good morning, guys. We have to wait a minute for an athletic trainer before we get started, but I can tell you what's coming up for who today" he greeted the players. Ja'Marr nudged Joe with his elbow and formed the word "athletic trainer" with his mouth. Yes, perhaps Elle would join them in a moment.

"Sorry, for the delay, we had to clear something up within the athletic trainers" Joe's disappointment was great when less than two minutes later Nick jogged into the training room. So Elle would not be at their workout. He desperately needed to ask Nick if she was even in charge of the offense.

So when they got through the first few drills and it was near the end, Joe, who they didn't want to stress too much yet, was allowed to stop early, or rather was already done with his duties, Joe took Nick aside.

"You, tell me, where is Elle assigned?" he asked quietly, so that not everyone, especially Ja'Marr would notice that he was asking Nick about her.

"Defense. She's going to be dealing with the big guys, why do you ask?" Nick replied. "oh, I just wanted to know because I still wanted to talk to her. She told me about something last week, we didn't finish though and well, that's what I want to talk to her about" Joe lied and felt pretty stupid about it himself.

Nick, who didn't seem to buy a word he said either, just grinned at him. "Sure, surely you'll run into her, you'll both be here every day for the next week. I'm quite certain you'll find a way to finish talking about it" he winked at Joe.

Nick was about to leave when he turned around again. "I hear you, by the way. I've worked with Elle before too, she's great. After that, you don't want to work with anyone else. I'm sorry she's not in charge of you" he said grinning.

"Just one more question Nick" Joe stopped the athletic trainer again. "How were you guys assigned? Were you guys allowed to decide where you wanted to go or how did that go?" he asked, because somehow he couldn't shake the feeling that Elle was specifically avoiding him.

"No, the coordinators in charge picked fitness coaches and then we adjusted to that. Lou picked Todd for defense and since Todd is only an assistant, we put Paul with him, Paul includes Elle since it's her first training camp and that's how we divided up further. There are three teams, we are six atheltic coaches. But the special team doesn't necessarily need two permanent ATs, so we also put Michael, as a back up, on defense as well, so Elle has some support" Nick explained.

Joe nodded. So that meant that Elle didn't stay away from him by choice, but without being able to do anything about it, she was assigned there. That was good, after all, although it didn't necessarily mean she wasn't avoiding him.

Besides, she was assigned with Michael, and although they never talked about it again, Joe knew that Elle was uncomfortable with Michael's presence.

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