Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

the bell finally rang she gratefully made her way to the girls? locker

room to change for track practice.

Coach Tar was all fired up. She gave an embarrassingly optimistic

speech about their chances to win races that year and told them

how much she believed in them, both as athletes and as young women.

Then she turned to Helen.

?Hamilton. You?ll be running with the boys this year,? Coach said

bluntly. She told everyone to hit the trail.

Helen sat on the bench for a moment, debating her options while

everyone else filed out the door. She didn?t want to make a fuss,

but she was mortified by the thought of having to cross the gender

line. The muscles in her lower abdomen started to spasm.

?Go talk to her! Don?t let her push you around,? Claire said indignantly

as she left.

Confused and afraid she was going to get a bellyache, Helen nodded

and stood up.

?Coach Tar? Can?t we just do it the way we always do?? she called

out. Coach Tar stopped and turned around to listen, but she didn?t

look happy about it. ?I mean, why can?t I just train with the rest of

the girls? Because I am a girl,? Helen finished lamely.

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?We?ve decided that you need to start pushing yourself more,?

Coach Tar responded in a cold voice. Helen had always gotten the

feeling that Coach didn?t like her much, and now she was sure of it.

?But I?m not a boy. It?s not fair to make me run cross-country

with them,? Helen tried to argue. She jabbed two fingers into the

spot between her belly button and her pubic bone.

?Cramps?? Coach Tar asked, a touch of sympathy creeping into

her voice. Helen nodded and Coach continued. ?Coach Brant and I

have noticed something interesting about your times, Helen. No