Chapter 28: The Fallout (Leo in Ava’s Body)

Leo in Ava’s Body (POV)

I’m sitting in Coach Barrett’s office, Ava’s body hunched in a stiff chair, her shoulder immobilized in the new sling from yesterday’s ER visit. The air smells of sweat and liniment, and my heart, her heart, pounds, not just from the pain but from the dread of what’s coming. The scholarship trial is days away, and the doctor’s words, complete rotator cuff tear, surgery required, no volleyball for months, echo in my head. Jade’s standing by the door, arms crossed, her eyes boring into me like she’s trying to crack open my skull. Ava’s phone buzzes in my lap, a text from Ava in my body: Noah’s losing it at rehearsal. Blackwave’s pushing for Echo. I’m barely holding on. You with Coach? I can’t reply, not with Jade watching and Coach flipping through a medical report, his face grim.

“Lin,” Coach Barrett says, setting the report down, his voice heavy. “Dr. Kim reviewed your ER results. Rotator cuff tear, severe. You’re out for the season. No trial, no team, until you’re cleared post-surgery.”

My stomach drops, her heart racing. “Out?” I say, her voice cracking. “Coach, I can still, ”

“No, you can’t,” he cuts in, leaning forward. “You pushed too hard, Ava. You collapsed, tore your shoulder to hell. I’m not risking your health or the team’s performance. You’re benched until you’re healed. We’ll talk scholarship options after surgery.”

I grip the sling, her fingers trembling. “But the trial… my family’s counting on me. I can’t just, ”

“You will,” he says, standing. “Go home, rest, follow Dr. Kim’s orders. We’ll reassess in a few months.” He pauses, softer now. “You’re our star, Ava. Don’t ruin that by being stubborn.”

Jade steps forward, her voice sharp. “She’s not stubborn, Coach. She’s hiding something. She’s been off for weeks, crying, missing digs, acting like… not Ava.” She turns to me, eyes blazing. “Tell him, Ava. Tell him what’s going on.”

I freeze, her throat tight. “Jade, I’m just… hurt. Stressed. That’s it.”

She scoffs, grabbing Ava’s phone from my lap before I can stop her. “Bull. I saw those videos. You don’t move like you, you don’t talk like you. And Leo’s always around when you’re falling apart. What are you two hiding?”

Coach raises an eyebrow, looking between us. “Lin, is there something you need to tell me? About you and Martinez?”

I shake my head, her ponytail limp. “No, Coach. Leo’s just… a friend. Helping me through this.”

Jade’s not having it. She unlocks Ava’s phone, knowing the passcode, of course, and swipes to the video app. “Then explain this,” she says, shoving the screen in my face. It’s another old practice video, Ava diving with precision, her serve a rocket. “That’s you. Now you’re barely hitting the ball. And you’re sneaking off with Leo every night. Spill it, Ava, or I’m telling Coach everything I’ve seen.”

My eyes, her eyes, sting, and I’m scrambling for a lie when the door bursts open. Ava’s there, in my body, my lanky frame filling the doorway, my face flushed from running. My dark eyes are wide, panicked, and my guitar case bangs against my hip.

“Leo?” Jade says, stepping back, her voice sharp. “What are you doing here?”

Ava ignores her, striding to me, my hand, her hand, on my shoulder, her shoulder. “Ava, you okay?” she says, my voice low, urgent. “Jade texted me, said you’re with Coach. What’s going on?”

Coach frowns, standing. “Martinez, this is a team matter. Why are you here?”

Ava straightens, my body towering over him. “Because Ava’s my friend, and she’s hurt. I’m not letting her face this alone.”

Jade’s eyes narrow, flicking between us. “Friend? You’re always there when she’s crashing. And that ‘Echo’ video, everyone says it’s a girl with your voice. Are you two pulling some kind of stunt?”

Leo’s jaw, my jaw, tightens, and I see her fighting to stay calm. “No stunt,” he says, my voice steady but sharp. “Echo’s just an open mic act. And I’m here because Ava needs me. That’s it.”

I stand, her body shaky, and step between them, her sling awkward. “Jade, stop,” I say, her voice firm. “Leo’s not doing anything wrong. I’m the one who messed up, pushed too hard. My shoulder’s my fault, not his.”

Jade’s not buying it. She steps closer, her voice low, dangerous. “You’re lying, Ava. Both of you. I’ve known you forever, and you’re not you. You’re… I don’t know, different. And Leo’s acting weird too, flaking on his band, sneaking around with you. Tell me the truth, or I’m going to Coach, to Dr. Kim, to everyone.”

My heart, her heart, pounds, and I glance at Leo, my eyes, her eyes, pleading. We’re two days from the trial, from Battle, and our pact to confess is staring us down. Ava steps forward, my body protective, her hand, my hand, on my arm.

“Jade, back off,” Leo says, my voice fierce. “Ava’s hurt, and you’re making it worse. She doesn’t owe you every detail of her life. Let her heal.”

Jade blinks, taken aback, but doesn’t back down. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Leo. She’s my best friend, and I’m not losing her to whatever this is.” She turns to me, her eyes wet. “Ava, please. I’m scared for you. Just… tell me what’s wrong.”

I swallow, her throat burning, and I want to spill it, the swap, the pain, the fear, but the pact stops me. Two days. We have two days. “I can’t, Jade,” I say, her voice breaking. “Not yet. Just… trust me.”

Coach clears his throat, stepping in. “Enough. Lin, you’re off the team until you’re cleared. Jade, take her to Dr. Kim tomorrow for a follow-up. Martinez, get out. This isn’t your place.”

Ava hesitates, my eyes flicking to me, but I nod, her ponytail bobbing. “Go,” I whisper, her voice soft. “I’ll handle this.”

Leo nods, my face tense, and backs toward the door. “I’ll see you later, Ava,” he says, my voice low, and slips out, my guitar case banging against the frame.

Jade grabs my arm, her arm, gentle but firm. “You’re coming with me to Dr. Kim tomorrow, and you’re telling me the truth, Ava. No more lies.”

I nod, her eyes stinging, and let her lead me out of the office. The gym’s empty, the court silent, and I feel Ava’s dream slipping away, my lies crumbling like sand.

I slip into the music building’s basement at midnight, Ava’s sling heavy, her shoulder a dull ache even with the painkillers. Ava’s already there, in my body, strumming my guitar, my face drawn from rehearsal. My dark eyes light up when she sees me, but there’s fear there too, etched into my features.

“Leo,” she says, setting the guitar down, my voice rough.

threatening. “Jade’s got videos, Ava. Old ones of you, compared to me now. She knows I’m not you.”

Ava kneels in front of me, my hand, her hand, on her shoulder, my shoulder. “Crap. And Noah’s on me about Echo. Blackwave loved today’s rehearsal, but he’s convinced I’m hiding something. We’re falling apart.”

I nod, her ponytail limp. “Two days left. Trial, Battle, the pact. If we don’t switch…”

“We confess,” she says, my voice firm. “Together.” She picks up the volleyball, tossing it gently. “Show me a dig. Easy, with the sling.”

I laugh, her laugh weak. “Can’t dig with one arm, rockstar. You show me ‘Song of Her Name.’ Keep it alive.”