Always [editing] (&on hold)

Chapter 11~

~Chapter 11~ [edited]

The up ref blows the whistle and makes the “serve” arm motion. We briefly make eye contact before I start my quick pre-serve ritual. I spin the ball in my hands, and then toss it high. I decide to make it a floater right into the opposing team’s empty spot in deep back on the right. I hit the ball and leave my arm hanging. When the ball passes the net, I quickly take my position in left back while the other side scrambles to return the ball. The ball hits the tape on the net and drops to the floor on the other side.

Score one for us.

Several plays later, it’s my turn to serve again. The up-ref signals that it’s game point. Its game point, game three. If we win this it’s over, otherwise we go on to game four. I do my pre-serve ritual and serve the ball, this time a hard fast one to deep left. The other side’s libero gets to the ball, putting it up and the setter sets too far to the outside.

“Cross!” I yell as I position my feet to receive the attack. “Out!” I call as the ball sails past me and hits the floor just barely out of bounds.

The up-ref signals that the other team gets the point, which means the damn line judge thought that the ball was in and called it as such. I am so going to kick that guy’s ass after we win this.

The other teams wins game three.

And game four.

“Alright girls, you are not on this team for nothing!” our head coach, Jackie, yelled. “You're here because you are amongst the best volleyball players out there. And goddammit, play like it! It’s simple, get the passes up. Becky, you have to set perfectly. You didn’t get a scholarship to Texas for nothing. Kenz, Bailey you two need to show em that they should fear you. Kenz, you have an insane vertical and you hit harder than anyone I've had on my team in a long time. Use this, girls. Let’s win this. It’s now or never.”

“Yeah!” we all cheer in unison.

“Alright, now. Storm on three,” Jackie says calmly. “One, two, three.”

“Storm!” we bellow loudly.

It’s game time, time to turn off my brain and just play.

*****

I check my phone as soon as I open my locker. Six missed calls, twenty-five texts. Oh, dear Lord, what have I done now?

Kenz, are you coming? We were supposed to meet an hour ago, Meghan’s text reads.

Kenz? Meg is worried about you… Jack sent after Meg.

R u ok? You wont answer us Even Zach texted me.

“Aw, fuck!” I groan. That party started more than an hour ago, and I agreed to be on time to this one. But the game ran late, so that didn’t work out at all! I decide to just go straight to the party in my current volleyball attire. I’ll get there faster this way. I ignore the rest of the texts and the calls and just focus on stuffing everything into my duffle. When I’m finished with that, I jog out to my explorer and throw the bag into the passenger seat before I start the car.

I save time by driving fast, which is fun for me. I blow a stop sign and earn a finger and a honk. I can tell which house is the one with the party from a block away. The sun set about a half hour ago, and the party house is the only house on the block (all the houses are huge, I might add) that has every single light on, doors open, and people milling about the yard. I quickly find a place to park, lock the car and run into the house to find somebody from my usual crew.

Inside, there must be every senior, junior and even sophomore from West and Madison high. The lights are dimmed in some rooms where the strobe lights are, and a thudding bass seems to shake the base of the entire house. Most are dressed in usual party attire, and then there are the rebels who are dressed like shit. Like me, still in my jersey, spandex and kneepads. I scan the faces of the crowd looking for anyone I know who can direct me to my friends.