Across the Net

Noticed?

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

-George Bernard Shaw

~~~~

"Okay, you can't possibly believe what happened next," Lana said, twirling a lock of perfect blonde hair on her index finger.

I zoned out. My fingers itched to go into my bag and get the novel I had been engrossed over in the past week.

"Alex, what do you think?"

I turned quickly, hiding my hands under the table.

"I..." I looked around at my friends' faces. Since the day I changed to contacts, my eyes had been abnormally dry. I blinked. Georgina was staring at me expectantly, her rough hands on the table. Allison looked up from her nails and Celia brushed her hair from her face.

"I dunno, talk to him... I guess?" All Lana talked about was either boys or volleyball (it was a big thing among girls in my school. Volleyball. Not boys.) so I just made a wild guess.

"That's the best advice I've ever heard in ages!" Lana squealed.

I exhaled with relief. My hands were creeping over to my bookbag again.

"Lana," the infamous jock in our school, Jacob, came over to our table and plopped himself right in front of my friend, abs and all. And that space he just occupied so happened to separate me from my book bag. No chance of reading. Again. Those arrogant jocks and their egos.

"Jacob?" Lana said, dazed. Georgina rolled her eyes and flexed her biceps.

"Ditch him gurl," she whispered a little too audibly. "He's cheated too many times!"

"Shut up!" Lana hissed back.

"Oh Jacob," she turned back to the guy.

I drummed my fingers against the table. I just didn't fit in. In all of the drama and in my group of friends.

Lana and Jacob must have gotten back together again for they were holding hands over the table the next time I focused.

"Alex, you like volleyball too?"

My contacts almost fell out in shock. Jacob just spoke to me. Me of all people. Not that I had any feelings for him, but it was just the surprise of being noticed. His attention was always on Lana whenever he came to our table and he had never spoken to me before.

"Y-yes? I guess...?" I stuttered. I forced a grin.

"Well then," Lana looked pleased. "We are having a house volleyball competition and we're short of people. I want you to join. I am asking you as volleyball team captain. Volleyball team members are not allowed to join so we need new stars."

"Why me though?" I asked.

"You just seem active, that's all," Lana shrugged.

Yes. I seemed active. I had to put up with that pretense since I met Lana's group of girls. No pulling myself out any more. I played active throughout the year, joining everything the other girls did but I had never tried to be part of so great a sport competition. Nervousness seemed overrated with what I was feeling.

"We'll win, with you on the team," Celia squealed in her high-pitched voice.

"Yeah, we will," I said with half as much enthusiasm.

"Ballcourt. Today after school," Lana ordered.

"I'll be there," I confirmed.

The bell rang, signalling the end of lunch.