You Belong With Me (A Sequel to "What Once Was")

6 back in action

I nearly spit out my water after hearing what Landen had said.

"So I can play!? Really!?"

He chuckled and nodded. "You've been working hard, and I spoke with your dad. He said it's okay, but to pull you off the second if anything were to happen."

I squealed with excitement and threw my arms around him. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I cried.

He hugged me back and then put both hands on my shoulders. "But enough of showing me I'm your favorite coach because I already know I am. Go get your uniform on. We will start warmups soon."

Landen did not need to tell me twice. I took off and sprinted right into the locker room where the rest of the team was getting dressed.

I stopped beside Lacey since our lockers were right next to one another, and took out my jersey which was white. The rest of the team, aside from Ella, all have black jerseys since Ella and I are liberos.

"Stop, did you get permission to play?" asked Lacey.

I nodded with excitement as I pulled my jersey on, and then went to change into my spandex.

"Oh my gosh! Maybe now we won't suck!" she cried loudly, probably a little too loudly.

Lacey and I giggled softly as we put our court shoes on.

"I hope you start over her. Imagine the look on her face," Lacey whispered.

"Me too."

-

A while later, after doing our warmups in a separate gym, we went back into the locker room. We lined up in numerical order behind the door because this year at our home games, with volleyball having more fans than ever since state last year, they hype us up a lot more. One by one, they call us out and we run out into the gym.

I stood behind Katie, who is number nine, and in front of Lacey, who is eleven.

The gym went silent and the lights were dimmed, but a spotlight was left on the tunnel of people which we were to run through.

"Excited?" asked Lacey.

I nodded. "Little nervous too. No one knows I'm playing."

"I can't wait to see the looks on everyone's faces," she whispered as the announcer began to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen... thank you for joining us tonight for the face off between your lady bears, and our guests, the mustangs!"

Cheers sounded from either student section as each school was announced.

"Please stand so we can welcome your defending state champs... the lady bears!"

The crowd went wild once more.

"Number one, senior and outside hitter, Lucia Simmons!"

The drummers from the band played a beat as she ran into the gym. We each took a step forward.

As I neared the entrance to the gym, my nerves ramped up.

Katie ran out into the gym and I walked up to the entrance so I could be announced.

"And give this senior a warm welcome for her debut game! Number 10 and tonight's starting libero, Ainsley Sloane!"

Cheers broke out as I took a deep breath and jogged through the tunnel. The stands were absolutely packed as I stopped with my team, who was huddling up in the middle of the court. Ella, who is number seven, was already there. I received a dirty look from her.