One Last Shot

[5] Lawn Games

                                                                                       Iris

"So, you guys know how tomorrow is supposed to be nice and not too cold?" Marcus asks as we all sit around the table, eating dinner.

"Yes!" Lilly cheers.

"Well, some of the guys on the team live together, and they're inviting us to go over and have a field day, tons of yard games."

"Us, why?" I ask, looking inquisitively at Marcus.

"Because you guys are my friends!"

"I call bullshit."

"Fine, it's because they felt like they had to because we live together and they kind of know you now."

"Listen, I'm down," Violet chimes in.

"Me too!" Lilly cheers. "Which means by default of not looking like a loser, you're coming too," Lilly pokes me with her fork. I groan and roll my eyes, shrugging.

The next day, I get ready to kick some ass. I was pretty athletic in high school, playing basketball and volleyball, so I'm ready to dominate these guys. We drive over, and I survey the house. It doesn't look like a frat house, but it does look like guys live here. The driveway is filled with yard games, spikeball, cornhole, ladder toss, and others. My eyes sit on spikeball, oh hell yes. I get out of the car and see Liam jogging down the front steps to the driveway/front yard, joining the other guys.

"Hey!" Marcus waves to them.

"So glad you guys could make it!" The blue haired boy from the other night smiles, walking over. "I'm Felix, most people call me Lix, nice to meet you ladies," we all shake hands with him, he seems nice enough. "Guys! Come introduce yourself."

"Jasper," the other boy I talked to the other night, giving us all hugs. Seems on brand. "Ready to lose?"

"Oh, we don't lose," Lilly crosses her arms confidently.

"We'll see about that," another boy walks over, "Archer, mega competitive."

"And I'm Grayson, the live in chef."

"Dude, shut up. He's a culinary major, we don't hire people or do that here," Felix laughs. "And you guys know Liam," Liam walks over.

"Oh, we know Liam," Violet laughs, "nice to see you."

"Yeah you guys too," he turns back to setting up the games. I roll my eyes, how are you rude even when you're trying to make a good impression on someone's friends? What an ass. The lawn games start, and Violet and I beeline for spikeball. Violet is on the school's volleyball team, and whenever there's a spikeball game at a cookout or party, we're there. Archer pulls Liam over and smiles.

"Well, looks like we've got a regular game of spikeball happening here!" Archer has an excited smile on his face, while Liam looks miserable.

"Full contact?" Violet asks, eyes ready.

"Why not," Archer shrugs. Violet and I get ready, and Archer serves first, across to Violet, who passes it to me, I pass it back, and she spikes it, right for Jasper. He quickly passes it to Liam who spikes it to me. I spike it right back, and as he passes it to Archer, I go to guard him. They did say full contact after all. Slamming into Jasper, he misses the hit.

"What was that?" Liam asks, dumbfounded.

"Did we not agree on full contact?"

"That's what you consider full contact?"

"Who doesn't?" Violet asks.

"Normal people!"

"Not the people we've played with," I shrug, resuming my position. I serve to Liam, and he's caught off guard by the power in the serve, but still receives it, hitting it to Jasper. Jasper attempts to spike it, but his fingers slip and it hits the rim.

"Rim!" Violet shouts.

"Our point," I say as Violet picks up the ball. I hear Liam huff frustratingly as Violet gears up to serve.

"Switch with me," Liam says to Jasper. "I can receive Violet's serves better." Jasper shrugs and Liam is now standing next to me, ready for the serve. He's right, he handles Violet's insane serve with ease, calmly passing it to Jasper, who hits it, straight for me. As I get ready to receive it and pass it to Violet, Liam slams into me, and I hit the ground.

"Dude what the hell?" Violet yells.

"You said full contact," Liam smirks. So this is how we're playing. Okay, I'll bite. If I have to suffer with him today, I might as well injure him in the process. Jasper serves it to me, and I pass it to Violet, she hits it, obviously, because we're insane at the game, and Liam receives it, passing it to Jasper. Jasper panics and passes it back to Liam, but I see the opportunity. I push Liam aside and he flies. I can get significantly stronger if I intend to overpower someone, and Liam got to witness that first hand. He comes back around, out of breath.

"Tired already?" I pout, cocking my head to the side.

"Not in the slightest." The game continues, everyone else stopping their games to watch our game.

"Game point," Violet states as she serves, everyone basically sweating now. We're tied, and neither team is going down without a fight. Liam passes it to Jasper, who passes it back, and Liam spikes it across to Violet who spikes it back. He passes to Jasper, who spikes to me. I pass to Violet, and she hits it, but falters, and Jasper receives it. Then I feel someone's back against my hip. Liam is actually guarding me, not just shoving me out of the way. His right arm is stretched out and spans the entirety of my body, ready to block me from reaching. I know how to box out, no fucking way this is how we lose. As Jasper spikes it, I roll off Liam's back, and with the tips of my fingers, slightly pass it to Violet, who lunges to hit it and I spike it down, right to where Liam is. If he gets to box me out, I'm boxing him out. But I reach his spot before he does since he traveled a bit to guard me. Using my ass, I push him back (as one does when they box out), shoving him further and further from his spot, until he puts his hands on my lower waist to pull me out of the way, but it's too late. The ball has bounced and hit the ground.

"Hell yes!" I cheer, and Violet and I do our usual victory dance.

"These two teams seem to be insanely competitive," Jasper chuckles. "Maybe they should stay separated for the rest of the day."

"Maybe..." Marcus laughs. I decide to take a water break and go grab a bottle from the cooler. I see Marcus and Felix playing ladder toss, drinking beers, talking and laughing. I see Felix's hand graze Marcus' arm, and both sets of eyes go wide. Oh these two are down bad for each other, I mean I could've called it from a mile away after that movie night, but now? Obvious as hell. I join Lilly in playing cornhole, a much more relaxing game since I don't care if I win or lose against Lilly.

"Can I point something out?" She asks as she tosses a beanbag.

"Go ahead."

"Liam Bender's muscular, big hands were on your lower waist, practically grabbing your ass, after you pushed him back with your ass, and you're just fine?"

"I'll do anything to win."

"How are you not like a big sweaty ball right now? Did that not feel attractive as hell to you?"

"I was focused on the game."

"You're unbearable," she groans as I toss a beanbag.

"I agree," Liam is now standing behind us. I see Lilly's eyes bug out of her head and mine are filled with fear. I am hoping he did not hear that conversation. "And for the record," he leans close to my ear, "that felt attractive as hell to me." He walks away, and Lilly's mouth is gaping open. Now I feel my face flush. I never expected him to be so bold, it catches me off guard.

"I have a feeling you two are going to be great friends," Lilly winks, and I roll my eyes.

"When you wish upon a star."