Telegraph Ave: Final Chapter

Chapter 3: First Round

Stacy's POV...

Today is my birthday, and what's supposed to be the happiest day of the month, turned out to be my most anxious. After 3 years, the girls and I finally made it to the playoffs.

As we sat and meditated in our locker room, our gym erupts with our school's chant. The chanting was muffled behind these brick walls, and all you could hear was the sound of tape—ripping and tearing from our trainer.

I look down at my knee brace and stare at the surface of my gym shoes. I exhaled, for the reality of our first playoff game was just minutes away. My stomach turns, and Tiffany taps her feet rapidly against the black pavement. I close my eyes, for I became nauseous from the amount of nervousness that built up inside me.

It's just another game...

It's just another game... I try to convince myself, falling under the spell of apprehension. Recollecting one of the gifts I received today, I reached for my gold chain with my Aunt's name for a charm. A lot of scouts showed up for this game—they always do. The only thing that makes tonight different, is that if we potentially lose this game. There's no telling how they may view us, and it's my first game back since my knee injury.

It's nerve-wracking.

Whenever I think about losing the first round in front of my dream school, I get nauseous—but I continue to believe in my team. I continue to believe in myself, even if I am playing on a now-recovered knee. However, I keep the brace on.

"Girls." Coach Davis appears out of her office, and we stand to our feet. "Stay seated." Her voice is subtle and calming almost as if she's just as nervous as we are. "As you all know, this will be our first appearance in the playoffs in 10 years of Oakland Highschool history. So give yourselves a round of applause for that." She begins to clap and we all clap along with her. "We've also gone undefeated, which has not been done since ever." The clapping ceases. "However, going undefeated won't mean anything if we lose the first round."

My heart skips a beat.

"I don't plan on stopping this train tonight... I wish to keep things rolling to the championship. Yet, if we do go home tonight... I'll love you all the same..." Coach Davis proceeds. "But who wants to go home tonight?"

"Not us," Nya speaks up, and some others mutter words.

"We plan to keep this thing rolling..." Arriana joins other voices throughout the locker room—locs tied in a bun. "... Just like you Coach. We trying to take it all the way."

Coach Davis shifts her attention in my path, and we lock eyes.

"Stay out of your head Kanoa," Coach Davis encourages. "I know the scouts are here... and that'll be your first game back on the court. Don't change what you've been doing this season. You've had a minor setback, but don't you ever forget you're the best damn Libero in this city."

"Yeaaaaahhh"
The girls begin to hype me up.

"That goes for the rest of you. Y'all are the best Volleyball team in this city. The hard work you put in paid off this far... So why stop here?!"

"We ain't stopping here!!!" I rise to my feet. "We're not settling for less! We're the Wildcats, Oakland's finest. I don't think we're the best team in the city, we're the best team in this state!!! Can't nobody convince me anything different! We've made so many people proud during our regular season, and we're going to continue to do so all the way to the championship. And we're not just going to bring honor to our families, or this city. But we'll be honoring the man upstairs, who brought us to where we stand now!!!"