Salty Licorice

Chapter 80

Marisa's POV

Lucky for me Avery won her regional tournament. It might sound funny that I'm happy that she did, especially since I don't care at all for the sport or really any sport for that matter. But with the idea of there even being a possibility of Avery being a cry baby over her loss outways my care for the sport and makes me ecstatic that she was victorious. Dad wanted to come back for her final game and Mateo was more determined to watch the outcome than I cared to argue. So here we are in the stands overlooking the award ceremony as Middleton High Schools get their medals and trophy for their first place victory.

Mateo is watching in practical awe during the whole thing. It almost makes me laugh seeing his face light up as Avery and Bri accept the trophy before returning it to their team. Avery might act proud sometimes but in moments like these it is clear that she really is more humble then she cares to show. Thankfully the ceremony doesn't last much longer than that and we make our way down to see the team.

When we get down stairs Dad makes his way over to the coach more likely than not requesting permission to take Avery home instead of her having to journey back on their bus. Because I know for a fact he's going to wanna take her to a fancy dinner or something, even if we more than likely can't afford it.

He has a few words with her before coming back over to us and giving the team a second to gather their things. But one thing I noticed was before Avery was able to grab her stuff her coach pulled her to the side and said a few things to her. Even from here I can see her face pale, she shakes her head slightly at whatever information her coach just told her.

"The press wants to have a few words with her and get the okay from her signing college coach that only if she agrees can they ask her formal questions. I guess most of the people who have been following her around aren't newspapers but people from other division one college schools wanting to get more information about her since she wasn't exactly on their radars till Georgia Tech signed her," Dad explains. "Or at least that's what Coach Moore said."

"Hate to say it but she doesn't look very excited about it." I nod in Averys direction.

"Go knights," Dad sarcastically cheers.

We follow her and Coach into a conference looking room where there's a long table and a group of people with cameras and notepads at the ready.

"Sullivan agrees to answer a few athletic related questions but request for no photographs be taken," Coach announces as she and Avery take a seat at one side of the table across from the reporters.

Dad motions for us to sit in the seats along the outer wall of the room out of the way. Dad gives Mateo a warning look for him to behave. I watch Avery's demeanor carefully, she can easily go from being uncomfortable to blowing a fuse in seconds if she feels cornered. This is the perfect situation in which she could feel cornered and defensive if the wrong question is asked.

"Sullivan, how tall are you?" one person asks right away, I breathe a sigh of relief. So far so good.

"Last I measured 6 foot 1." Avery doesn't hesitate to answer honestly, Dad measured her again before the tournament. She needs new pants, that was his reasoning.

"Sullivan, what made you want to start playing volleyball?" Another asked from the back.

She hesitates to answer, and I know exactly why. There is no cookie cutter answer for her. She started playing in middle school at first for fun but soon after it became a way for her to let out her aggression. "I didn't make the basketball team and decided to try out for volleyball instead," Avery shrugs. She went with the safe answer.

"Sullivan, seeing as you live on the coast, is there a chance we might see you play for the beach volleyball team in the future?" I almost laugh at that question for multiple reasons.