Eighteen year old Daisy Phillips is the volleyball captain of Greenville High School in Bettendorf Iowa. Daisy isn't the most attractive girl at Greenville High, most of the boys at her school go for the girls with skinny figures, painted on skinny...
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It was game day. The usual nerves and adrenaline were tripled than normal. Game days have always been my favorites, the rush of the game and watching our team flow so well together. My dad likes to say we work like a well oiled machine, I guess that's what I get for having an engineer for a father. Coach came and passed out our jersey's earlier today, my lucky number thirteen on the front and on the back. Just above the giant number on the back was the word 'captain' in big white letters. I could feel my heart rate pick up as my leg bounced under my desk. Flashes of the game played over and over in my mind.
The score was twenty-three to twenty-four, we only needed three more point to make it to the championships. The whistle blew and the crowd was silent in anticipation. One bounce, two bounces, the ball was up in the air and then soaring over the net. Our libero was on the floor in a blink of an eye, arms stretched out as the ball bounced off her forearms.
It was a perfect pass to the setter. I backed up to the ten foot line and was ready to bring the ball crashing down onto the other teams court. The ball was up in the air as I ran and jumped as high as I could. My arm came swinging down on top of the ball and sent it flying... into the net. The crowd was so silent at first you could hear a pin drop. Seconds later the opponents team erupted as their school rushed onto the court with big smiles and giving the players hugs and high fives, congratulating them on the win I just handed to them.
I looked around and my captain was staring daggers into my head. I could feel the blood drain from my face as my heart dropped to my stomach. Most of my team was looking at me like that.
"You had to just go and throw our chance at the championships out the window, didn't you Daisy?" My captain spat out at me as she walked past and deliberately shoved her shoulder into mine, forcing me to take a few steps backwards. I could feel the tears threatening to fall.
No. I am notgoing to let them see me like this, weak, hurt.
My family tried to comfort me after the game but I kept my distance. All I could do was replay what my captain said to me. Over and over again.
"You had to just go and throw our chance at the championships out the window, didn't you Daisy?"
It was my fault we weren't going to the championships, I blew it. It wasn't until I got home and into the safety of my room when the tears started to flow. I promised myself right there and then that I wouldn't let myself break like this again. I wasn't going to let anyone see me at my lowest. I wasn't going to blow it again if I had any say about it.
"Ms. Philips!" My English teacher, Mr. McCarley yelled from behind his desk. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up. Everyone in the class was staring at me, I felt heat crawl up my neck and into my cheeks.
"Yes sir?" I tried not to look at the other students.
"When you are in my class, I expect you to pay attention. I will not have you daydreaming in my classroom. Do I make myself clear?" I nodded as a response. I could tell a few of the girls were trying to hold in their laughter but they were beginning to fail.
