Salty Licorice

Chapter 84

Avery's POV

Coach at least is going to let me go to the game but she won't let me play. I understand why but it sucks that I'm hurting our starting lineup because of my stupid temper. Sitting on the bus with my teammates almost makes me feel like a fraud. I'm supposed to be an example for the younger players as one of their captains but also supposed to be dependable, someone who always makes the point and pushes the team to do their best but here I am getting forced to sit on the bench.

I hear some of the other players talking around me, excitement buzzing in the air. But I can't reciprocate any of it with them as the look of disappointment on my Coach's face settles in the forefront of my mind. A constant reminder that I disappoint everyone around me, starting with my parents.

"The only thing you should be thinking right now is how to solve some complicated math equation in that empty head of yours," Bri breaks my wallowing with her nonchalant tone. "You will only sit on that bench for like a game or two then Coach will have to play you."

"You say that but you didn't see the look on her face when talking to the principal about the fight," I refute.

"But you forget the look on her face when you make a game winning point." Bri smiles at me.

"Not true, you know 'a spiker is only as good as their setters sets'," I put finger quotes around the one saying the coach has beat into our heads from day one of practice freshman year.

"I think you're too hard on yourself, that is until you get on the court and act like you're God's gift to volleyball. Congrats you can play two opposite positions well, no one cares."

"Coach cares," I suppress a chuckle. "Georgia Tech cares."

"Please do you think Georgia knows you can play a second position as well as you can? You haven't played anything other than a spiker in like three years."

"Well that's their loss," I shrug with fake arrogance as I lean back in my seat.

"The look on their faces would be priceless," Bri daydreams. "If I wasn't your teammate I'd still go to your games just to watch you play, I can't deny. But don't take that as a compliment, you're just funny to watch, especially when you get mad and start flopping around like a giraffe on new legs."

"You suck," I roll my eyes.

"Not my fault you're clumsy, and yet still so agile."

Coach calls to quiet down the bus and announces we're just outside the arena and to get ready, since our first game is in about 2 hours giving us an hour or so to get a last minute practice for our starting line up and warm ups. After the bus parks and we file out, the coach grabs me and pulls me back for a second.

"I know you're upset about getting benched but you knew this was coming," Coach says. "But I need my co-captain, on or off the court I need your head in game mode ready to help out your teammates."

"Yes, Coach," I nod my head, afraid to say more in case I get myself in more trouble.

We make it inside and I help warm up with the starting line up, mostly to try and spin up my replacement. She's a junior named Sierra, she's good but doesn't have the confidence needed to go up against a solid block. During practice I act as her blocker on the other side of the net and notice her mentally psyching herself out. Currently they are doing a simple spiking drill that starts with a high toss up for the setter and an easy approach towards the net to land a spike. Sierra does the same thing she has done the last two times she's gone up to the net, she hesitates.

"Brianna, stop." I cut off their drill, forcing Bri to catch the toss and hold onto the ball. "Sierra, what are you thinking?"

"Um, I don't. Um I don't know," She fumbles over her words glancing back at me through the net slowly walking back up to the net.