The eyes, Chico, they never lie.

CHAPTER 33: Control

Yuri's POV:

"All right, you first. I wonder who you'll choose," Georgia scoffed sarcastically, her eyes meeting Ash's and then turned to me. I think we all knew who she would pick first.

"I'll take Ash," she said, gesturing towards him.

He let out a small breath that I heard since I stood right in front of him before telling her, "You got it."

"Then I will take..." Georgia trailed off, scanning all of us. "Who am I kidding? Of course, I'm taking Reee."

I cracked a smile, saluting her with two fingers.

"Alexander," Maria said next.

"Leena," Georgia shrugged.

Maria continued, "Aunt Kathy."

"Uncle Johnny," Georgia said.

"Uncle Andrew."

"Aunt Rosa."

"Katherine."

"Matthew," Maria said.

Georgia turned to her. "Why would you separate the almost married couple?"

"It's one game, I'm sure they'll live. Plus, a friendly competition never hurts any almost married couple." Maria scoffed.

The choosing went on until everybody was on a team and ultimately, on our team, we had Georgia, Ava , aunt rosa , uncle Andrew, aunt Kathy, Kat, aunt Daisy, uncle Martin, Sebestian, aunt Christy, uncle Peter and me. Their team had all the others and one player extra.

"Okay, since you have an extra player, they can either choose not to play or someone can be a substitute," Georgia said, facing Maria. Despite being so much shorter than her, she stood there with her arms folded across her chest and her chin held high.

"Is there anybody who doesn't want to play?" Maria asked, facing us all.

Ava's hand stood straight up. "I don't like playing any sports at all. I'd rather get a tan with Nana, honestly," she shrugged.

"But you're good at volleyball," I said, leaning over and looking past Ash. "You just quit your high school team, didn't you?"

"So?"

"So we need you. Someone else can sit out "

"What?" Ava huffed, almost whining. "I don't want to play though."

"I can sit out," Aunt Christy shrugged. "My back is killing me anyway."

"Ava," I stood up, striding over to Ava. "You're playing."

"Oh my God, fine."

"Do we really need twelve people on a team?" Kat mumbled.

"It'll be more fun," Maria shrugged.

"It'll also be more disastrous but who cares," Georgia shrugged. "The problem is, there's no net."

I glanced a few feet further down the beach where a loud holler came from. "Right there," I nodded towards them. It was a group of teenage boys playing volleyball. "We could ask if we can borrow the net and space for a bit."

"Gia, let's go ask," Ava said, very obviously, eager to see the boys.

"Ava," her mother scolded.

"Let the girl live," Ava huffed, "come on, Ree." She grabbed my hand, pulling my along with her.

Georgia looked right at him, lifting both eyebrows. Ash stared at her in confusion, offering her a small shrug. She rolled her eyes and then looked in my direction where I just went in with her sister. I watched them talking in sign languages until Georgia called out Ava, "Wait for me!" She ran over, catching up to us.