Mine & Only Mine

Chapter 14

The volleyball match had reached its climax. Only one game remained—and it wasn't just a match, it was the match: Rose and Couglan against Giselle and Audrey.

Throughout the preliminaries, matches were quick, best of five, no deuces—meaning one slip and it was over. But this finale held more weight; momentum, pride, and personal stakes were all tangled in the net.

The crowd packed the second gymnasium, buzzing with excitement. Students whispered, placed quiet bets under the benches, and chattered about their favorite teams.

Esquire leaned into Travis and Shawn. "It's happening. Miss Strong, I mean Miss Rose is playing. And not just playing—she's up against Audrey and Giselle in the final match."

Shawn eyed the court. "I always thought Rose would be a martial artist or something, but volleyball? She's seriously got game."

Travis snorted. "She did flip Hawk once. That has to count as a qualification for any sport."

Travis turned pale. Hawk had just walked in, his expression unreadable but his vibe unmistakably stormy.

The three fell silent as Hawk's intense gaze scanned the court... and landed squarely on Rose.

The match began.

Rose served first—her jump floater barely skimmed the net, sharp and precise. Audrey reacted swiftly, receiving it cleanly. But Couglan was ready for the counter, leaping into a powerful spike that made the crowd erupt.

Giselle responded with a strong return, but Rose was everywhere—diving, setting, calculating every angle. Her finesse turned Couglan's rushed receives into perfect plays.

"Rose is on fire!" someone yelled from the bleachers.

"Go Rose and Couglan!"

"RoLan supremacy!"

"No—CougSe is better!"

"Can we stop combining names like we're shipping anime characters?!"

Hawk watched as Rose smiled mid-play, cheeks slightly flushed from the rush. And even though he knew it was just the heat of the game... something twisted inside him when Couglan returned her smile.

"Did you see that?" Esquire whispered.
"She smiled! That's rare!"

Travis nodded. "She's not just skilled—she's charismatic out there."

Shawn added quietly, "Looks like Couglan's become her anchor in the game."

Hawk's jaw clenched, not liking the comment of his friend/sworn brother.

Back to the court, Audrey launched a power serve that Couglan barely managed to receive, stumbling back. Rose rushed in to save it with a clean set, and Couglan returned it clumsily with a mistimed tap that handed the point to the opposing team.

A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. The energy shifted.

Student whispers fired off like wildfire.
"Is Couglan losing momentum?"

"Rose has been carrying this team!"

"But they've come so far... can they pull through?"

Hawk, watching silently from the bleachers, leaned forward. His eyes were locked on Rose, but his scowl was reserved entirely for Couglan.

Travis leaned sideways and muttered, "Bro, Couglan couldn't set a table, much less a ball."

Esquire chuckled under his breath. "Couglan's the kind of player who spikes by accident and calls it a strategy."