Be My Mascot

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Bailey's POV

I neared closer to the wide and open field. Volleyball practice was being held outside today due to the nice and cool fall weather. Amy had set up a volleyball net in the grassy area next to the football stadium. It was the same field where the try-outs where held. Despite having the practice outside, I walked to the fitness training building to change. That's where the usual volleyball court is and our locker room.

I walked through the open doors and said a friendly hello to the secretary at the front desk. I opened the door that led to our special locker room.

No one seemed to be here yet. My bag plopped down on the bench. I reached out to the lock, twisting the pad in the right order of my combination. It clicked open and I moved back to my bag that sat next to me. The zipper was pulled to the other side and I rummaged inside to take out the uniform. The shorts were a deep shade of blue and they tightly hugged my bottom and thighs. The shirt was almost like a tank, with thin straps on the shoulders.

The number twelve was plastered on the midsection of my uniform. It was the number I had picked out when I was recruited to the team. My knee pads were slid on next and then my sneakers. The laces were tied and I stood up. My body bent over to collect all of my hair in one hand. My high ponytail bounced a few times before settling.

Once I finished, the girls on the team slowly started to arrive and began to change. Aubrey came over to my stance on the bench and smiled.

"Hey, Bailey," she warmly greeted. Her hands worked on the combination to the locker next to mine. It was opened and she started to change.

"Hey," I smiled.

I looked down to my outfit and made sure everything was on before telling Aubrey that I'd meet her outside. I picked up my water bottle and left. A rack of volleyballs were waiting at the exit of the locker room. I took a gray and white striped one into my hands and bounced it on the tile a few times to ensure it had enough air. Satisfied, I carried it under my arm to the field.

Football practice was also going on. I could hear the whistles to the drills they were doing. I couldn't help but imagine Niall dropping to the floor and doing press-ups, then jumping back up and sprinting down the field. I pictured him repeating the action over and over with his teammates. The thought made my heart flutter.

I hadn't noticed Aubrey and the rest of the team walk out behind me. We all moved towards the volleyball net that was previously set up. Amy walked over to us and began to inform us about what we are going to do today.

The constant whistles of encouragement from the football coach distracted me. Even in the stadium, you could hear his shouts to keep going. I wondered if Niall had a nice build. The shirts I've seen him wear have covered his forearm muscles.

The team got into partners for an exercise. Of course, Aubrey and I work together and move to an open volleyball net. More had been set up so each team could have their own. Amy instructed us that we need to keep the ball going back and forth over the net as many times as we can. The object was to not have it touch the ground. Easy enough, I thought.

I took the volleyball into my hands and served it to Aubrey. She bumped it back to me. I had to move from my original stance to hit it over the net again. On one serve, the ground proved to be an obstacle and Aubrey tripped over a rock. She stumbled down, breaking into laughter.

"Are you okay?" I giggled.

Between laughs, she replied, "Bloody amazing."

I loved that about her. Some girls would be red in the cheeks and completely embarrassed if that happened to them. Aubrey, on the other hand, laughs it off.