Divergent UNIVERSITY ✅

chapter 25

Tris nervously takes the field for her Olympic tryout. She woke up surprisingly refreshed in spite of sleeping on the balcony with Four.Last night she and Four slept on the hammock on the balcony because the silence of the bedroom was so deafening that she couldn't fall asleep. It took the constant sound of the ocean and the gentle sway of the hammock to finally calm her enough so that she could fall asleep.She takes her position at short stop as the other girls that are there take their positions. There are only about fifteen women from college and professional softball here trying out for the team. The atmosphere is competitive but also astonishingly friendly. There is no trash talking like there would be with men, there is supportiveness but you also know that these ladies are here for a reason, they aren't going to back off to help anyone."Alright ladies, we know why we are here. So let's get started. First I want you to go through and tell us your name and your positions. We are going to be playing together for the next couple days so we should get to know each other. We'll start with the pitcher," says the coach."I'm Keri and I'm a pitcher and outfielder.""I'm Jill and I'm a catcher.""Jennifer, First base and pitcher.""Debbie, I'm a second baseman and outfielder.""Tris, Short Stop, pitcher, and second base.""Joie, I'm third base and pitcher.""Nell, I'm outfield.""Maryanne, outfield.""Annie, outfield.""And you ladies in the dugout, come out and give your names and positions," the coach instructs."Julie, short stop.""Heather, first base.""Dawna, second base.""Becky, outfield.""Melanie, third base.""Beth, outfield.""Okay, so here is what is going to happen. You will practice today. Five of you will be cut by the end of the day. Tomorrow we will bring in the returning veterans and you will practice with them. Five more will be cut at that time. Those that make it through will be on the Olympic team. We take twenty players to the Olympic Games. We have one year before the games, any of you that are college students, will have to either take online classes or you will have to take a semester off. We do offer tutors to those who are still students when we are preparing for the Olympics. Are there any questions?"No one says a word. "Alright, well let's get started."They spend the next five hours playing softball. Tris has to show her skill at short stop, pitcher and second base. She proves herself enough to make the cut to return the next day.When she goes out of the stadium, she sees Four sitting on the hood of the car waiting for her. As she walks up to him she can't help but notice the girls walking out in front of her staring at him."Hey, who are you waiting here for, sweetheart?" one of them asks him when they get close enough."I'd be happy to keep you company for a while if you want," says the other and they both giggle.Tris snickers to herself. "I believe he's waiting for me," she says from behind them.They turn and look at her, "You're the short stop.""That would be me," Tris says."He's really waiting for you?""Yes, I am," Four says as he slides off of the car.Tris walks up to him and the girls follow, "This is my boyfriend, Four.""Nice to meet you," Four says."Hi, sorry. I'm Keri and this is Jill.""Trying out for the team?" Four asks."Yeah, we apparently made today's cut along with your short stop here.""I'm Tris," she says."Well, we better get going," Four says. "There is a house full of people who are dying to know how you did today."He goes up to her and takes her bat bag and loads it in the car for her. Then he goes and opens her door for her."Seems like you've found yourself quite the gentleman," Jill says."Yeah, he's pretty great," Tris says as she gets into the car. "See you tomorrow."Four gets into the car. He leans over toward Tris and kisses her. "Well, how did it go?""Well there were fifteen of us total. They cut five after practice today. The rest of us come back tomorrow for practice with the veterans from the last Olympic Games.""And how do you think you did?" he asks as he pulls away."I think I did okay. Nothing spectacular," Tris says. "So how was your day? What did you guys do today?""Actually I had something interesting happen today. I got a call from the athletic director at school. It seems that a couple double-A teams are interested in me playing ball for them. They are going to be sending Major League scouts out to look at me to possibly play professional baseball.""That's amazing! I'm so excited for you. But what about the NFL draft?""After everything with my father, I don't think that is going to be a possibility anymore. I have a feeling that the supposed interest in someone drafting me was made up by Marcus. Besides honestly, I don't know if that's what I want anymore. You are going to be here with the Olympic team. If I make it onto one of the minor league teams here in Florida, I'll be able to be here too. If I go into the draft, then who knows where I'll end up.""But you can't base what you do on me, Tobias. I appreciate it, but I don't want you to pass up an opportunity to be with me. We'll figure it out. The Olympics aren't going to be forever. And what if I can go pro for softball? I may not be here in Florida.""I know," he says. "But the prospects are looking good for me to play professional baseball."~oOo~The next day of practice is more difficult and the competition is more stringent. They practice for hours and at the end of the day the coach calls them all out onto the field to talk to them."You ladies are definitely some of the best softball players I've ever seen. Unfortunately I can't take all of you. Five of you will be staying and five will be heading home. Please don't think that this is your last shot, especially if you are a college student. Most of our girls are professional softball players. Although you are all standout college players, you have plenty of time to try out again. Now, here are the people that will be staying to take a place on the team. Keri, Jennifer, Nell, Becky, and Joie, please return to the field. Congratulations. Jill, Tris, Debbie, Annie, and Maryanne, it was a pleasure coaching you for the past couple days. You are all fantastic players. The problem was not your ability, it was the fact that I currently have your positions filled by veterans. I will keep in touch though. I expect to see you back here for the next tryout in two years."Tris walks out of the stadium defeated and sullen. She refuses to cry though. As Brian would tell her, it was an experience and all experiences are good. When she walks out of the stadium Brian is standing there. He doesn't say a word, he only goes over to her and hugs her."How did you know?" is all she is able to say."I've been lurking for the past two days. It is still my job to watch you, remember."At that she breaks down, crying into his chest. "I'm so sorry Brian. You have given up so much time to train me and I blew it.""No Tris, you were fantastic. It wasn't you that was the problem. The problem was that the veterans that play short and second have each been to two Olympic games and have won both. You didn't have a chance this year. Next time, you will have more experience."Tobias arrives and sees her talking to Brian. He can see that she's upset. Immediately thinks someone has hurt her. He gets out of the car and runs over to them, fear etched on his face."What happened?"Tris turns to him with a sad expression, "I didn't make the team."He doesn't say a word; he just pulls her into a hug."They weren't looking for people to fill the positions that she plays. They have a starter and backup already for each of her positions," Brian explains.Four doesn't say a word. He just holds her until she calms down.A man walks out of the stadium and sees the scene."Tris, I wanted to speak with you for a moment," the man says.Tris turns to see one of the assistant coaches for the Olympic team. She quickly wipes her face and tries to put on a smile."Yes sir?""Tris you are a fantastic ball player. You have what it takes for the Olympic team, but you are very young. Not that it's a bad thing to be young, but most of the ladies are in their late twenties and early thirties," he says. "Anyway I coach the Akron Racers, the professional softball team out of Akron, Ohio. I would love for you to come and tryout for my team at the competition of your senior year of college ball.""Really?" Tris asked shocked"Yes, I really liked what I saw out there. We are going to need some help at pitcher and possibly short stop and I think you would be a good fit. It will also get you some more experience and help you for the next Olympic tryout.""I'd love to come and tryout.""Great, I'll be in touch." He shakes her hand and walks away.She throws herself into Four's arms. "I'm going to play professional softball for Akron!"He smiles and wraps his arms around her, "I'm so proud of you!"She turns to Brian, "Thank you for everything."Brian pulls her into a hug.Four and Tris get into the car to go back to the beach house."So what did you do today?""Well, I contacted the football coaches to talk to them about the NFL draft. They weren't sure if that was going to be a possibility anymore. They said I could always be a free agent, but at this point there are no guarantees. They haven't heard anything definitive from any NFL team so I wouldn't be going in the first rounds of the draft. Someone might take me later in the draft, but there is also a possibility that nothing will happen.""Oh, I know how badly you wanted to go pro in football.""Actually Tris. I love football, but I've always loved baseball more. I can still play double-A baseball and get a job as a physical therapist or sports training. Playing double-A or triple-A ball there is always the distinct possibility of getting called up to the majors.""Does that mean you are giving up on football all together?""No, not necessarily. If I get drafted, I'll go and see what it's all about. I'm just not banking on it. I'm going to be happy with either scenario."Four decided that if the minor league was going to be a guarantee, he was going to do that. He could be happy playing minor league baseball with the possibility of someday being called up. There are less guarantees with football. He could look into the arena league, but there are still far less football teams than baseball teams. He doesn't tell Tris about this decision though.They talked about all of the possibilities on the way back to the beach house. Tris would be returning to school for the spring semester where the softball team would defend their national championship. Four would also be going back to school to finish his degree, play baseball, and graduate with his physical therapy assistant degree and his license to practice.~oOo~Their last days in Miami went quickly. Four didn't tell anyone but Tris about the call from the athletic director and the possibility of professional baseball.Although Tris is sad that she didn't make the team. She managed to make the last couple days of being in Miami fun with her friends.