Four: Journey Of The True Heroes

Chapter 1.2: Aluka

Sweat everywhere, knees almost unable to support the rest of me but all of this wasn't stopping us. Tights on as tight as can be and kneepads on even tighter so I could get up after I dived. Our volleyball team, Fort Hill wasn't well known for and that goes doubly for the girls team. This was a matter of championship or second place and runner up to the crown bearers. Third and final set, with a deuce with us at thirty-five and Canyon High's female team at thirty-six. The rest of my girls were sweating just as hard if not harder than me and I don't know how much longer any of us could keep fighting. Our last timeout was called to break the flow and we all sat down and stood up respectively and drunk the last of our water from our capped sources. Everyone was looking glum, like we were gonna lose and be losers again but I wasn't letting everyone stay this way.

"Girls! All of you listen up right now goddamnit. If any of you have a single shred of doubt get it out of your mind right now because we can win this. Our reputation doesn't define us and it sure as hell isn't gonna start doing that today. We may not be able to swing as hard, jump as high or be as tall as the boys but we can damn sure play just as hard if not harder then them. Now let's get back out there and show this crowd that nothing is keeping us down!" I hadn't realized how loud I'd been as the whole row above us was staring and looking up I felt a deep shiver caress my spine and tickle it firmly. I smacked my cheeks with my hands and realigned myself with the current objective and that was to win this damn game. Everyone lined up on the court. My position was setter and thankfully I was in the front left and away from the back. The back is where I hated being because I couldn't play defense for my life and I'm glad I got subbed out when I was in the back. What worsened this was the fact that even if I did manage to get us a point and avoid the back, the deuce would go up another two points to extend this game. Destiny from Canyon's team served, opting to do a standing serve that whisked itself over the net and curved to meet Ruika, our ace and while her back line position wasn't favorable, she did a damn good job of receiving. Up the ball came over my head but to high to just set on the ground so I took off a bounced like as rabbit into the air, my peach colored hair in check and my green eyes focused on the ball. I waited and bided my time for the right moment and held my setting position as long as I could. As three girls, one in the back and two in the front swung I took my left hand and dumped the ball onto the other court. I had only gotten that off cause all the blockers were scattered focused on the spikers and I hadn't done this the whole game regrettably but I'm glad I saved it now. Tied game at thirty five a piece and it was our ball.

"Two points, two more lousy fucking points and we can go home and I can lay on my nice comfy memory foam-"
The word drooled out at the fatigue I felt but I had to push through. For my team, for the championship, for myself and for someone special I really had a crush on. Lily, our very pale skinned server was up and she closed her eyes and when she opened them I felt a new intense wind about her. She tossed the ball up a moderate distance and gave it a solid thud against the back of its rubbery surface. The ball wobbled, floating casually then twisted itself to the right where a very aware outside hitter had just was barely able to save it and lift it with her forearm. Next was the set and that was the tricky part because Canyon High's setter was always doing a different set in no specific order. The ball landed in their setters hands who had spiky green hair and set like a perfectionist. The ball launched up high and to the right where the same outside hitter who saved the ball wanted to redeem herself. She ran back and ran all the way back up in an instant and I set up a block with Rissette, our best outside hitter's help. I felt the power of the ball as it crashed against my hand and ricocheted off and slammed onto the floor right beside the opposing hitter. We weren't even excited that we did that cause our fatigue was worsening and I knew if we didn't end this now that we'd lose and just be second place. Lily had once again tossed the ball up but higher and she ran up and cocked her arms back as her right hand swung forward with a mighty smack to speed the ball up like a bullet and sent it over with such force that Canyon High's libero was sent tumbling back after receiving it but the ball came right back over to us and I was anxious so I leapt up into the air and pushed the ball straight to Rissette with her hand already in the air to finish this off as quickly as possible. The loud banging sound that the ball made literally made my ears ring softly and I fell to my knees with sweat pouring down with tears of joy mixed in. Rissette helped picked me up and Lily handed me my water and towel which I graciously accepted and sat down as the crowd began to roar with cheers. They're was clapping, screaming and whistling at the same time and that only aided more tears to come out my eyes. I smacked my cheeks with each of my hands and wiped my tears to stand up proudly at the accomplishment my team and I had well...accomplished. I gestured my team to line up and they did so at once. I was on the left end of the line on the back part of the court while the other team lined up in front of us with their backs facing the net that was probably in more pain then we were due to the sheer amount of times we hit the ball into it. The players passed by to shake all our hands with the captain of Canyon High's team shaking our hands last and they left without a word as the loud cheers went on and everything we had worked for had come to pay off. I remember the day I had first came in  to the gym after school wanting to join the volleyball team and all the girls were standing around Leon fawning over him and all his attractive qualities that kept the girls close to him. All the girls wanted to play volleyball cause he played it and they wanted him to notice them and train them during practice and I wasn't any different. Leon was so unique and sweet and amazing, from the way his hair was pointed straight up in the front and the rest was just brushed so nicely. His pink hair was so cute cause he wasn't afraid to show it off or flaunt it for being difference and that is only some of the many reasons the girls drooled over him and why I felt like I didn't stand a chance. The other girls had better pairs of boobs and butts and my pair was barely anything if not just flat. Other girls on the team could sing, paint, played video games, and were just talented at everything I wasn't. I just had volleyball and  good grades but beyond that I was just plain with nothing special in-between. To further the ideal that I had a rat's ass of a chance to be with Leon is the fact that no guy ever looked at me in any other way other than a friend and that wasn't any different with Leon. He got super close and helped the other girls out when he came out to help us when he didn't have practice but with me he was simple and friendly while avoiding flirting. The one he was specially attracted to was Rissette and I more than understood why. She had a curvy, tight body that was toned and had a round ass and large boobs to make her sexier while her hair was a mixture of dark violet purple and streaks of raven black that extended down to the middle of her back. Leon was always hugging her, flirting with her, had his arm around her or held her hand. I was surprised they weren't dating already and honestly no matter how hard I tried to get closer to Leon it never worked only because Rissette was his interest. I wanted to go to a movie with him but Rissette was taking him out to a family dinner. I wanted to study with him but Rissette had failed her math test and needed help with family issues. She was still my best friend and always would be but I was always jealous at the close relationship she shared with him and so were the other girls but instead of getting sad like I did when she mentioned something she did with him, the other girls were intrigued and hounded her with questions to get all the details directly from her. Despite all this I remembered we had something to celebrate so I smiled and raised my hand and waved to the crowd when I heard an assortment of chatter from the halls next to the gym and Leon came running out with the rest of the boys, still in their volleyball gear and cheered with the crowd. One by one the girls were caressed by one of the boys when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Auron holding his arms out as if to ask for a hug and I accepted and went into his arms and he closed his arms around me. There was a mix of cheers from the crowd and Leon's team and everyone was smiling and happy and jumping and celebrating from everywhere except me. Leon softly punched Auron in the shoulder and told him "Hurry up ya moron, don't we still have the plan to execute tonight? So get move on you slow dipstick and pop the question then go home and get changed regardless of the answer." 

Auron turned to face me and smiled then stared into my eyes deeply while still hugging me and then moved one hand to hold one of mine. He took a deep breath and then asked "Hey Aluka ummm me and the guys are taking the girls we like from your team out on one big dinner date and I really like you so I was wondering ya know if you would maybe go with me?" I froze with my mouth open and was like the for what felt like an eternity. Someone like Auron was asking me out! The entire boys team was good looking, specially Leon but never once had I ever imagined that I would actually be able to go on a date with anyone, specially with the way I acted and looked combined with the fact that I had zero talent in a single activity except volleyball. 

"Yes!" I merrily chanted as I hugged him and wrapped my arms around his waist. Maybe life was getting better and was waiting for something like this to reward me and start my lifetime improvement or maybe I was never in the right place at the right time. All I knew is that I had another thing to look forward to and tell my mom about. As the cheering settled down, everyone was clearing out and leaving as the night began the right way for once in my life. I waved goodbye to Auron, his number now in my hand and darted off home to change for our upcoming dinner.