Let's Play A Game

Chapter 17

I wake up on a firm, muscular body underneath me. The vents of the night hit me. And I felt like I was being suffocated again. I can't even begin to comprehend what was running through we kind the whole time this has been going on. She was the one I cried to for months when we broke up. And now, she's the one sleeping with him. She's 32 years old and he's 19 years old! He's practically a child to her.

I turn my head to look at the clock on the nightstand. It's 2:38 am. I had slightly over three hours to be awake for school. I needed all the rest I could get. Today is Friday; it's the day of the semi-final game. I can't think of last night any longer. I have to stay focused.

I close my eyes and listen to the steady beating of Canyon's heart. It's soothing to my ears like the music of a mobile in a baby's crib. My body is relaxed and my mind is at ease again.

My eyes shot open in fear of being late for school. I still had ten minutes before I needed to be getting dressed. I crawled out of Canyon's grip gently. I didn't want to wake him just yet. Last night, he was the one to comfort me. He stopped my crying and helped my breathing slow to a normal rate again. I didn't think I'd get so close to him in this little of time. He's not as bad as I thought he was. I suddenly felt bad for the games I'm playing on him. Even if I wanted to quit, I can't.

I slid out of the bed quietly and tiptoed down the hall to the bathroom to take my shower.

The hot water feels unbelievably amazing on my body. It felt almost as good as a back massage. I didn't waste time in finishing up. I dried my body and hair. I walked backed to the bedroom to change in to the clothes I brought with me last night. I pulled my dark skinny jeans up my thighs. I slide my hands in to the long sleeves of my black and tan button up sweater. I strap my feet in to the tan ankle heels.

I turn around to Canyon standing by his bed with just a towel around his waist. Water droplets ran down his perfectly sculpted abs.

"How are you already showered? I didn't even hear you move." I sit on the edge of his bed.

"You seemed too in to your thoughts. I tried to be as quiet as possible." I nod my head just before he disappears in his closet. He comes back out in a black and red Flight shirt, dark jeans, and white Jordan's. He has a gold chain around his neck.

I move from my seat on the bed to the bathroom. I start to straighten my hair as Canyon walks in. He spikes his hair up with gel and sprays it with hairspray. I was getting frustrated from the curls not coming out of my hair.

Canyon took the straightener from my hands. He took a some of my hair and put it between the hot irons bod course it would straighten for him. He did the rest of my hair in no time.

We brush our teeth, eat a quick breakfast, and we're on our way to school. The first few weeks we walked in school together, people would stare until we were out of the halls. Now, we get a few stares here and there.

We go our separate ways to class. We didn't talk much all day. Lunch is when things started to pick up.

"Kylie, Carly, I need to talk to you." I nod my head to the bathroom. We all rise from our seats. Canyon grabs my hand as I'm walking away. He raises his eyebrows as if asking a question silently. I nod my head yes, knowing what he was asking.

When I catch up to the girls, we walk in to the bathroom together. "Whats up?" Carly asks.

I take a deep breath and exhale. "Leah is sleeping with HIM. I caught them last night."

"HIM? Who's that?" Carly has a confused look on her face.

Kylie catches on. "Cartwright. It's Cartwright. Oh, Tyra. I'm so sorry." She pulls me in to a hug. Carly joins in. Tears threatened to spill out of my eyes. I pull away from the embrace and dab at my eyes.

"It's fine. Today isn't the day to think about this. We have a big game. My mind needs to stay there. I just needed you to know what happened." I give them a reassuring smile as we walk back to the cafeteria.

"Are you okay?" Canyon asks sympathetically when I sit down.

I smile. "Yes." He lightly squeezes my leg under the table to give me a sense of security.

The whole team sat in a circle in the locker room before the game. We held hands. Coach suggests I say our prayer.

"Lord, please give us the strength and ability to show St. Augustine that we're a strong, hardworking, loving volleyball family. In Jesus name we pray," we all say the very last word of praise together. "Amen."

"Go out there and kick some ass ladies!" Coach shouts in excitement. We put our hands in, count to three, and say, "Cougars!"

We run out on the court jumping around, smiling, and preparing to win this game. There's no way we could lose tonight. St Augustine was a good team, but we're a great family. They have nothing on us.

It's down to the last 30 seconds of the game; We're up by 12 points. There was no way they were catching up to us. We had this one in the bag.

Carly sets the ball. It goes all the way over to the opposing side. The ball goes bak in forth for a few minutes. Madison sets the ball up for a spike. It comes right to me. I jump and hit it as hard as I can. I hear the buzzer just before the ball hit the ground. We scored again.

I turn around to look at my girls. We all smile and scream, "We're going to states!" The crowd goes wild with clapping, screaming, and cheering. I couldn't believe we're going to states. Kylie runs down from the bleachers to give me a big hug.

After the game, I grab my bag from the locker room. I meet Canyon in the hall outside of the court. He turns around and smiles. I run as fast as I can to him. I leap in to his arms. He spends me around as we laugh. I jump out of his arms. My feet are on the ground as Canyon's hands are on my hips. His lips quickly find their way on mine. His lips are soft and warm on mine like hot chocolate sliding down your throat on a cold winter day.

We pull away breathless. He runs two of his fingers through my silky hair that I took out of a hair tie just before leaving the locker room. We walk out of the gym house with his hand around my shoulder. He keeps making jokes about my stance during the whole game.

Leah is standing outside smiling. She tries to talk to me like nothing is wrong. Like it never happened. Like I didn't catch her in the act of having sex with my ex boyfriend. I hang my head, the pain written on my face.

Canyon pulls me closer. "Don't let it get to you. You just won your semi-final game. You're going to states. Tonight is your night. That's why I have a huge party planned for you and the whole time after you get cleaned up. Tonight is all about you." He kisses my forehead as we walk to the car.

Author's Note
It's an early morning update. So, they're going to states! Tyra still isn't ready to forgive her aunt. I mean, come on. It's only been a day. It's going to take time if she decides to forgive her. What about the sweet gesture of Canyon kissing her forehead? Isn't it adorable? Also, I finally made the Instagram and Twitter account for the book. Feel free to follow them. Comment, vote, and fan! Much love! ❤️

Twitter and Instagram: @COiler7