The Candace Clique

Chapter Four

Bridget paced the court nervously, sweat dripping down her back and forehead but she didn’t bother to swat it away. She focused on the dribbling volleyball the other team’s server was doing, her heart beating at the exact pace of the volleyball’s. From her peripheral vision, she could see the Bentley’s Lions’ Cheerleading team bouncing on their heels like they were weightless human beings. Everyone’s gaze was directed at the server as she took her time dribbling the yellow Mikasa volleyball. Bridge could feel the thick tension in the air, with only just one point to win the Lions’ Volleyball Championship.

The server from the Eagles team threw the ball up, making Bridget catch her breath. Inhale, exhale. The ball made its descent, inhale, exhale. She watched, transferring her weight from left foot to right foot, as the Eagles’ server’s fist clashed against the ball, sending the ball over the net.

Abigail dove for the ball, instantly letting it fly inside the Lions’ court, “Isa!” Isabelle caught the ball, letting it bounce on her forearm, returning the ball to the other team’s side of the court.

The blonde haired girl from the Eagles tossed the ball as another one came up running to steady herself for an outstanding spike. Bridget caught the ball, scraping her knee in the process as the ball almost hit the ground, letting out a shriek. We won’t lose this game. The ball instantly flew out of her arm, bouncing once on Sandra’s arm only to be tossed farther across from the Lions’ court, “Shit!” Evelyn shot her hands out, setting the ball with no success on transferring it to the other team’s court. Bridget ran across the court, jumping up as high as she can to catch the ball. As the ball hit her arm, she scooped it up from the air, bending backward to let the ball fly across the court and back on track. Inhale, exhale.

A sweat trickled down behind Bridget’s neck as she ran back across the court just as Abigail made a move to set the ball, sending the ball in mid air. Inhale, exhale. Bridget caught her breath, jumping into the air just as her fist collided with the volleyball, sending it rocketing down the other team’s court.

Bridget landed on her feet with a thud, just in time to see the ball crash on the ground just inches away from the other team’s reach. The crowd went wild, pumping their fists into the air and yelling out the built up tension and transforming them into cheers.

She caught the phrases “Lions are the best!”, “I bet cha they’ll win!”, “Yes! Lions!” Bridget let go of the breath she didn’t know she was holding in, bending forward and leaning her hands on her knees. She watched as her teammates swarmed her, immediately soaking themselves in a group hug, “Who are we?”

“Lions!” all of them said in chorus, erupting into hysterical fits of laughter. Bridget watched the speakers boom with the sound of the announcer announcing the Lions’ win and their first ever champion in the championship games, but she couldn’t hear the voice of the announcer anymore as her heart started beating rapidly and she could hear it in her ears.

Bridget elbowed her way out of the crowd, scanning the bleachers for her group of friends. She immediately spotted Julia due to the newly blue dyed hair her friend was possessing, waving over her and pulling Candace down with her down the stair. Her two friends pulling her into a hug, “Oh, God, Bridge! You were so good out there.”

She shrugged, waving her hands over her body and laughed, “What do you expect from all those volleyball practices?”

“Well,” Candace smirked, folding her arms over her chest, “I expected you to just flirt with every hot guy in the varsity team.”

Bridge snorted, “I wouldn’t be able to date them if they consider me as one of the boys,” she exaggerated her sentence by waving her hands towards the football team who was unmistakably flirting with the entire cheerleading squad, “well, if I was Paige,” she eyed the curly headed brunette with her arm on Patrick’s arm, “maybe I’ll get a chance.”