Now

Chapter Nine

            Adeline had no clue what the hell she was doing. She didn't even know how to play volleyball much less beat a team of athletically fit people. Everyone on her team rounded themselves in a circle to discuss their strategy.

"Okay. Luke and I will cover the back. You and Ashlyn cover the front." Cason explained. Everyone seemed fine except for Adeline. She didn't want to do this! "Alright team, let's do this!" Cason cheered and everyone ran to their spots. Asher's team was already standing ready in their positions. Asher and Jessica were in the back, while Calum and Cassie stood in the front zones. There was another camp leader that stood to the side of the net and declared that he was the referee of the game.

"You know the rules. No horse play. No cheating. No touching the net. First team to 15 points will win. Got it? Let's play ball!" The ref declared. Adeline's heart was pumping with adrenaline. She never liked the concept of sports because she was never good at it. She didn't want to embarrass herself even more than she already had. Everyone had crouched down into ready positions as Asher threw up the ball and served it over the net. It flew over to Luke and he yelled "mine!" and hit it up towards Ashlyn. Ashlyn then hit it over the net back over to the other team. Adeline let out the breath she was holding. Maybe it wasn't going to be so hard after all. For a couple of rounds the ball was hit back and forth and Adeline seemed to know what she was doing. She started to actually have fun and she could feel herself loosening up a bit and just enjoying the game.

After what seemed like an hour of playing the score was close

Adeline's Team: 13

Asher's Team: 14

         Asher's team decided to take a time out and they all decided to huddle up and make a game plan. Adeline was nervous because she wanted to win. Her competitive side was definitely coming out.

"We have to win." Adeline breathed out. Cason looked over to her with a smile on his face and gave her a high five. "There we go! Finally some passion!" Cason whisper/yelled. Adeline almost rolled her eyes, almost.

"We just need two points. Play it easy. Don't focus on the win. We need to focus on tying the score first." Ashlyn stated. She was right. "Let's just do what we have been doing. If we lose, we lose." Ashlyn shrugged her shoulders and smiled. They all put their hands in a screamed "Win!" and ran back to their spots. Adeline noticed that a crowd had formed and her heart started to beat a little faster. She was not used to the attention. She looked over at Asher and he was still directing his team. Even in the hot Florida sun, he still wore all black. His hair was up in a bun and Adeline could see the sweat pouring from his head onto his dark shirt. Jessica stared at his arms as he talked, not even focused on what he said. His team split up and they were ready to play. Asher looked over to Adeline and they made eye contact. Her face said, "Game on." Asher was more than ready to comply.

            Cason barely served the ball over the net, so the ball hit the front player first. She managed to hit the ball over to Jessica but not high enough for Jessica to get it over the net.

"ONE POINT LEFT SIDE. SCORE IS 14 to 14. BEST TEAM WINS!" The ref screamed with excitement and the people surrounding the net cheered. Adeline knew that she had the chance to spike the ball. She made a game plan in her head to spike it as hard as the could at Cassie because the whole game she had a hard time keeping control of the ball. Her heart started to pound.

           Cason threw the ball up and served it directly to Asher. Asher had no problem and smacked it over to Jessica. Jessica punches it over the net in between Luke and Cason. "I got it!" Luke screamed and Cason moved out of the way.

"Pass it to me!" Adeline announced and Luke complies. He passed the ball over to Adeline and with all her power she spiked the ball over the net right in between Cassie and Calum. Everyone was silent as the ball hit the sandy ground.

           Then the noise of cheering was overwhelming. "We did it! Adeline you did it!" Cason screamed while picking her up and spinning her around. Everyone was yelling with happiness and surrounding their team. Adeline couldn't help but laugh and give the biggest smile she could possibly give. She felt really good.

             Adeline looked over to Asher to see him leaning on the net pole with his arms crossed. He had a smirk on his face and he gave a nod of his head toward her. Then she heard someone scream, "Ow my ankle! I think I broke my ankle!" Asher and Adeline's gaze both panned over to Jessica lying in the sand while holding the bottom of her leg. Everyone stopped cheering to make sure she was okay and left Adeline to stand off by herself. Asher was the first person to Jessica's side. Cason walked back over and scoffed.

"She can't stand when the attention isn't on her." Adeline nodded with agreement. She knew that she wasn't actually hurt.

"Good game champ. I didn't know you could play like that." Cason wrapped his arm around Adeline's shoulders and shook her. Adeline giggled.

"Me neither!" After a couple of minutes she noticed Asher walking towards her.

"Could one of you find your group leader and notify them about her?" Asher questions while nodding his head over to Jessica sitting up in the sand.

"Yeah, one sec." Cason nods and runs over to the water to grab the youth leader. As Asher watches Cason jog away Adeline couldn't help but brag. "How does it feel to lose?" She nags. Asher gives her the side eye and raises his eyebrows.

"You cheated." He explains. Adeline was drawn back in confusion.

"How so?" She questions. She notices his eyes going down her body quickly and back up to meet her eyes.

"I can see through your shirt." He responds. Adeline was shocked from his comment. She was wearing a t-shirt but felt as if she was naked with the way he was looking at her.

"How does that effect the way you play at all?" She raises her head and crosses her arms over her chest to show that she was not nervous. All she heard was a slight laugh.

"I was distracted. That's all." He answers nonchalantly. Adeline could feel her face getting red and she looked away to see Cason coming back with the youth leader, thank god.

               The rest of the time spent at the beach was everyone making sure Jessica was okay. She ended up NOT breaking her ankle.. what a surprise. She just "tripped" in the sand and landed on it the wrong way. Asher carried Jessica all the way back to the condo for no reason other than the fact that Jessica asked him to. Adeline wished at that moment she had her music to play so she didn't have to hear Jessica's constant complaining and laughter at Asher's non funny jokes.

"He seems nice." Kinley comments to Adeline. Adeline couldn't help but snort at her comment.

Since it was an all girls condo, it felt strange having a guy walk in. Asher set Jessica down on the living room couch and made sure she was okay and awkwardly tried to make his way out of the room.

"Thank you so much Asher. You really didn't have to do that." The youth leader gushes.

"Oh it's not problem. Glad I could help. I'll see y'all later." Asher gives a small wave and pushes past everyone, including Adeline who was standing by the door.

"Such a gentleman." Adeline mocks as he walks past her. Asher gives her a slight push as he walks out the door and she can smell a mix of mint and cigarettes.

"Well I did let you win the volleyball game."

But before Adeline could reply, Asher was out the door and down the stairs.