The Omission Behind Ones Devotion

Chapter 6

Hayden's POV:

I make my way to the locker room and an instant feeling of nervousness shoots throughout my body. I don't know why I was so nervous, I know it's not because of my skill because even though I don't like to brag or talk about my successes, I'm pretty damn good.

Anyways, it wasn't the fear of messing up or not being good enough, it was the fear of who was picking the team that is making me nervous. it's one thing to be chosen by a coach because they rely all on skill, and willingness to learn, teenage girls are a different story. They pick players based on their personality, or physical appearance more than their actual skill.

Walking into the locker room there are only two girls in there, Chloe and Avery.

That's weird, where is the rest of the "team"?

"Hey guys?" I say questions spinning throughout my head.

"Yo, what's up, you ready?" Chloe asks rubbing her hands together.

"Where is everyone?" I ask doing a three sixty to see if anyone else had walked in.

"It's just us, and well Kaitlyn and coach, but they're already inside. Coach likes doing private tryouts so that he can really focus on each individual player to see if they are the right fit for the team." I nod my head, and lift my shirt over my head, beginning to get changed so that I am not late.

"Dang, when did you get a six pack?" They both question.

I slightly laugh, ignore their question and finish up getting ready. I was wearing navy volleyball shorts, as well as a navy long sleeve dry-fit shirt that hugged my body. I put on my ankle brace, knee pads, and my volleyball shoes, and throw my hair into a high pony, I was ready.

Walking out, the silent gym hit me square in the face, the nerves coming back. I start off by running a few laps to get my heart rate up and do some basic stretches, followed by some dynamic stretches.

"What's you're name?" Coach asked with a stern tone.

"Hayden Thompson." I answer back confidently.

"Thompson...Thompson...Coaches kid?"

"Yes Sir."

He scoffs, then turns to Chloe, and Avery to give them directions.

What was wrong with my dad?

"Thompson, go warm up with Chloe. Avery, Kaitlyn, set up the net." His voice was more stern than before, almost cold but hey, nothing new for me. I was always on the top ranked teams so my coaches were extremely strict, borderline crazy.

Chloe grabs a ball, and we begin to pass back and forth warming up our arms. neither of us dared to speak, not wanting to get on the bad side of coach, which it seems I'm already on.

Great.

We hit each other some down balls, and roll shots until someone had blown he whistle.

"Alright Thompson, lets see what you can do."

It was Kaitlyn.

"We are going to start off with serving-" She pushes the ball cart towards me with great force, and I catch it with one hand.

"Call them as you serve them, do all the serves you have twice." She said with a dull tone before turning back to the table.

"Regular Serve." I call out before sending a bullet over the net. At this point I was feeling confident. With the second serve I purposely placed it in back middle, hitting my target perfectly.

"Top Spin," I call out before grabbing a ball and serving an amazing serve again, and again.

"Jump Serve"

"Two handed Jump Float Serve"

"One Handed Jump Float Serve"

It felt as if the nerves had rushed out of my finger tips and to the ball as I completed each serve perfectly.

"Alright, lets move onto hitting." The coach's mood had lightened, now considering me as a real candidate for the team.

Avery and Kaitlyn were defending the court and Chloe was blocking me, and she is a very good one by the way.

Chloe blocked my first ball, instantly with the second I followed her motions watching her form and the placement of her hands, and as if time stopped, I went up to hit and angled my body, hitting the ball cross court.

I switched off from where I was hitting, hitting at every position on the court until coach blew the whistle.

"Need water?"

"No Sir." I reply. I was in great shape so I wasn't out of breath like the other girls. Kaitlyn and I stayed strong.

"That's what I like to hear." A small smiled stretched on his lips and I mimicked his actions.

OH MY GOD, DID I SEE A SMILE, OOOOO I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!

The last drill we did was a passing drill. There was a hoop we had to pass the ball into, I made all ten in with no problem. The coach blows the whistle and tells me and the other girls to pack it up and take down the net, before grabbing Kaitlyn to talk, obviously about me. Immediately, I go to one of the poles and begin to take it down slowly, so I could hear their conversation.

"So what do you think?" Coach asks.

"Its a no from me I mean, she's a Thompson-" Instantly my heart plummeted to the bottom of my stomach.

I told you they wouldn't judge you based on their skill.

"So what, we need to focus on the skill factor, she is a very good player." Coach says raising his tone.

" I don't care, she is a Thompson, and unreliable, there's something off about her. I say no." Kaitlyn's voice was cold, and harsh.

"Well in the end of the day, coach overrides captain, and we cannot miss this opportunity, she is what we need to win the championships."

"But-"

"No buts, go to my room and grab an adult small of the jackets and come back."

So I made the team?

I finish up what I was doing and carry the pole back into the gym closet that was more of a room because of it's height and space, and make my way back to the others standing by coach.

"Congrats Thompson, you landed yourself a spot on the 2017-2018 Varsity Volleyball team." He hands me a dry-fit kind of material zip up jacket that was burgundy, with gold and white lettering. On the front upper right it said Varsity Volleyball and had a number 4 underneath, I let my fingers run along the stitching.

"Hope you like number 4."

"It's actually my club number so it's perfect." A wide smile stretched upon my face. The back had the school logo, with our numbers interweaved into it. The whole thing was hand stitched and it was amazing quality, defiantly expensive.

"You are required to wear the jacket every game day, but you can also wear it any other time. And it is to be worn during warmups at every game." I thank coach again, and we wave our goodbyes, joy completely taken over my body.

I check my phone only to realize the tryout had only taken 45 minutes. Football practice was still going. I sigh and begin to walk over to the field when a light blue convertible pulls up next to me.

"Do you want a ride?" Avery asked with Chloe in the passenger seat.

"Nah it's fine, I'm gonna help out with football practice."

They nod and speed off, and I make my way to the fields.

------------------------------------------------------------

Hey everybody! Happy New Year!!!! I hope everyone has an amazing 2018, and hope you enjoyed chapter 6!!! If you did, don't forget to vote and comment, it would make my day!!

- Taylor