New Beginnings

Chapter 7: Sepa La Sopa

AUTHORS NOTE: The chapter is a spanish phrase, don't be confused.

Ava's POV

After school, Abigail Mia and I headed towards the locker rooms to get ready for Volleyball Tryouts. I hadn't played since I broke my ankle my sophomore year, so I was pretty excited, but terrified. The doctor said if I got another injury to it, i'd be done for. I'd need another surgery, and I doubt my mother could afford a surgery. Ironic, since she works as a nurse, and is fucking a doctor.

Abigail gave me her Nike knee pads and lent me a sports bra, Mia tossed me her navy blue spandex and her white Pacific Vista T-shirt. I put everything on as quickly as  I could, while slipping into the volleyball shoes. We made our way out, joining the girls running. Once we were done, the coaches told us to stretch quietly while they spoke.

"I'm Coach Morgan, but you can call me Coach Mo. I'll be your varsity coach, and don't expect you seniors to immediately be on the team. We want to win the championship this year, which means no holding back. Practices will only be harder each day. So if you aren't up for a challenge, leave." She was so intense, that it made a couple of girls get up and leave. I didn't blame them though, she was crazy.

"I want everyone to get in groups of three and begin passing between each other, if I see a ball drop, you're out. Am I clear?" A bunch of people murmered yes's, so we began the drill. Some of the girls dropped their ball, or lost control of the volley, which caused them to exit. I was so concentrated, that I didn't realized Coach Mo was adding balls for me. I passed and set each one perfectly. She seemed surprised to say the least.

"Hold your balls! You," She said pointing at me, "What's your name?" 

"A-Ava." I said with my stupid stutter.

"Well Ava, consider yourself on the team. Don't disappoint me." She said sternly.

"I won't." I said nodding.

"Okay girls, start serve receive!"

After another hour of intense practice, we were all worn out. Once we were walking to the locker rooms, someone grabbed my wrist holding me back. 

"Ava. Wait!" I looked back, and saw Chase sweaty in his football gear.

"...what?..." I said trying not to look at his abs.

"Can we start over? I feel bad for acting like a dick." Chase murmured.

"Did I just hear that right?! The Chase, 'School's bad boy,' wanting a do-over?!"I said grinning widely.

"Ava, don't make me take it back." he said trying to hold back a genuine smile.

"I'm just having a hard time believing you actually want to try and be friends?!" I said shocked.

"Well believe it, I don't befriend many people." Chase said looking down.

I felt bad for giving him a hard time. It was obvious he had issues, and I think he needed some of Ava in his life. (Yes I just said that.) So I decided to give him one more shot, and he better not disappoint me. I've had enough of that to last a lifetime.

"Hi, I'm Ava. A huge ray of sunshine. Nice to meet you." I said grinning while shaking my hand out.

"I'm Chase nice to meet you. Oh and Ava, your ass looks great in those spandex."Chase said smirking.

And he was back to being the disgusting Chase everyone knew and loved. "You're a pig." I said trying to hold back my smile. "I gotta get dressed, see you later."

"Yeah See you." Chase said while jogging back towards the double doors leading to the football field. I glanced at the clock in the hall,and saw it was 5:10. Peter was probably outside now. I didn't have time to change so I sprinted towards the main entrance.

Peter was standing outside his car on his phone, while tapping his foot on the pavement. I kept running towards him, and he eventually saw me and had a huge smile on his face.

"I was beginning to think you were gonna stand me up." Peter said looking at me.

"Yeah-I got-caught up with- Chase outside- lockers." I said in between pants, "I -ran here- as fast as I -could. Do you have any water by chance?" I said out of breath.

"Yeah, here." He said handing me his water bottle. "Chase huh?"

"Yeah he was just asking for  a fresh start since we had a bit of..." I said trying to find the words, "trouble this summer."

Peter looked confused but didn't push it any further. He motioned me to get in his car, and soon we drove off towards who knows where. "So since you still have your volleyball clothes on, how about we get some In N Out?" Peter said glancing at me.

"That sounds delicious actually. I could eat a whole cow right now." I said laughing.

"You're something else Ava, you know that right?"Peter said with a crooked smile.

---

The date was really nice, and I learned that Peter can not have straws, because he will throw the paper at you. I never laughed so hard in my life. Student body presidents can have fun I guess. The only thing that seemed weird was that he tried to keep bringing up Chase and I, but I kept changing the subject. I didn't want to think about Chase with a different guy.

Peter dropped me off at home, and he turned off the engine and said, "Ava, this was fun. You're a really cool girl."

I flipped my hair dramatically, "I'm aware."

"Who knew you could fit that many fries in your mouth." Peter said laughing.

"What can I say, I have many talents." I said shrugging. Then we both began to laugh at our foolish conversation.  In that moment I realized Peter was a great guy, and he felt safe. 

'We should do this again,er,unless you don't want to? I don't wanna force or anyth-" 

I cut him off by saying, "I'd love to Peter. See you at school tomorrow?"

"You know it"He said with a wink.

I climbed out of the car, and shut the car door. Once waving goodbye to Peter, he took off. I was left staring off into the street where he took off from. It was already my first day, and I had amazing friends, a possible new love interest, and was on the Volleyball team. Life was finally making sense.

"So Peter huh?" Chase said alarming me.

"Chase! Hasn't anyone ever told you sneaking up on someone is rude?!" I said holding my chest.

Chase completely ignored my question, and said, "Are you two a thing or something?"

"What? No. Not yet, I don't think so?" I said confused on why he'd be asking.

"You two seemed cozy, be careful with him. He can be a dick." Chase said staring into my eyes.

"Chase we became friends 2 hours ago, I don't think you've reached the fatherly friend stage." I said rolling my eyes. God, can he ever say something nice to anyone? "You should worry about Trish considering she's your 'girlfriend' and I'm your friend.." 

"Things can change sometimes, Ava." Chase said while turning his back to me walking away into his house.

What the hell did that even mean? 'Things can change.' What things? Was he thinking about breaking up with Trish? He did leave her alone today during lunch, and she seemed very pissed off when he did so. Honestly, at this point who even knew what would be going on with Chase. He was a mystery, and I think he thought I forgot what happened at the alley a couple months ago. Boy was he wrong.