When The Dead Wake

Chapter One

Focus Catherine, focus. This is our biggest rival, one of the most important games of the season. Just focus.

The opposing team is serving. The girl throws the ball up, jumps, then hits it.

It's coming straight toward Ann but she shanks it, causing Jordan and Marrissa to run after it as fast as they can. It's too far though and neither can make it.

Now the score is 24-23. They are catching up but we only need one more point until victory.

The gym is packed full of supporters, belting out cheers and making the intensity level rise. Jordan, our setter, is yelling, but even her voice is tough to make out with all the noise.

"It's alright Ann, shake it off. Let's push to get the next point and finish this game!"

The girl is getting ready to serve again. The crowd quiets down a little but there is still a quiet roar. She slams the ball and it comes rocketing over. Regan digs the ball, Jordan sets it in a perfect arc for me to hit outside. Left, right, left, jump, and swing! The opposing left back dives for it but the ball is just short of her outretched hands.

YES! IT'S A KILL! WE WON!

The crowd erupts into incoherent screams, my teammates surround me and I hug them as hard as I can. The game we have been working so hard for for the past few weeks is over and the outcome is the one we wanted.

"You played one hell of a game girl!", Jordan tells me excitedly.

"Hey, if it wasn't for the awesome sets then I wouldn't have been able to play half of what I did! But seriously we all kicked butt tonight.", I tell the whole group easily matching her excitement.

A round of agreements went up through the group and we all high fived eachother. Coach Davis comes over with a wide, proud smile on her face and begins talking.

"You ladies played your hearts out tonight and that is all I can ask for. You have worked so hard for this and you deserve this win. Remember this taste of victory, feel the passion for the game and I guarantee you will always come out champions. I want you girls to take the weekend off and enjoy it. I will see you Monday."

Jordan leads the team in one last cheer, "LADY TIGERS ON THREE, ONE TWO, THREE..."

The team joins in and our proud voices yell as loud as we can, in unison, "LADY TIGERS!"

I walk away, with a wide, proud smile of my own, and begin to look for my mom and dad.

I find them immediately though because they are standing by the first row of bleachers directly behind me. They are beaming with pride. I find tears pricking my eyes but quickly blink them away. I'm not that close to my parents and this is the first game they have come to watch all season. They own a vetinary clinic and volunteer at the local animal shelter in my home town. I feel like they forget about me when they are around the animals. This tends to happen a lot so when they show any attention toward me, I savor it.

"You played so well honey. You have become very good at hitting," my mother says.

I smile and say, "Thank you Mom."

"I agree with your mother, this was one of the best games that I have watched."

"Thanks Dad!"

We stand there in an awkward silence for a couple of seconds and when I open my mouth to try and start a conversation, Noah, my boyfriend of five months comes over and saves me.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. It's nice to see you again," he greets my parents with his usual easy going but polite attitude.

My father just nods and gives Noah a small but awkward smile as his way of saying hello. He's a bit of a hermit and doesn't socialize well.