Summer Break - My Love Turned to Hate

Chapter 1.

Training Day

I push the heavy navy blue doors open at the University Sports Centre. For some strange reason, it feels like today has a meaning. It feels as if my life is about to change. My heart feels lighter, more joy-filled and less aggressive than I usually am.

I set my bag down on the bench next to the two trolleys of volleyballs which are about to be flung half way across the room, releasing tension out of the girls' bodies like an elastic band that has been stretched to full elasticity, then has been let go of.

I sit down on the bench softly, creating the least noise as possible. The sound of flying volleyballs bounces off the walls and travels around the room. The smell of rubber and tape gripped my nose as I scanned the room of 14 people.

I stand up, pull a volleyball out of the trolley and head towards the side of the wall. Spike, another, and a few more. Everything is lost. All that matters is this volleyball and everything else fades. Just me. Only me.

"Hey Em!"

My attention changes to the voice that called me. I snap my head to the source of the noise as my volleyball bounces along the springboard floor to the other side of the bright hall.

"Hey babes, walk in and forget about all of us is it?" I roll my eyes, Shannon always finds a way to bring the attention to her.

May I introduce Shannon Jones. This girl is what I like to call 'the ultimate slut.' This may be a bit rude to some of you, depending on what you classify as a slut.

Shannon is beautiful. Long blonde hair with beach waves, bright baby blue eyes, and a gorgeously slim body any girl would die for. This is not what makes her slutty however, she piles herself with make-up. A face full of foundation, thick eyebrows, mascara as if it was going out of fashion and glossy lips as if her mouth was plastic.

Her personality is about the same as everything else. She is very arrogant and vain. Always talks about herself and doesn't care about anyone else. She has been with more boys than tourists have been on the Eiffel Tower (and the majority of them have been in her). Although, she is one of my close friends and I would never change her.

"Shut it Shan, I'm just getting warmed up, you know, like what we're meant to do before training?" I have to sass back. She looks at me as if she's still processing what I have said to her. She places one hand on her hip, then lifts the other up to her shoulder and clicks in a 'z' formation.

"Alright girls! Bring in the love!" Coach Marshall yells in a soft tone.

Steve Marshall, my coach, is one of the nicest, most banterous people I have ever met. 63 years old and he's still going strong.

All 13 of us huddle around him, creating a thick outline of a half circle.

"Okay girls, tonight I feel like we need some spike practice. I need two lines, one on each side of the court, and stand on the left baseline. I want the setters to stand in the centre, facing the spikers, and the spikers to feed their own balls." Steve instructed, and off we went.

I walk back over to the two trollies by the bench and take hold of one. I then lead it to one of the two queues and place it in the front court section. I then make my way to the back of the queue.

"Em, I think you should go first. you're our best spiker!" Lydia McPeaterson suggested. I blush at the thought. I change direction and walk to the front of the queue.

Lydia holds out a volleyball for me and I take it, slightly embarrassed. I toss the volleyball in the air towards Alba, our setter. She volleys the ball into the air to the side of the net. I take three steps. One. Two. Three. Then plant my feet and spring one metre into the air. I whip my arms through the warm hall air and hit the ball as hard as my strong arm can pull off.

The ball hits the floor violently, making a loud cracking sound as it does. I land softly on the floor and make my way to the back of the queue.

Volleyballs fly across the room and I watch as the spikers move around the court.

I seem to have just faded away in the volleyballs...

Once training had finished, I grab my bag and head straight for the doors.

"Em!"

I stop in my tracks. Turning around, I see my best friend Jo.

"Do you want to go watch the boys train in the next hall?" Jo offers.

Joanne Clark, or 'Jo' as everyone calls her, is my best friend. I've known her ever since Gloucester league, and to be perfectly honest, that's when I was a beginner and was pretty poo at everything.

Jo is tall, about 5"11. She has short, chocolate brown hair, and brown eyes, and is, just like Steve, very funny.

"Yeah, okay, let's go perv!" I excitedly agree. I turn my head to Sophie, "Hey Soph, you coming?"

Sophie Down. This girl is another legend. Along with Jo, she is my best friend. Unlike Shannon, she is naturally beautiful. Bleach blonde hair that cascades down her shoulders, beautiful sea blue eyes, skinny mini and such a lovely personality.

Sophie thought for a second, "yeah, I'll come to see Em drool over Tom!"

"Stop mocking me okay?!" I snap.

"Ohh feisty!" Jo sasses, I rolled my eyes.

Off we went.