A Little Bit Of Grace

I Thought Grace Was Bisexual

"Outside!" Grace yells out to her teammates as the ball lands outside the gray line, her loud voice echoes all throughout the gym. Her team cheers in delight as another point was added to their score.

"Let's go team!" Samantha says from the other side of the court as the two battle it out through an aggressive staring (more like glaring) competition.

Every Monday afternoon, after a long tiring day of academics, her and the rest of their team let out all their bottled up stress into their hands and bodies when training for volleyball. Majority of the team are Sophomores, which means quite a number of people from Grace's batch are into volleyball.

"Grace!" Andie yells right before raising both her hands and tossing the ball to Grace. She immediately pounces into the approach, makes a decent jump and spikes the ball with her palm. It spins right over the net and lands right in front of Isabel, who dives for the ball but is unable to receive it.

The coach blows the whistle and marks the 25th point, the game ends in 23-25 and Grace's team rejoices. Sam and the five other members of her team drag their feet under the net to join the rest of the team, and congratulate them. "Good spike Grace." Alicia says patting her on the back as Grace nods in gratitude. "Thanks." She smiles.

"Alright nice game team!" Their coach says congratulating the first six and clapping her hands together. "We're approaching tournament season so stay in shape. No injuries am I understood?" She says sternly and the team replies in unison with a 'yes coach.'

All members of the team walk to the locker room and hit the showers, going 5 at a time.

"Hey did you guys hear about Lenna?" Ashley says getting into the shower and hanging the tower over the door. The room fills with murmurs and rumors as Grace removes her kneepads and shoes. "I think I'm still in denial." One of her teammates, Patricia, chuckles as she washes her hands. "They were like, Katniss and Peeta you know? Power couple! Giving people HOPE!" She yells and the team bursts into fits.

"I know someone's glad to hear the news." Alexi says glancing at Grace and a few snickers come from the team. "Whatever guys" Grace says wiping her sweat off and brushing her hair.

"What?" Alicia says in shock. "I thought Grace was bisexual?" And with that, the entire locker room erupts in laughter once more. Grace gives her the finger as she strips off her clothes and gets into the shower.

The cold water relaxes her as it runs down her body, ridding her stench of dried sweat. She hears bits and parts of the conversation going on outside, mostly about Lenna and Patricia's newfound book. She hears Andie and Isabel laughing about something and she breaks into a grin. The both of them loved to laugh about stupid things, and when they did, it caused a chain reaction of laughs as well.

Grace loved how united her team was, and how happy they were. They used to be the underdogs among many schools, but were now defending champions in 2 separate tournaments.

"But guys! She likes Lewis!" Alexi says as Grace turns the shower handle and grabs her towel. She immediately raps herself in the white cotton and steps out of the shower. "Are we seriously still on this conversation?"

"I thought she was into girls?" Rita, one of the 7th graders (yes she was inexplicably good for her age and managed to beat a few freshman out of the team) says as she dries her hair from the cold shower.

"You're into girls you whore." Andie teases her and she shrugs in response, earning a few chuckles from the team.

"Guys I'm not bisexual." Grace says as she walks on the cold tiles to her bag and takes out her spare clothes. From the corner of her eye, she spots some team members share unsure glances. "What gave you the idea that I was bi anyway?"

"Well one, you always eat with Scott and the rest of the Hockey and Soccer boys." Samantha shrugs, brushing her short jet black hair. "Two, you never wear heels or dresses or skirts to school." Alexi adds. "And three, you haven't had a boyfriend since, what? 6th grade?" Angelica interrupts.

"Okay I liked Emmett when I was in seventh grade, not sixth, and we weren't in a serious relationship." Grace says nonchalantly as the final batch get out of the shower.

"Because he was too chicken to make the first move." Julia says and the team nods their head in agreement. Grace shakes her head foolishly and zips up her bag. She puts on her teal blue flip flops and slings her volleyball bag over her shoulder.

"Lewis and Gracie sitting on a tree!" Tamia starts chanting and the rest of the team join her. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

"God how am I friends with all of you?" Grace shakes her head as she begins to walk to the door.

"You aren't! You can't sit with us!" Two of them shout in unison, quoting a Mean Girls reference. Grace pushes the door open and teases in a sing-song tone, "Not like I want to bitchesss!" and the loud echoes of laughter fill her ears. Her team bids her goodbye as she walks back down to the parking lot and gets in her car, still smiling to herself.