The Ways She Loved Them

Chapter 4

By the end of the week, I've got two tests, an essay and project to study for. Also, we will be going to Texas this weekend for a tournament. Thankfully it's only a 5 hour drive from Little Rock to Dallas so I'll get most of my work done in the car. Most of my friends will be there too, 5 of the girls I play with on varsity have sisters my age so it works out. I normally ride with friends on car trips or them with me, it makes the ride quicker and less boring. 

"Ali why do you always pick this song!?" Maraiah blurts out. 

"This is my favorite right now for some reason!" I playfully scold. Party in the USA was just really growing on me. 

She rolls her eyes and says "Well this is the last time we are listening to it. You can discover new music that is on MY phone." She emphasizes the MY because I don't have a phone yet. I was supposedly supposed to be getting one this fall but I'll believe it when I see it. 

The drive to Dallas was not as productive as I wanted but I got a decent amount of work done. I finished my essay, but that was easy for me, I already wrote for fun. Finish my group project for Biology because Mariah was my partner, we knew we were riding together so we asked the teacher for permission and he was cool with it. I've just got History and Math to study for, but that can't be to hard. 

After we unload our bags, we get up to the hotel room and unpack. Normally, we all leave Little Rock at the same time and arrive in Dallas together. Once we are in Texas, we regroup and head out into the city to shop and eat. Coach insists on us arriving back at the hotel early so we can all get enough rest before tomorrow, and our curfew is 10pm without our cellphones, wasn't such a problem for me. Sigh. 

The next day goes well, we win most of our games and end up in the gold bracket, Texas teams are much more advanced in volleyball, well most sports for that matter. The size of one city in Texas is bigger then half the state of Arkansas, so the options for player is 10x as big. 

We end up placing third over all, which isn't bad. Satisfied with our play we pack up and head home. I don't have much daylight on the ride home to study for my tests but I feel fairly good about them. I mean how hard can they really be? 

My parents scold me on the way home about my horrible attitude and it's true I do have an temper. I'm kinda a bitch on the court sometimes but I'm working on it. I just get to wrapped up in the moment, and I get discouraged about the way me or my teammates are playing. Then I bitch to Coach too, well mom, but same difference. I really am trying to work on it, I'm just to prideful. 

"If you don't do well on your tests or projects this week no phone for you this fall, you haven't showed any progress on keeping up your room, being lazy, or doing your school work." Dad bodly states.

I'm pissed now. "First week of school and I'm not doing well? How would you even know that? I got everything done that I have to turn in before the tournament started, and I studied with the remaining daylight I had on the way back and feel fine about the tests, besides I still have a few days to continue studying for them, they aren't until Wednesday!" 

"Do not be disrespectful!" they both shout. 

"I'm going to sleep, I'm exhausted." I put in my headphones and drift of to sleep to their mumbling voices about how I better get my act together.