Chapter 11: The Time at Tryouts Part 2

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Wednesday, August 2, 2017

4:00 pm

Day 2 of tennis tryouts

"Alright girls!" Coach called us together. "You all made it to day two. There are 17 of you left here. Good luck."

He started to assign everyone a court to play on and I zoned out until hearing my name.

"......Jessie will be challenging Ally on court three....."

I hurried to court 3. There was a tall blonde girl already waiting there.

She spun her racket. "Call it. 'p' or 'd'."

"d." I watched as the racket hit the ground.

"p." Dang. "I'll serve. Pick your side."

I walked over to the side of the court with more shade, obviously. It's the clear choice on an August afternoon.

I barely had a chance to turn around as I heard "Love all, first serve!" The ball slammed into the far corner of the box. I didn't even have time to swing before it was past me.

I prepared myself for the next point and hoped I could at least return the serve this time.

"15, love!"

The ball bounced in the far corner, but I was ready this time.

I hit a back hand down the line, landing right on the base line. I got really lucky with that shot.

Ally returned with a drop shot. I barely made it to the ball in time.

This is my favorite part of the game. The adrenaline and hope rushing through you when you hit a shot that could make or break a game.

I watched as the ball flew forward.... straight into the net.

The rest of the match continued pretty much the same way. Each game I got a little better; noticed a strength or weakness. And I finally started to catch up! But too late. Ally ended up winning 6-1; 6-3.

~•~

After tryouts

"Thank God I won my other two matches or I would've gotten cut!"

"Relax Jessie." Jake assured me on our way home. "You made the team. Tomorrow is all about finding where you fit in the rankings."

I know y'all have only met Jake twice, but this seems so unlike him!

"Wow. Who are you and what have you done to Jake?!"

"What do you mean?"

"The Jake I know would say something like, 'Yes, you lost. Better to face your failures now than to live in denial.'"

He chuckles. "I'm not that rude, am I?"

Shrugging, I muttered, "Kinda." I winced, feeling a little bad.

"Shit, really?" He contemplated as he drove. "Some....people....have been been telling me to 'loosen up', and 'not be so serious'. So I decided I'd try to do just that before I leave for school this weekend."

"By 'people' do you mean Caleb?"

"........yes."

I laughed. "Only you, Jake. Only you."

~•~

"Mom, I'm home!" I called out as I walked into a house I've barely been in in weeks. Jela practically tackled me to the floor, she was so excited to see me.

Sadie and Raven sat on the couch with confused looks. "What are you doing here?" Sadie asked.

"What do you mean?" I narrowed my eyes, confused. "I live here."

"You do?!" Raven piped in. "I thought you went off to college or something."

What? "Raven, I'm only fourteen...."

"Well, how am I supposed to know that?!"

I ignored that last comment and went up the stairs to my bedroom. Throwing my tennis bag onto the floor, I decided to watch an episode of one of my favorite shows, Stranger Things. I stayed there until I heard Jela barking at the door.

Roan looked shocked to see me. It was starting to throw me off.

I haven't been gone that much, have I?

"Oh! Jessica, I didn't expect to see you here." Mom blurted out as she stepped through the threshold.

"In my own house?"

"Yes, well......" She looked away from me and continued to walk past. "You haven't exactly been present."

"Seriously? You too?!" I was really starting to get frustrated.

"Well, it's true, isn't it?!"

"I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry I haven't been here as much! I'm sorry I found out about your little secret!"

She whipped her head back around towards me. "Oh, don't give me that-"

"Give you what? It's the truth, isn't it?" I could tell she was mad that I used her own words against her. All of a sudden it was like we were having a heated staring contest. "I'm sorry I'm not curled up in a ball in my room alone anymore." I started to back away towards the stairs. "I'm sorry. I'll only see Darrell, Orange, and Spencer from now on at school. Is that what you want to hear?" I finally broke away from her gaze.

I slowly, very slowly, made my way up to my bedroom. I grabbed my tennis bag and shoved a couple of outfits into my backpack.

My mom and I hardly ever fight. Even then, it was never like this. This wasn't some silly argument over if wearing a crop top in public looks slutty or not. (I said no, she said yes.)

This was an actual argument. Over real things. I don't know what is going to happen next. But I know that I don't want to find out.

I scrolled through the many contacts on my phone until I finally reached the letter "S". I was in a hurry, so I tapped on the first name on the list.

"Hey, can you pick me up?"


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