Within You

one.

The chemistry textbook was quite boring and it just stayed open under my desk lamp as I listened to the rain quietly hit the window. Alexandra was out getting us coffee, which was good because I had time to myself and my thoughts. I quietly tapped the pen on my notebook and stared out the window.

Lex suddenly burst threw the door, her loud voice filling the room and interrupting me from my daze. "I met the cutest guy at Starbucks!" She exclaims, handing me my coffee.

"Thanks. You always meet the 'cutest' guys at different places," I tell her, moving my book aside. The coffee warmed my hands that were tucked inside my UCLA volleyball sweatshirt. "We better get to it Lex, before we have to leave for the game today." I advise her, turning to face the desk.

"So, Tuck has been telling me that Bells has been doing well in Rancho," Lex says, with no warning. I let out a heavy sigh. I hadn't thought about Cody since I've been here. The last time we saw each other was when he was leaving to Camelback Ranch to begin his baseball career. The day he left happened to be the day we last spoke to each other.

I cleared my throat to hide my apparent sadness and frustration. "Well, good for him. Tell Cole to give the updates to his lovely girlfriend." I begin taking notes on the boring chapter. Lex stayed quiet for a while.

"He's not with Sabrina anymore..." She blurts out, turning back to her desk. Interestingly enough, hearing those words made my heart jump inside my chest. I smiled, staying quiet as my hand continued to move across the page. "Remember, we have to leave to The Pavilion in an hour to start changing for the game," I remind Lex.

"Okaaaay Kylie, sounds good," she sighs.

                                                                                     

The Pavilion was bustling with excitement. The fans were quickly filling up the stands for our game against our rival team—University of Southern California. "Looks like it's going to be a great game tonight," Lex comments, looking at the crowd as we continue to warm up.

"Focus Lex," I remind her, quickly glancing at the crowd.

I notice the captains of our team at the ref's stand for the coin toss. Lex and I continued to warm up until our coach called us into the bench. USC had first serve. Coach said she was going to go over the lineup, her usual reminder before we hit the court.

"Ramirez, back row you'll sub in for Alyssa. Vega, my lovely libero," She says smiling at me. "I have Eva in middle back but you know it's the usual change." I smiled at her and gave her a reassuring nod. She continued on with the lineup and finally we were able to take the court for our hitting lines and quick passing drills.

The MC for the night began testing his microphone. The referees blow their whistle for us to get off the court. The two teams take their places on their side, of course the liberos make the switch on both teams. I watch as the server prepares to send the ball over to us. Once I see the ball flying to me in slow motion, I let out a sigh of relief. I make the pass to our setter, Violet, who then quickly sets it to our outside hitter Nat. The plays move extremely quick.

                                                                              

We made it to set five of intense game play. USC is three points ahead of us. My eyes slowly move to the cheering crowd. I see this familiar figure standing in the midst of all the students, trying to blend in with his surroundings, as if they do not want to be seen. I see the Quakes logo on the sweatshirt—it's him. I looked at him for a while before hearing the slap of the ball—I snapped back into reality. I was set up for a hit and got the kill.

My nerves never faded away after that hit. I didn't want to look back at him standing there. Is he here to watch me? Is someone on the opposing team his girlfriend?  We're two points away from winning the game and I was serving. Focus Kylie, I tell myself as I prepare to send the serve to USC. I look at my coach who gives me a zone number to serve. I took a deep breath and wait for the ref to give me the green light. It went straight to the girl my coach had told me to hit—aced.

I went back again and looked back at the crowd. He was watching me serve. He is watching me. I took a deep breath and sent it over, this time USC was making a play out of it. We rallied back and forth for a while before Eva made the kill, winning the game. The girls and I jumped up into the huddle, cheering for the win against USC. After doing so, we lined up to tell the USC girls good game, it definitely was.

My eyes turn toward Lex as we finish giving a high five to the last player. "He's here," I tell her nervously as I noticed him walking toward me. He is here to see me. "Act normal, you're fine," Lex quickly says before she runs to talk to the "cute" guy she met at the library the other day. I'm standing there looking at the tall lanky kid I was in love with walk toward me.

Cody Bellinger's smile grows cheek to cheek. "You're here," I say, looking at every matured facial features. He lets out a gentle laugh, that hasn't changed much. He looks back at me, his hazel orbs shine under the gym lights. "Yeah, I wanted to come see you. The last game I saw you play was.." "Senior night," we say in unison. His voice is deeper, raspy.

I'm trying to swallow the lump in my throat as I look at him. I could feel my tears slowly roll down my cheeks as I stared at him. "I missed you," I confess, hoping he'd say the same thing about me.

He looked down at his feet and then back up at me, his face dropped the smile. "I missed you Kylie, more than you can ever know," he admits, stepping closer to me. Cody's veinous hand grabs my face and I'm standing on my tippy toes to kiss him. Everything just stopped. We continued to kiss in the busy gymnasium. He pulled away and looked at me, his smile grows as he pulls me back in for a hug. I can smell the cologne on his sweatshirt. "I love you," he confesses, breathless as he continues to kiss me.

I missed him and I missed this. Finally, he's back in my arms.