Coach Mel split us into groups. Coach Fletcher was out today, so Coach Mel was stuck with the her class. There weren't subs usually for gym class. She made our class versus their class for this day. Teams would rotate, the winning team stays while the losing team goes. The team I was on wasn't picked so we watched Bex's team beat the first team of our class.

I swallowed as Coach Mel looked at the other teams that were left of our class. Thankfully her eyes grazed past my team. The next team she chose went up and I noticed Mack was on there only because she gave me the finger. Which was very uncalled for. I pretended not to notice and paid attention to the game. I would have hoped Mack's team loss if I was petty. But I wasn't that petty, or petty at all usually. The volleyball smacking her in the back of the head was good enough. I laughed with some other students before Coach Mel quiet us down and wrote a pass for Mack to go to the nurse for an ice pack.

The game continued without her and Mack didn't seem to be coming back. Her team loss so Coach Mel decided to just change the rules a bit. The winning team rotates if they win twice in a row. So Bex’s team left and so did the losing team. Coach Mel picked one of the other class’ team then another team from our class to play. I relaxed when the picking was over and watched them play. I heard movement coming my way and I turned my head in the direction of the noise to see Bex's team taking a seat or standing next to mine.

“Hey.” I heard her say and jumped before turning around to see her smiling crookedly.

“Scaring me now.” I say huffing and she laughs taking a seat on the stage next to me where I stood.

“It wasn't on purpose.” she replied looking over to the teams as Coach Mel blew her whistle to start the game.

I cheered for both sides which earned some dirty or confused looks from my class and the other. Coach Mel eventually started to play music to fill in the silence minus some chattering. I think the music really helped to pump things up. A few others and me weren't the only ones cheering now. Bex didn't really cheer before at first, she just watched but now she was cheering with us all too. The music brought the adrenaline in everyone.

The next team that was chose this time was from the other class since the team from our class won. There were groans and grunts from the other class because of the loss. Competition I do happened to like but not all the time. In cases like this I loved it, unless things went too far. I think Bex either hate it or love it with her red face, she was fuming.

“It's just a game.” I say feeling myself smirk and she shot me a dirty look.

“Well if your class loss I'm sure you wouldn't still be thinking that.” she retorted then huffed before crossing her arms and watched the game start.

“Maybe so or maybe not.” I shrug and from the corner of her eye I could see her look at me then glare.

It was weird, the feeling burning inside me from her reactions. Pushing her buttons was a bit entertaining. But I decided to stop so I wouldn't take it too far and watched the game. Our class’ team won and I sent Bex a smug look but I guess karma decided to smack me in the face. Coach Mel picked my team and I groaned causing Bex to smirk now but then her team was picked afterward. I would have laughed if it wasn't for us going to play against each other.

I swallowed while walking out to the nets. And since this wasn't just a game of volleyball during free time, the rules were in place. Coach Mel's whistle rang in my head even after she stopped blowing. My team had the ball first, I was in the back next to the server. I kept glancing at the server, knowing I would probably have to take that place soon enough. And I wasn't ready to do so, I probably never will be.

Bex was the server on her team. It wasn't surprising, she seemed to always be the server. But my mind reminded me that she wouldn't stay as the server like during our games. We weren't on a team together, we were going against each other. These thoughts constantly ran through my head as she served the ball over to our side. My teammates in front of me got it off our side and back on there's. I kept hoping that the volleyball would not make my way. I could barely focus on the game or my breathing. This reminded me of driving, but driving was way worse.

“Karter!” a voice yelled and next thing I know the volleyball is coming my way.

I would have cursed but cursing isn't my thing. So I raised my arms to block my face and I tried to bump it. Somehow it worked but it didn't leave our side. I muttered and apology as my other teammates ran for the ball that so happened to miss the net completely. It wasn't a surprise to me but I didn't expect it to go all to the side. Bex’s team got the point and I ran for the volleyball just as Bex did.

“Are you okay?” she asked with a frown as I nodded grabbing the volleyball and ran off back to my side before she could say anything else.

Our team had to rotate, one more and I would be up in the front. Kind of the worst place to be, but the place for serving could beat it easily. I passed the volleyball to the new server who fumbled to catch it. When we got in our positions the guy tried to serve but ended up making the volleyball directly hit the net. Bex's team earned a point automatically. Some people laughed and I frowned, feeling a bit bad for him. I would be in the same boat with him soon enough, maybe that would help him feel better.

Coach Mel let him go again and this time he got the volleyball over the net. It might have been weird but I clapped. He shot me a look, I wasn't sure if it was a mean one or what. Bex’s team hit it back on our side and it came right for the guy who served. I thought the back was safe, and I guess her team figured that out. The volleyball was constantly hit in the back now. I was having to act more in the game now. It was frightening to be the person in charge of our team gaining or not getting points.

Surprisingly I bumped the ball over the net on their side and it hit the ground. My team earned a point and we cheered along with our other classmates while the other class grunted and made other negative responses. But that was probably just a lucky go, the next round Bex's team won. We rotated and now I was in the front. I wanted to move back again, it still felt way more safe than the front. And being in the front meant I was closer to the serving position.

The ball came my way and I froze, letting the ball go past me then hit the ground. Some of my teammates groaned and some of my classmates whispered shooting glares my way. I swallowed and ran for the ball while mumbling an apology to my class and team. I passed the ball to the new server and moved to the middle of the front.

My heart felt like it was banging my chest. I was sweating, not sure if it was from embarrassment, nervousness, or from running around. It could be all three and more. I saw the ball fly over my head then over the net. Bex was in the front corner, on my right. She jumped up hitting the volleyball in an angle where it would hit directly at the ground on our side. The person on that side to stop it was frozen. I ran over there to get the ball and so did other teammates. Somehow we got it over the net and back on their side, while trampling each other.

Nobody got badly hurt, most of us were groaning though when we moved apart and back at our positions. Our team got that point and the teammate who didn't do their job apologized like I did before. She looked like she was going to ball her eyes out. I told her it was okay before anyone else could reply probably with a negative comment.

Bex's team got the point after the next round. I moved to the last position in the front. I couldn't decide if I wanted to stay here or finally just got to the back, in the position where I would have to serve. I know I would eventually move back there unless we constantly won this round and after. Even though both teams earned a point when serving, Bex's team was ahead by one because of the one serving mess up.

The ball passed over my head. It was mostly up to those in the back. Who would have known the people back there now could barely catch the volleyball or I guess hit. One didn't even try, they raised their hand slightly up from their side. The volleyball flew past their hand and eventually went down, hitting the ground. Bex's team earned the point. Our team rotated and I was now in the serving position.

I felt my shirt get more wet under my arms. My sweat was increasing, almost made me want to take a shower in the school. I tried to distract myself with many other thoughts but reality hit me hard when the volleyball was thrown my way. Somehow I caught it successfully, that didn't exactly boost my confidence but I relaxed slightly. I stared at the volleyball in my hands then took a deep breath in before letting it out. I got in position and served the ball. It barely went over the net and almost hit it, but it still went over.

Bex sent her signature smile my way. I gave her a thumbs up as one of her teammates hit the ball back on our side. I started to feel comfortable in the serving position, only because I had to stay there since Bex's team lost. But they started to win again, in rows. So eventually my team lost. Our team that won against their class took my team's spot to play against Bex's.

I cheered for both sides. It wasn't a surprise that the bell rang before the game was over. It caused a lot of arguing going back and forth between classes and people, about who won. Both teams were at a time, so it was really hard to tell. I had a feeling Bex's team was going to win but our team was actually just as good as hers.

“Good job with serving!” I heard a voice say behind the stall door I was changing in, it could only belong to one person.

“Um..thanks Bex.” I mumbled trying to move my feet away from the door and my body.

“Don't thank me, I knew you could do it. I hope this won't be the last time you play.” I hear her say and I hum while putting my light yellow t-shirt on.

“I don't know.” I reply and hear her huff causing me to shake my head with a smile. “I like your determination.” I say as I pull on my blue jeans and there was no response.

I unlock the stall door then open it to see her signature smile bright as ever on her face. I roll my eyes with a smile and walk over to my locker while she follows me, for once.

“Well thank you, I'm trying out for wrestling by the way.” she says as I stuff my gym clothes in the small square locker.

“Don't expect me to get hurt trying to try out with you.” I reply shutting the locker door then locking it as she laughs.

“You don't have to try out. I was just letting you know.” she replies and I nod before walking into the line with her.