"I FORGIVE YOU!"

Those 3 words kept echoing in my mind as I continued running under the hard pouring rain. Her voice slowly faded behind me but the loud rain just over laps it all.

I can't help but let out an irresistible yet broken smile while new tears form in both my eyes, still repeating the words she yelled in my mind.

Everything's clear now, hearing her confessing her true emotions, her view towards me and her passion for our sport.. Is really shocking to hear.

But I can never forget nor get rid of the fact that she literally tried to stop me from achieving my dreams. It may made me angry but after hearing her reasons.. I actually felt guilty.

I mean she's not wrong, what if we get the chance on playing in Nationals? What if the other powerhouse teams see me play?

I know Im gifted with my jump and fast reflexes on connecting the ball in any messed up tosses, and it worries me that I might replace Applejack with a new better setter.

Now that I think of it, I realized that me and Applejack are not so different after all. All we wanted was our passion for volleyball, but instead our insecurities got the best of us.

At first I thought I was weak as a team player, a lover, a daughter and an human being. But when Applejack came into my life, she made me believe that I was no longer a weakling.

But now she thinks she's weak. Im not gonna let her believe that, Im gonna make her realize that none of us are weak like she did to me!

That asshole.. Some part of me can never forgive her for sabotaging me to get my dreams for her own fucking pleasure. But some part of me wants to get back at her.

Rd: "Argh.. Get f*cking get yourself together, Dash." I muttered to myself, still running as a gust of cold wind flows in my direction.

I guess were both idiots for loving one another in such a young age. Love needs time, I know Applejack isn't the one for me yet.

After a few minutes of running, I slowed down to make me loose my momentum, regaining my breath afterwards.

It was still raining hard, harder than before to be exact. What bothers me even more is when the fog got even thicker among the streets which made my vision got worse.

Rd: "F-f*ck it.. I need to stay somewhere and wait for the rain to weaken." I said to myself before I continued walking to another route.

Luckily I stopped near the place where me and Applejack used to hang out and practice our quick attack, the park.

The place was completely empty unlike before. The gust of wind kept on swinging the trees back and forth as forms of lightings were seen in the sky.

While I was walking up to my usual bench with a cover above it, my eyes widened when I noticed something in my hand.

Rd: "C-crap.." I gasped in shock. "How the f*ck did I forgot to give Applejack her Jersey back?!" I continued.

I was completely clueless this whole time, not knowing that I still have the cowgirl's jersey in my hands, and now its wet and all messed up.

Rd: "Geez.. How am I supposed to explain this to her?" I sighed before seating down on the bench.

I then grabbed both the shirt's end and raised it up in front of me, seeing our color blue Jersey and her number 8 in the middle.

Rd: "Danm.. I shouldn't have left you nor the club.." I cried, rolling the shirt back into a ball and placed it on my face to cover myself. "It smells like goddamn apples what the actual f*ck!?" I added in slight rage.

Aside from me freezing from the cold breeze, my vision slowly got blurry as I somehow started to loose my balance. Luckily I managed to raise myself up before I fall onto the ground.

Rd: "Argh.. What the hell is wrong with me?"

I just took a deep breath and ignored it, glancing around my slightly scary surroundings after. It was quite obvious that the rain isn't getting weaker nor stopping any time soon.

This place brings back memories when me and Applejack first fought each other and where I found about the truth about her.

If I can still remember it, I think we still hate each other's guts while practicing our quick attack in this exact same park

*Flashback---

Aj: "Rainbow you dumbass! Connect my freaking tosses!" The cowgirl yelled after she grabbed the ball on tje ground.

Rd: "But your tosses are too high up, Applejack! No wonder your team couldn't get them back at the tourna-"

Aj: "SHUT UP!" She growled back as she rushed towards me, grabbing me by the shirt to slightly lift me up out of anger. "You aren't fast enough.. Run faster!"

Rd:" Gee yes ma'am." I replied in a sarcastic way after taking another few steps back to do our move again.

After Applejack took a deep breath, she quickly threw the ball above her, tossing it to her right as soon it came back down into her fingertips. 

My instincts suddenly drops in as it controls my whole body, making me run with my full speed to jump and slam the ball mid-air. 

But before I could even touch the ball with my palm, someone unexpectedly rushed in and snatched the ball, causing me to let out a gasp before falling ass first back into the ground.   

"Well, well, well.. It isnt the two freshmen who invented that demon fast quick attack." A female voice laughed. 

When I looked up, my eyed widened when I saw 2 girl taller than me and Applejack. They were wearing this green school jacket with the name "Everfree High" written on the back.

Rd:" S-so tall.." I gasped after getting back to my feet. "Give it back!" I added while jumping up to grab the ball from her hands.

Who does this idiot think she is? Damn she's hella tall but why are they here? While I kept trying to grab the ball from her hand, Applejack suddenly stepped into the scene.

Aj:" And you must be the two assholes who tried sneaking in our campus."

Rd:"Wait what?!"

The girl chuckled. "Yeah its true, when we heard CHS had a new weapon now then we decided to check it out for ourselves."

"Hey I remember you!" Another girl laughed. "Your Applejack Apples from Crystal prep right?"

"Ohh, I remember!" Her friend started, placing her hand under Aj's chin. "What's an elite like you doing at CHS? I think They're known for being the fallen heroes or something."

Aj:" Huh?" The cowgirl mumbled, looking back into the girl's eyes with anger.

"I watched the final match of the prefecture qualifiers last tournament. I wonder how your teammates were able to put up with your obnoxious tosses?" The pink haired teen continued as she walked passed Aj.

"It must have ended that way because they couldn't take it anymore!" She laughed alongside her friend which made the cowgirl's eyes widened in pure anger.

Whatever they told her made her grinned her teeth, tightened her fist and turned around to grab the pink haired girl behind her. 

Me on the other hand just watched them, still clueless and yet so cocky to join in make them fear me instead of Applejack.

"G-gloriosa!" Her friend gasped as soon Applejack grabbed her jacket, making an angry look towards her.

But what shocked me the most is when I realized the girl named Gloriosa was still smiling in a sinister way at her. 

Rd:" What's happening? Why isn't she saying anything to this jackass? Do your usual scary thing like what you do to me and the team to scare them Applejack!'" I told myself as I watch the two share the same angry tension at each other. 

But it wasn't long when Applejack finally let go of the girl's jacket, turning around to walk back to our bench where our bags were placed.

Aj:" Im done.." Aj finally spoke up, grabbing her bag on the bench afterwards.

Rd:" What? Hey!" 

"Are you running away Queen? It seems like the so called queen of the court isn't that big of a deal."

Rd:"Why the f*ck do you keep on pissing her off? And why is she Queen of the court!?" I asked confused yet angry.

"I guess you never heard of her nickname, shortie. Can you guess why she's called that?"

Rd:" Y-yeah!" I answered without knowing its true meaning. "Its uh.. Because she's hella good at playing, right?" 

Instead of replying back at me, they suddenly laughed out loud, causing for Applejack to stop walking and hold in her anger.

Rd:" H-hey answer me! She's called the queen for making her opponents cower in fear because of her appearance and flawless skills.. RIght?" I defended.

"Heh, you must not heard the true reason why your friend is called the Queen, Its true that some of the players thinks of her that way." Gloriosa started before looking down to face me.

"But according to some rumors, the nickname queen of the court was given to her by the players from Crystal prep, the queen's teammates themselves."

Rd:" Why? What the f*ck are you talking about? Applejack never mention that nickname to me nor my team!"

Aj:" Its because I tend to forget and leave it behind." She interrupted while walking towards me, placing her hand on my shoulder afterwards.

"Let me finish Applejuice!" The idiot yelled back, making Applejack to slightly bow her head again to hide her anger. "Ahem, as I was saying, The nicknames means the queen only cares about herself, a self-centered dictator!"

Aj:" S-shut up!" 

"Let the lady speak." Her other friend butted in, pushing the cowgirl away before she could even approach Gloriosa.

"I remember how she used to yell the words, "Faster!", "Your not good enough" and "your attacks our reckless!" to her teammates during the match.

Rd:" But.. That happened back at middle school right?" I asked, looking into Gloriosa's eyes in a serious matter ."I will still connect her tosses.. so her past doesn't matters now!"

Aj:" Quit butting in dumb-" She was cut off when I quickly placed my hand on her shoulder, stepping on my tiptoes to adjust my height."

Rd:" Were gonna take you down at Training camp, qualifying and even in Nationals.. So don't you dare look down at us!" 

"Pff- Its just a sport shortie but If you and your team really want to win that bad then I guess I can go easy on you on next month's training camp." The green haired teen chuckled.

"I guess were gonna beat the queen at Training camp." The flower haired idiot laughed before throwing the ball into the sky and catching it with one hand, doing it repeated times while watching Applejack control her anger.

But as soon she threw the ball in the air again, my instincts immediately triggered, closing my eyes before running towards it direction, catching the ball mid air afterwards.

When I finally drift down back to the grass, I stood up and faced Gloriosa in her shocked eyes.

Rd:" Forget about the Queen, Im playing too! ill spike the ball above your head during the match for sure!"

"No need to be angry little one, its just a club.." She replied with a shocked yet amused tone which made my eyes widened in slight  anger.

And just like that, Gloriosa and her friend from everfree high lastly gave us their deadly glare before grabbing their bags and walking away, leaving me and Applejack alone.

Suddenly I felt Applejack tap my hair before turning turning around to walk out of the park.

Rd:" H-hey! Where you going?"

Aj:" Home, its already night time.. You should get some rest dumbass."

Rd:" But.." I started after running after her to grab her hand. "Were not done yet.." 

She chuckled and stared into my eyes, dropping her gym bag back to the same bench where Im seating this very day. 

Aj:" S-sure.. Lets show those B*tches to never mess with us again." Applejack smiled.

Rd:' Why?

Aj:" Huh? What do you mean why?"

Rd:" Why didn't you tell me about your nickname.. 'queen of the court'

Aj:" I.. That's nothing, shrimp."

Rd:" Oh come on! You have a very cool nickname like the Aces! Tell me~" I continued in a teasing tone in my voice. "Oh come on Queen tell me wh- ACK!" I was cu off when I felt Aj grabbed my shirt, pulling me closer to her out of anger. 

Aj:" You son of a b*tch.. NEVER call me that!" 

Rd:" I-I.. Im sorry.."

Aj:" Tsk, whatever . Lets just get this done."

Since that day, I started to question myself about Applejack and her title that she kept secret from us. It was true that she was a reckless setter back at her old school days but I know she can changed and cooperate with us.

But seeing her all angered and devastated that day, I decided to never speak of her title or ask her about it ever again till this day.

That was only on of the memories we shared together in the park, and its all coming back to me.. Its making me feel even more guilty inside. 

I always thought that Applejack is that one villain who beats up girls at the bathroom because she's too cocky, but no, instead I realized that she's been the same sh*t like I felt.. She just needs time to mature, the both of us need to mature.

But that doesn't changes my opinion of her when I saw her with Countess! So I just smiled weakly after bowing my head to stare at Applejack's jersey to somehow pass the time.

Rd: "Why would you ever kiss me? Im not even half as  pretty compared Countess. If you really love me, then why are you with another girl??" I asked as tears slowly drip down her shirt.

Rd: "Do you like her better, queen? You freaking asshole.. I still love you and you told me the same, but thats not what I see in you.."

As my heavy feeling in my chest got even worse, I started to burst out in tears. Luckily the rain was loud enough to overlap all my screaming.

Rd: "Does she even love me?" I asked again.

"She does.." A familiar voice answered beside me.

My eyes immediately went wide before looking to my right, only to see a short teen wearing a pink raincoat and holding an umbrella above her.

Rd:" Huh, W-who's there!?"