Excitement was in the air at the gym. From the players' laughter, banter, and warming up, not from a crowd. Halewood Academy had a straightforward custom on the day before the regional tournament: before the big games began, the volleyball teams for the boys' and girls' teams played a friendly scrimmage.
It was more than just custom for Rebecca James.
It was the last exam. An introduction to her moment. She had spent the entire year training to earn the full scholarship. Tomorrow, the scouts would be observing. At last, she could achieve her aspirations.
Rebecca was your typical mixed race girl, her dad was from England and her mum was Chinese but for some reason she looked more British than Asian, the only Asian think about her was her thick black hair she just could not wait to dye, her dad was a natural blond but died his hair brown and now that her parents were having a divorce she had to pick a side and she had always been a daddy's girl but asides that, University of Derby was her dream school and she knew her father was making plans to return to England. She had kept this secret to herself and she knew the scholarship was her only shot as her mum was the wealthier parent.
This scholarship was everything to her
"Take it easy on us, boys" Rebecca smirked adjusting her knee pads
Julian Carter, the boys' team captain and school poster boy, smiled at her lopsidedly from across the net. "James, I wouldn't even consider it. "I may even bring you to tears". Julian would live to regret that last statement.
Julian was your typical Scottish prince, blond hair, dreamy blue eyes you could get lost in if you're not careful, every girls dream guy, rumors had it that he was gay as he turned down everyone that made advances at him, Julian never asked girls out-it was the other way round
"Yeah, Juls, don't listen to her" Vera the female captain shouted back smiling at Rebecca and giving a wink to Julian, she was one of the lot in line to date Julian but he never paid her any attention
Rebecca just shook her head in disagreement, her sister who recently developed a new addiction for horoscope told her today was a bad day for her and even though Rebecca did not believe in such, she just felt she should be extra careful and save her energy for the big day tomorrow.
It was nothing new to be teased. They had spent their childhood attempting to outshine one another, battling both against and with one another for the same trophies. However, this match was purely just to build spirits
Or...at least it was supposed to be.
The whistle blew.
The game started.
The gym was silent for a while just filled with grunts, thuds and satisfying slaps of the ball meeting the hands of the players. The energy was light but intense then the male team one a point and non players at the court started chanting Carter's name and celebrating him screaming to be noticed by him.
Rebecca looked irritated, if only they supported their fellow girls like that
"How do you like that James" Julian shouted laughing at the irritated Rebecca
"Oh boy, save it for your fellow boys tomorrow" Rebecca yelled back smiling
The came continued
The cheers was getting to Julian, he was suddenly in his zone, showing off why he was the best player, at his level he could probably play with university boys.
The girls won
The game intensified, Julian had lost control, during a time out Rebecca had gotten to the net and told him to calm down, his teammates were encouraging him. He felt the adrenaline rush.
What nobody knew was that he was trying to show off to the girl he loves and from her reaction he was putting on one hell of a show.
Volleyball meant everything to her and he knew, he was determined to ask her out after the match tomorrow but today he wanted to show her he was the best there is, she would be too busy with her game to watch him tomorrow.
Today was his one opportunity to show Rebecca James that there was more to him than his tall physic and blue eyes like she had pointed out one time during their earlier matches.
By God he was madly in Love with Rebecca.
The third set started. tied. Both teams are exerting more effort than they should have.
"Jeez can the boy slow down for a second" Rebecca said to Ella during a timeout
"Why" Ella asked, 'He's running for king of the court", she added
"King of the what?"
"King of the court" Vera replied, it's a thing starting this year and I will be the queen, Y'all watch out"
"Yeah, whatever" Rebecca and Ella smiled and they got in position to play
"You'll definitely win queen" Ella whispered in her er as she went to take her position but Rebecca just laughed it off, "that's definitely the last thing I want"
Then it happened, like a flash
Rebecca's dig was clean. Her teammate gave her the ideal set.
She saw the ball rising and knew it was hers, the perfect opportunity to perfect her trick.
She took the jump
But so did Julian
Both of them aiming for the same thing, eyes on the ball-not on each other
Becca! watch! someone shouted from her teammates
Juls! stop! another male voice from Julian's team
But in that instance before their brain could process anything they collided
In mid-air, his body crashed into her. With vicious force, his elbow seized her shoulder and her body contorted. Pain beyond what her brain could handle flowed throughout her body.
Time slowed
Everywhere went silent
Then the crash
With a hollow thud, Rebecca struck the hardwood floor and landed awkwardly on her arm. She felt pain tearing through her chest and shoulder. Her vision became blurred.
Everyone gasped!
She tried to stand but couldn't feel anything, the pain was unbearable
"Becca!" "Rebecca" Her teammates and coach shouted in unison rushing to her side
"Someone please call 911" Ella, Rebecca's best friend shouted tears filling her eyes
Julian stood there, eye wide, breathless, "I....I...I didn't mea...I didn't mean to" he struggled to say as tears welled up in his eyes, guilt written all over his eyes, he knew, deep down he knew, he had destroyed someone's life.
As everyone surrounded Rebecca, the screaming stopped and it became silent again.
The ambulance arrived and they took her on a stretcher because she couldn't even stand. As they followed her to the ambulance no one said a thing. They all knew that tomorrow's game meant everything to Rebecca and she had prepared more than everyone for it.
Even though she did not talk about it they knew her parents were going through a divorce and university tuition was going to be a bid deal for her, the scholarship was a big deal for her and they all felt her pain.
Even if she was going to get better, they knew it won't be in time for tomorrow's game.
Julian stood at the now empty court unable to move, his body was frozen, his mind blank. He saw the stares that were sent his way. "Show off" someone had whispered in his ear, he knew they all thought it was his fault, he knew it was his fault. For a second he forgot he was playing with girls and put all his energy into it.
Rebecca's words "take it easy on us" rang in his ear and at the same time he remembered, his words kept replaying in his ears, " I may even bring you to tears" he screamed in the empty court as he fell to his knees, I'm so sorry he whispered quietly.
Rebecca's mind could not process anything, the paramedics had given her a shot for the pain and she could feel it taking effect as she starts to lose consciousness and then everywhere went blank.
"The rotator cuff muscle is torn" Rebecca heard a strange voice said as she slowly wakes up looking around to realize she was in the hospital and the doctor was standing with her mom in the corner of the room talking.
"She needs to undergo surgery" the doctor continued "and rehab would take 9 months " the doctor added.
Tears flowed down Rebecca's eyes, and in that moment, she knew it wasn't just her shoulder that was broken but her dreams too, she imagined how it would have been as her mom noticed her and came to her side to console her.
Her surgery was scheduled to take place at the exact same time the match was going on at the school the next day, as the wheeled her into the operating theater she imagined her teammates running on the field and player like she would have and fresh tears run down her eyes.
All because of one moment, one hit, one boy
The last time she saw Julian was when they where wheeling her out of the volleyball court, he had said I'm sorry but she could not process it because of the pain.
She hadn't seen him again
Until now.