It was match point, if we lost this set it was all over for us. I looked across the net to the other team, they knew they could win this here and you could see it on their faces. Their server bent their knees then tossed the ball into the air, he took two quick steps then leaped into air, he swung his arm hitting the ball sending it flying directly into the back of our court.
“Got it.”
Jeff called out. He got underneath the ball and bumped it to Chris. I made eye contact with Chris and from hours of playing together he knew what I wanted. I quickly ran up to the net and jumped up. Their blockers responded and jumped up, but it was too late. I saw my window to score and bring this game back. I looked for the ball, then found it out of reach. I tried to hit it, but only my fingers tapped the ball. The ball slowly fell on our side with no one to receive it. The other team erupted into cheers and celebration as the whistle marked the end to our season. Everyone was quiet and stayed in place. I was supposed to win this and go to nationals, how did we lose to this team with no track record. My plans for the future all crumbled in an instant. Things seemed to slow down, my chest was tight, breathing was difficult. I was playing so well too, this team let me down, I looked around to the sullen faces of my teammates. No one was making eye contact.
“How did you mess up that set? I had the perfect jump, all you needed to do was get it close.”
Chris was looking down solemnly at his hands when he responded.
“I-I don't know I just kinda slipped.”
He just slipped? We lost our chance because he slipped? We can't make stupid mistakes like that. My frustration turned to anger.
“Yeah you slipped. You slipped up and ruined all our plans to go to nationals!”
His eyes welled up and tears began to fall slowly from his eyes.
“So now you're just going to cry and make me seem like the bad guy? Everyone is with me on this one.”
I looked around for my approval, but instead was met with gazes of contempt. Jeff walked up to me with a frustrated look on his face. What reason does he have to be annoyed?
“Hey we lost, just accept that, everyone here tried their best.” He said to me in his gruff voice.
“Well it doesn't seem that way to me, we always play better than this. You messed up so many receives Jeff.”
“You think I don't fucking know that? Everyone here is frustrated. But you went around last week telling everyone we are going to nationals because you thought we would win.”
“Because we should have!” I shouted back at him.
“You're always in everyone's fucking face pointing out how they mess up. And you always assume we should win, you make playing games stressful and unfun for everyone on the team.”
“I'm the best player we have, you guys just needed to support me. I was going to take us to nationals.”
“You didn't, we lost. Just because you were the star of your Highschool team you think you're hot shit. If you were as good as you think you are, we wouldn't be here.”
“You're just venting because you've never been the star of anything.”
“Wow. I don't even have anything to say.” He turned and left the court. I could catch my teammates' dirty glances as they followed Jeff off the court. Chris didn't even look at me and just left. I was left alone on the court. A vast feeling of emptiness overtook me as I stood alone in the court processing. The game wasn't the only thing I lost today.
Komentarze