5:30 p.m. Volleyball practice ended.
(Whistle blows)
"Alright, ladies, come on over. I'll keep this brief because I'm ready to pass out on my bed," Coach Mark clapped his hands, urging us to pick up the pace as we gathered around him.
"No interruptions, please." He waited for us to settle down before continuing.
"Today's our last school day, and I know an hour and a half of practice isn't much. So, we'll be running drills and doing activities all summer. Our main goal is to win regionals and make it to nationals. Skipping practice will require a good reason and parental permission. Starting tomorrow, practice will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day, with a 15-minute break every hour. Not too bad, right?"
He looked around, waiting for a response, but everyone stayed silent.
Beth leaned over and whispered, "Hey, Aria, where do you think Coach learned to get all sassy? Maybe I'd actually consider befriending him—seems like he'd be fun to hang out with."
I shot her a smirk, raising one eyebrow. "Beth, this is exactly why I think you have a little crush on him."
Beth rolled her eyes with a playful sigh. "Nope. Stop it, or I'll start calling out your crush on Jared. And don't forget, I've got the height advantage," she teased.
"Ouch, hitting below the belt there, Beth," I grinned.
"Yeah, but you know I'm serious. I'd rather have the hots for your brother than our coach, okay?" I almost laughed out loud at what Beth had just said.
"What's so bad about Coach? He's fit, tall, only four years older than us, and obviously healthy. Just imagine— if he just cut that shoulder-length hair, brushed his fringe to the side, got some sleep to get rid of those eye bags, ditched the glasses and cap, and shaved. The guy could be a catch, Beth," I teased, clearly amused.
Beth took a sip from her water bottle, smirking back. "Aria, you just said 'trust me' and 'I think' in the same sentence—not exactly convincing. How about this—you can have Coach, and I'll go for Jared," she joked. We both laughed.
"Don't forget to tell Auntie her food's top-notch as always." Beth reminded me to thank Mom. The girls love her cooking, and everyone calls her "Auntie." I nodded, knowing how happy Mom would be to hear it.
"Good, no questions? We're..." Just as he was about to dismiss us, Samantha, our number 8, raised her hand.
"Of course, Samantha." Coach's eyes rolled dramatically, hands on his hips. I had to hold back a smile—Coach Mark definitely had his quirks, and I'd always thought he'd look even better if he took more care with his appearance. Beth leaned over and whispered, "See? He's actually funny." We shared a grin.
"Yes, Samantha, what's your question?" Coach asked, crossing his arms. We all respect Coach Mark, and while he's friendly, he keeps solid boundaries. He has this way of setting limits with just a look, but sometimes he comes across as intimidating.
"Sorry, Coach, I'm just a little concerned about us getting home after practice," Samantha said. "It's going to be pretty late at night, and transportation might be tough for some of us." Samantha, who's as tall as Beth and practices judo, is the most protective one on the team.
"Good point, Samantha," Coach replied, nodding. "I meant to mention this earlier, but Daisy Sonderman's grandfather has generously offered to finance cars to take each of you home after practice. Happy birthday, Daisy, and please extend our thanks to your grandfather for his support." Coach gave Daisy a small bow, and then he dismissed us for the day.
Cars just for us, and all summer? That's incredibly generous, and I can see the girls are thrilled as they crowd around Daisy to thank her. Still, I can't help feeling a bit conflicted. I appreciate her generosity, but I also can't shake the feeling that she's always showing off, maybe even expecting something in return. I stay back from the group, determined not to act like everyone else.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
I grabbed my stuff and hurried to the locker room to change. I checked my phone—missed call from Mom.
"Aria, darling, no one's at home, but a package just got delivered. It's from Aunt Marie, for you. Be careful on your way home. Love you."
Noted. I tucked my phone into my backpack, washed my face, and looked in the mirror.
"Dang, forgot my face towel," I muttered, grabbing some tissue to blot my face instead. With a quick fix-up, I headed out.
As I stepped out, I spotted Daisy waiting nearby.
"Hey, Aria!" she called, smiling brightly. "Would you like to join us for karaoke? We're all going together in the car—it'll be fun!"
I hesitated. It was sweet of her. Daisy was genuinely thoughtful, but it felt a bit overwhelming, especially with the kind of attention she gives. I liked her but just wasn't comfortable getting too close.
"Thanks, Daisy," I said, smiling. "That's really nice of you. But I actually have an errand from my mom, so I'll have to pass. Hope you guys have a great time, though—and happy birthday!"
Her face fell a little. "Oh... okay, thanks, Aria," she replied, sounding slightly disappointed. Guilt tugged at me, but I knew I had to keep some distance.
"Yeah, so, I better get going. Bye!" I added quickly, giving her an awkward smile as I walked past. Just then, Samantha and her bodyguard appeared, I was relieved at least she wasn't left alone.
I hurried toward the gate, catching a glimpse of the sunset casting brilliant shades of orange and pink across the sky. It was beautiful, filling me with a comforting feeling, like a promise that everything would be okay.
Quack! Quack!
The sudden sound of birds grabbed my attention. I looked over and saw a cluster of black birds circling the nearby trees. A sudden, cold breeze swept through, sending a chill down my spine. I stood there for a moment, watching the birds as the sky dimmed quickly. I shook off the unease—it was getting darker, and I really needed to get home. The birds' calls seemed to echo, almost hauntingly, in the quiet air.
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At home
I glance at my watch—7:16 p.m. I'm standing at the front door, so this is the package mom was talking about.
It looks like no one's home yet. I slide my key into the lock, pick up the package, and step inside. Quickly, I send a text to Mom and Dad to let them know I'm home safe, then message my brother, asking where he is.
I walk to my bedroom, flip the light switch, and place my backpack on the bed. The package goes onto my desk as I pull the curtains shut—something I never do during the day since I love having the sunlight warm up the room.
I change into my pyjamas, wash my face, brush my teeth and hair. Then I turn off the lights, open the curtains, and let the cool evening air drift in. Finally, I collapse onto the bed, face-first. I'm completely drained.
The next morning, I woke up to the comforting aroma of my mom's cooking. Right, I skipped dinner last night. I stretch my arms above my head—ouch, my neck! Must've slept in a weird position. Now I'm paying the price with this soreness.
I glance over at my desk. Ah, the package. I pick up my phone and scroll through my notifications.
**Mom**: * Oh, darling, glad you're home safe! I'll be home late, it's busy at the restaurant tonight. Just heat up something from the fridge if you're hungry. Rest well. Love, Mom 😚❤️*
**Dad**: * Good to hear, Aria. Eat something and get some sleep.*
Typical Dad—straight to the point. I keep scrolling.
**Beth, 3 messages**
Message 1, 7:26 pm: *Aria, where are you?*
Message 2, 7:54 pm: *Why did you miss Daisy's birthday? The party's 🔥🔥*
Message 3, 7:55 pm: *(Picture)*
I open the photo. The team looks like they're having a blast. That's good.
Next, I see a message from my brother, Kyle.
**Kyle**: *Miss me already, little sis? Aw~ don't cry while I'm gone, okay? And don't go getting into trouble. Luv ya, ew 😚🤣🤣 🐦⬛*
Annoying as always. But I love him.
Hmm... a message from Aunt Marie?
**Aunt Marie, 5 messages**
Message 1, 10:00 pm: *Aria, how are you?*
Message 2, 10:01 pm: *(video)*
Message 3, 10:02 pm: *I sent a video—this is important.*
Message 4, 10:03 pm: *Open the package first before watching the video.*
Message 5, 11:01 pm: *Where is Kyle?*
It's unusual—Aunt Marie barely ever sends more than a quick message or two. And now she's asking about Kyle? She only ever checks in on him through me. Kyle always jokes it's because she likes me more, some kind of favoritism, but I reassure him that there's probably a reason. Not that either of us has ever had the nerve to actually ask her about it.
I glance over at my desk where the package sits. Just then, my phone rang.
*Bzz... Bzz...*
It's Beth.