Liberos have special rules to follow and tend to be the shortest person on the team, since it’s a position where you can’t go up front and battle at the net. Despite that, I’ve always been drawn to the position. I’m more than capable of sky battles, but there’s nothing more satisfying than receiving a good dig, to diving for a ball, or making a great save.
As the tallest person on the team, I have the longest arm span which only serves to help me receive even more balls.
“Heard you got into a bit of trouble this morning,” Kent says, receiving a serve and sending it up to our assistant coach who’s standing at the net where our setter would normally be. He catches the ball and drops it into the bin.
“Apparently I met a famous person.”
“Of course Oli was excited about that,” Kent says with an amused snort. “He loves social media almost as much as he loves volleyball.”
I take a step forward as Sullivan does a jump serve. He’s known for his floaters which take on a strange, wobbly pattern as they fly over the net. My practice is really paying off. If I can manage to receiveSullivan’sfloaters, than I can get other teams’ as well. His are some of the hardest to hit in the entire nation.
I just barely get my finger tips on the ball above my head, sending it up to coach instead of letting it fly behind me. Floaters, in general, can be really tricky to receive, Sullivan’s especially.
“Even if the person was famous, I still feel strange about the interaction.”
“Understandable,” Kent says, sending another ball up to coach, wincing at how hard that serve hit. Amour has awickedjump serve that feels like a brick is being thrown at you instead of a volleyball. “Maybe we should do a little research.”
“What do you mean?”
“Me and some of the guys could come over and we could watch this Blue person, get a feel for if he’s an asshole or if it was a one off.”
“I don’t know why that even matters,” I tell him seriously. “I doubt I’ll ever see him again.”
Kent shrugs before getting back into his stance. He might be two feet shorter than me but he’sfastwhich makes him an excellent libero. He’s my backup, coming in if I’m ever hurt or need a break during a game.
“It could be fun just to hang out.”
I finally nod my head. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
Kent lets out a cheer, calling out to some of the other guys and telling them the plan. The rest of practice finishes quickly. We all shower in the locker room and get changed before heading out of the gym and towards the apartment complex the majority of us live in.
It’s part of my contract, living here and I’m sure it’s the same for the others. Being neighbors with my teammates has its perks but it’s also annoying sometimes when I just want to be left alone. Oli is especially determined to force me into having a social life.
There are boxes of pizzas waiting on my doorstep when we arrive. I look back at my teammates with confusion.
“That was me,” Oli says, raising his hand. “I ordered them as soon as I heard we were having a party.”
“This is not a party,” I tell him, opening my door and letting everyone inside. “This is research.”
Daniel pats my shoulder. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this. Don’t you worry.”
Resigning myself to the chaos, I simply sigh and step further into my apartment, dropping my gym bag near the front door but tucked out of the way. Oli makes himself at home, digging through my cupboards for plates.
The last time they were here, Oli had left some beer in my fridge so I dig it out, handing it over to everyone who’d like one. Pizza and beer are not on my diet program but I indulge in one slice of the veggie pizza before pulling a salad out of the fridge I’d made myself before practice.
Oli is already in my living room, turning my tv on. I watch as he pulls up the apps and downloads a streaming platform.
“I’m going to assume you don’t have an account. Right, Maki?” I shake my head. “Okay, no worries. Let me just,” he murmurs, scanning the code on the tv and then setting me up with an account using his phone.
“Makieplaysvolleyball will be your username, hope that’s okay.”
“That seems perfect because I do, in fact, play volleyball.”
Daniel snorts, shoving half a piece of pizza in his mouth. Sullivan steps over to him, bumping their shoulders together. Ivan is trying to take Oli’s phone, the two of them fighting over something while Bo and Kent are chatting on the couch. Amour is standing in the kitchen, talking with Kurstin, both of them with a beer in their hands.
My apartment isn’t big enough to accommodate all of these people. I feel a little bit too crowded which is frustrating because this ismyhome. Even so, I can’t find it in myself to regret this decision that brought us all together. I like my team. I like them a lot. I might even be inclined to call them my family.
“Boom,” Oli says, switching back to the television. “Here we go! He’s live right now! Perfect timing!”
