Chapter Five

Hurt Feelings

At the start of Saturday’s practice, Coach Elise called everyone together.

“Since our first game is a week away, we’re going to scrimmage today,” she said. “It’s important to treat it like a real game, so we can see what we need to work on.”

Coach Elise split the girls into two groups. She put Asiyah and Lucy on different teams. Asiyah was in the front row, next to the net. Lucy was right across from her.

Asiyah made some goofy faces at her friend. But Lucy didn’t react. Instead, she looked very serious.

As everybody was getting to their spots, Asiyah turned around. “Shivani! Rachel! You guys have to see a music video that Lucy and I were watching. The singer had some great moves,” she said. “Watch this.”

Asiyah twirled around like the singer.

“Nice!” Shivani said.

“Thanks. I can show you how to do it,” Asiyah added. “It’s really easy.”

Asiyah was about to spin again when Coach Elise blew her whistle. “Give us your full attention, please, Asiyah. Caroline is about to serve.”

“Sorry, Coach! I’m completely ready,” Asiyah replied.

Asiyah continued to sway back and forth as the serve came. The ball sailed straight to the back row. Rachel bumped it up high.

Using her fingertips, Shivani pushed the ball straight into the air. She set it perfectly for Asiyah to hit. Asiyah ran toward the ball, jumped up, and brought her hand down hard.

But she hit the ball off the side of her hand. It flopped over the net.

Lucy was right there to block it. She jumped and slammed it back onto Asiyah’s side. No one could get to the ball. One point for Lucy’s team.

Asiyah shook out her arms and legs. She moved her shoulders up and down. OK, time to focus, she told herself. I won’t let Lucy stop my attack like that again.

But Asiyah couldn’t help bopping to the music in her head as the next serve flew toward them.

Jessica slid on her knees and got under the ball. It was a great dig. Shivani then set it to the left of Asiyah.

But Asiyah wasn’t in the right spot. She hadn’t been paying close attention to where Shivani was putting the ball. Asiyah rushed over. She hit the ball, but she barely managed to get it over the net.

Lucy was ready. She smacked the ball down. Asiyah couldn’t set up in time to block the shot.

THUNK! The ball hit the court.

“Yikes!” Asiyah said. “I’ve already let in two points.”

“That’s why we have to keep practicing,” Lucy said from the other side of the net.

Asiyah could feel her face get hot. Lucy sounded more like a teacher scolding her than a friend. It was a little embarrassing.

Lucy’s team scored more and more points. It wasn’t until the score was 6–0 that Asiyah’s team finally got a ball past Lucy and the other blockers.

Jessica pounded the serve for Asiyah’s team. On the other side, Caroline set the ball. Lucy sent it spinning back over.

Rachel bumped it up. Asiyah smacked the ball, but she hit it way too hard. It flew toward the sidelines.

“It’s going out!” Lucy yelled to her teammates. “Don’t touch it!”

The ball bounced hard off the floor— about six inches outside the court. Lucy’s team had scored another point.

Asiyah let out a frustrated sigh. I just can’t do anything right today, she thought.

Coach Elise blew her whistle. “Girls, take a water break,” she said. “Then we’ll go over what we can improve.”

Asiyah walked to the bleachers to grab her water bottle. Lucy, Shivani, and Jessica were gathered around a nearby water fountain. The girls couldn’t see Asiyah because she was blocked by the stands. But Asiyah could hear them talking about practice.

“What’s up with Asiyah today?” Shivani asked. “I mean, she’s so funny and upbeat, like always. But it doesn’t seem like her head is in the game.”

Jessica nodded. “I noticed that too,” she said. “It seemed like Asiyah was just trying to make us laugh during the scrimmage.”

“Yeah. Like the way she was dancing between points,” Shivani added. “It was distracting. She’s not taking anything seriously.”

Asiyah’s heart sank. She did like to clown around, but she didn’t want anyone to think the team wasn’t important to her.

I’m sure Lucy will stand up for me, Asiyah thought. She knows that even though I like to have fun, I want to do my best for the team.

“Yeah, I don’t get it. Asiyah could be a great player,” Lucy said. “She just has to learn to focus and get more into the practices. We’re all working our hardest. I wish she did too.”

Asiyah didn’t want to hear any more. She hurried toward the water fountain on the other side of the gym.

How could Lucy say that? Asiyah thought. I might have complained about practices, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been serious. It doesn’t mean I don’t care about the team.

Asiyah sat down on a bench. She thought more about what her best friend had said. It wasn’t too different from what Lucy had told her before practice. But it still hurt her feelings.

Maybe I should tell Lucy I overheard her, Asiyah thought.

Before Asiyah could do anything, Coach Elise blew her whistle. The break was over. Asiyah hesitated, then jogged back onto the court.

The scrimmage started again. This time, Asiyah stopped herself from wiggling and dancing. Focus! she told herself.

A few minutes later, Jessica was serving. She whacked the ball, but it hit the net. The ball bounced off, hit Shivani’s shoulder, and landed right in Coach Elise’s arms.

All the girls laughed—except Asiyah. Suddenly things weren’t so funny anymore.