Chapter 06 -- Winners Take All
We all now had our eyes fixed on Brooke, who looked like a deer caught in headlights.
"Um, I'm still not sure," Brooke uttered.
"That's not how the game works, Brooke," Leslie talked down to her younger sister.
"More for us if she doesn't play," Vivian snickered and then winked at me.
"Listen, bitch, I can decide for myself," Brooke yelled at her.
"There's the fire I knew was inside you," Leslie encouraged her. "So are you in? I won't ask you again."
"Yes, I am in," Brooke announced and then she looked at me sternly.
"Great," Leslie declared. "Based on all of your performances today, I think I should not be selfish and give up my turn with our boy."
"Give it up to whom," Penny inquired quickly.
"To the winners of another game of volleyball," Leslie revealed. "I will even increase it to the winners of the game get to spend the night with him, here, tonight."
I was shocked. This was a bold move for Leslie. I was actually very impressed. Her poise and control were outstanding and her logic showed a blooming appreciation for everyone involved in the game. Leslie was starting to enjoy the responsibility of being in charge.
"What are the teams," Penny asked.
"Brooke and I against you and Vivian," Leslie decided quickly. "Think you are up for it?"
"Best of 3," Penny waged.
"Done," Leslie cemented.
We headed outside to the area where the net was setup. As we walked past him, Jack saw something brewing. We were waiting on Penny, who had gone to change out her bathing suit once again.
"What's going on," he asked me.
"Penny and Vivian are playing Leslie and Brooke in a best of 3 volleyball game," I clued him in.
"Hey Em, you're gonna want to see this," he yelled to Emma, who was currently seeing out the final guests.
We each pulled up a beach chair and Jack offered me another beer. I gladly accepted, as I could not wait to see this game. Emma came through the glass doors and sat next to Jack as he explained to her what was about to happen. She turned back over her shoulder to look at me and mouthed the words, "For You?" I replied by mouthing one word back to her "Tonight."
Finally Penny arrived, clad once again in a t-shirt and yellow shorts. The first game began. Penny was hot early, building a 6-2 lead despite Vivian not being much of an athlete. Leslie and Brooke seemed to not be on the same page and there was a lot of yelling from their side of the court.
"What's going on," Mindy asked me as she sat down next to me.
"They are playing 2 out of 3," I answered simply.
She leaned in close to me and put her mouth near my right ear.
"Are you the prize," she whispered.
I did not answer, I simply nodded and she sighed. We all watched with tremendous interest.
Penny was playing like a woman possessed, giving Vivian instruction as they went along. Before long game 1 was out of hand at 18-5. Penny finished off the first game with 3 straight spikes over Brooke, smiling extra wide as she had successfully showed Vivian how to set her up.
There was a short time out between games. Leslie pulled Brooke aside and tried to instruct her on how they were going to play game two. Penny and Vivian were ready to go right away, enjoying their game one win. Leslie served to open game two and we were all still sitting there captivated by the action.
Brooke and Leslie seemed to have organized themselves a little better in the second game and it was close at 5-4, when they went on a small run to make it 7-5 in their favor. Penny was able to regain the serve and that is when things changed dramatically. Down 7-6, Penny served and while attempting to set Penny later during that point, Vivian's ankle gave out on her. As she crumbled to the ground in a heap, she managed to set the ball and Penny spiked it home to tie the game at 7.
Vivian was in serious pain as she sat holding her ankle. She got to her feet with Penny's help and hobbled around a bit. We all thought she should stop but she was a woman determined.
"Viv, you could have torn something," Emma pleaded. "You should sit this one out."
"Not a chance," Vivian replied, wincing in pain. She looked at me and smiled. "Serve."
Penny served but the point was lost, as Vivian had no mobility on her bad joint. Leslie and Brooke capitalize on the injury, boosting the score to 9-7 in their favor. Penny hit a great shot that landed on the out line to recover the serve. Vivian got a weak serve over the net and the ball was in play. Vivian again went for a set and again her ankle gave out. This time though, there was a loud tearing sound that went along with her crashing to the floor.
Jack and I both ran over to her. We helped her up and carried her over to a beach chair. Her ankle was already swelling and she could put no pressure on it at all with out pulling back from the pain. Her game was over for the night. As we further examined her ankle, Brooke and Penny got into a heated discussion.
"It has to be a forfeit, your partner can't play," Brooke shouted.
