Epilogue.
Don’t Be Dramatic…Actually, Do Whatever You Want
“THAT’S MY GIRLFRIEND RIGHT THERE!” I yell right after Sierra spikes, making the ball land right in the middle of the opponents’ side of the court.
She turns around and jogs toward me, to a tall basket holding volleyballs. She uses the excuse of getting a new ball to tell me, “We’re, um—we’re actually just warming up right now, Ellie.”
“I know,” I say, not able to control the big grin on my face. “I just really like being your proud, supportive girlfriend.”
She rolls her eyes at me but laughs. “You’re insufferable.”
I shrug. “You love me.”
“Yes, I do. Those two statements can coexist.” She glances back at the people behind her, then briefly returns her attention to me. “We are starting in a bit, though, so behave, please.”
I simply give her a wink, watching as she walks back to her brand-new team.
It took some work, but Sierra’s dad finally decided to let her play indoor volleyball again after Gigi and I made David talk to him.
It sucks that it took Adrian’s old teammate to convince him of what his daughter wanted, but at least this way I get to see Sierra do what she loves.
It’s not as ideal as when she played in Willowmoor, which meant she could bike to her practices, but Belford is not that far of a drive, either. Plus it gives me an excuse to meet up with Gigi and Sloane when I occasionally come along with Sierra, as Belford is their hometown.
I’m really not complaining about this change, though. The red Belford shirt looks way better on Sierra than the green one Willowmoor insisted she wear.
The time until the game really starts is ticking, so I quickly take my phone out of my pocket, rushing to type something to the group chat.
You in a Smashing! Surprise for Sierra:
WHERE ARE YOU ALL??????
Immediately I get a text back.
Liam in a Smashing! Surprise for Sierra:
dude.
we were waiting for you to tell us we can come in?? we’re literally right outside??
You in a Smashing! Surprise for Sierra:
oh.
well.
go ahead!
It’s the most important game Sierra’s had in a while, so I thought it’d be a good idea to bring her some moral support in the form of our camp friends.
We haven’t all been together since the end of this summer’s edition of SMASH!
, but I know it would mean a lot to Sierra, especially since, a while ago, she confessed she’s still scared that the group only tolerates her because she was my friend at summer camp—and is now my girlfriend.
Maybe having all of them here, at her game, will make her realize they’re just as much her friends as they are mine.
Her back is turned to the audience when Liam, Maya, Yasmeen, Sloane, Noah, Veronica, and Gigi all slip through the door. For some reason they’re all overly careful not to make any sounds as they settle down.
The referee whistles to signal the start of the game, and so a still-clueless Sierra starts playing. It’s only when she scores a point and has to serve that she turns around and sees us—all of us—in the audience.
She blinks for a few moments, as if she’s convinced everyone being here is a product of her imagination. But it’s not. This is real, and we’re all here to cheer her on.
As she realizes that, her whole face lights up, that fire I like so much burning in her brown eyes again. And when she smiles at us, it’s the smile of a winner.
Later that night, after the game and lots of catching up over dinner, we all go to Gigi’s favorite park to continue celebrating Sierra’s victory together. That’s where we’ve been chatting for the past hour or so, some of us lying down in the grass while a few others have decided to claim a bench.
“There’s something truly wrong with the weather these days.” Maya says at some point, totally unprompted. “Like, it’s the end of November! I should not be able to sit outside at nine p.m. without a coat!”
Noah hums in agreement. “The grass could also really use some rain. It’s so dry, it actually kind of hurts to sit on,” he says.
And barely five minutes later, of course, it does start raining.
“Dammit,” I hear Veronica grumble next to me, followed by a million other curse words. I’ve got to give it to her: She’s really creative when it comes to cursing. Impressively so.
It’s the kind of rain that comes out of nowhere—one moment you can’t feel a single drop, and the next your hair is being soaked as well as the fabric of your red winter dress, making it cling to your skin.
The sensation of it is horrible, but as we all get up and look for a place to shelter, I know there’s not a single thing I’d change.
In fact, while the rain pours down on us, I could make an endless list of things I love about this moment.
I love the way our laughs blend together, the sounds echoing through my entire body as my heart beats in a rhythm that feels like a warm home.
I love that when I look to Sierra, her brown eyes are already on me.
I love how her hand reaches for mine as we run through the streets and how we both slow down so she can pull me closer until, just like that, our lips fit against each other perfectly.
But the thing I love most about this moment and all the other ones that follow it?
They are mine.