Tennis War

I exited the airlock and stepped into the Bubble. The Bubble is a massive white dome with four inside Tennis courts. Most of my class was already there, including my two best friends Payton and Russell, who were hovering over my crush Adam. Adam didn’t know I liked him, he cared for looks and money, I didn’t have either. Every time I saw him though my heart would dance and speed up, I liked him a lot. Adam flashed me a smile while Payton and Russell waved and said “Hi Skylla.” At the same time. Adam laughed and so did I, they both looked down embarrassed. “We’ll look who finally showed up!” A voice sneered. I turned to see my enemy Veronica leaning on the Top Court net. “Veronica.” I said politely nodding my head to her. The sneer slowly melted off her face. Usually I argued with her but I didn’t feel like it today. Our teacher Coach Caleb entered before she could say anything. “Bump to 21 groundies! Team tennis, pick a partner and get to it!” He yelled as he set down his tennis bag. I set down mine as well, and partnered up with Derek, a tall kid with black hair and a white hat. We walked to Bottom Court and began playing against Russell and Adam.

“Seriously how do you and Derek do it?” Russell asked later as we waited in the parking lot for our parents. Payton giggled, “No I’m serious!” He continued. “Derek and Skylla are impossible to beat! They are unbeatable together.” I stopped paying attention to the conversation when Adam came outside, I watched him cross the parking lot to a red Lamborghini. He pulled some keys out and unlocked it, my jaw dropped. Veronica saw him as well. She walked over to him and said something, she flipped her red hair to the side and batted her eye lashes. Adam grinned and opened the passenger door for her, she smiled and got in, my heart broke into pieces as I watched them drive off together.

I got home, ate dinner than went into my room and cried. I cried so hard I passed out for two hours. I woke up around 10:00 and grabbed my black journal. With my pencil in hand I wrote down what happened. Once I was finished I closed the book and waited, a couple minutes later I reopened it to the same spot. Underneath what I had written was another paragraph in black ink, it said:

ADAM IS AN IDIOT, HE ONLY CARES FOR WHAT’S ON THE OUTSIDE NOT THE INSIDE, YOU ARE GOOD AND KIND AND TO ME THAT’S WHAT REAL BEAUTY IS.

My journal is magic. When I write down a statement or a question my journal would talk or answer me. I had it for four years ever since I was ten. It was like a friend to me. He didn’t have a name though, I would give him one soon though. I smiled to myself as I re-read what he told me, tears of joy streaming down my face.

Two days later on Thursday afternoon, I was back at the Bubble. Adam only went Mondays so I sighed with relief that he wasn’t there. Veronica was though, and Russell. Payton only went Monday’s as well. Before I entered the airlock a sign caught my gaze, It read:

Tennis Tournament!

February 27 2-3:00

At Lincoln Park!

1st Place Wins Surprising And Amazing Reward!

Sign Up Today!!!

Underneath was a sing up sheet. Veronica and eight others including Adam had signed up. Only one place remained open, I filled in my name there, I turned around and almost ran into Derek.

“Omg I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed,

“It’s ok, do you want some help?” He asked, I looked at him in confusion,

“Help?” I asked,

“Yeah practice for the tournament.”

I blushed, “Oh, umm ok, how about every day from 4:00-5:00 until next Saturday?” I asked, he nodded his head in agreement, “It’s a date.” And with that we walked into the airlock together.

The next week passed in a blur. I would do school in the morning and practice with Derek in the afternoon. I quite enjoyed hanging out with him. Friday came and that’s when I made a really big mistake. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and me and Derek were playing in the Bubble. I hit a fore hand high ball, Derek ran up and looked like he was going to pound it. I backed up a lot, but at the last second he merely dinked the ball and it landed on my side right by the net. I was too far away to reach it, so Derek won the game. “Nice trick.” I yelled to him. He grinned and I was about to say something else when I heard a familiar sneer. “If that’s the best you can do Skylla, I’ll have no trouble winning tomorrow.” Veronica stood by the green net separating the courts watching us, “Go away Veronica,” Derek muttered. She ignored him. “ I’m surprised you’re even in the Intermediate class Sky. Your no better than a beginner,” She cackled. Before I could even think, the words came out of my mouth, “I bet I could beat you Veronica, so I challenge you to a Tennis War.” Veronicas eyes lit up. “A Tennis War? Ok tomorrow then. Winner gets the grand prize of the tournament and is new Queen of the Bubble. Loser leaves the Bubble for good.” Derek was shaking his head at me, “Deal!” I said. We bumped rackets to make it official and Veronica stalked off laughing to herself. “Why did you do that?” Derek asked looking, mad. “Relax, I’ll be fine.” I told him. He sighed and walked away. I was afraid despite my confident words. “What if I lose?” I asked myself.

That night, I talked to my journal, I told it everything that had happened, including my feelings of fear. He answered me with this:

“REMEMBER TODAY AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED, YOU WILL DO FINE, I BELIEVE IN YOU SKYLLA.”

My friend gave me strength and hope I decided to name him,(I decided he was a guy to.) For half an hour I thought of names till I finally thought of a perfect one: Elpis. In Greek it meant Hope. My friend had given me Hope.

The next day was Tournament day. At 1:30 I packed up Elpis, and my water bottle into my Tennis bag and my mom drove me to Lincoln park. Veronica was there including seven of the other players. Adam was not there. Derek, Payton, and Russell sat in the bleachers. I put my bag down and went to one of the courts to warm up. A kid named Max came with me. Caleb called us after a little bit and said we should begin, Adam had still not shown up, he was one of the ten players who had signed up. Caleb disqualified him however for being late. Caleb paired us off and we began to play, my first opponent was a girl named Carly, who I beat 5-2.‘Good start’ I thought. Everyone played until Me, Veronica, Max and a guy named Luke all had four games won in a row, Caleb than had us face each other. I went against Max, and Veronica went against Luke. Veronica won easily 5-0, I won 5-4 ‘Close call,’ I told myself. Finally it was just me against Veronica, Caleb let us have a five minute break before we began. I decided to talk to Elpis during that time. The conversation went like this:

“I’m scared Elpis, this game will determine if I stay or leave the Bubble and my class for good…”

“DON’T BE AFRAID, TRUST IN YOURSELF AND BELIEVE YOU CAN DO THIS, HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF.”

“Thank you Elpis, but what if I lose?”

“IF YOU LOSE THAN YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES AND MOVE ON.”

I smiled and closed Elpis I held him against my chest, thinking over what he said. “Aww cute book! Is that your log of Tennis failures?” Veronica stood over me and sneered. I got up and shoved past her, slipping Elpis into my black sweat pants pocket as I walked away from Veronica. “Ladies! Places!” Caleb called. I walked over to the right side of the court so Veronica could have the sun in her eyes. We faced each other and Caleb blew his whistle signaling us to begin. Veronica won the first point with a really hard shot I couldn’t return, which we called an Ace. 1-0 was the score, the score climbed 1-1, 2-1, 2-2 and ect. Till the score was tied at 4-4, I needed two more points in order to win. Veronica scored one making it 5-4. Now we were in the End Game, If she scored once more she won, If I somehow managed to get a Double Ace on her I would win. A Double Ace meant that I had to get the Tennis ball to land on the line that separates the out-court, from the in-court. Veronica hit a fore hand high ball, I ran forward to meet it, remembering yesterday and Derek’s trick, I grinned and jumped for the ball. I raised my racket and made it look like I was going to slam it. Veronica backed up quick, but at the last second I gently dinked the ball onto her side, it barley got over the net. It landed right on the line between the out-court and the in-court, making it a Double Ace. Veronica screamed in rage as the ball bounced twice on her side. Making the score: 6-5. I had won the game, cheers erupted from the stands, Caleb came forward and yelled, “Skylla has won! Her prize is $20,000!” I stared at Caleb in shock as he continued. “And a free scholarship to any college she wishes!” He handed me two certificates and backed up as my friends crowded me. Veronica ran off crying and Adam was nowhere to be seen. I frowned as I looked around trying, wondering where he was. Payton pulled me to the side and murmured in my ear, “Adam crashed his red Lamborghini into two other cars while he was texting on his phone, his dad lost a ton of money and he got grounded.” I was still grinning at that when Derek came over. I threw my arms around him. He held me and said,

“I’m sorry I lost faith in you.”

“Forgiven.” I said. He grinned and I kissed him on the cheek. The crowd roared in approval. I grabbed Elpis from my black sweats pocket and held him against my chest. He was right, If I let myself be guided by hope and faith, I could overcome anything.