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CHAPTER 7

  The ball had hit Mia in the back as she walked to the base line to receive the serve.

  "One nil," called Toby from the side line. "Savannah's serve again."

  "That's not fair," Jimmy began to protest, "She wasn't ..."

  "It doesn't matter, Jimmy," said Mia, reaching over her shoulder and rubbing her back. "Stay up at the net and get ready to hit it over."

  Savannah threw the ball into the air and served again. This time the ball went to the opposite corner. Mia dived to her left and popped the ball up towards Jimmy. Jimmy, however, was so impressed with the dive that he threw his arms in air and cheered.

  "You got it. Great shot, Mia! ... Oops, sorry."

  "It's okay. Be ready for the next one."

  "Two - nil", called Toby.

  "How about I drop back and you cover the net? Would that be better?" Jimmy suggested.

  "I'll try anything." Mia knew she had some work ahead of her if they were to avoid total humiliation.

  "What was the score again, umpire?" Savannah asked unnecessarily.

  "Two to you. None to them."

  "Thanks, I thought that's what you said," she grinned. “Ready, Jimmy? This might hurt a bit.”

  “I’m ready, Savannah. Give it your best shot.”

  Savannah threw the ball high in the air then smashed it towards Jimmy who didn’t even have time to move. The ball hit him on the head and rebounded towards Mia.

  “Yes,” exclaimed Mitch excitedly, but too soon.

  Mia reacted quickly and, with fingertip control, guided the ball over the net where it landed at Mitch’s feet.

  “Point to us!” Jimmy screamed.

  “What do you mean,” Savannah objected. “That came off your face! Point to us.”

  “Actually,” Mia pressed, “I’m pretty sure you are allowed to hit it with any part of your body.” She looked over towards Ruby and Toby. “What do you say?”

  The twins looked decidedly uncomfortable. They both glanced at Savannah whose glare dared them to cross her. They looked at Jimmy, whose eyes were pleading with them. They looked at Mia who just smiled.

  “She seems pretty confident about the rules,” whispered Toby to his sister.

  “She’s probably right,” added Ruby. They conferred quietly for another few seconds until Savannah urged them in very impolite terms to make a decision.

  “Three - nil,” came the umpire’s eventual call.

  Jimmy covered his face with his hands. “What’s the point? They’re never going to let us win.”

  “So? What did you want when you came down to the beach?”

  “To play volleyball.”

  “And what do you think Savannah wanted?”

  “To win.”

  “Exactly. So it looks to me like everyone’s getting what they wanted.” Mia gave Jimmy an encouraging look. “Hey, can I see the ball for a second?” she asked and Mitch passed it to her. Mia immediately threw it towards Ruby who reacted quickly and caught the ball in both hands.

  “Good catch, Ruby,” said Mia.

  “Umm…thanks,” Ruby smiled.

  “It’s good to see your wrist is better. Your serve, Savannah.”

  Before too long it was 6 – Nil. Mia knew that they had little chance of winning the game and that they might have to be satisfied with saving some pride. Jimmy was so nervous and uncoordinated that it was virtually two against one. She had to reduce the odds.

  Mia could hear her coach’s voice. You have an arsenal of tools at your disposal. Sometimes the winner is the fastest. Sometimes she’s the cleverest. Sometimes, she’s the one who’s mentally strongest.

  And what if none of that is enough?

  Well then you just do whatever it takes, within the rules.

  Whatever it takes…

  Mia frowned. Oh gosh, am I about to do what I’m thinking?

  Then she smiled. “Is anyone else hot?”

  “No drink breaks allowed.” Savannah really was starting to sound annoying.

  “Oh, I’m not thirsty.” Mia walked off the court, took an elastic from her pocket and pulled her blonde hair back into a ponytail. She then slipped off her shorts and t-shirt.

  The group fell silent. Mia’s fluorescent green bathers stood out against the pale yellow sand.

  Be my girlfriend, thought Toby.

  We’re gonna be so happy together, thought Mitch.

  I’ll love you forever, thought Jimmy.

  Pretty colour, thought Ruby.

  Cow, thought Savannah as she served the ball hard at Mia.

  Mia lobbed a return but Mitch’s lack of concentration saw him slice the ball.

  “Your serve, Jimmy.” announce Mia. “Time to score a few points.”

  Jimmy’s serve was no challenge to Savannah who bump-passed it for her partner. “Mitch, it’s yours,” she shouted.

  Mitch ran to the net and hit the ball only half as hard as he could have in Mia’s direction. Mia deftly dinked the ball back over the net where it landed safely inside the court.

  “Six – One,” called Toby.

  “Good hit anyway, Mitch,” Mia leaned her head a little to the side and fluttered her lashes. “Do you work out? You look really fit.”

  “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” blurted Savannah throwing her arms in the air.

  Mitch blushed visibly. “No, not really. Just naturally athletic, I guess.”

  Mia turned to Jimmy. “Good work. Your serve again.”

  Mitch was flexing his arms and still admiring himself when Jimmy served. Mitch reacted at the last instant and the ball came off the side of his hand and rolled towards the water.

  “I like this game,” smiled Jimmy.

  At 9 – 6 Savannah was almost salivating in anticipation of winning against the bright green intruder.

  “Oh, sorry everyone,” Mia suddenly announced. “My phone’s ringing. It’ll be my mother. I told her I’d be back by five.”

  Mitch screwed up his nose. “I can’t hear anything,”

  Jimmy grabbed her by the arm. “You can’t leave now. We’re in with a chance.”

  Savannah’s shrill voice startled everyone. “Don’t you dare leave!” she shrieked. “It can’t be a draw. We’re going to beat you. That’s the whole point of playing!”

  Her friends had seen her angry before. The difference now was that, unfortunately for Savannah, she knew nothing about Mia that she could use to humiliate her in front of the others. So, lost for insults, she was reduced to senseless gibbering.

  Mia smiled her innocence. “It’s not a draw, Savannah. We forfeit. You win. Congratulations. I really have to go, sorry. I’ve had a lot of fun.”

  “Get back here!” Savannah demanded as Mia brushed off the sand and got dressed. “Don’t you ignore me!”

  Then Jimmy realised that they had won, without winning. Savannah, the girl who was always so cool and in control, was embarrassing herself in front of everyone.

  “Yeah, we’d better go too,” said Toby. “Let’s pack up the gear.”

  “Cool girl, hey? Shame she had to go,” lamented Mitch as Mia walked away. A face full of sand made him splutter and cough. He wiped his eyes to see Savannah storming off in the direction of home.

  Jimmy caught up with Mia. “Your phone wasn’t ringing, was it?” Mia just grinned.

  “That was brilliant!”

  “What?”

  “That … that tactical forfeit.”

  “Yes, she’s pretty upset, isn’t she? Sorry, Jimmy I really do have to go.” Mia had had enough of large-group interaction for one day.

  “Might see you tomorrow,” said Jimmy hopefully.

  She turned. “Are you sure? Someone mightn’t like that.”

  “Well, maybe that doesn’t matter,” called Jimmy.

  Mia smiled and waved.