It was the morning of their national championship game against Nebraska and Robin was booming with confidence. Her team had played fiercely throughout the season, dominating all the teams that they faced. While they acknowledged that playing Nebraska on their home court would be difficult, the team had faith that they would still pull through and win it all.
Because the girls had a small break in the season due to Christmas being around the corner, Paige, Aubrey, Ice, Azzi, and KK all flew out to watch the women's volleyball teams. They knew that once they were in the same position, Robin would drop everything to watch them play, so they wanted to go ahead and show their support.
Sandra, Robin's mother had also joined the girls, reuniting with her daughter, and also meeting the young woman who'd caught her attention. She watched the two interact, viewing their chemistry and connection firsthand. She knew how broken her daughter was not only about Miles, but also her father, and to see her finally branch out and find someone who was completely and utterly devoted to her was amazing to witness.
"How're you feeling?" Harley asked as she finished the last cornrow on her head and plopped onto the locker room bench next to her best friend.
"I feel pretty good, Le, like honestly." Robin answered truthfully, looking up from tying her shoe, "We have worked so hard all season, and I expect the team to keep the same momentum."
"I agree, we've gotta' keep the ball rolling. I wanna win it so bad, for you honestly. All for you." Harley said, her eyes slightly tearing up, "You have been one of the best things that's ever happened to me, Button. You've gone through so much and you deserve this win, seriously. This semester, watching you go through the process of getting over Miles hurt me so bad, because I know how kind you are and how much you loved him. You work so hard with everything that you do, and I just want this win for you."
Robin soaked in her words, trying to contain her emotions, "I love you so much, Le, like you don't understand."
They immediately went in for a hug, softly crying in one another's arms. The emotions were high all week leading up to the game because this would be the last game they'd be playing with one another. The duo had been friends since volleyball camp in the second grade, made every single team together, and now it was the end of an era. While Robin would be moving to Texas for Medical School, Harley would be taking on an internship at a high-end accounting firm in New York City. Both women were working hard to attain their dreams, but saddened at the fact that they couldn't stay together.
"Our last run, so make it count, Button," Harley whispered, pulling away from the girl and wiping the tears from under her eyes. "No more crying for us, okay?"
"Yeah, okay," she mumbled back, knowing this is just the start of their tears.
"Alright y'all! We have about forty minutes before we will begin warming up for the game! We've been playing hard all season and I will not expect anything less tonight facing Nebraska. This is a dominating team, we all know that, but so are you guys. Step on that court and fight for that championship that you deserve." Coach shouted, hyping the team up, "I'll allow you all to go greet your families who are sitting on the court. Fans are starting head in, as well. I expect to see you all back in here in thirty minutes."
After hearing their coach's talk, Harley and Robin made their way out onto the court, looking for their family and friends.
"ROBBIE!!" She heard someone yell, so she turned her head to see KK standing up and waving her hands sporadically, successfully gaining her attention and an outpour of laughter. The girls ran over to their people, sending them smiles and hugging them tight.
"Hey mama!" Robin exclaimed, approaching her mother who had on UCONN gear from head to toe, "You are merched down, I see you!"
"Oh, I don't play," Her mother responded sassily, flipping her pressed hair over her shoulder and popping her imaginary collar. "You ready to whoop some butt out there?"
Robin nodded, looking around for her blonde who was nowhere to be seen. A frown began to etch onto her face.
"She went to go grab snacks, Button." Her mother laughed out, noticing her daughter looking around for Paige, "She should be back soon, oh, there she goes."
Robin looked to where her mother was pointing and a smile came to her face as she watched Paige return to where they were seated. She was dressed in Robin's practice jersey, jeans, and matching Jordans and her hair was styled in the bun she knew Robin loved.
The volleyball player ran over to meet her halfway.
"Hey birdie," the blonde smiled, wrapping her arms around her partner and pulling her in after sitting the snacks down, "your hair looks pretty in your twists."
"Thank you, you look pretty in my jersey." Robin said, pulling at the hem of the shirt.
"Mhm," Paige said, pulling her closer, "win this game tonight and I can show you how much prettier I can get without it."
"Well, let me get to warming up then, huh?" The girl responded, hey eyes darting between Paige's eyes and lips. The pair did not care they they were in public as Robin pulled her girlfriend in for a small kiss.
"Alright, go show them who you are," Paige said, pulling Robin in for a quick hug and signaling her to go back to the court so that the team could warm up.
Robin and Harley made there way back on the court to begin their stretches and drills before the game started. Music filled the arena and fans continued to fill the stands. Adrenaline pumped throughout Robin. This was the moment she'd been waiting for. The game she promised herself she'd win. Not only because this was her final year, but to prove that she could do it despite her circumstances. Since she was a young girl, she believed she could be here, and now that she was, there was nothing that would take her away from it.
After warming up, Robin took a look around the arena, noticing how almost every seat was filled. Her eyes began to rake over her surroundings, but her heart dropped when she recognized a familiar face. Her palms began to sweat and her heart rate increased.
That couldn't be him, she thought to herself. Why would he be in Nebraska watching her play right now? Why would he, after all this time, decide that it was now the opportunity to support her? Robin looked at the man, her eyes squinting, trying to make sure she was seeing him right.
She, in fact, was. Corey Ali sat in the stands of the volleyball arena, sporting one of their shirts that read 'Nebraska Volleyball Dad". His smile was big as he pulled out his phone and recorded someone on the other team. Robin looked over to see a girl, who looked younger than her, almost like her twin, on the sidelines of the opposing team. She waved at the man as he took pictures of her. He looked proud of her.
It was as if the world stopped spinning. As if all the of the oxygen had been sucked out of the arena.
All of a sudden, she felt like she was right back in Alabama, watching as her father drove down the county road and away from her childhood home. Her mother holding her back as she frantically screamed, cried, kicked, begged for her dad to come back.
But he didn't. But, here he was now. Taking photos of his other daughter, proudly dressed in her school merchandise. Here he was, in all his glory, with his new family, while his old one stood under the same roof as him. But, he didn't notice. He only noticed the people that he loved and fought hard to get to. Not the ones he abandoned.
Robin grew sick. Her body began to sweat profusely and her stomach grew hot. She quickly ran off the court and towards the locker room, causing her team to look at her confused.
Harley looked out in the crowd to where Robin was once staring before her eyes widened with shock. She tore her eyes away from the man and looked at Robin's mother who looked just as worried as her.
"He's here." Harley mouthed, causing her mother to hurriedly get up and run in the direction of her daughter. Security began to stop her, but she pushed through them, running in the direction of her daughter. Coach K stopped them from running after her, knowing that in this moment, whatever Robin was going through, she needed her mother.
Paige looked out to Harley, who was whispering back and forth with her coach. She glanced up at their friends, shaking her head in concern. The blonde's heart began to drum against her chest, extremely worried about her partner. She believed that she saw Robin at her lowest when she was going through everything with Miles, but this was different.
Paige was watching as Robin realized her father in the crowd. She watched as her smile fell, how all the color form her face dropped, how she stood frozen. All she wanted to do was console, Robin. To comfort her and tell her everything was going to be okay.
But, she knew that in that moment, no amount of comfort would mend the heartbreaking situation that Robin was enduring.