*this chapter has a couple of time skips. it's a flashback, then currently. i do not go into depth with the game because i know nothing about volleyball*
Robin's Childhood Home
Lowndesboro, Alabama
July of 2014
Screaming.
That's all Robin could hear during the late Summer night. Her parents were arguing, yet again. The eleven year old girl did not understand at that time what was going on, but what she did know was that her parents were extremely upset with one another.
"You don't understand how your actions are affecting this family, Corey!" Sandra yelled, tears streaming down her face. "You have a whole other life outside of us, and you're expecting me to be okay with it? I'm not okay with it!"
Corey sighed, rubbing his hands against his head, "I'm leaving, San. Isa is pregnant, again. I'm going to go take care of them, they need me."
"We need you, Corey!" She yelled, breaking down yet again, "Robin needs you just as much as Raven and the unborn baby. I'm not asking you to stay with me, but please don't leave her."
The two got married young because of the birth of Robin. There was never any true love between the pair, but their greatest creation was their daughter. While Sandra dedicated her entire life to being a mother to Robin, Corey continued to be with the woman he truly loved, Isa. After cheating constantly on the woman he'd married, and having two children, he was finally leaving.
Corey didn't say anything as he grabbed the rest of his things. He snatched the keys off of the coffee table and made his way towards the door.
"Daddy?" Robin called out, tears brimming in her eyes as she watched him walk towards the door with all of his things. "Where are you going?"
He didn't answer, opening the door and heading to his truck. The girl ran outside, her mother chasing after her.
"Daddy! Don't leave me!" She screamed out towards the truck, her father still not speaking to her, still ignoring her shouts. "Please, where are you going?"
She tried to chase after the truck as he fled from the house, leaving behind his wife and daughter. She tried to pry herself out of her mother's hands, believing that if she ran fast enough that she'd be able to catch up to him, she could beg him to stay with her.
But, she couldn't catch up to him. She couldn't do it no matter how hard she tried.
So, the next years in her life, she quit the sport of basketball completely because it reminded her too much of her father. She dedicated her life to making a difference in the female sports world, advocating for the children of single parent households or low-income families to have access to sports. She gave her all to her new favorite sport, volleyball.
After that day, Robin had never heard from her father again. No calls, check-ups, texts, visits, nothing. He had completely erased her and her mother from his life, dedicating and pouring everything into his new family that Robin knew nothing of.
Until today.
Robin ran as fast as she could to the bathroom, and as soon as she got inside of the stall, she threw up the contents of her stomach. Her sobs could be heard down the hallway, the pain was unbearable. Her mother ran in shortly after, holding her twisted hair as she continued to vomit.
"I'm sorry, baby," Her mother consoled her. If she would've just been honest about her father and his other family, then this wouldn't have happened. If she would've just told her daughter that she had two younger sisters roaming around, living the life that she'd always wanted, then this wouldn't have happened. "I'm here, mommy's here."
Robin fell into her mother's arms, her body shaking as she cried. She not only cried because of the pain she was experiencing right now from coming face to face with her father and his family, but she cried for her inner child.
All of his love, he had given it all to Raven. She was not only sad, she was infuriated. The mixture of the heartbreak and anger was overwhelming. She cried more, grasping her mom tightly, afraid that if she let go she'd abandon her too.
"Don't leave me, please, mommy."
"I will never, ever leave you, my girl. You are my rock, you are my strength, and I thank God everyday that he blessed me with such a loving daughter, Button. You have continued to pour into this sport, your schooling, your friends, showcasing how pure your heart is. No one will ever be able to take that away from you, do you hear me?"
"Yes, mama," she said, looking up at her through her lashes, "why didn't you tell me?"
Sandra sighed, "I was afraid. I didn't want you to experience this, but now I see that I only prolonged the pain, and I'm so sorry. I thought that if we'd just kept it as him leaving, and not him leaving because of his other family, it would be easier for you to handle. I was wrong, Button, and I hope that you can forgive me for keeping this from you. I did more damage than good."
Robin only nodded, knowing that she would never hold a grudge against her mother. Was she upset? Yes, but she understood her mother did what she had to do at the time. Her father still left her, so being mad at her mother at this moment would not fix anything or mend the heartbreak that her father caused.
"I'm not made at you, mommy."
"What do you think is going on? Is Robbie okay? I'm worried. The game is about to start. Should we text her?" KK questioned, concern laced in her voice as she frantically watched the court, attempting to see if her friend would walk out or not.
"Calm down, Kamorea." Paige said sternly, looking at the younger girl, "We know Robin. She's strong and she will get through whatever this is, she always does."
Everyone silently agreed with the blonde. While she wanted to stress out like KK was, she knew that what Robin needed in this moment was for everyone to have faith and confidence that she'd pull through.
The game was about to begin, and there was no sight of Robin. The anxiety running through everyone UCONN fan was high right now since there was no sign of their best player.
However, Sandra walked back to her seat, giving her daughter's friends a soft nod, "She's alright. Our girl is strong, and she will show this entire arena that."
As if right on cue, Robin walked back into the court with a small smile on her face as she hugged her best friend.
"I'm sorry about all of this, Button." Harley apologized, rubbing her best friend's arm gently.
"It's all good," Robin assured her friend, "We can talk more about this after we kick their asses."
The lights dimmed and the starters began to be introduced on the Nebraska team. There was one more person waiting, and it was Robin's half sister that she'd just learned about.
"And the fiercest freshmen starter for the Cornhuskers, Raven Ali!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and roars, notifying Robin that her younger sister was a beast almost like her, but she wasn't her, even though they shared the same qualities. They both had their father's huge brown eyes and structured nose. They had the same long legs like him, standing at exactly the same height. Neither of them lacked in beauty, at all.
"Is it just me, or did they just mix of Robin's last name with that girls?" KK muttered over to Sandra, who sadly smiled.
"That's her sister."
"Now let's introduce our Huskies! Starting with the captain of the team and the superstar of the court, Robin Ali!"
No matter how hurt Robin was about her father showing up, she continued to maintain her smile. She gracefully ran across the court and into the position for the arena to listen to the National Anthem.
However, as the song went on, the two sisters looked at each other, recognizing their features on one another's faces. Raven now understanding why they looked alike, why Robin ran off the court.
Roars, screams, chants were heard throughout the stadium, the two sisters fought hard and viciously for the championship. It was a battle that was long awaited. While they were playing for their school, Robin was playing for all of the time she lost from her dad. All the missed birthdays, the missed volleyball games, the missed heartbreaks and consoling.
In the end, the Huskies dominated the Cornhuskers. They battled to the last set, with the UCONN volleyball team conquering the entire tournament because of the captain, who allowed all of her frustration to be released during this game.
Confetti was released onto the players as they picked their captain up. Robin laughed with her team, holding their championship trophy high. She could see her mother, friends, and Paige all cheering and shouting, even holding signs that had her and Harley's face on them.
"We did it!" Harley said, her eyes showing sadness. "I'm not going to cry, but I'm so proud of you."
Robin only nodded, pulling her friend in close and cherishing the moment that they had together. While it was the end of their volleyball era, it was only the beginning of their new one.
It was time to shake hands with the opposing team, each one of them sending a congratulations and smile towards the UCONN players. The last person that Robin shook hands with was her newly recognized younger sister, Raven.
"Can we talk?" The younger asked, her eyes filled with confusion and worry. "I mean congratulations and everything you did amazing. I'm sorry to be so outward, but I'm just so confused. I'm sorry."
"I have to do press, but meet me back here in like twenty minutes, yeah?"
The girl only nodded, before walking off to the locker rooms, avoiding talking to their dad and the rest of her family. Robin glanced at them, and she saw that there was another younger girl who looked the same as Raven. She shook her head before walking towards her interview.