Delylah Martinez. The name made your blood boil. You were the captain on the Boy's volleyball team. Rose to the position after 3 long years of hard work and leadership. It all started in your Highschool Freshmen year. You were tired of being the background character and decided Highshcool would be the best years of your life. So, you joined Volleyball. Worked hard, practiced, made it on the team and competed in national competitions in your freshmen year, which was very rare. Your goal was to be School President. And with how things were going, things were going your way. You made tons of friends, the boys volleyball team was your second family. All was well.

Until Delylah, a transfer student came around halfway through the school year. She ruined everything. She joined the girl's volleyball team and took the school by storm. Within her first move of arrival, she was already best friends with the entire girl's volleyball team, even the coaches loved her. Her name slowly kept being mentioned throughout the school, not just the Volleyball HQ. (A big room within the school where both boys and girls volleyball teams hang out). She was making connections left and right. Teachers loved her, staff loved her, even the school board was talking about her. You were pretty popular, sure, but Delylah was way more popular. She got twice as popular as you within half the time. You didn't care at first, but then things got worse.

People were talking about her becoming School Prez. But that was your goal, and everyone knew it. People were debating over who it would be, You or Delylah. By the time sophmore year rolled around, she was already the Captain of the girl's volleyball team. Which was outrageous. the rule was only juniors and above could be Captains, given they were skilled enough. Delylah wasn't nearly skilled enough, nor a junior/senior yet she was a captain. You were one of the best on the Boy's volleyball team yet you weren't a captain, it wasn't fair! And you think it ends there? Nah. School events for specific students like seniors/Juniors? The school board snuck Delylah in. Even though Sophmores usually arent allowed in to some events, she was in every single one.

While you begged to take part in events that had extra space only to be told no, she was invited without even having to ask. She got more popular by the day. Even students who didn't speak to her knew who she was. While you were dealing with inner crisis, the volleyball teams were busy enjoying each other's company. Even though The boys' and girls' volleyball teams were a rivalry, they were still both volleyball teams for the same school, which gave them a bond. But underneath all that, there was still tension between you and Delylah. You and Delylah never really spoke, but she could sense how much you hated her, and that had her on edge. She never knew why you hated her so much. Figured maybe it was just jealousy.

But the final straw came on the following year. Junior year. It was the girls' volleyball team's turn to use the gym for practice, and on that day, an inspector came in. Delylah was teaching the team on proper form and serves, and the inspector, unaware that you also teach not only the boys team but also the girls team sometimes, was impressed by her young leadership. he informed the school board of how pleased he was, and the next day, she was awarded with the 'superior student award'. It was announced on the loudspeakers. Everyone clapped but you. At this rate, she'd become the school president instead of you, and you couldn't let that happen.

PRESENT DAY

The coach gathers everyone so the two teams can set up rotations. He casually says in front of both teams:

“Delylah, why don’t you show the boys how your team runs warmups? They could learn something. ” Everyone turns to you. Your teammates snicker. Her teammates beam with pride. Delylah steps forward slowly, awkward but forced into the spotlight. You feel humiliated—like the last boundary just shattered.*