Chapter 10

The Beach

By the time Jackson got up and downstairs, Miley and his dad had left for the studio for another day of recording. He was really excited about getting to the beach courts today. Yesterday, he and Cooper took on all comers and won. Jackson knew that the teams in the league would be better, but it was good practice for them. Rico even turned out to be good too. Go figure. Although, he and Cooper would have to keep on eye on Rico when it came to making money off the matches. To much t.v. is what that was. Cereal. That's what I'll have. So with all the morning needs filled, Jackson gathered up the things he would need and set off to met Cooper and Rico at Rico's.

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"What do you want to do today Lilly?"

"I don't know Oliver. I mean watching Miley yesterday was cool but it's to much like work."

"That's because it was work."

"Oh yeah."

"Do you want to hang out at the beach today?"

"Do you want to go shopping?"

Uh…no. I don't understand what you and Miley get out of going shopping anyways. It's not like you buy that much stuff when you guys do go."

"It's not the buying Oliver, it's the looking and founding. And checking out the cute boys that go to the mall to check out the cute girls that go shopping."

"I'll never understand chicks."

"The beach sounds okay. Hey, we might even see Jackson there. Miley said that Cooper and Jackson are playing pick-up games to practice for their league."

"Okay. Do you want to meet at Rico's in say half an hour?"

"Sounds good. See you there."

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The word was out. There was a new pair of players and they got game.

The first match of the day was close but it still only went two games. The second match made it to the third game but their opponents run out of gas in the last game and Team Rico won the third game with easy. Just as the third match of the day started, Oliver and Lilly sat down to watch.

"Hey Rico. How are they doing?" Lilly asked.

"Their great! They already won two matches."

Jackson was getting ready to jump serve. He tossed the ball in the air and slammed his fist into the ball sending it over the net. The other team set up and spiked the ball but Cooper made a diving save. The ball was sent high into the air that allowed Jackson to get under the ball and set it for Cooper. Cooper rolled after saving the ball and came up on his feet. Seeing the set that Jackson made, he cut left and got under the ball and fired it home. Oliver, Lilly, and Rico cheered wildly and Team Rico finished off another team. Rico went after their ball and Lilly and Oliver went to congratulate Team Rico on another victory.

"Alright Coop. That was the best save yet!"

"J-man, you couldn't have spoon feed that set any better."

"Wow, you guys are the best I have ever seen on the beach." Said Oliver.

"Man! That was an awesome game!" Lilly added.

"Thank you, thank you" Cooper smiled with pleasure.

"That's four matches in a row. You guys are going to be unstoppable." Oliver told Jackson as Oliver patted Jackson on the back.

Rico came back with the ball.

"Hey guys, I'm getting hungry. When do we eat?"

"How about now. Lets go to my place." Jackson invited.

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It had been a good first half of the day at the recording studio too.

Hannah was able to finish three more songs before lunch. If they could get another three finished that would leave just four more songs and her mom's song to do. Things were just falling into place.

Full and happy, everyone sat around the patio table. Cooper and Jackson were talking about how they were getting better teams to play against them as they won more matches. Oliver and Rico were talking about how well Cooper and Jackson were playing. Lilly to her surprise was crushing on both Cooper and Jackson. Maybe it was the fact she never seen them this way before. Or that they looked cute covered in sweat and sand. Or I'm just freaking out. Lilly thought.

"Hey Lilly, do you want to watch some more volleyball or do something else?" Oliver asked.

"What…oh sorry Oliver. Ah…lets watch some more volleyball."

Lilly's phone rings.

"Hello."

"Hi Lilly, it's Hannah."

"Oh hi Han…I mean Miley." Lilly quickly corrects herself. Lilly checked out Cooper and Rico to see if they caught anything.

"How are things going …Miley?" Lilly asked as she pronounced 'Miley' extra hard.

"I take it some one there?"

"Jackson, Cooper, Rico, Oliver and I are all having lunch at your house."

"Oh, okay. I get it. And why are ya'll having lunch at home?"

"We're taking a break from Jackson's and Cooper's pick-up games."

"How they doing?"

"Four wins, no loses and still going strong."

"Wow! That's great! Let Jackson and Cooper know I said that."

"Okay. How are things on your end?"

"Great! We're half way done and hoping to get three more before heading home."

"Wow. And your voice is sounding great still."

"Thank you very much. What? Okay. Got to go Lilly. Bye"

"Bye."

"How is Miley doing?" Jackson asked.

"She says she halfway done."

"Great. Do you think she'll finish the alb…Ouch." Oliver yelped.

Jackson and Lilly had kicked him under the table.

"We should be getting back to the beach." Jackson added quickly.

"Right you are J-man."

Everyone took their plates and glasses in and gathered up their gear and headed for the beach.

"By the way Jackson, what is Miley doing today? I thought she would be here with her friends." Questioned Cooper.

"She had ah…"

"an extra credit…" add Oliver.

"report to do." Lilly finished.

"You know, you guys freak me out when you do that." Cooper added.

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Back at the beach, Team Rico played three more matches. It was getting harder to find others to play against and when they did, the other teams were getting closer to Team Rico's level of play. Oliver and Rico had a great time checking out all the other girls watching the matches. And to his amazement, some even talk to Oliver. However, Lilly was still trying to figure out why she was crushing.

The crowd cheer as Team Rico chalked up another victory. This was the closes game yet. Jackson made an amazing block to stop a rally. Then Cooper put together a string of serves that finally put the game away.

Match seven was theirs with the score of the third game ending at 15 to 13.

After a short break, another team challenged Team Rico to a match. The first game ended in Team Rico's favor when Jackson hit a spike that caught one of the other players in the side of his head. The next game started with Cooper serving. As the ball headed over the net, someone plopped down next to Lilly.

"Miley! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working?"

"We finished. I was able to get four done this afternoon."

"Wow, that's great. So that only leaves two and the special one to go then?"

"Yep. I'll be done tomorrow. Yeaaaaaa…..great shot Jackson!"

Jackson looked over to see who yelled and waved at his sister.

The match ended in a fiery of spikes and blocks. The final block that won the game and the match came when Cooper went up high to stuff the spike.

Looking around the beach, it was starting to empty and Team Rico decided to call it a day. Cooper and Jackson was celebrating there record for the day as they recalled their favorite plays. Miley, Lilly, and Oliver were deep in a conversation about the events of the day. Everyone had walked back to Rico's, but because of the hour, it was closed. Jackson, Cooper and Rico were going to meet back here tomorrow. Lilly and Oliver were undecided.

And Miley had her project to work on.