Chapter 79
"I made the team!" Katianna shouted as soon as she walked into the house. "I made the volleyball team!"
"You did?" Four-year-old, Valerie asked. "You made your team?"
"Yes. I'm on my volleyball team."
"Yay," Valerie said, walking over to her second oldest sister.
Katianna smiled. She quickly scooped her baby sister into her arms, hugging her and kissing her cheek. She loved her younger siblings with all her heart.
"Did I hear correctly?" Mercedes asked, coming into the living room. "Did you make the team, Kati?"
"I did," Katianna replied.
"Congratulations, sweetheart."
"Thanks, Mom."
Mercedes gave her daughter a side hug.
It was two years later. And what a hell of a two years it had been.
The kids were doing great. Evelyn and Aaron were both in high school now. Evelyn was a few weeks away from finishing her junior year of high school, while Aaron was finishing his freshman year of high school. Katianna was finishing up her school year in eighth grade. She would join her older sister and brother in high school as a freshman when August came. Mariah was finishing up sixth grade. Derek would start kindergarten in August and Valerie would continue on in preschool.
Aaron was fifteen, almost sixteen. He had loved ninth grade and high school so far. And that was due to band. He had tried out for the drumline and He got a spot as a snare drummer just like he had wanted for a couple years. Evelyn was so proud of her brother. He was also doing great academically. He was a good student in school. He wasn't in honors classes, but he made good grades.
Katianna was fourteen, almost fifteen. She had had a great time in middle school. She had been on the volleyball team all her years in middle school. She was a great player. She put in a lot of hard work and devotion to it like her parents had done with wrestling. But she still had her own personal volleyball coach when needed. Still Ashley. She tried out for the volleyball team for when she was going into the ninth grade, which was that coming August. She had made the team and she was so proud. She was an honors student. Out beating her brother by a little bit.
Mariah was twelve, almost thirteen. She had been so proud when she had started sixth grade and middle school that year. However, she was one of the girls who got picked on by some other girls. Mariah defended herself. Her mother's fiery side came out of her. It was a verbal and appropriate defense to herself. She just set the record straight. Plus, Katianna came to her sister's defense. Those girls quickly kept their mouths shut from Mariah defending herself and Katianna also defending her younger sister.
Mariah was somewhat a good student. She had her strengths and her weaknesses in classes. Her strengths were reading and writing. Math was a neutral. But science was definitely one of her weaknesses. However, she had had the help of her older siblings to make sure she was able to get through homework and know what was really going on.
Then there was Evelyn. The seventeen-year-old, almost eighteen-year-old. Her first three years in high school had been wonderful. She did great in school, succeeding in every class with a B or an A just like Aaron. But more so it would be for Aaron being like his big sister. She had a great time with being in color guard/dance team. She was also in chorus. Her love for music and singing never died.
But her personal life was great. She and Andy had been together for three years. They had their ups and downs, of course, but the downs never kept them away from each other too long. Andy and Trevor were still training with Colby to be wrestlers. The two had wrestled at some wrestling shows in the last year. Those had been their first real shows. The two would officially go out into the independent circuit once they graduated high school, which was in a couple weeks.
Evelyn was very happy for Andy. But her eyes weren't just set on becoming a wrestler. Her eyes were set on something with helping people. She thought about social work. She thought about becoming a counselor. She was inspired by her mom with her rape. She wanted to help others who were survivors of rape and their families. Or just be a counselor for anyone who needed help.
Aaron had gone out with one girl for a little bit his freshman year. But he wasn't as interested in her as he thought he was. His focus ended up being band, school, and family. He was only fifteen. There was plenty of time for girls.
There were no boys in Katianna's life. Yes, she thought one or two were cute. But she wasn't so big on going out with them. Her focus was volleyball, school, and family. Plus, for only being fourteen she didn't care. However, she kind of hoped when homecoming came up in October, she'd have a date. Even if it was just for one night.
Mariah had no interest in "going out" or dating anyone in middle school. She was only twelve. But knowing she'd be thirteen in a few weeks still didn't bother her. Ask her again in a couple years.
"I'm so proud of you, Kati," Mercedes said.
"Thanks, Mom," Katianna replied. "I need to go call Aunt Ashley and tell her the news."
"Yes, I'll take your sister."
Valerie happily went over to her mom so her older sister could leave the room. Katianna quickly headed from the living room and to her room to call her aunt. Evelyn walked into the house with Aaron.
"Hey you two," Mercedes said.
"Hi, Mom," Aaron said.
"Hi," Evelyn said. She walked over to her mom and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you for taking your sister and waiting around while she tried out," Mercedes said.
"No problem, Mom. I live to help you out since you and Dad got me my car for my Sweet Sixteen. I know I got a car, because you wanted me to help you out when need be. And today was one of those days."
"Thank you."
"And thanks for keeping me company, Aaron," Evelyn said.
"It was fun," Aaron replied. "Plus, I wanted to be there with you when Kati told us she made it."
"I'm so proud of her."
"We all are," Mercedes said.
"Will you play with me, Evie?" Valerie asked, still in her mother's arms.
"Of course, I will," Evelyn said. "Come here." She held her arms open. Mercedes handed her youngest daughter over to her oldest daughter. "Come on, let's go play."
"Can we play dress up?"
"Yes. And I will put a little makeup on you like I normally do."
Yay!"
Evelyn headed out of the living room with Valerie. Mercedes smiled as she watched them leave the room. Valerie adored all siblings. And they all adored her and Derek. Life was good.
"Hey Mari," Katianna said as she entered their shared bedroom.
"Hi!" Mariah replied. "How were tryouts? Did you make it?"
"I did!"
"Yay!"
Mariah quickly jumped up from her bed. She hurried over to her sister. "Congratulations!" She said as she hugged her.
"Thank you," Katianna replied hugging her little sister back.
The two pulled away and looked at each other with bright smiles.
"I have to call Aunt Ashley and tell her the news!"
"Yes! You must!"
"I'm doing that right now," Katianna said. She quickly grabbed her cell phone from her bag. She then sat down on her bed and called Ashley.
"Hi Kati," Ashley answered.
"Hi Aunt Ashley," She replied.
"How were tryouts?"
"I made the team!"
Ashley squealed with delight. "Congratulations, hun!"
"Thank you and thank you for all the help you have always given me."
"Always my pleasure, sweetheart. I'm a proud aunt right now."
Katianna chuckled.
Later that evening, Mercedes and Colby took the kids out to dinner to celebrate Katianna making the volleyball team.
"Just a few more weeks and then the school year is over," Colby commented.
"Yes, and I get to have everyone home," Mercedes said. "I'm excited."
"Yeah, I'm glad summer is almost here," Mariah said. "More time for reading!"
"I think we might have another honor student on our hands," Colby said.
"I think so too," Mercedes said.
"Maybe," Mariah said. "At least for English. And maybe history."
"Well, it's a few more years before you are in high school. But who knows," Katianna said. "And if its only for one or two classes, it's no big deal."
"The important thing is for you just to do well in school," Colby said. "And you are. All you kids are. But a year from now we'll have a future college student."
Evelyn smiled.
"I can't believe you are going to be eighteen in a couple months and a senior in high school next year," Mercedes said.
"I agree," Colby said.
"Me too," Evelyn said. "It seems like I was just finishing up eighth grade ready to start high school."
"Time sure does go by," Aaron said.
"It's all good, though," Mercedes said. "Time flies by and you kids are all growing. But that's okay. You are all growing into fine young women and a fine young man."
"Its because we have great parents as role models," Mariah said.
Her older siblings all agreed.
Mercedes and Colby looked at each other with a smile.
One week later, Evelyn was at color guard tryouts with Liza. Christina was there too. But she was only there to watch. She was a few weeks from graduating high school with Andy and Trevor.
"Gather round, everyone," The coach said. "Gather round."
Everyone turned their attention to the coach.
"Who's ready to begin?"
Everyone cheered.
"Great. But before we get started I want you all to know we'll be naming the team captain at the end here."
Evelyn grinned at she looked at Liza.
"There two candidates," The coach continued. "Evelyn Lopez and Emma Hess!"
Evelyn gasped and looked at Liza again.
"Yes!" Liza whispered.
"To get the spot as captain, Evelyn and Emma," The coach said. "I want you to work with the girls who were the 9th graders this year and then those 8th graders who are tryout. You two will be showing me and the band director your leadership skills. Then you will each perform a solo routine for us showing your dance and moving skills."
"Doable," Evelyn said. "Doable."
"You got this," Liza said.
Aaron sat in the stands with Andy and Trevor. The three were there in support of Evelyn and Liza.
"Evie's got this," Aaron said.
"She does," Andy agreed.
"The routine will be of my choice," The coach said. "Emma and Evelyn, you two have created you own routines over the last few years. And I will ask you to perform one of those. Emma, you'll do your routine for Britney Spears's Womanizer."
"Yes!" Emma exclaimed. That was her go-to routine.
"And Evie, do your Demi Lovato's Confidant routine."
Evelyn gave an evil grin. That was a routine she had been doing since she was a kid. She had changed it up a bit with the flags and sabers (sword) from color guard.
"You got this Evie," Liza whispered.
"Oh, she's definitely got this!" Andy said in the stands.
"Oh, yeah!" Aaron agreed. There was no doubt his sister was going to kick ass.
The coach got started. She put the 8th graders (the incoming freshmen for the following school year) and the 9th graders (those going to be sophomores the following school year). The juniors (the 11th graders who would be seniors the following school years) were divided into the two groups. Evelyn got the incoming freshmen. She was excited. She loved working with everyone.
The coach and band director observed Evelyn and Emma as they worked with their groups. Emma ended up being a bit hard on some of the girls. It was really too hard. Evelyn was hard on the girls, but not as bad. It was a friendly hard, wanting the girls to work their best.
After working with the girls for a bit, the two groups performed the tryout routine.
"My God, come on!" Emma shouted as two girls stumbled of her group.
Evelyn rolled her eyes. She had seen who the two girls were. Emma had picked on them nonstop the whole year with band. The girls didn't work well under pressure. There was pressure when performing, but they did better if they weren't being bugged by Emma. And Emma had been warned with the treatment of the girls. But apparently that didn't go to her head.
"Thank you, everyone," The coach said after both groups performed. "I'm going to talk with Mr. Harr for a little bit. Everyone take fifteen. And Evelyn and Emma, get ready for your routines."
Evelyn smiled. She took the time to get ready. She stretched her body out and practiced a bit. Emma did the same. But she was one of those cocky and self-absorbed girls and knew she was going to get it.
Evelyn had been around people like that her whole life. She had been around wrestlers her whole life. Some were very cocky and knew they were awesome. Or they thought they deserved certain things over certain people. Certain matches and storylines.
"All right, everyone," The coach said after the fifteen-minute break. "We're ready. But are you, Evelyn and Emma? Are you ready?"
"Sure am," Evelyn said.
"Yep," Emma said.
"Great. Emma, you're up first," The coach said.
Emma smiled. Everyone left the football field to give her, her space. They all took a seat on the grass or stood to watch.
Emma was ready to start.
"Here we go," The coach said. She hit the play button. The song began to play and Emma did her routine.
Everyone watched her. When she was done everyone clapped for her.
"Good job, Emma," Mr. Harr commented.
"Yes, good job," The coach said. "You're up, Evie."
Evelyn smiled. Liza patted her on the shoulder. "You got this, girlie," She said. "You got this."
Evelyn grinned. Time to get into my inner-Sasha Banks!
"Ready, Evie?"
"Yes," Evelyn replied.
"All right, here we go." The coach hit the play button.
The beginning notes of Confident by Demi Lovato played. Evelyn waited about ten seconds and began to dance. The routine she was doing was something she and Mercedes had come up together when she was four years old. It was something fun they were doing together. Over the years, it got rebooted. When she was a freshman, Evelyn worked it out to where she could perform it with the flags and sabers of color guard and the dance team. Ever since then a lot of people loved it.
Evelyn had fun doing her routine. Which was very important.
When she was finished everyone clapped for her.
"Everyone take a look at your new team captain!" The coach said.
Evelyn squealed with delight as well as Liza. Everyone clapped and cheered. Minus Emma and her friends.
"Oh, my God," Evelyn said seeing Aaron, Andy, Christina and Trevor after tryouts.
"Congratulations," Christina said, hugging her.
"Thanks."
"Yes, congrats big sis," Aaron said, hugging her well.
"Thank you," Evelyn said.
Trevor gave her a hug too. But her attention went to Andy. Andy smiled as he took her into his arms, hugging and then kissing her.
"Congratulations, baby," He said.
"Thanks," Evelyn replied. "But what made it better was everyone was here."
"And everyone at home is going to be happy for you too, Evie," Aaron said.
"They sure will."
It was true. Mercedes, Colby, and the rest of the kids were very happy Evelyn was team captain.
The next day, it was drumline tryouts. Evelyn was there to support her brother as he had her. But there were no worries. He made it as one of the snare drums as he had the year before when he tried out.
Later that evening, Mercedes and Colby took the kids to dinner to celebrate. They always took the kids out to eat whenever something special happened to them. Evelyn getting team captain and Aaron