"Can't blame her for leaving after all that," Emma replied with a nod as she finished setting the weights up. "To be specific, what do you mean by family, as I don't know your relationship with your family, Linda. Kids and spouse, parents, extended family? Are they family you spend a lot of time with, or are most of them family that you see once or twice a year at holidays?"

The woman settled under the weight and started in doing her squats while she listened to the other two women.

  ..me?.. Don't have anyone down here... Mom and Dad  split  a long time ago... Vickie said  , matter of factly.

  ..I have   my  Mom and Dad and  My Little sister in   Jersey..and a Sort of  Boyfriend....

 Vickie  sighed,....the  Guy that  wants to tie you down up there?... If  he cared  he'd  want you to go for it... if he's gonna threaten you..then let him walk

"Sort of boyfriend? I always figured they were boyfriends or not," Emma commented as she finished her warm-up and added a couple more plates on each side.

"I left my family up in Detroit to come down here. Been a good decision so far, and you'll eventually be able to travel to visit them regularly or fly them down. If your dream is to make it big in volleyball, you've got to take a bite eventually. This gig sets you up with access to tournaments and a training facility you can basically use whenever you want with a better salary. What I can tell you about the Amotas is that they expect you to work hard, but that hard work pays off with them. It seems to me that you've got a good opportunity here, and I imagine your family would want you to take the shot. Worst case scenario, things fall through and you have to move back, right?"

The woman started her second warm-up set while she waited for a response.

   Linda nodded,..I know?.. this is   it?.. what i wanted   to do.. we  won a Torney... we can  play  for some money....I'm...scared...

 Vickie    smiled a  bit,..there is nothing to lsoe..right?.. 'cept  maybe the Boy friend?.. we  start  goign to Torneys.. you'er going to get  hit on by alot of   guys. Athlete  guys, and you can sort  through who you want to waste  time on...

 ..this is a point in our lives where  we have to do it now?.. there is no 'Going back when i have time"...but? Your Heart is going to have to be  in it.

Emma finished her second warm-up and started adding more weight for her heavy working sets.

"If you're going to do something at a high level athletically, now is the time to go for it. You don't see a lot of athletes breaking into their sport in their 30's or 40's. That's why I'm here in the gym every day except game day. I won't have this chance in ten years if I'm not putting in the time now."

The woman settled under the bar once more and started in on a set of eight slow squats as she listened to the responses.

  I suppose you  giys  are   right ..... I  was   kinda  worried   about my Boyfriend though.

 so?.. lets say you Bail... and the next 'rest of your  life ' you'er  watching     girls do what we did  yesterday..and   You'er  on  you  2nd  or third  BF  by then?... Me?  I say id he really cares, he'll want to  to grab the Brass ring

 ..You can still  go into the  pool?

 ..the Pool?... sure.... get   a little bit of  cash   for  playig because  some other  gril  hurt her self, but  when it  comes  time   for the Big Time, I get jerked out..and  go somewhere  else. we play  damn good together.. and  we'll only get better.....

 ..now?.. wwil i go into the pool?.. you bet!..but i won't  like it, and  I'll  nerve  see  the olympics..or  a big time circuit..un;ess  some one goes  down for good

 Complex  ( tuesday )

  Adam  came   went to the  Trainers  room.  . The Doc  was  there with  some  fellow in a white Lab   Coat.

 the  guy had   adam sit in the   exam chair  and    began to  take a scan of his  face . Adam   had his  head locked in and was instructed   not  to  speak.

 The Doctor  and the   fellow in the   coat were lookign at the  screen. A Machine began to  Hum  as the  scans  went through a third  time.

 The   Guy in the coat said, we are   3-d  printing  a mask  for your  face. We will bring it to you some  time today..it  takes  a bit  for the  printer to print..

  another  5   minutes   and he  was finished.. Adam then  told the  equipment guys  he    wanted  another bar across his  face mask , jut above the  top bar.

  The Doctor says,..You might  have to  let up  on your blocks  a bit this week...

 Adam   chuckled,..Yeah?.. That's not happening... the  whole league is gonna be  watching to see if i play  scared...

..Adam  left to  Grab   a coffee  and some  doughnuts  for  the meetings.

Ben meanwhile went down to the pool to get in a few lengths. He enjoyed his early-morning swims, he often had the place to himself. He thought that if he moved out of the townhouse, he'd quite like to have a pool of his own.

All too soon, it was time to get out, dry off and get dressed to go to the first meeting of the day, armed with a coffee and Danish.

(Monday)

Emma continued her workout, letting the other women talk about their future. She'd voiced her opinion that Linda might not get another shot at this, and Victoria seemed to be advocating hard in that direction too.

"If you see a future with this guy, see if he's willing to come down here with you or try to do the long distance thing. If he's worth considering not moving forward with your dream, then he should feel similarly about you and want to help you achieve this. If he's not willing to consider either of those options, that tells you where he values the relationship. But for, as it was described, a sort-of boyfriend, I wouldn't make such a huge sacrifice."

(Tuesday Morning)

Emma arrived and got in her morning workout before meetings. Once it was time, she got changed and went off for the Tuesday morning meetings, fillng her water and getting an orange along the way.

 (FLex)

 Linda  Looked at the other   two women, a few  Guys  were   coming in to hit the  pool..some had   just went through the  injury check, so they could be listed, or not listed .

   Bing  came  and  sat  down on  an empty  Bench. he seemed to be in a bit of a good  mood.. it  was  noted that  his  Dragon T-shirt  still had the 'bumps"  from the CareTens  Unit., and the thing  was  on his belt.

  Vickie didn't  say anything esle., But Linda  Pulled out her  phone  and started to Text.

Flex

Emma had gotten her squats up near her heaviest working set when Bing came in. "Hey Larry. Come give me a spot? Looks like you've got good news." Likely that meant he was cleared to play the next game. That was the only thing she could think of offhand that would have him in that type of mood and in the complex on an off day.

 Monday-flex

    Bing Got  up and  went over to the  Bench,..yep..the Queen of the Needle says  i can do  Contact thursday... and   start  runnign tomorrow..gotta  keep this  thing on, anytime  ,i'm not padded up.

 ..so?.. I  interrupt  a  LAdies  time -thing?

(Flex)

"Sets of 3, thirty second rest, until I can't do any more sets of 3. Then I do sets of two for the same, then singles," Emma told Bing. "Victoria and Linda are settling on how they're going to proceed with their careers. For Linda, it means moving states and all that entails." It was a big jump, but, at least to Emma, Linda seemed in a good spot to do it.

She started in on her sets after that comment.

Flex-Monday


 Bing gave a  Nod  to Emma  as he set up to spot...That rich Volleyball Chick come through  for you guys?.... That's great...Moving  from the North, to   come south and  play on the Beach...and get Paid?... CAn't beat that!

 Linda Looked up at  Bing and smiled   a bit  awkwardly...well..its  not all that  Simple... there  People up in Jersey  and...

  Bing gave a shrug,..there's  people everywhere?... Heck  I have people back home  that would  have hive thier   arm to see be get this shot...there are others  up there , that are hoping i crash and burn....and then there are the Middle people.. they  don't  want  to see you make it..but they don't  want to see you get hurt...and they try to 'protect' you form that... My DAd's  Mom  was like that.. 'what about the Farm?".."what if  something HAppens to your Dad?"

Another shrug,....Its  not  like   , what any of us do, can be done  anywhere  else, as a career?.....So?..if  your  parents  are laying a guilt  trip?... then, you have to ask yourself  why?.... if tis  friends?.. yo gotta  ask yourself  how  'good' of a freed   they can be, if they don't want you  to reach your   dream thing... In my little town? I bet there is  one person who wants to see me crash, for every 2 , that want to see me make it.... you take a poll of the  people i knew in college?.... you  could double  both numbers.

"And, again, worst case scenario is it doesn't work and you move back to Jersey. You've got the shot now, so my suggestion is to take it. Besides, if you want to do this professionally, you're going to be traveling a ton. You won't be at home all that often, except for your offseason. Even then, you're going to be traveling for endorsements a good bit and you're going to be putting in your gym and court time."

Emma said these things between sets, as she completed eleven sets before failing to get three on the twelfth set, needing Bing's help. She took a minute after that one before starting in on her sets of two.

Tuesday Morning

Emma's night had been pretty routine after the meetings. She'd gone in for her evening workout, then gone home to eat and deal with fanmail while watching some film.

Tuesday morning saw her back in the gym early, like usual. The woman had finished the back portion of her workout and was in the middle of her bicep workout when the morning show came on the gym television. She read the captions and smiled a bit. Yeah, Mosh would be throwing her plenty of gifts this week, there was no doubt about it.

She'd seen the tweets from Mosh and had mostly ignored them, but figured it was alright to stir the pot just a little bit. After finishing her barbell curls, she set the weight down and sat on the bench to punch something into her phone before going back to her pre-meetings and practice workout.

Once Emma finished up her post, she went back to her workout. Once finished, she went to get changed before heading off to grab something to eat before things got started in earnest.

Emma responded back to Adam's text when she got it while at the gym.

  Return text.....yeah?  Until  a drop a ball for a TD or something.. then he'll beat me  up again... at e;ast is a small guy..so we're kinda like   brothers in arms..maybe  he'll stay on my side  awhile?

Upon finishing her workout and getting some food, Emma went to practice.

To: Practice

Ben arrived and headed off for the pool to have a swim.

<<< From Dorms..GAme day  2nd Texan Game...

  Adam Pulled up into  a parking  spot  reserved  for players  and staff.  He  and  Kane got out, heading to the   gates, instead of the  rear doors  to the  tunnels that led to the locker  rooms.

  ..Dude?.. why you have to   do this... folks will see you soon  enough

  I have  My reasons.... besides.. these are our  people... he  walked through the    gate  past  the guards... there  we  some   5000 fans  already in their  seats... Lana  and  the Reavers  where playing some songs  From the Mobile stage..

  Lana  saw   Adam  and    Jumped of the stage   running over to him, Giving him a  quick  Hug,..Missed you  hot  shot!.. can  we  meet up after the GAme?

   Kane  Grinned  and  kept  walking, Adam returned the hug,..got tgo be  at the airport  by 8:00, Then going to New York...  Monday night   I'm gonna  be  on  the Late Night show  with  Goffred  Cameron.. I guess  prepping for the  Giants   game on Thanksgiving?...

 She pouts,..How about I come over  to your place   and Hang until you gotta  leave?

 Sounds good,  we'll have to see what time i get out of here?  they'll be pressers and  stuff..

 She  Gives him a kiss on the cheek,..go get 'em  Rocket Raccoon...

  she    heads back to the stage.. people  aree shouting  Adam's  name and he waves to them   as he jogs to the   tuneel

Ben parked his truck and opened the door for Heather.

"Right, as I said, through those doors to the locker rooms. Just before the game they warn us to make sure we're decent then bring any female players into the main locker room for the final pep talk. So I'll see you then. Have a great game, new Dragon!"