#Kerri Walsh Jennings

[deadpresidents]

President George W. Bush having the time of his life with Team USA's Olympic gold medalists in beach volleyball, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

[beatrack92]

Kerri Walsh Jennings 🇺🇸

[wondermutt20]

"Adversity, if you allow it to, will fortify you and make you the best you can be."

Kerri Walsh Jennings - American Beach Volleyball Player

[whytheylosttheirminds]

Don't Call Me Kid - Chapter 2

(Rafe Cameron x Reader series, 4.9k words)

series summary: You'd had a crush on Rafe Cameron since you were six years old, but he friend zoned you at every turn. Once shy and insecure, you found new confidence and self-love after high school. When your high school friends go on a reunion beach trip, Rafe finally sees what he lost, but he isn't going to give you up without a fight.

tropes: unrequited crush, glow up, she fell first/he fell harder

content: some angst, eventual fluff, slow burn, tomfoolery and shenanigans, drinking, fem!reader has occasional insecurity and body image issues

⇢ series masterlist

After weeks of all-nighters and cramming for finals, sleeping in on your first morning at the beach house felt incredible. It was only 9:30 when you finally stirred in the comfy bed, but it felt late in the day.

Coming down the stairs in your pjs and slippers, you smiled at the sound of your sister’s voice, joking around with her old friends. Your goal this trip was for her to have a good time, and despite the emotional rollercoaster of seeing Rafe yesterday, at this moment, you were glad you decided to stay. You entered the room to see half the house was awake, though neither Rafe or Tom had made an appearance yet.

“Ladies and gentleman, it’s Kerri Walsh Jennings!” Topper deepened his voice like a sports announcer when you entered the kitchen. The few people who were up all turned to you, playfully bowing and applauding like you were a true Olympian. You grinned and rolled your eyes, surprised at how comfortable you felt with the unprecedented attention.

Topper was at the stove flipping pancakes for everyone’s breakfast, wearing an apron that said “kiss the cook.” As you approached the kitchen island to grab a stool next to your sister, he leaned over, holding the spatula like a microphone.

“So tell us, Kerri, now that you’ve won the gold what will you do next?”

“Well, Top,” you played along. “First, I’m going to get some coffee…then I’m going straight to Disneyland!”

Everyone in the kitchen laughed, making the tips of your ears turn red. No one ever laughed at your jokes in high school, not that you were confident enough to make many. Rafe would tell you sometimes that you were funny, so long as no one was around to hear him admit it.

“Well I can help you with the first part,” Topper said, grabbing a mug and the coffee pot.

“Wow, so domestic of you, Topper,” you teased as he poured your steaming coffee in front of you.

“He’s our house mother,” Carter said, smiling wide at Topper who did a jokey little curtsy motion. Clearly this was a running joke between them.

Topper handed you a plate of pancakes, which Kelce promptly reached over your shoulder to steal. 

“Since when are you such an athlete?” Kelce asked, his mouth already full with your breakfast.

You told them all about your team at school, surprised out of your mind that everyone was actually listening intently.

Rafe woke up groggy and sore, ducking his head as he walked through the basement and made his way up the rickety steps. As he reached for the handle of the door which opened into the kitchen, he smiled at the sound of your voice on the other side. His smile quickly faded when he heard Kelce interrupt you with, “Yeah and you kicked Rafe’s ass, too, made him your bitch.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” 

Every head in the kitchen whipped towards the sound of Rafe’s voice as he emerged, except for yours. You shuffled slightly on your stool and sipped your coffee. Rafe didn’t miss the way you were ignoring him, his eyes grazing quickly over the smoothe skin of your shoulders before redirecting to anything he could find. 

“Cute apron, Top,” he landed on.

“Thanks man,” Topper said, ignoring his mocking tone. “Want some flapjacks?”

“Ew, who calls them flapjacks?” Carter burst out laughing. 

“Well now you don’t get any,” Topper scolded, pulling her plate away from her and handing it to Rafe.

“I don’t want ‘em if Carter’s put her mouth near them,” Rafe mocked. “We don’t know where she’s been.”

“Says the guy who licked the gym floor in seventh grade,” you said quietly.

The entire room came to a halt, everyone surprised at the sound of you joining in on the teasing. No one had actually heard you address Rafe yet. The awkwardness hung in the air, all eyes going wide as they waited to see if the notorious hothead was going to be able to take what he was dishing out. You just picked at your pancakes with your fork and hoped everyone would move on, but Rafe smirked at you, a playful twinkle in his eye.

“That was on a dare,” he defended himself.

When you finally looked up at him, your stomach twisted into a knot as you noticed how cute he looked in his white undershirt and grey sweats, messy bedhead and sleepy eyes. You immediately regretted acknowledging that you remembered something he did so long ago. Now, he was looking at you with something like excitement, smug that you were talking to him, like your big triumph the day before had never happened. 

“Oh, I didn’t remember that part.” It was a lie, you remembered everything he ever said or did.

Rafe’s face dropped at your impassive tone, his brief window of hope that all was forgiven slammed shut.

To your great relief, Tom chose that moment to enter the room, drawing the attention away from you and Rafe. He had apparently been out on a run, and his under armor shirt, wet with sweat, clinged to his form to reveal a sculpted chest below.

“How we doin’ everyone?” His cheery voice boomed. He slapped Topper on the back before giving Kelce a frat bro handshake across the counter. “What do we have here?” He whistled appreciatively at the spread Topper had put out.

As Topper rattled on about the many flavors and shapes of pancakes he could offer, Tom looked over at you with a cheeky smile and mouthed “good morning!” You smiled back with a little wave, butterflies erupting in your stomach at the way he was singling you out. 

After the volleyball game last night, you’d all gone to a seafood restaurant on the water. Tom had chosen the seat next to you, and made extremely pleasant dinner company. He asked you all about yourself, about school and what you were planning for the future. He was a great listener, and you were so glad to have someone to chat normally with without the baggage of your childhood hanging over your head. You hoped the week would hold many more cozy conversations with him.

Unbeknownst to you, Carter was watching as you smiled at him in the kitchen, and so was Rafe. They had very different looks on their face as they realized at the same moment that something was happening between you and Tom.

After Topper and Kelce reclaimed Tom’s attention, talking over each other about their plans to go fishing later, Carter squeezed your elbow and motioned with a nod for you to follow her out onto the patio. 

“Ummm, okay, what was that?” Carter asked with arched eyebrows once you were settled on the patio couch next to her.

“Oh my god I know. I shouldn’t have said anything, do you think everyone will think it’s weird I remember something he did in seventh grade?” You asked worriedly.

Carter scrunched her brows in confusion for a minute before waving you off with her hand. “Oh, no not Rafe, he’s old news. I’m talking about your little moment with Tom!”

“Oh, uh,” you cleared your throat, embarrassed that you were still lingering on Rafe when she clearly wasn’t. “I don’t know, he’s nice.”

“He’s fucking gorgeous is what he is,” she fanned herself theatrically.

“Are you into him?” Your stomach dropped at the thought that she might be interested. In your eyes, Carter always had first pick, and surely if Tom thought she was interested he’d choose her over you in a heartbeat.

“No,” she shook her head. “I’m having too much fun messing with Topper.”

You laughed hard at that, “yeah, I noticed. Are you two back on again?”

“Maybe,” she shrugged. “You think if I play my cards right I could get him to propose?”

“I think you could probably get him to do just about anything,” you chuckled.

“Okay, then it’s settled, I’ve got Topper and you,” she poked at your side and you swatted her hand away, “will make a move on Tom.”

“I don’t know about ‘make a move,” you took a long sip of your coffee, suddenly anxious.

Carter eyed you curiously, recognizing the insecurity she hoped you had left behind now that things were going so well. She didn’t understand how you still couldn’t see how amazing you are, but she was determined to prove it to you by the end of this trip.

Rafe did his best not to stare at you through the sliding door, but when he heard your melodic laugh float in through the screen, he couldn’t help the way his head snapped toward the sound, wishing desperately that it was him making you laugh like that. You used to laugh at all his jokes, and he’d taken it for granted. The sad thing was, he actually loved hanging out with you. You had a great sense of humor, and he always felt so comfortable when it was just you and him. He knows now he should’ve just called it what it was, been with you in public too. But he had so many eyes on him back then, and he was worried what people would think. Plus, he knew you’d stick by him even if he treated you like shit, and he took advantage of that. He kicked himself mentally, feeling like a Grade A chump while you sat there, looking beautiful in the ocean breeze, smiling through the window at some guy you’d met yesterday.

As he lost himself in his thoughts, Topper noticed him staring at you, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips.

“She looks good, huh?” He asked Rafe.

“What?” Rafe shook his head as if he could erase the thoughts that were plaguing him. “Who?”

“Oh, come on,” Topper nodded towards you and Carter on the deck.

“I dunno,” Rafe tried to play it off. “She looks the same I guess, a little different.”

“Bro,” Topper gave him an incredulous look. “She’s a fucking smokeshow. You’re into her, don’t even try and fool me.”

“If you're so into her, why don’t you go for her?” Rafe snapped at him.

Topper shook his head, “maybe because I’m not the one she was obsessed with for a decade.”

“She wasn’t obsessed with me,” Rafe protested. “We were friends.”

“Right,” Topper said sarcastically. “And I was a number one draft pick. Dude, she was in love with you, everyone knew it.”

Rafe leaned forward on the counter, propped on his elbows, looking down at his uneaten pancakes with a frown. His stomach twisted with guilt. Of course everyone knew, he knew it too. And he’d be lying if he said he didn’t use your adoration of him to his advantage from time to time. Okay, all the time. He couldn’t really blame you for still being mad at him, he was a dick. But he liked to think he’d grown some since then, not that you had any reason to give him a chance to prove it.

“I think she’s into your buddy, Dom, or whatever his name is,” Rafe grumbled.

“First of all,” Topper pointed the spatula at him, “you know his name is Tom. And second of all, I love the guy, but he’s got nothing on you. Give me one day, she’ll be back.”

“Don’t do anything weird, man,” Rafe warned, cringing at the thought of what kind of damage an unsupervised Topper could inflict.

“Don’t worry dude, I got it handled,” Topper assured him.

Rafe just chuckled and sipped his coffee, knowing this was a losing battle, “whatever you say, Top.”

The door slid open and you and Carter reentered the kitchen. Tom stood from his place at the little breakfast nook when you walked in, and you were relieved that he ended his conversation with Maddie and Sabrina so abruptly at the sight of you. He smiled down at you before heading into the kitchen to help Topper clean up. Rafe was noticeably not helping, sitting at the counter scrolling on his phone.

“No phones,” Carter said, swiping it from him. 

“Give it,” he held his large hand out to her, jaw ticking with annoyance.

“C’mon Rafe, don’t you want to live in the present?” She badgered.

He tried to grab it quickly, but she lifted it above her head, tossing it to Kelce on the other side of the counter, who tossed it to Topper, and the game of hot potato continued, much to Rafe’s chagrin.

“Y’all are children,” he scowled, sitting back on the stool in defeat.

“Who are you even texting? All your friends are here,” Carter jeered.

“I was looking up directions to the grocery store, seeing as there’s no fucking food in this house besides beer, and apparently pancake mix,” Rafe explained.

“No need,” Topper said. “Tom, Kelce and I are spending the day on the water and we’ll grab some stuff on the way back.”

Carter frowned at the thought of both of your boys being gone the whole day, leaving little to distract you from Rafe. This wouldn’t do.

“No, you can’t go out today, we're having a cookout!” She announced to the room.

“We are?” Kelce scratched his head.

“Yes, we are,” Carter nodded confidently, wrapping her arm around Topper’s waist, which you knew was all it would take to get him to agree. “And mom here is going to grill for us.”

“Oh am I?” Topper asked, eyebrows raised in amusement, not exactly protesting.

“Yes, so someone else will need to go get the food,” Carter continued. You knew her well enough to see that a whole plan was unfolding in her head. “Sissy, why don’t you go?”

“That’s…fine,” you agreed reluctantly, narrowing your eyes at her, trying to figure out her play. “I need someone to go with me though, we’ll need a lot of stuff.”

Carter and Topper smiled in sync, both thinking they’d just come up with the best idea anyone has ever had.

At the same moment that Carter blurted out, “Tom can go with you!” Topper loudly suggested, “Rafe can take you!”

Your lips forming a tight line, you gave them both an exasperated look. Their heads snapped toward each other, eyeing each other suspiciously. Rafe scratched the back of his neck, annoyed at Topper for butting in and hating himself for hoping you’d choose to go with him and not Tom.

Tom, meanwhile, was watching all four of you from the corner of the room, never more confused in his life.

“It’s cool,” he said hesitantly, the awkwardness palpable. “All three of us can go.”

“Fine, but I’m driving,” Rafe stood from his seat. “Can I have my phone back now please?”

He reached his hand to Kelce, who was the last to have it. Kelce panicked, wanting to keep the game going, and tossed it to you. You very nearly dropped it, letting it bounce between your hands but eventually securing it before it fell.

You just looked at it in your hands, then up to Rafe and Tom, searching for any way out of what was sure to be an uncomfortable outing without being rude. You came up with nothing.

“I guess I’ll go get dressed,” you handed Rafe his phone, making Kelce shake his head at you in disappointment.

The hum of the truck’s engine was the only sound in the car for a solid five minutes. You sat in the front seat, Tom having opened your door for you, while Rafe drove. You suddenly couldn’t remember what people do with their hands when they’re not driving. Where the hell do you put your hands? Tom’s voice cut through your internal panic.

“So, uh Rafe, Top says you went to Chapel Hill?” He inquired, sitting forward in the backseat so his head appeared between you and Rafe,

“Still do,” Rafe said curtly.

You looked at Rafe for the first time since pulling out of the beach house driveway. You wanted to ask him why he hadn’t graduated on time, always more invested in his academics than he was, but you were trying to pretend you didn’t care.

“Nice, man,” Tom tried to keep the conversation going. “I applied there, it’s hard to get in.”

“I guess I just hit the books a little harder than you then,” Rafe shrugged.

A scoff escaped you before you had the chance to stifle it. Rafe’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.

“What was that?” Rafe looked sideways at you for a moment.

“Nothing,” you crossed your arms over your chest.

“No, please share,” he prodded. You couldn’t believe he was copping an attitude with you.

“It’s just, I’m sure your last name had nothing to do with your acceptance,” you quipped.

Rafe’s jaw clenched and you smirked in satisfaction, pleased that you had gotten under his skin. Tom’s eyes flicked between the two of you, trying to decipher the vibe.

You were glad he didn’t try to attempt any further small talk. Once you got to the grocery store, you divided the shopping list three ways and split up to your designated aisles. You filled your cart as fast as you could, eager to get this shopping trip over with.

After checking everything off your list, you rounded the corner of the produce section toward the registers, your cart nearly crashing into Rafe’s. His entire shopping cart was filled with alcohol. You laughed at the sight. 

“What?” Rafe asked defensively.

“What are the rest of us gonna drink?” You smirked.

“Shut up,” he grinned. “It’s not all for me.”

“Okay but where is the stuff you were supposed to get?”

“It’s under there somewhere,” he mused.

“Sure,” you just shook your head with a smile and kept walking towards the register.

“Shit, wait,” Rafe rolled his cart to you and ran back down one of the aisles.

“No don’t worry about me, I got it,” you muttered to yourself bitterly.

You started pushing both carts but Rafe appeared quickly at your side again.

“Got it,” he breathed, adding one more thing to his cart.

It was a case of Redbull. You shifted on your feet uncomfortably, looking down into his cart. Redbull was his drink of choice in high school, you used to buy him one every day and bring it to him after practice, like a puppy fetching the morning paper. Rafe eyed you nervously, your soured expression leading him to believe you remembered just as well as he did. 

“Old habits die hard, huh?” You joked, trying to break the tense moment. 

“Yeah, can’t seem to kick that one,” he replied, relieved that you were the first to acknowledge it.

Tom caught up with you at check-out, his cart actually full of the things he was supposed to get. The three of you unloaded your goods to be rung up by a 16-year-old cashier who could not have been more annoyed that you had chosen his register.

Tom jumped in to help bag the groceries, chatting happily with the bag boy as he assisted. Rafe, however, stood there staring at his phone. 

After you finished emptying your cart, you watched Tom with a smile while he charmed the grocery store staff. Rafe looked up from his screen with a frown, stomach dropping when he saw that you were watching Tom with an affectionate smile.

“Is that everything?” The cashier asked hopefully.

You were about to say "yes" and also maybe "sorry" when Rafe cut you off.

“No wait, these too,” he reached toward the shelf and grabbed your favorite candy, looking at you expectantly as he handed it to the cashier.

“Your favorite,” he explained bashfully at the sight of your furrowed brows.

“Yeah, it is,” you agreed. “Just surprised you remember. Thanks.”

You looked at him for a moment longer than you should, your eyes lingering on each other’s as you shared another silent memory. You felt a twinge of nostalgia that you knew you shouldn’t.

While you and Rafe looked at each other, Tom pulled out his black card and entered it into the machine. Rafe noticed a moment too late and scrambled to pull his wallet from his pocket, fumbling for his credit card.

“Oh no, hey man, I was gonna get it,” Rafe finally pulled out the credit card he was looking for but Tom was already signing the screen with his finger.

“No worries dude,” Tom brushed him off politely. “You can get me back later this week.”

Rafe was the most competitive person you knew, and the richest, surely he wasn’t going to let another guy pay for everything and walk away. He opened his mouth like he was going to argue with Tom, but with a glance back at you he closed it again. Then he carried as many bags to the car as one person could possibly hold, mumbling something like "multiple trips are for pussies." 

Another fifteen minutes of painful silence might just make your head explode, you thought. The second you were back in the truck, the bed overflowing with groceries, you asked Rafe for the aux.

“What are you gonna play?” He sideyed you as he held it just out of reach. You leaned across the console to snatch it from his hands, and he felt pins and needles where your hand had brushed him. He wondered if you realized it was the first time you'd touched each other in four years.

The two of you had always fought over the aux, you’d eventually give in to his pouting and listened to his shitty house mixes and soundcloud rappers.

“Don’t worry about it,” you waved him off with a grin.

Four years ago, you would have been way too nervous to play what you truly wanted to listen to, afraid Rafe wouldn’t think it was cool enough. But now, you pressed play on your go-to playlist with gusto and beamed when your absolute favorite song started booming through his subwoofers. 

Rafe tried to keep his eyes on the road, but he couldn’t stop them from dancing back over to you as you sang along happily to your music. You rolled the window down, letting the humid Florida air raise your hair in a wave around you. You giggled and tried to tame it, eventually giving up and letting it whip around your face.

There was something so light about you. Something joyful and at peace. He placed both hands on the steering wheel, trying to ground himself, jealous of your carefree spirit. Whatever intangible thing you had managed to capture in your years apart, he wanted it. And it hit him like a lightning bolt, a bittersweet truth he had fought for so many years - he wanted you.

One song rolled into the next, and Rafe searched for something to say to keep up the almost-friendly banter you had begun in the store, but before he could come up with anything, Tom sat forward suddenly.

“Oh hey I love this song!” Tom informed you.

“Me too!” You turned to smile at him, and Rafe listened enviously as you and Tom chatted about the many favorite artists you have in common the rest of the way home.

The house was quiet when you returned, everyone either taking their daily hangover nap or down lounging by the beach. Rafe’s hands turned white from once again carrying as many plastic bags as he could. You tried not to laugh, and tried not to notice the way his biceps bulged under his tight t-shirt, but you failed at both.

“Are you laughing at me again?” He raised his eyebrows in amusement, placing the bags on the counter. “What is it this time?”

“Sorry, you’re just so helpful all of a sudden,” you pointed out with a smirk.

“Well bag boy over there wasn’t helping,” he nodded towards the patio, where Tom was taking a phone call.

“He said it’s a work call,” you defended him. “He just got a job in New York apparently, a Wall Street thing.

“Whatever,” Rafe mumbled. What he wanted to say was “since when are you two best friends?” but he had already been fairly gruff with you today and he was trying to refocus on his goal of getting you to like him again.

You and Rafe put the groceries away in silence for a while. You tried to find the right way to approach the question you were dying to ask, failing to convince yourself you didn't care about the answer.

“So,” you started nervously. “You didn’t graduate this year?”

Rafe’s shoulders tensed as he tried to make more room in the pantry.

“Nope,” he said shortly.

“Did you take some time off?”

He was torn between being glad that you were talking to him and mad that this was the topic you’d chosen to break the ice with.

“No, I-uh,” he cleared his throat. “I failed a couple classes my first year so I’m still a few credits behind.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” you said, leaning down to put the ribs for the cookout in the large freezer.

“It’s my own fault,” he shrugged. “I was an idiot back then.”

When you stood from the freezer to grab another rack of ribs, you were surprised to see Rafe standing close, his body looming as he looked down at you.

“I was an idiot before then, too,” he continued, voice low and uncertain.

Everything in your mind went fuzzy as the blood rushed to your face. This was the first time you could smell him, and it familiarity of his scent made you feel like you were being transported back in time. You fought the urge to inhale deeply, greedy for the rush of him filling your senses.

“Before then?” You blinked up at him.

Rafe struggled to find his next words. It took everything in you not to fill in the blanks for him, like you were back in high school slipping him the answers to a test he hadn’t studied for. But this time, you needed him to find the answers all on his own. You swallowed hard, leaving silence for the words he was searching for. 

Before he could find them, Topper and Carter came barreling into the kitchen, mid-argument as always. They stopped short when they saw the scene in front of them. Rafe stepped away from you so quickly you could feel a woosh of wind in his wake. It was eerily reminiscent of your teenage years, Rafe separating himself from you as soon as there was anyone around to see you together.

“Everything okay?” Carter asked tensely, noticing the way your shoulders had fallen.

“Fine,” Rafe said, tossing the rest of the plastic bags in the trash and heading down the stairs to his basement bedroom, closing the door firmly behind him.

“Damn, you two did good,” Topper said, admiring the cornucopia of food you’d brought back.

“You three,” Carter corrected. “Tom went too.”

She walked up next to you and lowered her voice, a sly smile on her face, “and how did it go with Tom?”

You didn’t match her playful mood, completely preoccupied thinking about the moment you and Rafe had just shared. Was he about to apologize to you? What would you have let him do if your sister and psuedo-brother-in-law had entered the room just a minute later?

“It was fine,” you said distractedly, closing the fridge and heading upstairs to your room.

Carter turned on her heel and looked at Topper with a frown, shocked to find him beaming back at her.

“What are you smiling for?” She snarled.

“Oh nothing, seems like my plan is working is all,” he grinned. “They were standing awfully close when we walked in.”

“Your plan?” She stepped closer to him, arms crossed. “What are you up to Thornton?”

“Just playing a little Cupid,” he smiled proudly.

“Okay well you can go ahead and put down the bow and arrow, because I’ve already got that covered,” she informed him.

“Really?” He asked in surprise. “I thought you hated Rafe.”

“Rafe? Ew, no, I’m talking about Tom, obviously,” she snapped.

“Your sister and Tom? Nahhh, do you not see how she and Rafe have been looking at each other? It’s so obvious,” he scoffed.

“You know what else is obvious? That Rafe’s still a dick and he doesn’t deserve her,” Carter argued.

“He’s actually grown up a lot,” Topper said, surprising Carter with the serious shift in his tone. “He’s been through some stuff, college hasn’t been easy for him. He could use a win.”

Carter considered this, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy the years of bitterness she held for Rafe.

“Well, he had his chance. He had millions of chances with her and he fumbled every one,” she said.

“I know he did, but under it all he’s a good person. And I think good people deserve second chances,” Topper explained.

“Not when they hurt my sister,” she concluded. “I won’t allow it.”

Topper's eyes creased with his smile as he looked down at her, loving her steely look and pursed lips as she put her hands on her hips. 

“You’re still so bossy,” he smiled, sliding closer to her until their chests were nearly touching. “I know we’re supposed to be fighting, but it’s kinda hot.”

He leaned forward to plant a little kiss on her lips, like he’d done a million times before. Carter leaned back, leaving his puckered lips hanging.

“Oh no,” she pushed him back, making him frown. “You don’t get to touch me until you join Team Tom.”

“Nuh-uh! Team Rafe for life baby,” he crossed his arms to match her stance, recovering quickly, more than used to being rejected by her.

She studied him suspiciously, wondering how quickly he’d crack if she actually withheld their inevitable beach trip hook-up. But he didn’t budge, he was as serious about this as she was.

“Fine,” she said. “The game is so on.”

(Chapter 3)

a/n: so tell me... are we Team Tom or Team Rafe?

please note, the taglist for this series is currently closed. For updates, follow @whytheylosttheirminds-works and turn on notifs 💕

[averagewriter-inthedark]

Spike It, Baby 🏐 | Javy 'Coyote' Machado Headcanon

TGM Masterlist | Content Warnings: slight canon divergence

Being a professional beach volleyball player for Team USA and marrying Javy Machado would look like:

Having grown up in Santa Monica, California in the 90s & 2000s, you learned to play beach volleyball before riding a bike. Both your parents were athletes, your mother a beach volleyball player who made it to the 1996 and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games when you were only a child. Watching her inspired you to continue the legacy, the goal of becoming an Olympian on your mind. 

You'd already been in the circuit and playing for Team USA when you met Javy in 2012 during your junior year of college. He'd just graduated from flying school, celebrating in Los Angeles before having to report to his duty station when he stumbled upon your NCAA tournament at the beach. The pilot pretty much falling in love with you right there as he saw you deliver the winning spike. Jumping for joy in the sand with your partner as y'all received the trophy. 

At the bar that night you two ran into each other, Javy offering to buy you a drink which you accepted. The two of you sitting on the outside porch where you talked the entire night. Not wanting to depart even when your friend groups were ready to leave. When it did come time to, numbers were exchanged with the promise of meeting up for a coffee or dinner. For you, it was a double win that day--securing the tournament trophy and a date with a handsome pilot. 

As your relationship progressed, a lot of time was spent a part for various reasons. Javy running missions, leading to his first assignment at Top Gun in 2014 before settling at Lemoore where he met Jake. You had tournaments throughout the year, both stateside and international. Your man--and sometimes Jake--made sure to be at every US tournament you competed it, the loudest in the stands where he was decked out in a t-shirt with you and your partner on it. "Let's go, baby! Show them how it's done" *whistles* "Best spike in the country--full of fire!"

Qualifying for the Rio Olympics was a dream come true. Falling to the sand on your knees after scoring the winning point with your signature spike. Javy and Jake were losing in their minds in the stands, the former in tears and wishing nothing more than to jump the barricade to hug you. Your partner was screaming, y'all's coaches clutched in a group hug. It was a memorable sight. You mother, the 2x Olympian, was a mess as well- considering your debut games marked the 20th anniversary of her debut. 

The Rio Olympics was the experience of a lifetime. Not to mention a silver lining moment for you and your partner. After a spectacular run in your pool play, following a successful quarterfinal, you faced off against the other team from USA, the 3x Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings and her partner April Ross. In a breathtaking match, leaving spectators in the stadium and watching around the world on the edge of their seats, you scored the winning point to send you both into the gold medal match. "Wow, wow, wow! Unbelievable! The #1 team in the world--Walsh Jennings & Ross--have been knocked out of the finals by their fellow Americans. They will go for the Bronze against the Brazilians, while the duo from Santa Monica, California will face off against the Germans." 

Despite losing the gold, you walked away with a silver medal and that in itself is an accomplishment. After all, you achieved your childhood dream of becoming an Olympian, continuing the legacy of your mother. Still, it wasn't over yet. You and your partner got back to the beach with your team and dominated the 2017-2019 seasons. Javy, your main supporter alongside your family, proposed and the two of you got married--on the beach of course. There were times him and Jake challenged you and your partner to a match. They were rusty in the beginning, but soon the pilots got pretty good after several games. You can expect them to kick ass against their coworkers. "Where the hell did you learn to do that, Machado? How are you guys so damn good at this?" Jake would smirk and nudge Javy, "What, have you been living under a rock? His woman is the best beach volleyball player in the country."

Following the success of the Uranium mission in 2019--which had you deathly afraid of losing Javy---the candidates became a little family. By now your relationship with Javy was known to his colleagues, not to mention your success in the world of sports drew a large following. People came up to you at the beach or stopped you on the sidewalk to asks for pictures. Natives of California in the Navy recognized Javy, "Hey, your wife won silver at the Olympics!" "That's right she did. And she's gonna get the gold this year at Tokyo--I know it."

The first time Maverick saw you play, he couldn't help but think back to his time at Top Gun. Where he and Goose played against Ice and Slider. The memory bringing a smile to his face as he watched you and Pheonix play against Javy and Jake. The boys complaining of Pete's calls as refs, citing he was favoring you and Monica. "That was totally out of bounds!" "Not from what I saw, sport."

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the Tokyo Games to be postponed a whole year, and when they finally came it was ruled only coaches and athletes were to attend. No spectators. That meant Javy, your family, and the squad had to watch from Fightertown. It was like Deja vu when you made it to the gold medal match, facing your fellow teammates of USA again. You can expect the Hard Deck to explode when you delivered the match point, securing the gold medal with a beautiful spike, sending the ball into the sand to fast the other team had no time to react. "She did it! She fucking did it!! My baby is an Olympic Champion--Penny ring the bell!!" Yeah, you could hear the squad's cheers and screams miles down. 

When you touched back down on U.S soil, you sprint across the airport to jump into Javy's arms, cameras from the photographers flashing and the welcoming crowd cheering. Javy spinning you around, the rest of the squad joining your hug with flags waving in the background. As per tradition, you placed your gold medal around Javy and your parents, who all were beaming with pride. "Damn this is heavy." "The weight of a champion in the palm of your hand." 

The legacy of your golden run in the sport of beach volleyball would continue to the city of Paris. Where you became a 2x champion with not only your husband and parents in the crowd, but also your two-year-old daughter. Not losing a set the entire games, a beautiful scene with the Eiffel Tower sparkling down upon the stadium. Then four years later, in the Hollywood lights of Los Angeles--miles away from the place that started it all, you ended your career with another gold draped around your neck. Where your daughter witnessed you be crowned once more as the champion of women's beach volleyball, sparking the moment she became consumed with the dream of Olympic glory. 

"Mommy, I want to be like you when I grow up." "Well, you can do anything once you put your mind to it. All you have to do is set it in your sights, and spike it, baby." 

[superm4ks]

listening to mitski and crying about max omg if you’d told me in 2017 when i was fighting for my live as a verstappie that we’d be here… well i wouldn’t be too surprised but i am just so amazed so proud so happy to be witnessing this i’m just so so happy for him. that’s my boy that’s literally my baby whom i’ve raised myself. he grew up before my eyes. 3 time world champion oh my god…

Listen I’ve only had big bro for 3 years but I truly feel like I been rooting for him all my life I think the last time I felt like this about an athlete was miss Chiaka Ogbogu and miss Kerri Walsh Jennings .. But also OBSESSED‼️‼️‼️wid the idea of listening to mitski and having feelings about max verstappen ok I’m gonna do that immediately and if I fucking *** anon u take over the tumblr ok don’t let us down homie. Love u

[4hourfearlessleader]

try: the rules were updated in 2012 and this is literally not an issue anymore. The women still wearing the bikini style of uniform do it by choice.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/women-beach-volleyball-bikinis-men-uniform-guidelines-kerri-walsh-jennings

[sa7abnews]

Beach volleyball legend Kerri Walsh Jennings felt USA patriotism in Paris: 'Something special'

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/09/beach-volleyball-legend-kerri-walsh-jennings-felt-usa-patriotism-in-paris-something-special/

Beach volleyball legend Kerri Walsh Jennings felt USA patriotism in Paris: 'Something special'

For Kerri Walsh Jennings, the most decorated beach volleyball Olympian of all-time, there’s no questioning the personal drive she’s had throughout her illustrious career to come away with such accomplishments. But like many Olympians before her, and those competing at the 2024 Paris Games now, the realization that you’re competing for something more than yourself was felt immediately for Walsh Jennings at her first Games in Athens in 2004. And though she wasn’t competing in Paris this year, Walsh Jennings felt strong patriotism from those athletes she did encounter and watch during her time overseas. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM”I did. It’s just something special,” Walsh Jennings told Fox News Digital when asked whether she felt the pride for the United States in Paris. “You see Scottie Scheffler when he won, and watching Team USA basketball, and they’re celebrities of the game. They’re so touched to be representing USA.”Walsh Jennings even noted that Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam title winner in tennis, was overcome by emotions after winning the gold medal in men’s singles.It means so much for every athlete to bring home the precious medals for their country, but after securing three golds and a bronze for her career, Walsh Jennings believes it’s that much different to represent the Stars and Stripes. OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST GABBY THOMAS REFLECTS ON WEARING THE AMERICAN FLAG AFTER BIG WIN”I think in the Olympic movement, Team USA is a shining light, and we are something to reach for, I think, in all the world,” she explained. “America is a shining light, and I think that’s a responsibility that I don’t take lightly, and I don’t take for granted.”Walsh Jennings was spotlighted throughout her three-peat in women’s beach volleyball alongside her partner, Misty May-Treanor. The dynamic duo were stars in the Olympics, and Walsh Jennings understood the responsibility of increased media coverage and celebrity – she wanted to bring home the gold. Of course, any athlete will want to notch that achievement on their personal bucket list. But Walsh Jennings said she wasn’t just thinking about herself all those times she wore “USA” across her suit on the court. “For me, something that just reinforced my spirit and my resiliency was the fact that I was honored to have the chance to represent our country,” she said. “Every time I took the court in the Olympics, I would invite in my spirit and heart, my country to be with me. All the service members who represent us, my whole family, my ancestors. Everyone who just helped me get there, and I brought them with me in my heart, and that’s a big deal. “To be able to represent my country and put my hand on my heart and hear our anthem three times with Misty, and be able to fight for bronze with April [Ross], that was amazing.”Walsh Jennings also believes the Olympics reminds those in the United States, no matter whether you’re an athlete at the Games or cheering on those who represent you, that American pride is never something to let go of. “It’s OK to be proud of where you’re from,” she said. “No country is perfect. Embrace the good, and when I look at that [American] flag, our country is not our politics – it’s our people and our spirit. I think that’s on display in the Olympics. “Team USA always comes out with a lot of medals, and more than that, there’s just so many displays of courage and resiliency and everything America is made up of. The players and the athletes seem to know that, and that makes me very proud.”The pride of taking home Olympic medals will be even greater in 2028, when the Summer Games return to Los Angeles. “Santa Monica was it,” Walsh Jennings, who partnered with Santa Monica Travel & Tourism ahead of the men’s and women’s beach finals in Paris, said. “The sand is deep, it’s very clean, and it’s just where you want to be, because all the great ones played there, trained there and cut their teeth there. For me, as a young athlete coming up, Santa Monica was a big part of journey for becoming excellent. Looking ahead to 2028, I know we’re going to have four amazing teams representing our country.”Walsh Jennings will hope those men and women can stand on the podium, place their hand over their heart, and bask in the national anthem playing with gold around their necks like she did. It’s raw emotions in those moments, knowing you’ve made yourself and your country proud. She may not be competing, but Walsh Jennings is proud of where she comes from, and will always be rooting for those representing her flag. “The Olympic spirit, to me, is what I’m made of. And the American spirit,” she said.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

[newsssc]

Beach volleyball legend Kerri Walsh Jennings felt American patriotism in Paris: 'Something special'

For Kerri Walsh Jennings, the most decorated beach volleyball Olympian of all time, there is no doubting the personal drive she has had throughout her illustrious career to achieve such accomplishments. But like many Olympians before her, and those now competing at the Paris 2024 Games, Walsh Jennings immediately sensed, at her first Games in Athens 2004, that she was competing for more than just…

[nbacolletion]

Chase Budinger on his transition from the NBA to Olympic beach volleyball

Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings sits down with the former NBA star to talk about his journey from professional basketball player to Olympian in beach volleyball.

[kevinbriansatterwhite]

Care

Brian is the noble leader of this family. Bible is the patriarch and Page is the matriarch. I think Manhattan Beach, CA is Care. I guess someone is going to have to buy it. I don’t know this stuff works.

I once had a dream that Kerri Walsh Jennings was waiting at a finish line for me - in Manhattan Beach. She was with a bunch of people. I had that dream years ago. Hopefully, I already crossed the line. I like Kerri. She’s recognizable - as far as the past - is concerned.

[drclaudiosaracinodcsworld]

CHAMPIONS DE VOLLEYBALL ET HYPNOSE ? Hypnose DCS unique au monde

Qu'ont en commun les champions de volleyball comme Karch Kiraly, Misty May-Treanor et Kerri Walsh Jennings ? En plus de leur extraordinaire habileté sur le terrain, tous trois ont eu recours à une véritable hypnose professionnelle pour améliorer leurs performances.

L'hypnose a été utilisée par de nombreux athlètes d'élite pour améliorer la concentration, surmonter les peurs et les anxiétés et améliorer la résilience mentale. Il ne s’agit pas d’un tour de magie, mais d’une pratique sérieuse et professionnelle qui peut faire la différence entre une victoire et une défaite.

Et ce ne sont pas seulement les athlètes qui comptent sur l’hypnose pour améliorer leurs performances. Même des célébrités telles que Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, Ellen DeGeneres et David Beckham ont déclaré avoir utilisé l'hypnose pour surmonter des problèmes de dépendance, d'anxiété ou pour renforcer leur estime de soi.

Il est vrai que l’hypnose professionnelle peut être une arme secrète pour faire face aux défis personnels et professionnels. Cependant, il est important de s’appuyer sur un hypnothérapeute qualifié et expérimenté, afin d’obtenir les meilleurs résultats de manière sûre et efficace.

Si vous êtes curieux d’essayer l’hypnose et de voir comment elle peut vous aider à atteindre vos objectifs, assurez-vous de faire appel à un hypnothérapeute qualifié et professionnel. Cela pourrait être la clé pour libérer votre plein potentiel. #hypnose #professionnel #athlètes #célébrités #hypnothérapeute

[tourismcampaigns]

California Tourism - Dreamers TV Commercial

Visit California shows some pride for its well-accomplished residents in a new ad campaign that’s set to air across the U.S. and UK.

Each of the ad’s 16 scenes stars a different California celebrity and location. This includes singer Sara Bareilles near the Hollywood Sign, William Shatner at Paramount Studios, Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh-Jennings at Venice Beach, and pro skater Bob Burnquist at Lake Tahoe.

More information: https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/behind-scenes-visit-californias-new-tv-spot/

[onlyboll]

la 10 mejores jugadoras de el voleibol

Jordan Larson – América

Kelsey Robinson – América

Samantha Bricio – México

Laura Ludwig – Alemania

Saori Kimura – Japón

Gabrielle Reece – América

Francesca Piccinini – Italia

abril Ross – América

Kerri Walsh Jennings – América

Misty May-Treanor – América

[beatrack92]

Kerri Walsh Jennings 🇺🇸

Huntington Beach 2016

[zzznightzzz]