The Miracle Season

There are some rare people in this world,

who can make absolutely anything into an adventure.

Come on, Kelley. Come on.

If we're lucky,

one of those fearless, generous souls shows us how it's done.

How to live.

Except, sometimes it doesn't feel like luck.

Sometimes it feels like they were sent from above

as a gift to the rest of us.

Because when someone like that finds you,

and somehow chooses you as their friend,

it makes you think that you can fly.

Okay, thanks.

Or, at the very least,

it helps you get through high school.

Which, when you're 17, is kind of everything.

Kell Bell!

Kelley!

Of course, it was Line,

who always seemed like she was about to take flight,

like she might bound out of her seat at any moment.

Hey.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the anchor of West High's starting line-up,

Miss Kelley Fliehler!

Shut up, Line, you're gonna jinx me!

Can't jinx certainties, Kell.

No, you being a starter is a certainty.

Me being a starter is, like, 50-50 at best.

Think about it. This year we have Mack,

Brie, and that freshman, who's like nine feet tall.

They're not you.

- Please. - I'm serious!

Tell me you haven't been killing it in practice.

Okay. I made a couple of good digs.

"A couple good digs."

Let me just kick your butt right now.

No, after we win State, again.

Whoa. Hello, new neighbor.

Oh, no!

Easy, Liner! We can't play at all if we have whiplash.

- No. - Oh, yes.

No, no, no.

No. Liner, get back here.

The party's tomorrow night.

Officially it's to celebrate the start of volleyball.

We've got a pre-season game in, like, an hour.

But you guys should come meet people.

We invited the whole school. Literally.

Just tell us you're coming, even if it's a lie.

Because this one can't take no for an answer.

Well, in that case, we'll be there.

On one condition.

What's your name?

Ruby. And that's my big brother, Alex.

That's it, you're in.

You look like you got what it takes to be a West High volleyball player someday.

- All right. - Up top.

Yeah!

Yeah!

Um, it's the big red barn just off of Route 1.

- You can't miss it. - Looking forward to it.

Well, that is, if I'm not lying about coming.

Kell Bell!

Ugh.

- You're welcome. - Mmm.

We can double date.

No!

There he is.

Hey, Jim.

What do you say, girls?

- Fresh off the press. - These are perfect!

- I love that. - Wait, this is for you.

- We'll see you after. - Thank you, Jim.

Oh, thank you.

- First game tonight. - Whoo!

Thank you, guys. Here you go. First game.

First game. West is the best!

- A piece... Perfect! - Right here.

- All right, let's keep it going. Yeah. - Whoo! Beautiful!

- I'm on my last one. - Oh, no.

Gotta catch up.

Hey, Kelley. Hey, Liner.

- Candy. - Hi!

Oh, wow. Those turned out great.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

- Oh, my God. - That looks so amazing.

You girls bring that championship back home again.

- We will. - We will.

Give this to your mama, it's her favorite. How is she?

Great.

You give her a great big hug from me.

Will do.

And thanks for this. It looks delicious.

- You're welcome. - Thank you, Candy.

You're welcome. Good to see you girls.

You, too.

You wanna talk about it?

Forty-two matches till State, Kell Bell.

Yeah.

Wait!

Wait!

Wait!

Hey!

Wait!

I don't know why they didn't take it, but they didn't.

For gosh sakes, it's yours.

I never liked it. I don't want it.

Why don't you and what's her name use it?

- Brez! - I left it in the yard.

Brez, we gotta talk.

Who else? I moved it myself.

- Who else is gonna help me? - Super urgent.

Caroline, hold on.

That dresser is in the yard.

Take it if you want it, or I'm throwing it on...

- Brez... - What?

Okay. First of all, I have a special surprise for you

after the game. You're gonna love it. Also,

- the team picture. - Oh, my God. Are you still talking?

- Uh-huh. - Remember when I said we should be wearing matching socks?

I actually think they shouldn't match.

Maybe we wear neon colors and weird hats.

Or, maybe we match our shoe laces.

- It's gonna be a great year. - Oh, yeah.

Magical season, I can feel it.

- Did someone say "magic"? - That's my cue.

Where's it gonna come from?

Come here.

Oh!

- You have a date with Mom tonight? - And every night, sweetheart.

After the game,

and I have a consult with a guy about a herniated disc.

Why? You thinking about crashing the party again?

Well, it's not like you're getting lucky.

You're not, right, Dad?

Don't answer that. Definitely don't answer that.

You're the grossest!

Love you!

Go! Go! Go!

Oh, my God, that's so disgusting!

- Don't encourage her. - Come on, you can do it!

Get the next one. Get the next one.

What the heck is going on here?

Line ordered pizza for some reason,

and then bet me she could jam two whole slices

in her mouth at once.

With me.

You killed it!

Urgh!

You're gross.

Take your time.

Are you sure you don't want any? It's so good.

Give it to me.

Okay. That was just a bet, which I totally would've won.

Caroline, you're the captain now.

Do you not understand what being a captain is?

Call me "Line" or "Liner" or any curse word you want.

- But just not "Caroline". - My setter leads.

- It's just pizza. - These girls are looking at you,

our best player, to set the tone.

- We were just having a little fun. - Not to be their best friend,

not to be the funniest, but to lead this team.

Are you feeling all right today, Brez?

- What? - You need a hug?

- No. - Can't play knowing you're upset.

Come here.

- See? Isn't this so nice? - Yeah.

Get outta here.

Hey. I got you.

This was fun to get, wasn't it?

Yeah!

How many schools in Iowa do you think have one of these?

- Freshman? - My name's Taylor.

I know your name. Freshman?

Dozens. Scores, even.

But how many teams have earned two back-to-back?

Almost none. You know why?

'Cause players get cocky.

- What? - What?

They get complacent.

So, say goodbye.

It's not yours anymore. It belongs to last year's team.

I don't want you to think about being ranked number one.

I want you to think about what we're gonna do

this year, today.

Which is, one point at a time

we're gonna play West volleyball.

Captain, team is yours.

Yeah, Liner.

Yeah, State, here we come!

And here they come!

Your defending State Champions, the West High Trojans.

Today, West will take on their crosstown rival, City High.

Is it me, or did the Twin Towers get taller over the summer?

It's you. Or it's that good old steroid-fed Iowa beef.

All right. Focus on the game. Focus on the game.

They are huge.

Nice girls, but it's time to take them down!

Right girls. We got this ladies!