Life is Futa Chapter 21

Max might’ve looked OK taking the hit, but the landing is particularly undignified, leaving her ego as bruised as her body. She’s pulled from the game, and there’s just enough time left that the crowd doesn’t really make the connection between her sacrifice and the fact that Adella didn’t score. She sits grumpily on the bench, drinking cold Gatorade as the game ends and Riley goes to her triumphant interview.

“You need to be more careful,” Tiff says to Max. “Adella can snap your little hollow bird bones like pixie sticks.”

“Fuck off,” Max snaps.

Tiff looks startled. Max rewinds.

“That’s super nice of you to say,” Max replies with a smile.

“I just don’t want you getting injured.”

“Someone had to stop her.”

“You’re lucky you didn’t get carded.”

Max sighs as Tiff goes to join Riley. It’s been a long week for everyone, but especially for her. Time is like that. She joins the others. A few wave to fans, but most just want to get to the Lodge. They don’t need to expend more effort on marketing themselves; FUTA will do that for them.

Max pauses before boarding the bus, looking toward the field. Riley’s glowing as she talks to Lulu and Moxxi. Well, maybe that’s all the lights behind her. But she looks really happy. Max smiles. She got a little wrapped up in her own stuff for a while there. Not everything has to be about getting rewarded. So she wasn’t able to make herself into a star overnight. When she thinks about it that way, feeling so disappointed seems silly.

She rides contentedly to the Lodge and takes her time disembarking. She looks on the bright side: they won. Spending the night at Loser Camp really would be something to get salty about.

Ice cream. The Lodge has ice cream. That’s enough to lift her spirits, although she also wants an aspirin. Max climbs down from the bus and hurries into the lobby with the rest of the winners. Only when she’s in the heavenly air conditioning does she realize that she’s been so busy with soccer that she didn’t give any thought to possible shenanigans this weekend. She didn’t talk to anyone about sharing a room. Now she’s going to end up with just whoever. Maybe not even someone from Pink Team.

“Eep!” She jumps as someone trails a finger down her back.

“It’s just me,” Lara says, appearing beside her. Rather than a duffel, she has a worn backpack slung sexily over one shoulder.

“Oh. Jeez.” Max lets out her breath.

“Room together?”

“Sure.”

“I saw what you did,” Lara remarks, looking at her wristwatch.

Max brightens. “You did? Is that why you’re here?”

“Well, I owe you one, don’t I?” Lara rolls her eyes. “Or two, if we’re keeping score.”

“And your plan was to seduce me?”

“Actually, my plan was to have someone else room with you, then swap keys and sneak in and surprise you in the shower,” Lara says quietly.

“Oh.”

“But I decided to try something a bit less problematic.”

Max laughs, but she’s blushing too. It’s nice to be appreciated.