Its game day

You wake up in the morning a few minutes before your alarm. You debate just laying in bed and waiting but decide you may as well get up slightly earlier. After all it was probably good to be early and warm up. You were fortunate that the trial game was taking place at your uni and you didn't have to travel.

You go through the same morning routine as usual, grabbing clothes, a quick breakfast and your gear before you walk down to the courts where you are joined by the rest of your team. The air is fairly tense as all of you quietly start your warm up routine. You finish your run and series of other stretches and you move out to the court.

At this point Sam walks onto the court. “Guys what is going on here? It literally feels like we're at a funeral. It's just a game against another team and it's a trial this doesn't even mean anything. These guys came like middle of the pack last year, just relax and play some tennis alright. Seriously Ba-...Bec you saw the team list, do you recognise anyone?”

She looks a little stunned for a second and you're pretty confident it's because he nearly called her babe in front of the entire team, you scoff and try your best to hide it while looking at Flick and Scarlett. Amazingly neither of them even twitched, it's like they completely missed it or its such common knowledge that they didn't react.

“Ah... Yeah umm I think I remember two of the girls from last year, the number 1 and number 3 from the team. The number 1 chick is alright, probably above average and the number 3 wasn't great. These guys really weren't that strong we just didn't have the depth last year. But honestly we should smash them.”

The mood was lifting as the conversation continued and it didn't take long before the joking started back up. “I mean with me a number 4 this year instead of number 2 we're already way better off.” Flick chimed in.

“Ah good, you're all here.” The atmosphere became tense again when Miss Simmons announced her arrival.

“Oh don't get all formal on my behalf, it's the weekend I'm not even working today. Oh and Sam, good to see you again, I know I've been absent from training for a while but I figured in your strong and capable hands the girls would be fine. Now the girls from USC will be here shortly, so Sam are you able to come over here and just run me through the schedule of play.”

As the words came out of her mouth you glance and Bec and you swear you can hear her teeth grinding. Looking again at Miss Simmons, it was pretty clear that the team manager/ lecturer had one goal in mind this morning and that was to flirt with the 'new' tennis coach. The four of you walked back to the baseline and returned to your warm up. You give Scarlett a look of pity as you watch Bec angrily hitting her off the court. As much as it does amuse you you decide it might be best to jump on this one before it gets out of control. You see your opportunity as she walks by you to pick up a ball.

“Oi Bec,” You hiss at her, trying not to be too loud.

She doesn't even respond her unhappiness plain on her face. It also doesn't help that she glances over at Sam and Miss Simmons right as Miss Simmons is giggling about something.

“Oi, Bec! Two things, if you stomp around all morning firstly, you are gonna play shit and let the team down and secondly everyone is gonna know you're fucking the coach.” At these words her head snaps back around to look at you.

As she stares you down taking a deep breath you see a lot of emotions cross her face but she seems to manage them fairly well. “I'm not even going to lie about it, there's a slut over there trying to make her move on my man, how the fuck am I supposed to be calm about this?”

“If we weren't at uni and she wasn't a teacher I'd tell you to walk over there now and start sucking his dick but that's really not an option. So my advice would be, you need to make sure he's got you on his mind and not her. Seriously walk into the showers after the warm up, take a couple of pictures and show him what's waiting for him after we finish. Don't get mad girl, play the game.”

You watch her take a deep breath and you know she's considering it. “Alright fine, but how did you even know about us?”

“The pair of you are not subtle, he pretty much called you babe in the chat just before, I'm damn sure the pair of you arrived together to training at least once this week and finally he stares at your ass more than I've ever seen him do to any other lady and I've been training with him for years and some of the girls just about threw themselves at him. So I don't know what you did but have a little faith in him.”

“Oh my fucking god I nearly slapped him when he just about said babe. Holy shit I think I still might. Anyway you make a good point with this. I will sort him out later but till then I'm here to win. Thanks Issy.” She takes a deep breath and goes back to warming up. You still catch her eyes darting over a few times but at least she doesn't look like she's ready to kill someone.

Your warm up is interrupted by a couple of cars pulling into the car park and you watch as a group of girls exit and walk over to the courts. Your team comes together as you watch the new group of girls as well as a couple of others walk over towards you. An older lady probably late 30s and caked in a lot of make up approaches Miss Simmons and gives her a hug.

“Michelle it's been too long thanks for organising this trial game. The girls have been keen to get back into training this year and we're hoping to do a bit better than just middle of the pack this year.” This new lady really rubs that last point in, as you look around at the smiles of the USC girls, its pretty clear they think they are going to walk through your team.

“Oh Rose it was no trouble at all and just aiming for just above the middle are you? Nice to see your sense of ambition hasn't changed at all since we last spoke. Anyhow tell your girls to jump out on court and start warming up. I'll introduce you to our new coach and we can go over the schedule.” As Miss Simmons roasts the other lady it becomes pretty clear the type of relationship they have.

You watch your opposing team warm up as you stretch and stay limber, they start fairly slow but eventually you notice them attempt to up the intensity. You don't see anything that causes you any real panic. Flick points out the two girls who were there last year and as mentioned earlier one looks pretty good, you turn to ask Bec about her but Bec's attention yet again is nowhere near the game. She's staring at the two older women now laughing and giggling with her boyfriend and Rose seems to have a habit of playfully touching his arm while they talk.

You click your fingers in front of Bec's face and she looks at you. “You’re doing it again, stop grinding your teeth and fight back.”

She has a quick thought and then gives you a nod. “Hey girls you keep an eye on them I'm just ducking to the bathroom for a second.”

You don’t even bother with the warm up watching only the two women and your coach. They really are going for it and poor Sam actually looks uncomfortable, after a minute you watch him apologize and taken out his phone. He steps away and looks a little confused. As he taps his phone you watch as his eyes virtually pop out of his head and his jaw hangs open. You continue to watch the poor guy as he just stares at his phone for a while before attempting to clear his thoughts and return to the conversation.

About 20 seconds later Bec emerges looking determined. “Wow whatever you sent worked, his eyes virtually popped out of his head.”

Her determined expression disappears and she looks a little embarrassed. “Uh well I just told him he had two choices, he could keep flirting and enjoy old pussy tonight or he could make the right decision… and I may have sent him a picture as well. I didn’t come over too pushy did I?”

You’re pretty sure you wide eyed look is giving you away as you reply, still keeping your voice down as the other two girls aren’t far away. “This is gonna be really forward of me but you’re a bit crazy Bec, does he know you’re the jealous type? Cause honestly he didn’t go looking for that the poor guy was just wandering along in the jungle when two cougars just set on him and I dunno how it looks to you but even before you messaged him he was looking awkward and now he looks plain scared.”

She looks dejected as you say this. “Oh, jealous and crazy, add on possessive and you sound like all my ex-boyfriends.”

“Look I’m not trying to say that, you just need to sit down with him and have a chat, if you’ve got expectations then he needs to know but you also need to be able to watch him have a conversation with another lady without looking like you want to crush his junk. And also-”

Your girls advice session is put on hold as you hear a loud “Alrighty girls everyone come over” from Miss Simmons, “Okay so same as a normal schedule. First we start with doubles, then all of you play singles then reverse doubles. Then its lunch time and we’re done. Now both captains introduce your team.”

You and all the other girls stand around awkwardly waving to each other as you’re introduced by your captain. The USC girls still seem to have an air of confidence about them but they seem to faulter a little when Flick is introduced as the number 4. The doubles pairings are then announced and you make eye contact with Scarlett.

A note: Hey guys, struggling a little with motivation at the moment but going to try to knuckle down and make sure i stick to a weekly(ish) release rate :)