Doubles Serving

Doubles/Serving: Romance off The Tennis Court

(Sapphic Colorado Sports #5) 

Blackthorn Dragon

        *This one is a FF sports story broken into three different parts.

–There will be times and romances in life where one sees, in their own reality, someone who you may love, lust, or wind up pining for. Maybe it is a passing fancy. Maybe it is more real than you ever thought. Maybe it is someone you think you can have but not necessarily deserve. Someone potentially a soulmate and yet completely unreachable and unattainable.  

–This explores similar ideas. Except it is an original, happy ending. It is fiction but based on truth and some of my own personal experiences, namely flipping the sexes around to fit the FF rom/com/sports storyline.

–I have tried to find that true balance of life, dreams and aspirations, and, of course, sex and love, in this whole series. Most especially this novella.

–I truly put real effort into the research of the tennis parts because I know only the basic structure of the NCAA system for tennis, so forgive me if I did miss some technical parts.

–I hope you’ll also take the time to donate to Nifty.org at donate.nifty.org.

–And finally, if you can, please take the time to send me an email at lordblackthorn67@gmail.com. I will respond to emails you send in regards to my stories, suggestions on any standalone or future stories, and any positive feedback will be wanted.

After all that spiel, I hope you really enjoy it!

                Part I – “The Unknown Dream”

                                ‐‐‐

Lacie Olddson spoke to her fellow teammates after their final practice of the regular season. They were prepping this last week for the National Championships. It would be spread out across 3 days. One full day for the team title, finishing with the team finals the next morning. Then the next day spread out in Doubles, and then the final the next morning. And then the last day would be for Singles.

Lacie was a 22-year-old, highly touted, highly-ranked tennis player.

She had been moved into Doubles with her partner and hard crush, Lisa Pisani.

They were both great on their own all through High school and into college, but now at the highest collegiate level they felt at their best together and as a part of something.

Her degree she chose was not an easy one, as it was Visual Art and Design, and that required quite a lot of portfolio building and quite a bit of focusing primarily on color, contrast, and dark and light. The series of paintings she currently was working on for her undergrad degree and would apply to hopefully get in for the University of Colorado’s MFA program, simply titled “The Dark Art.”

 She had discussed it with her mother several times. Her mother increasingly tried to persuade her into the artist lifestyle instead of fully pro tennis.

She loved her mother, but she felt the weight of her words constantly being brought back in their conversations. Her mother was a successful tennis player, violinist, and then, when she was successful in that, an artist before she wound up retiring.

Packing up with her husband to Hawaii for a quiet retirement.

“This year is the year everyone will be gunning for that title as we all know. This is a new season. This has been nothing but toughness from us all. I want you to know that we will be ready and prepared for anything any of these other teams try to throw at us. We just need to execute, be more cool under pressure, and be ready, okay?” Lacie finished her long speech from the day's practice.

After that, everyone got their stuff and went into the locker rooms for a shower.

Lacie stayed back with her teammate and hardcore crush, Lisa, to help clean up the last few things from the court.

She had done well, according to the coaches, for her first year in the DI level of competition by making it all the way to the National semifinals.

The coach, who was the new Head Coach for the women’s tennis team and who had worked under the Head coach of Stanford women’s tennis, a legendary dynasty school for women’s tennis.

She remembered the moment she grew to care for and respect her coach as more than just the coach, but also as someone who knew just what she was going through.

 The new Women’s and Men’s Swimming and Diving head coach, Tara Ridley, the once-great All-American Swimming prodigy who attended the Northern Colorado school and who, by the age of twenty, would go on to win the NCAA 100, and 200 meter freestyle, the 200 meter freestyle becoming a then-record. The record wouldn’t be broken for some time.

Ironic to Lacie when pointed out by Lisa, Lacie’s tennis partner,  the former All-American swimmer, Gwen Briar. The 40-year-old coaching assistant who specialized in the distance and middle distance swimming events, like the 400 and the 800 meter events,  was also a fan of Tara before meeting her for the first time in practice.

She knew, from conversing with the new Swim coach herself, the 42-year-old, had been immediately enamored by the younger distance swimmer.

Until the night that Tara came onto her in a bathroom stall in a random bar, they made out, and they then wound up doing it right there on the sink.

From the women’s side, as she had a friend on the swimming team from an art class she had, named Diana Roy, a 19-year-old red-headed girl from Upstate New York, she was told that the women’s team had two great 100 meter and 200 meter swimmers that were getting very competitive with each other. They were both very fast. Vying for the top spots.

They also had the Sophomore in Diana at the starting 800 meter distance.

According to Diana, when they talked, the swimming team was going to be coming guns blazing the next season with the amount of swimmers and high-level competition they would be bringing.

Then there was her Tennis coach, Coach Jill Harper.

She was a devoted coach who didn’t care about what anyone said when they questioned her methods or lineup switches. She was also engaged to a woman named Gracie Briar. Cousin of their school’s assistant coach who also happened to love a woman. I don’t know what they have in the water in this town to get all the lesbians of Colorado sports, who are super sexy, out here.

Her teammate, Lisa Pisani, the very exotic and sexy Italian-French beauty, was exactly her type. She wasn’t even sure she really had a type, having hooked up with a fair number of other women in her time as a beautiful athlete, but she knew Lisa was her favorite type.

She found herself enamored by her partner’s ability to go from super Saiyan on the court, for the full match, to super chill off the court. It was like she became two different people.

Lisa was so different from Lacie’s last few hookups. Especially Mardrid, the very-toned and muscular star wrestler on their school’s wrestling team. Whereas Lisa was the atypical Italian-American girl who was very calm and quiet, except for on the court, but Mardrid was the very loud and feisty one. Only ever calming down when she was in a match.

Lacie still remembered how painful their split had been.

                                ‑‑‑

Mardrid said, as she began putting her clothes back on after a particularly stunning orgasm from Lacie, “I will always have a place for what we did in my memory as a happy time, but I will never be able to give you all of my being. I just can’t.”

“You love me, but not as a lover?Even after all of what we’ve done?” Lacie asked, with a tinge of annoyance and anger.

“No. You see, I once had a teammate who I thought I would spend the rest of my life training with, living with, and being in love with. But she chose another path... to be one of my rivals… I’ve decided to really fight for her this time. I want us to try it again.”

Lacie, still confused by this, asked, “SO? We can still do whatever this IS?”

“Lace,” She responded with a soft tone Lacie had not heard before. With a softer tremor in her tone, as she watched Mardrid grab her top and bottoms and put them back on, “I love you as a friend, and what we’ve been to each other the past few months, but I still love Kat O’Conner! I will put my cards out there and say this to you now, Lace. I’m really ready for her and I to take it further after the Nationals wrap up. And we can’t be together, hooking up like this!”

Lacie made her move to get up and leave without a word, but Mardrid then grabbed her firmly before she could flee. She pulled Lacie back into her for a one final goodbye kiss. A sorrowful one, too. And Lacie turned around and away.

However, before she made her way to the door, she was shocked to feel Mardrid’s muscle-bound, lean body against her back.

Mardrid tugged her from behind and pulled her in for one last hug. She could feel the short, sharp breaths of Mardrid.

Mardrid whispered, “If you ever need me, for anything, I will be there for you. Only as a friend, Chica.”

With that, Lacie broke the grip, grabbed her keys and bag, and left in a hurry. She raced on her bike out of the parking lot and back to her own place.

She didn’t shed any tears. Not even one.

                                ‑‑‑

Looking back on it, she thought, Mardrid was full of suave, what I called “Hispanic passion.” It was always lingering in the back of my mind how much she would hold back sometimes. Maybe that’s why I didn’t shed a tear… I just knew it wouldn’t last.

                                ‐‐‐

Lacie and Lisa’s doubles teammates were still in the mix. They had been selected for the tournament after having an At-Large bid because of finishing in the 3rd place in their conference.

The good thing was they wouldn’t have to face that doubles team until the finals, if both made it there.

The previous season’s top-seeded duo got bounced in the quarterfinals by none other than Lacie’s teammates Gwen Talofo, a 21-year-old Junior, Hawaiian-American beauty and Ana Nagusaki, the Japanese-American 20-year-old Sophomore, ethereal beauty.

Unfortunately, they would have to contend with a fierce duo of Gretchen Welch and her younger sister, Kirsten Welch, who were 24-4 and the second seed, playing for a high-level DI school in Mississippi, would be possibly awaiting Ana and Gwen in a matchup between the second and third seeds.

If Lacie and Lisa played their cards right, they might only have to go up against the winner of the 6 and 8 seed in the Semifinals if the fourth and fifth seeds got upsetted.

Unlikely, but not impossible, Lacie thought as she closed her eyes in the shower and took a few deep, calming breaths to relieve the tension in them.

                                ‑‑‑

Lacie moved in and turned on the water to cool, to calm herself from her nerves and from her sore body.

She looked over to where Lisa moved to stand under her own water.

She was across from her own shower stall. She could clearly see the nude outline of the other woman’s curvy, beautifully toned ass that Lacie loved seeing under the uniformed dark blue skirt, and her vulva which was peaking out when she bent over.

She could see those powerful, long legs flexing and unflexing every short movement she made.

Lisa looked back at where Lacie stood, opposite her under the cold shower water, and then simply said, “I can’t believe you are last on that poll.”

Lacie smirked back at the other girl and was forced to keep her eyes closed, then said, “Still in disbelief about the poll we did, huh? Relax, I’m not worried by it.”

“Good.” Lisa spoke, as she began to lather up soap onto her body. “You shouldn’t be worried at all.”

Lisa smirked, then asked seriously, “First of all, when do you ever let your hair down? Secondly, when have I never complimented those beautiful blue eyes? Lastly… What parties have you been to that I haven’t?”

“None anytime recently, unfortunately. Due to our hectic and crazy schedules. And for the other answers, I don’t have a clue. All the compliments kinda morph into one eventually… Even some women aren’t that original with compliments.”

Lacie didn’t know that, but took it in stride and thanked the other fully nude woman just standing next to her. Then she asked, “Know how you’d be a 10?”

Lacie had no clue, so she said, “No.” Then she asked, curiously, "What?”

“Actually showing off that award-winning smile of yours.” The other woman answered. Shutting off her own shower, without a rush or hurry, she turned and walked up to Lacie’s side where Lacie could see all of her baby-smooth front.

Her pert, B-cup breasts, and her flat, toned stomach flowing down to her pelvis and her smoothly-shaved, cute-looking delta between her legs. It looked tight and smooth and slightly moist from the recent shower.

She didn’t know what to say, but the other woman’s voice cleared the silent shower, echoing off the walls and into Lacie’s heart, “I don’t mind you looking. Unlike most guys, you have a sweet way of smiling while checking me out. I like the way it makes me feel.”

Lacie shrugged and said, trying to stay cool, “Well, we still have a ways to go before we can hoist that Doubles trophy… And I don’t date my tennis partners.”

Lisa just shook her head firmly and said, firmly grasping each of Lacie’s shoulders and gently squeezing, “We both want this. I can feel it, too.”

Lacie smirked at that sincerity and then asked, “You mean that?”

Lisa simply said, “ I’ll gladly die and take a trip to Heaven, and tell them ‘no’, just to come back to see your smile again.”

“Okay, I'll take it back. That definitely was the most cheesy pick-up line I’ve ever heard. Men included.” Lacie said, in silent disbelief at the smoothness that Lisa had in her words. God, she actually turned me on with that cheesy line.

Lisa smirked devilishly at her, then winked, “Be real, beauty. Your heart fluttered and your pussy moistened.”

Lacie tried to hold it back, but let out a sudden mewling, low whine hearing the filth come from the other woman’s mouth for the first time.

Then, without any fuss or preamble, Lisa stepped forward and pushed her roughly back to the wall.

After a brief rush of coldness from the tiled shower wall on her back, Lacie was met with the embrace from the warm, toned body of Lisa following her.

Lisa pulled Lacie close and said, “Come on, Lace. Let yourself go.”

With a single hesitant nod from Lacie, she saw Lisa come closer and closer.

She could smell the fresh scent of the other girl’s faint shampoo on her. The soap on her. The hint of her own musk wafting around them.

Fuck it, might as well! Lacie thought.

Finally, they both closed their eyes.

Lacie was pulled in for a kiss on the lips.

A kiss so earnest and real.

A gentle yet yearning pull to the others lips.

One that stirred all of Lacie’s insides and gave her the shivers.

 One that made her want to drop to her knees right there.

It was a transformation for her at that moment.

 Almost like a reassurance to her that her feelings were not wrong and indeed accepted by Lisa.

Lacie was the first to pull back to get some oxygen back in her lungs.

 She blushed brightly at that last compliment, which is probably, no… definitely… yes… definitely the best compliment I’ve ever gotten. And the sweetest kiss, too.

Lacie then looked at the other woman, now arms at her sides, and said, “You sweet-talker, you. I’ll make sure we do our parts every match so that I can hear you make God move the Earth to Heaven and back for me.”

Lisa smirked back at that and said, turning away and grabbing her own towel to finally cover herself up, “ I think that was just as poetic as what I said. And you’re not even going to school for poetry.”

A last look at the clock on the shower wall, Lisa grimaced slightly before saying, “I gotta get going, I’m gonna start to prune soon.”

Lacie just shrugged and took a deep breath before stuttering with the response, “I’ll… s-see you later then.”

Lisa gave her that same charged, intense smile, before swallowing her own arousal and turning to walk off.

Her ass, so round, teasing Lacie from beneath the towel as she moved out of the shower area.

                        …

It was the weekend leading up to the National tournament.

They had some very tough competition in store for them in their pursuit of a second straight team title.

They’d get on their team’s designated private plane and land, after about a four-hour flight, in Palo Alto, California.

        Once all the others were packed and ready to leave, she, too, got ready and, after a brief talk with the coach and some of the trainers, took off to the parking lot that had her motorcycle.

Her dad was the one who got her into two-wheeled motorbikes.

He had a Low Rider Harley that he rode on weekends with friends in Hawaii, but also had a nice Kawasaki Ninja 250 that was then unlicensed.

 He let her test and practice on his little dirt-bike before moving her up, after she passed the written test, to his Ninja 250 motorbike.

Although she told Lisa one day during practice that she liked it, and while it was fun to learn on, she really hated her dad’s bike. Simply because it was not her bike. It didn’t feel quite like hers, despite her training all those months and hours in parking lots on it.

When she finally passed her driving safety and road test several months later, she ended up telling her dad a few months back, just after the hell that followed the previous season, that she wanted her own, but a different model and one that fit her personality a bit more.

Having her dad help buy, along with her saving up with a Summer training camp coach job she did, to get a nice 2019 Kawasaki Ninja 650.

She could get up to high speeds on the sky blue, two-wheeled beauty.

She always felt like one of the coolest in the school for having that for her ride.

After making sure everything was in order, with her helmet strapped on, she started it up, kicked it into gear, and left to go to her apartment.

She split the rent with two of her teammates to make it work. It was half-paid by the scholarships, but it wasn’t all free. Like food and other personal amenities were things they had to pay for themselves.

It’s why she signed the NIL deal with a sports company.  

It was a normal-looking apartment setup by the school and her coach.

Its design was fairly simple, with white walls, aside for her own bedroom which she had painted a nice blue color and had decorated with several art projects that she did.

They had unique, red shades with floral patterned design at the windows and had brick walls on the interior and exterior of the two-story apartment which told of its 100-plus years of history.

        She was always teased by her roommates, who she dumbly told that she was afraid to do laundry sometimes because the basement felt haunted, and would intentionally scare her with ghosts they “saw” that haunted their basement.

Once in the apartment, and after kicking off her shoes, she went up to the kitchen to get some food.

After searching around for something light to read, and in the middle of settling into the story, she got a text notification.

When she got her phone and sat back on her bed, she looked and saw it was from Lisa. Lisa’s beautiful face at the forefront, with some rock walls where they bouldered with their coaches.

Lisa: Hey. What’s up, girl? Hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable earlier.

Lacie thought, trying to find an answer as to why Lisa thought she was mad, Why does she think that?

Almost as if reading her through the screen, she got the follow up.

Lisa: from what I said and did to you in the shower.

Lacie couldn’t help but smirk at that simple opener. Hopefully this isn’t moving it too fast.

Lacie: NO NO I needed to hear that honestly. And the kiss was really amazing. Seriously the best I’ve had. And your touch really… Made me want to risk it all then.

Lisa: Right? No risk, no biscuit.

Lacie: Dork, you’re just responding to what I’m saying. I came out of there with that serious thought in mind.

Lisa: Am not! Also, thank you for sharing THAT.

Lacie let out a giggle at this fun little game.

Lacie: Well, you started it. Seriously, I am happy about what you said. It made me feel special.

Lisa: You are special… Not only just in my dreams (😜).

Lacie laughed out loud at that comment and emoji. Lacie:What are you up to?

Lisa: Not much. Thinking I want to come over and steal your new two-wheeled beast.

Lacie: Not in your life! Your wish, however, for a ride on the “beast” may be granted, if you want.

Lisa: Absolutely. It seems scary, but I do have three brothers who lived for bikes and vehicles of all types. I should be fine.

Lacie remembered Lisa telling her that before in a previous practice.

Two of her brothers were professional Red Bull-sponsored BMX and motocross competitors in California, the other had been a pro drag racer for cars for a while and then decided to get married and work on cars for a living.

It actually made Lacie a bit sad that she was a single child and that her parents didn’t want any more after her, but she was happy with the few cousins she got to see every once in a while.

Then Lacie thought about it and sent: Maybe you should come by either way. No going out to parties until after this is all over, but I do have some (not-so-kid-friendly) cookies me and Rachelle made earlier this week if you want.

Lisa didn’t respond for a few minutes, and Lacie started worrying, wondering if she had been pushing too much, but before she could reprimand herself for being an idiot, she saw the text response.

Lisa: Sorry, I just got my socks and sneaks on, I’m on my way now!

Lacie looked around and then saw how messy and unkempt her room looked then.

        Lacie: Take your time, I gotta fix up the apartment.

        Lisa responded to that quickly, typing: I will bike all the five minutes to your apartment and get there in ten minutes. Make it quick.

        Lacie smirked at that but realized that meant that Lisa was right and was almost always on time to things.

So, she looked around her room and at the messy living room area, well, no better time to clean this all up than now.

She began putting dirty panties in her hamper, putting bras where they were supposed to belong, and putting socks and her other shirts where they had to go.

                                        …

When, like she said she would, Lisa showed at her apartment door and knocked, Lacie was still finishing the final touches on the apartment where she was finishing sweeping up the floor in the kitchen. She was also in the midst of a jam session with her music and was currently singing loudly as the blasting Death Cab For Cutie song came through her and her teammates' shared speaker.

She stopped sweeping and walked to the closet where the broom and vacuum were stored.

She took a deep breath in and out before she went to the door, yelling to the other side, “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming!”

She looked at herself once in the hallway mirror, dressed in her casual sleepwear of t-shirt and athletic shorts. Good enough for a night on the couch.

She opened the door to find Lisa standing at the door patiently waiting.

        All her tanned, smooth-skinned perfection and perfectly straight and white teeth smiling back at her.

“Hallo!” Lisa said, waving briefly at her.

Lacie smiled and said, “Hallo, you.”

Lacie then asked, wanting to tease, “What’s up?”

Lisa shrugged, “Not much. Just heard someone blasting some Death Cab and, since I’m a pretty good singer, I thought you’d let me in and serenade you.”

Lacie smiled with an eyebrow raised at that, knowing that Lisa’s major was actually in singing and her pride over her voice was not sensitive or shy, then stated, “Oh, yeah? I bet you say that to every neighbor.”

Lisa smiled back with an eyebrow raised of her own, “I was just in the neighborhood on my bike, minding my own business when I decided to just stop in and see if you wanted to share your… music.”

Lacie giggled at that and then straightened herself up. Clearing her throat, teasing the other girl, “So, you like Cab, too, huh?”

Lisa shrugged and looked at her with a wide “I obviously do” look.

Lacie said, “You’re just here for my cookies, huh?”

Lisa looked back at the motorcycle parked in the garage area for a moment and said, “Not just the cookies.” Then back to Lacie, grinning, “I like the company just as much… Also, it is getting cooler out here, you want to let me in?”

Lacie shook her head slowly, saying, “You Cali-girls really need to learn to handle the cold better. You’re in North Colorado for Christ sake.”

Lisa shrugged that off, saying, “I figured we could get some much-needed strategy going for the team tournament and our first two rounds. They should be smooth, but one last-second rundown always helps me be confident.”

Lacie let her come in and after taking off her shoes, she followed Lacie to the kitchen.

Lacie turned to face her guest and briefly took in her fit.

Lisa was wearing her casual Crocs with socks, not her expensive, sponsored tennis sneakers, and she had on black sweatpants and a black undershirt peeking out from a nice light zip-up sweatshirt.

She also had on high-up athletic shorts that showed enough leg to know that she worked out daily and at a very high level.

She wasn’t ripped like some of the wrestlers or rugby women, but she was still very toned and with a lean, athletic body. That still didn’t hide her femininity as it was still present in her curvy hips.

Curves that made Lacie take a quick look and made her core clench in lust.

She glanced just outside the door.

She looked out and saw the bike chained to their porch. “You sure you want to leave that bike there?”

“We’ll hear it and scare them off,” Lisa said reassuringly. Then she moved closer to Lacie and asked, hesitating, “Hug?”

Lacie smirked and opened her arms for Lisa. Lisa hugged her tightly, and Lacie immediately hugged her back. She hated how much she loved the feel of the toned body against her own.

Lacie smirked and moved for Lisa to come in. Once in, she turned and walked Lisa through the doorway and asked, motioning to the kitchen, “Up the stairs to my room, or the kitchen for those cookies? You really can’t have more than two, you’ll be sick and worse off for the next day. Not high.”

Lisa shrugged, then smirked saying, “You got experience in that?”

Lacie stiffened at the memory and said nothing in response. Lisa let out a chuckle before saying, “That bad, huh?”

Lacie looked at her before saying, “Let’s just say that it was during my JuCo days and it was very bad for my toilet… And my ass.”

Lisa let out a short, sharp chuckle at that before saying, “Maybe I will forgo the cookies for now, anyway.”

Lacie shrugged and took a cookie before moving them to the living room.

Lacie sat down on the couch, and, seeing Lisa’s stare around them, stated, “Rachelle is not here, yet. She’s visiting her mom in the next town and comes back tomorrow morning.”

“Where’s Jen?”

Lacie shrugged before saying, “Jennie’s either at the library or the cafe.”

Lisa looked at her and asked, “Boyfriend, yet?”

“Definitely no boyfriends for that one. That one is more book-crazy than boy-crazy. You know how much she loves the damn books.”

Lisa sat beside her and nodded, saying, “I mean, you and I both love books and reading our favorite stuff, but she takes it to a whole other level.”

Lacie just smirked and said, leaning back against the couch, “Makes you wonder how she has any energy after our tennis practices to go and do all the other stuff. I barely have any energy to even go to my art workshop.”

Lisa nodded softly, “I can see that. I can also see you as a full-time artist, and tennis star.”

Lacie frowned at that and said, “I don’t really know where I want to go yet. I do know I’d like to get my Masters before thinking about anything else in regards to my career.”

Lisa smirked at that, “Rachelle as a tennis coach and Art Curator. Me as a world-ranked tennis star, and Jen… as a librarian.”

Lacie smirked and laughed softly before saying, "I think you should go out for that Master's in Vocals…” When she saw the look Lisa gave her she paused before saying, “Let me explain. Okay, so, sure, neither of us picked very easy degrees and are both very in-demand currently. However, while it might not give you that much more knowledge, you would gain a lot  of experience from a Grad program in vocals, at least you would be able to study the specific thing you want to focus on studying and delving deep into. Then, you could use it to teach somewhere. That could just be your fall-back plan, if necessary."

Lisa seemed to be thinking about that seriously before saying, "I'll talk with my advisor. See what she thinks about it."

She decided to pick up the cookie and broke it in half.

Lisa smirked and said, sighing dramatically, “Fine. I’ll have a little.”

“That’s my girl.” Lacie said, then turned and stared at the other wide-eyed girl returning the look. She then shrugged and said, not wanting to take it back, “Sorry not sorry.”

                                …

Ten minutes after sharing their spiked cookie, they both started feeling a little hot.

Lisa asked, feeling the high coming over her, “What are you painting?”

Lacie shrugged and softly said, “Eh, little landscapes here and there. Not my best or most inspired, currently. Hard to do that when we don’t have much time. We have these Nationals coming up in just a few days, and then we have the class finals coming up, and then we have graduation. I don’t know about the full-time artist thing, but I finished a bunch for the final portfolio review by my professor.”

Lisa asked, “Oh, that’s your major advisor, too, right?”

Lacie nodded and explained, “She’s even more strict with me now, due to that little thing I did switching my portfolio’s at the last second.”

“Wait, she’s still upset about that?”

Lacie shrugged and said, “No. Not really. Just disappointed I don’t care about showing her the dark stuff.”

Lisa shrugged and said, feeling her own high coming on, “Maybe just give her a chance to look the dark stuff over… It’s great work. You can always do the other stuff for class and enjoyment.”

Lacie smirked softly at that motivation and said, looking into the other girl’s eyes, “I would like that. And I am building the “Dark Art” works for the Master’s program at UC.”

“Like the painting that you did after losing the semifinals?” Lisa asked softly.

Lacie, saddened, sat back a bit on the couch, “Yes, after that loss, I kinda went a bit crazy myself. I got assigned doubles with you and it was an amazing coaching decision. We complement each other in ways I didn’t think we could.”

        Lisa smiled with devilish thoughts in mind, “We do compliment each other… Except in the ways I’d really like to find out about.”

        Lacie sank back in her spot at that flirting remark.

        Lacie then said, cautiously, looking at the Television screen, “Never one for parties. Or crowds. Or even live music that much… I’ll start by saying I’ve never been abused, or assaulted in any way."

        She, realizing what she blurted out and the hurt on Lisa’s face, softly explained, “What I mean by that is, after I lost the semis, seeing it blamed on an injury default made me sour. It made me feel like I had been violated. Like I had been humiliated and raped… Just instead of by a person, by those nasty YouTube trolls… I’d feel better dead than grieving like that. I was swallowed up in the sand no matter where I went... It made me feel lower than low. Seeing Maddie on top of the university world. When everyone knew it could've and should've been damn well me…”

She was right. They, my exes, were all right. I just wanted tennis and my art, for the longest time…”

After another pause, she glanced over and said, seeing the soft look that followed her, “Now I get another chance to do something our school has never seen done. Winning doubles with you would be the greatest accomplishment, but at the end of it all, I don’t want to distract myself from whatever we could become. I want it to work so badly that I hurt thinking about it… and I do want to make this real. I just want to do it right. Because you deserve my all, and not half of me.”

Lisa sat quietly for a minute, a blank expression on her face, before nodding softly and turning to Lacie, saying, “I’ve been waiting for a chance to get with you for over three months now, Lacie. What makes you think I don’t mind waiting for the perfect time for us to become more? You think saying to wait a little longer will make me run? Make me hate you? Huh?”

Lacie just stared at the ceiling hearing this confession for the first time.

“Really?” Lacie asked, scared to hear it be true.

“Yes, dammit! You are the hottest woman I've ever seen, and you are the only woman on my mind these days… And if that’s not enough of a conviction for you, then get a load of this! I love your artwork, I love how expressive you get when you talk about it. I love the way you shine and glow after a hard-fought win. I also have wanted to eat that tight, shaved pussy of yours for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert! ” Lisa said with as much truth and conviction as she could muster.

The end of which made Lacie suddenly let out a moan at the overly sexual comments.

Lacie blushed a bit at that great description.

Lacie smirked at her before saying, with dazzling eyes staring back in defiance, "That's a lot of sex for us to cover, but just so you know, sexy. I am not a pillow princess. I love the taste, scent, and feel of a new pussy."

That caused Lisa to gasp and grow incredibly, visibly turned-on. She also sat up on the couch and turned to face Lacie.

Lacie’s eyes widened when she realized what Lisa was trying to do. She slowly closed her eyes along with Lisa. I might as well enjoy her. She is irresistible.

She softly grasped and held the back of Lisa’s head. Guiding her to Lacie’s plump lips.

She leaned the other half the way in.

The feel of the soft lips against her own made Lacie swoon and moan softly. Then Lacie was covered completely by Lisa.

L&L, huh? I like it. I like that a lot. Lacie thought, as the kiss softly but smoothly deepened.

The kiss stayed slow, gentle even.

They weren’t cautious about kissing, not like they started off in the shower earlier that week, but were still slow and gentle. Easing into it.

Lacie felt she would have fallen into a trance at the slow intimacy of the kiss if it weren’t for her feeling the other woman’s toned, curvy body on top of hers. Even through the clothes separating them, she knew fully the shape of the other woman’s body.

Imagining that nude, tight body against her own, grinding on her, was enough to get her dripping.

Eventually, Lacie's hand reached to the hip and slowly, without a missed note in the slow, soft kisses, stroked her back over the sweatshirt. She felt Lisa shiver at the little contact.

 The room heated up quickly as they breathed each other’s air.

There’s something sneaky about kissing this female temptress that makes you as horny and wet as if she were going to drown you in her passion.

She said, groaning as she pulled away from another intense kiss, “We… already said… we have to take it slow… At least until the tournament.”

Lacie turned and asked, pointing the remote at the big television screen, “What do you want?”

Lisa shrugged, before softly saying, “To snuggle you.”

Lacie let out a deep, low sigh, thinking about it, and then acquiesced, “Just don’t try anything funny. I may be soiling my undies more than ever, but remember, you were the one who said “let’s go slow.”

Lisa sighed at that truth and said, as she moved to Lacie’s side on the coach, “Sometimes, I regret the things I say.”

“I bet you do now…” Lacie said, teasingly. Then asked, pointing the remote in her hand at the television screen, “What would you like to watch?”

Lacie, immediately seeing a cult classic, said, sitting up to turn and half face the other, “How about this one? It is a classic. Every lesbian has to have seen this at least twice.”

        Lisa smirked at the title with two sexy, model-like bodies in an erotic set, and answered, “Put it on, girl. I haven’t seen it twice yet.”

        Lacie, in mock shock, said, “Then how can you be sure you’re actually lesbian?”

Lisa smirked at that ploy, but knew it hit its mark, she seemingly felt like she had to defend what they did earlier when she stated, “Well, that kiss would’ve turned nearly any bicurious girl bisexual, or any bisexual girl, nearly female-exclusive.”

        Lacie let out a snorting noise at that sudden compliment and said, pressing play on the film, “True. Let’s find out how much you like it.”

        Lisa sighed, settling comfortably back into Lacie’s front, before saying, “Oh god. I might die.”

        Lacie just giggled at that, shaking the sofa they were on, before telling her, “Now, you’re staying the night and we can just take a ride to your place tomorrow so you can get ready to leave. So, no more worrying… Let’s just be quiet and watch the hot models falling in love.”

Then she thought about it for a moment, while lying back on the couch with the other woman cuddled into her side. The nice feeling of having someone holding her was overridden quickly with the sadness in her wistful memories and the happy couple on the screen.

She thought, while looking down at the lovely Lisa beginning to fall asleep, Do I not deserve happiness? Do I not deserve her? Do I deserve to have what I want?

                        Part II– “The Pursuit of The Dream”

Lacie was awoken suddenly, alongside the sleeping form of Lisa next to her, at the sounds of someone coming in the walkway to their front door.

When she looked up and saw the person, she noted it was one of Lacie’s roommates, Rachelle, a dark-haired, honey-skinned beauty of mixed heritage.  She was a Junior who was another singles player on their team. Studying to become a journalist and sports media writer.

Lisa sat up quickly, searching for her phone, and once she located it she saw that it read 8:45 am. The two exchanged looks, as if thinking, Ugh, we slept late on the couch.

Rachelle was toned despite her overall petite, small stature.  

She came in wearing just a simple tee shirt and shorts with some slides on. She wore her hair in a messy ponytail.

She sighed and whispered something. Something that Lacie couldn’t make out.

She, as she took out the ponytail and shook out her long, kinky hair, said, “I knew you two was fuckin’”

Lacie sat up quickly, moving painfully away from the warmth of Lisa’s body, and got up to greet her roommate, saying, “Hi to you, too, Rash… We just were relaxing before the big weekend ahead of us.”

Rachelle smirked knowingly, seeing the blush forming on Lisa’s face, “Yeah, whatever you say, girl. Just keep it down when others are here, if you can.”

“We haven’t done anything!” Lacie argued.

This was met with a hurt look from Lisa, “oh, really? Us making out on the couch was nothing?”

Lisa turned to her, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, adding, “No. I didn’t mean it like it was nothing. Sorry, okay. I’m still half asleep…” She then turned back to Rachelle, wiping sleep out of her eyes, and explained,  “I mean to say, we have done something, but it’s not become so serious yet.”

Lacie just sighed, rolling her eyes, and then turned back to Rachelle, who simply looked amused at the interaction.

Lacie then smirked tiredly and said, “We’re still working on things. And gearing up for this weekend. We leave here for the airport today at 10:15 and then board probably around 11:30. We need to be ready for tomorrow and the weekend. So, just make sure you are all ready for the next three days.”

Rachelle just shook her head softly, side to side, before saying, sarcastically, “Oh, thanks, mother. I’ll remember that.”

Lisa was there at her side and also acknowledged the other woman.

Just then, as they were casually talking about their nights, they were interrupted by the sound of the door rattling, an unlocking sound, then the door opening, and then closing.

They all peered into the hallway and saw that it was none other than their other roommate, Jenny. A 21-year-old, skinny, pale-skinned dark-blonde with hazel eyes. She, too, wore simple clothes. A tee shirt with a Deadpool face on it, and black, ripped shorts ending with her own black socks and some slides.

They waved at her and she smiled back, kicking off her slides, and moving to greet all of them.

“Hi.” Jenny said, clearly tired from the day before and night before.

“Hi!” The others all replied in kind.

Jenny then took off her shoes and said, “Are we all carpooling or going to the campus separately? ”

Lisa then spoke up and said, “Nah, I need to go back to my place first and get my stuff packed, and then I’ll get my dad to drive me to campus. From there we take the team vans over to the airport.”

Lacie then said, “Well, you can just ride with me.”

Lisa looked at her and said, “Yeah, but you only have your bike. It doesn’t have any real storage space and I need space for my stuff for three days.”

Jenny was just about to move to her own room to start packing when she heard Rachelle say that to the two, and she turned back to face them, smirking. Then she asked, “Are you really together?”

“What th- No.” Lacie explained ending with a huff. “Not really.”

Jenny then looked between the one and the other, then smirked and said, “Rachelle!”

“Yeah?” Came back the reply from the kitchenette.

“You’re gonna owe me that bet.”

Lacie gasped and said, miffed, “You made a bet on my love life?”

Jenny smirked again and explained, moving her bags to her room, “Don’t get your panties in a bunch, sis. We all had some fun… thoughts on you two… getting to it.”

Lacie said, while crossing her arms and whispering, “Unbelievable.”  

Lacie uncrossed her arms, looking at Lisa, “Are you sure you don’t want a ride?”

Lisa looked down at her own watch and saw the time, then said, “No, I think I need some alone-time before we get on that plane.”

Lacie tried to not make it seem like she was hurt. Why am I acting like I’m never going to see her again? Jeez Lace, calm down.  

Lisa stepped toward her and said, hugging her briefly, “I didn’t mean it in a rude way, Lacie. I just want some time to myself.”

Lacie then said, shrugging quickly, “No, that’s fine. The offer still stands, though.”

Lisa, hesitating, then asked, “Are you sure you’re fine?”

Lacie nodded enthusiastically, “Yes, Lise. I’m fine! Now, go.”

Lisa, looking around briefly to make sure nobody was around, stepped toward Lacie and kissed her lightly on the cheek. Lacie leaned into the kiss briefly and after parting, said, “Even with your hair a mess, you still look so beautiful.”

Lisa’s breath hitched at that and then, after a moment's hesitation, she pulled back and said, “I’ll look forward to rooming with you once we touch down in Cali…”

Lisa looked back at her once, hesitated, and then said, “Goodbye.”

“Alright. Bye!” Lacie waved goodbye to her as she walked out the door and grabbed her bike.

She closed the door behind Lisa and the last thing she saw of her was pulling her phone and calling her dad.

Only a few minutes later, while she was getting herself ready to take a shower, being the oldest they made it a rule that she would shower first if they all needed one.

She heard the sound of a truck pulling up to the little house and a few moments later pulling away.

Ugh, why is this so frustrating?

As Lacie stepped into the cool shower, water running down her body in soft, gentle waves, she thought, Such is my life in a pursuit of a championship with the ever-tempting and beautiful Lisa Pisani.

                                …

Lacie, after her shower, and after the two roommates showered and got dressed, ate and brushed her teeth. She put her hair up into a tight ponytail and changed into a nice black button-up tee shirt and navy blue athletic shorts. She had her normal slides and socks on, for the comfortable ride to California.

She had a nice cream-colored, Fall-type dress with loose-hanging straps that hugged her curves and showed off her slim, perky boobs. Thankfully, the coach only made us wear the fancy, nice stuff for the first round.  

As they all successfully made it on time to the campus and to the airport, with a few of the Freshman there earlier than the rest as was required of them, and once everyone on the team, all 13 of them, were accounted for, they got in the vans.

She thought of how Lisa made her feel special. How Lisa always included her and made her feel seen. How, even with all the teasing she put up with from the other girl. She saw the respect and admiration from the other lady, not just as players on the court but as people.

Lacie knew, as having some previous dating experience, that a lack of respect and dodgy, or just bad, communication were two of her biggest pet peeves when it came to dating girls.

When she felt she was disrespected, she no longer could see them the same as before.

With Lisa, she felt so calm and like she was able to be her real self and face no real judgment. She could have her bad days and still be forgiven for them the next day by the other girl.

The idea that she couldn’t have anyone seriously, otherwise she would be cheating her team and coaches out.

“Hey, Lacie!” Miranda, a Freshman on the team who sat just one row up and across from the two captains, called to her, her voice like a soft musical lilt, “Ready for tomorrow?”

“Oh, you know it.” Lacie stated back, confidently. Then said, calmly but intelligently, “I know you might not play at all, but it will be a great learning experience for you.”

Lisa, sleepily, also replied, saying with eyes still shut, “Mira, it’s also good to be our cheering section. It gives us strength.”

Miranda just nodded at that and smiled before turning back and putting her earbuds back in. Listening to something that Lacie couldn’t make out.

She briefly felt the stirring of Lisa beside her and felt the breath from the other girl on her neck, her pulse jumped and heart hammered in her ears as she raced to calm herself down.

Then, Lisa began rising away from her, mumbling, “Sorry.”

Lacie quickly patted the side of her head and moved her back to where she was before, then said, “No, if you want to sleep a little more, you should. It was awkward sleeping arrangements last night, I know.”

Lisa, sleepily, smirked and looked up at her, saying, “I don’t know about you, but I was very comfortable.”

Lacie smirked at the other girl and said, “Yeah, my back says otherwise.”

Lisa then got a serious look on her face and asked, “Are you good?”

Lacie then nodded and said, “Just a bit stiff, is all. I probably will feel the jet-lag when we are at the hotel.”

Lisa then nodded, being satisfied with that answer she put her earbuds back in, “I want to sleep a little longer and then go over those first two rounds. We start tomorrow at 10, and the second round at 5 pm, so best to be ready.”

Lacie smirked, confident that they would be able to have a solid first-round team win, then said, “I agree. Let’s do it.”

Lisa then nodded at the words before drifting off to sleep, leaving Lacie to her thoughts once more.

                        …

Once they touched down, they got their luggage and managed to make it to the gates unscathed.

Well, not more than a minute later, and just about to get outside the airport, they were almost immediately bombarded with questions and at least six reporters and cameras around them. And this is why we have security now.

While waving at the cameras, she couldn’t help but hear one reporter over the others shouting her name. Don’t respond. Don’t respond.

Lisa was left momentarily stunned by Lacie sticking up for her, and literally jumping between her and the ravenous beasts of the media.

Once in the van and another minute in silence, Lisa spun to look at Lacie, as if asking “what the hell was that?” without saying it out loud.

Lacie just shrugged and sighed, looking out her own window. “I don’t know why I reacted like that out there. I apologize.”

Lisa scoffed and said, in disbelief, “Seriously? Apologize for what? Sticking up for me when I froze?”

Lisa softly took Lacie’s hand in hers and said, “Seriously, thank you. I wanted to say something, but for once I didn’t know what to say with those kinds of questions.”

Lacie just looked down at their intertwined hands and said, softly mumbling, “It’s fine. You’re welcome.”

Lisa smirked and looked over briefly at the other lady, teasing, “What?”

Lacie briefly glanced back at her, and then down again, before saying, “You know what I said. I’m not saying it again.”

“Oh, fine.” Lisa whispered, smiling at the other girl. When she was about to break the grip, Lacie tugged her hand, indicating to not let go of her. “I see. So, you are just a naturally shy person who happens to get angry when your girl is lost.”

“Oh, brother.” Lacie mumbled, as she let go of Lisa’s hand finally. She then tilted her head to the side and side-eyed back at Lisa, saying, “Not shy, just an introvert. I like my privacy, and I hate the sports media journalism world.”

Lisa looked at her like she was a scientific discovery of sorts.

Rachelle must have been listening to the talk because she said, a twinge of annoyance in her tone, “I resent that, Lacie.”

“Sorry, Rash, but you know it is true for some of them.”

Rachelle’s seat-mate, Ana, then turned her head and added, “Yeah but those are just the bad ones. There are still a few decent ones out there.”

Lacie agreed to disagree about that.

One of the assistant hitting coaches chimed in, a woman named Jill Courtwent, with a dark-haired, soft-bodied motherly appearance on her. This showed little in her, at one time, being a top-level server and tennis player herself.  

She said, looking between the girls, “It’s always been like this. Even when I played it was worse than it is now with the media. It’s just more prevalent because of the technology we have. It used to take a few days for any of the news to get out any rumors and people could hear about it before it came, so they could actually prepare to defend themselves, but now everyone gets their information pretty much instantly.”

Lacie, hearing this, said, “See? Coach knows what’s up.”

                                …

        They got settled into their hotel around 4 o’clock, and once settled in, they texted their coaches. They agreed to go out for one last team dinner together before the next day.

They then decided to change before heading to the rather nice restaurant.

Once changed, and thoroughly checking each other's bodies out, they agreed to go down and meet up with their coaches and teammates before going to the restaurant.

It was a quaint restaurant that had some soft lighting and a softer ambiance. It was, as summed by their coach, Jill, “A very warm, expensive place.”  

They had a nice, early dinner with the coaches and their teammates, paid for them ahead of time by their school at a local, well-respected restaurant.

Once done, and once back to their rooms, they each decided to call it a night early.

She stopped dead in her tracks. There on the other bed she could clearly see, the stripped-down woman in all but underwear and a sports bra barely working on her C cups, on the bed passed out.

She smirked to herself and said, taking in the beauty that was the other girl’s lean, tight body and cute face, “Oh, baby. Someday soon. I’m going to eat that all up.”

Lisa softly managed to get Lacie under the sheets, hearing her pass gas while she moved her, and she couldn’t help but cackle to herself.

Amusement on her tongue while mumbling aloud, “That’s the way to a lady’s heart.”

…

        The following morning, at 8:30 AM, Lisa’s alarm clock went off on her phone, a sweet rock ballad, and she started with a groan. She heard the other woman in the bed next to hers stretch and let out a long groan.

        She smirked at hearing this before sitting up and stretching herself.

Lacie’s alarm also went off, surprisingly the same rock band, and she giggled out loud at that.

“You like them, too, huh?” Lacie asked, while rolling over to shut off her phone’s alarm.

“I honestly didn’t see you as a rock kind of gal.” Lisa said in return. Then stood off the bed and said, reaching to pull out her clothes from the big suitcase, “Although, I guess you probably didn’t think I’d be into that.”

Lacie stepped out of the bed and plotted over to the bathroom, yelling back, “I honestly have learned to not be surprised about you or these little things.”

“No Country, though?” Lisa off-the-cuff asked, as she picked out her clothes, a nice blue shirt and black pants with black socks.

“Hell no.” Was the response she got quickly in return. Only a moment later, Lacie then poked her head through and said, “Sorry, if you like it go for it.”

Lisa just chuckled lightly before saying, with a hard shake, “Nope, nobody in my family likes Country. I like Chris Stapleton, though.”

Lacie then started a shower and said, “He’s not really Country, though. More of a rock/soft blues mix.”

Lisa shrugged at that, then realized Lacie wasn’t there, so she acknowledged, saying, “Yeah, tru-”

A second later, Lacie returned with only her underwear and sports bra on. She did it knowingly. She knew she was hot as shit and didn’t mind the steamy look she received.

She walked in so casually and confident in her body. Her soft, feminine curves mixed with the healthy, toned body of a Division 1 athlete were something she was proud of.

Lacie pretended to not be affected by those icy eyes marking her body’s curves. Almost committing each soft and hard line of her toned body to memory.

She turned away from Lisa and closed the bathroom door, adding extra sway to her hips. She then found herself saying, through the door, “I’m going to shower really quick and then we can head out for breakfast.”

“Okay.” Was all that she heard Lisa say in response.

Before another minute went by, Lacie heard the knock on the door and she yelled out for her to come in.

A second later, the door opened and Lisa said, “I just gotta wash my face and then put on some makeup. I won’t look.”

“Sure you won’t.” Lacie said in disbelief.

“No, really. I won’t if you say not to.” Lisa said. Then after a pause, asked, “So, you mind?”

Lacie shrugged to herself and said, “Fine. Just make it somewhat quick so I can get out.”

Lisa came in and asked, not even glancing at Lacie, “Oh, please. I saw you in the shower the other day, didn’t I?”

Lacie, knowing exactly what happened the other day in that shower, quietly said, as she stopped the shower, “I saw you, too.”

Lisa glanced back at her in the mirror and looked her up and down again, then said, “You’ve got nothing to be insecure about, woman.”

Lacie hid the blush beginning to develop and instead went for a neutral expression. She got her towel and dried off.

She then went back to the other room to get dressed.

Once dressed, in a gown that went down to her knees and showed a little chest, she was about to call out to ask if Lisa was ready.

 She turned around hearing the doorknob turn and then the other woman stepped through the doorway.  

Lacie let out an audible gasp at seeing the other girl in her casual top and pants. She was the type of girl Lacie envied in some ways, since she could tell that Lisa would be able to rock a tux, casual, or dress in equally stunning fashion.

She thought herself a confident, self-assured lesbian, until Lisa rolled into the room and bounced her perfect little eyebrows at her. Turning her to mush.

She looked more beautiful than Heaven to Lacie.

 She then cleared her throat and said, distracted in tone, “Ready to go?”

“Sure, let's do this breakfast thing.”

Lisa then said, nodding at that, “and then stop back over here, I want time to at least brush my teeth, and then we gotta be there and in-uniform before 10 AM.”

                                …

        After their breakfast, having found a cute little diner that served breakfast, they both ran up to their room and brushed their teeth together. They would talk sporadically about all things school, sports, and media and Lacie came to realize how much she had both learned about and from Lisa these last few months.

Lacie was always a bit nervous before these press conferences, but would settle down because of Lisa being there.

It was these “beginning of NCAA Tournament” press conferences that got Lisa’s heart pumping more than the actual matches and games did.

On-court, both of them quickly became aware of how in complete control on callouts and their side of the court at all times. That was one that did make them perfect on-court. To add onto that, the speed and precision of Lisa’s forehand and the power of Lacie’s backhand.

Off-court, as both were slowly realizing, they had actually even more in common with each other. These little things that Lacie started to learn about Lisa made her feel even more drawn to the other woman. She knew she held an amazing desire for the other woman as well, but pushed it down.

She steeled her resolve and became hardened, fully becoming focused on the games and matches to come soon.

Once they got to the locker room and were dressed and ready to go with the others, all four of the coaches made their way in.

Lacie and Lisa both preferred to wear short-sleeved shirts and shorts, but were going to be wearing their identical sleeveless shirt top and skirt bottoms.

                                        …

Lacie did what she always did when the meeting was over and Coach before any big tournaments, she sat down in a corner and put on her favorite classical piece and fell into the piano and soft, soothing music. Everyone knew to be in their own worlds during this period of time before they’d inevitably be called in by the coaches to make their jog out to the sidelines. Everyone on the team would be there to cheer on their teammates.

The court itself had the standard amount of courts on it, but

If it went perfectly well, they’d only need the two doubles teams to win their games. The teams had already been confirmed to be Lacie/Lisa and Ana/Gwen.

 If Gwen and Ana had an off-match and lost, though not very likely, then they’d wind up having to go to their second-best Singles player, that being Rachelle, for the singles followed by their close-out singles player, Deb Stacy.

Lacie had confidence in all the competing women to do their part for the team.

When it came time, and she heard her team’s name called, she stood up and came out in her warmup team attire.

She took a deep breath and looked to her partner, Lisa. Finding her fidgety and not her usual pre-game self.

“You okay?” She asked softly.

Lisa looked over at her quickly before down at her tennis racquet, saying, “I’m fine. Just nervous.”

“Okay, but you better tell me if something is up.” Lacie said calmly. I don’t have time for this soft crap. I need to focus.

When they got there, they then warmed up for ten minutes.

They got ready and their opponents came out. The whole time they warmed up, Lacie was worried something really bad was happening to Lisa. This made her lose focus.

Almost as soon as she thought that, Lisa just looked at her intensely. Then nodded before saying, “We’re going all the way this time. And we’re not looking back no matter how long or deep these games and matches go.”

Lacie saw the intensity and it reflected into her very being. Her own soul. It was like a calling, but it also made her fuzzy. Made her not want or care to focus on the game but instead on how her clit throbbed suddenly at her voice and hard tone.

 Here is someone, my partner, who is straight-up telling me that we are going to do this. That she’s got my back. And here I am, about to get wet before I even start this game.

 They knew exactly what to do against these two and knew them well. The matchup was against Michigan State. A very tough team on the Men’s side, but no slouch on the women’s either.

The duo of Betts and Hoffner from Michigan State. They were known well.

Going back-and-forth from the start of the first set. With the sets ticking by, though, Lacie realized she was the one who was not nearly as focused as she should be. She was whiffing and erroring a lot of the backhanders that she was hitting earlier. The precision and power that was there, was suddenly gone.

She was the reason they wound up on the wrong side of an exchange that, normally, would’ve been fine for Lacie, but she completely missed the line.

She watched it sail as the other duo took that set. It was their first set win. They looked on with new fight and light in their eyes.

When they got up off their end-of-set break, Lisa only said one thing, “Just focus on recovering and I’ll set it up on the hard returns in the corner. Betts is doing awful at returning my only power forehand, so we’ll keep with that.”

Even in that fifth set they were barely able to finish out that sloppiness with a game-winner backhand from Lisa.  

It was Lisa who was intense and hitting hard. She was more known for her precision, smooth court running, and her ability to place the ball on the other corners with speed, yet here she was able to dig and hit harder than Lacie.

         While sitting and getting water, Lacie said, sweating and breathing hard, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me right now. I just can’t connect right.”

        Lisa reassured her, saying with a wink, “Don’t worry. We’re not going down.”

With this next game, and the first set being now at 5-3, it was game-point and set-point on the line for the duo.

They started back-and-forth, but fell into a hole because of Lacie’s speed-returns coming up short.

Then, they both felt the momentum shift on the court. They were coming all the way back down 40-love and were suddenly tied, 40-40. One more point to kill the first set. Let’s go, Lace!

After a short rally by both, they watched the return by Betts come up short, and they had a sigh of relief for winning the first set. 6-3!

Lisa turned and patted Lacie on the butt, “Let’s go, dude! Told you!”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I was off bad.” Lacie said, nonchalantly.

Lisa smirked and said, without hesitation, “You’ll get your fire back, I know you will. We just gotta focus on the little things after this next one.”

The second set had a lot less dramatics. With the first being a disaster, Lacie was able to temporarily put her mind at-ease with everything that was going on with the team and her own life, and was able to better help her teammate.

This one exactly how they had drawn it up. It was complete dominance from the start. From the first to the last. 6-1!

They managed to win their match, 6-3 and 6-1. This was a big confidence booster for the team and the other doubles up next for them fed off of it.

The other duo on their team won in a little more impressive fashion. So, they survived the first round and would look to keep it up going stronger to the next one.

Deb didn’t even have to play that first singles game.

“Maybe it’s time for me to change my pump-up song, huh?” She asked her coach, somewhat jokingly.

Jill Harper, their head coach, who was watching her steadily while she and Lisa were in their match, saw them last to pack up their stuff.

The coaches had all been there helping out in different little ways all they could, but it was up to the team to actually go out and fight hard.

Jill just smirked at her with that and said, “It might not hurt to mix it up once in a while. If you need a few, faster-paced songs, I can name a few.”

Knowing that her coach and her future wife were both huge metal and rockheads, she thought, that can only be a good thing coming from her. Maybe she’s right.

Lacie then looked to Lisa and asked, “What’s your song before the game, Lise?”

Lisa looked between the two of them before embarrassingly looking down, “Electric Feel.”

Lacie perked up at hearing this and tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention. Then she excitedly let out a squeal before saying, “MGMT?”

Coach Jill then asked, “Who’s that?”

“Uh-oh, Jill.”

“What?”

Lacie then shook her head teasingly before saying, “Your age is starting to show.”

“Hey, I’m only a decade or so older than you guys, okay.” Their coach said in a huff.

“Also,” she stated. “I always go with “Creeping Death” as my big song.”

“Of course you do, babe.” They heard the soft, high-femme voice coming from behind them.

They heard movement and the door shutting behind them in the locker room.

“Oh, hey.” Jill smiled brightly at the familiar, pretty face of her fiancee.

The smile and warm hug and look they shared, as if a secret being passed between them, was one that Lacie was slightly jealous of seeing. Not for herself, but simply for how awe-inspiring it looked to see the coach being so open and comfortable with her.

The way she looked at seeing her fiancee coming to greet them. Like some goddess coming down to send a message.  

She looked between Lacie and Lisa before hugging both one before the other. Finishing it off with a squeal of her own, saying, “I can’t believe that first set. You guys pushed and didn’t crack but instead got it done. That’s all that matters.”

Lacie couldn’t help but feel better at hearing that. “Thanks,  

Both girls looked at her with sharp eyebrows raised.  

        Lacie knew she and Lisa would have to be ready for the next few hours, as they would have their first round matchup coming up.

Their other doubles team in Gwen and Ana, had won much the same way, only dropping one game each and winning the match 6-1, 6-1. They were just too much for the other doubles team. They were moving on to the next round as a team with a team win 2-0.

After they all packed up and were back at the lockers, Lacie focused on the next morning’s first-round matchups in Doubles. They got a solid duo 8th seed from UConn to deal with.

Lisa brought her out of her inner thoughts, nudging her shoulder, whispering in her ear, “You did so amazing, Lace. You found a way to help and dug deep. Now we just need more of that.”

Lacie just nodded, taking her time getting her breath back before they had to go to the next game.

Once her breathing was back, she just smirked and said, “I can’t wait for your massage later.”

Lisa laughed beside her, as they were being called back to the coach as a team, “Oh, I don’t recall I said I would give one.”

Lacie smirked right back, saying, “Oh, after saving my ass that first set, I think you deserve to have a reward.”

Lacie nodded at that and asked, hand raised in a high-five, “Ride or die, baby?”  

Lacie held out her hand which was returned with a strong bro-shake grip, confirming with a nod, “Ride or die, baby.”

                        …

The next few days went by without a hitch for the team and for the players. Both the singles in Deb and Doubles for both teams, were moving through to the third rounds.

They only had four rounds for the team tournament to make it through, and were already stamped into the semifinals.

They would, firstly, be looking at the goal of a repeat team title, but if that didn’t happen, as Gwen and Ana finally lost a match in the third round. Thankfully, Deb was there to clean up their games and won her match in a back-and-forth match that saw her winning 6-4 and 7-5. They took that team match 2-1.

Through all this time, and with the craziness of the team title and their doubles play going up by levels, Lacie somehow, someway still felt an insane connection and incessant want for the other woman.

For Lisa and Lacie, they had only just begun their tournament, with two big match wins the first day of Doubles action. Winning the first 6-2 and 6-1, the second match win being a hard-fought 6-2 and 6-3.

The second and third day were much the same, moving them into the semifinals with ease.

For Gwen and Ana, although aiding the team greatly in their team doubles play, they had a much tougher time battling through injuries sustained by Ana, in their second-round and third-round matches against a hard-hitting duo from LSU and another from Baylor.

The next task, as what they were dreading would happen, came up the next day with Gretchen and Kirsten Welch.

Deep down, Lacie got the feeling that Lisa herself also didn’t have the full confidence in the other two women to win against the two vets. Yes, on paper they are even, but even so with the injury I see it as limiting. This means we may have to face the Welch sisters in the Doubles Semi Finals if they can’t get it done.

                                …

The next morning they went in support of their teammates, Gwen and Ana. They were into the quarters against the fierce sister duo of Kirsten and Gretchen Welch.

Gwen and Ana were top 8 and the Welch sisters were also top 8, sitting in 5th on the standings for the Doubles females.

At the end of the day, Lisa and Lacie both knew that rankings only meant where you start, but they didn't determine how a matchup might wind up working out. That’s why both fought tooth and nail for every point, set, and match.  

They saw Gwen and Ana being announced by school and names and come up onto the court. The next up was the sisters.

They met in the middle, shook hands, talked for a minute, and then went to shake hands with the judge sitting in the middle.

As they watched, Lacie could see through the warmups that Gwen and Ana were both more intense and focused than they’d seen them. Normally, Lacie and Lisa were more of the quiet, intense duo on-court and laughing off-court, but this time it was Gwen and Ana who were in the zone.

Lacie was inspired by her teammates, willing and ready to go to war with the fierce sisters unafraid, and saw the instant chemistry both teams had during the game.

She glanced over to the pretty brunette to her right and saw her intensely looking back at her. No, not me. My lips.

Lisa glanced back up at Lacie’s eyes and smirked before looking back at the action.

Lacie said, grabbing Lisa’s forearm and briefly squeezing it, “I don’t know if I want to watch this. On the one hand, I admire the sister’s chemistry and fight, but I also want to see Ana and Gwen win.”

Lisa smirked and said, “I know exactly what you mean.”

The first set came and went by extremely quickly, mostly because the two sides were trading wins and losses back and forth like it was Easter candy. Lacie couldn’t tell which side was better, aside from the fact that Ana and Gwen narrowly won.

Both women were beautiful and shining. They were dripping sweat and panting from their hard work. It was a gritty win, but one that made Lacie not know if they could continue that level of play.

Lacie said then, standing up and cheering for Gwen and Ana, seeing how back-and-forth the first set went with Ana and Gwen winning 6-3, “That was a huge set!”

Lisa also stood then and cheered for her teammates, adding, “Yeah, but let's see how the sisters reestablish themselves later on.”

It wasn’t more than twenty minutes went by, and the sisters were indeed re-establishing their dormant play. They wracked up win after win in close, clutch, close-out fashion.  They took the second set with a drained and slightly limp Ana going to the sideline.

“This doesn’t look good.” Lacie said.

Lisa shook her head, looking sad too, but said, “She’s tougher than steel. She’ll push through this.”

Once they got back into play for the final set of the match, there was a notable, finals-level energy to the crowd. Even though everyone was quiet and silent, as they ever had to be during play, they could tell something was about to go down.

And much to the shock of Lacie and Lisa both, they realized the talking that had been there between the sisters in the first and second set was now almost completely gone midway through this final set. They only needed one set-point to take this. They were up then 40-30.

Lacie., having witnessed some Ana and Gwen wins up-close, had never seen them this keyed in with each other.

It was an electric feeling that they both felt come over them in waves.

Their match with a last-second, backhand by Ana, that seemed to travel in slow-motion and it was received by Kirsten.

Kirsten returned it, but Gwen was right there and just tapped it over. Gretchen was there to return it back, but Ana smashed it down the midline and Gretchen could not do more than flip it back and it went careening out of play.

The game was over, the upset was alive and well, and the win was all the more awe-inspiring when Lacie saw the two finally celebrate in styling fashion. With Gwen hugging Ana and smacking Ana’s small, cute butt hard.

        Lacie stood up, stretching her arms, and said looking down at Lisa, “Well, we better get back in time for our match next. We’ll have to be ready for our opponent so we can meet-”

Lisa nodded to the two exiting the court, finishing Lacie’s statement, “Them tomorrow.”

        And that was exactly what they did.

An ice bath for both, followed by a simple, peaceful dinner in their room, while they watched the film and talked about their upcoming opponents from Stanford.

Then, a nice calming massage was exchanged, one that secretly got Lacie’s blood pumping again, and then to sleep by the time 11 O’clock rolled around.

        Part III: The Fully Realized Dream

                                …

        Another day gone by, they had their final match. The Finals match. The Team National title, back where they wanted it to belong to. At least for another year.

With their team having clinched the team title in a straight sweep over UCLA. Once Ana and Gwen had gotten their confidence, and once Lacie and Lisa had their confidence, nobody else was touching them on the court those last two rounds.

It was completely undeniable, yet everyone still doubted them.

Lacie remembered back, seeing in all the sports channels, how they talked slander on the women and specifically on them.

They had made it to the Championship again, sweeping both the #1 ranked female team and the #7 ranked team, and, despite it all, Lacie still felt she was pursuing a dream that she didn’t know if she even cared anymore. Something ate at her insides and she couldn’t really place it other than it loosely being because of her further growing feelings for her partner.

This was a big one for them because they’d have to be going against their own teammates in Gwen and Ana. The lovebirds just down the hall.

Lacie, getting herself into her casual clothes for the trip to the court, said to Lisa, “You know, I am not going to be wanting to do this, but I know we have to if we want to win this title.”

Lisa shrugged and said, softly, “It sucks, sure, but this is just another challenge we have to deal with together. We can hug them and hold them after the game’s done.”

Lacie stopped in her tracks at that, almost banging into Lisa’s front with her back, before turning and saying, “What did you just say?”

Lisa, also stopped, cautiously said, “I said ‘another challenge-”

Lacie cut her off, “Not that one part.” Then got closer, more intensity in her eyes, “the other last part.”

Lisa, still somewhat cautious, “I said ‘we can hug them and hold them after the game’s done.”

Lacie looked off into space for a second, then said, looking back to her, “I think we should forfeit.”

Lisa choked on her own spit in her mouth at hearing that.

Lacie shook her head, asking, “Why should we have to go against them and not give them their fair chance at a title? This is their first real chance at winning, you know? Why not?”

Lisa shook her head in disbelief, outraged at these words, “I don’t know who Lacie Oldsson is, but I want the real one, with real fire and passion for winning and that room-lighting smile I told you about the other day. I want that doubles partner back.”

Lacie backed away from her and said, “I can’t have it both ways.”

Lisa just looked at her and shook her head, saying, “What on this green earth are you talking about?”

Lacie just shook her head and a bit lost sounding, said, “I can’t have it both ways. Not ever. I want this, but I want that.”

Lisa then finally had enough, shook Lacie hard on her shoulders, and yelled, “What are you saying, lacie!”

“I Want you more than any stupid title! I am saying I love you! And I know you probably think I’m crazy for loving you.” Lacie exclaimed, with tears forming in her eyes.

Lisa, seeing the tears, softened up and cautiously wrapped her arms around Lacie’s back, whispering, “I’m sorry for yelling and snapping. I’m frustrated because we trained way too hard to not at least see this through. We said we would take our time with figuring out what we are to each other, and the dating stuff, after the tournament.”

“But-”

“We deserve to see this through…” After a brief pause, she added, running her hands through her hair, “I also love you the same as you do, you rascal.”  

“You do?” Lacie asked suspiciously.

Lisa smirked at that cute face before saying, “My gran used to say ‘it’s important to balance things out in life that we take to heart, so that we can focus on both equally.”

Lacie smirked back softly, squeezing Lisa gently, “I say she was pretty dang wise. And right.”

Lisa nodded saying that she was indeed smart and funny.

Then took Lacie’s face in her hands gently, tenderly, “I know I feel the same, too.” Then her resolve steeled and something hard came in her eyes for a moment, a fire, “But we have to see this through first. Win first, celebrate, then we can see where we go.”

“We’re in this together?” Lacie asked, putting up her hand in a high-five gesture.

Lisa giggled and returned the shake, saying, “Together, always.”

        Lacie then broke away and moved to the door, grabbing her tennis shoes.

        Lisa just smirked at that as she, too, got her tennis shoes. They made sure the door was locked and then were off.  

As they made their way down the elevator to the team van waiting for them, Lacie then said, “Lisa?”

        “Yeah?”

        “I just thought you should know that when we’re done with this weekend, I’m gonna fuckin’ rock your world.” She said that with the utmost confidence in her abilities, knowing it to be true.

Lisa let out a cute snort and scrunched up her face before blushing. She then glanced back, saying, “I’ll hold you to it.”

Once it was over, they could fully focus their attention and energy onto their lives and each other. Hell, who knows? Maybe I can try to actually take her out before we have any crazy sex.

 The semifinals match was coming fast, with only a few hours to focus for it, and they had to be in their right minds. Ana and Gwen won’t go easy on us and neither will we.  

                        …

It was a fairly clear, sunny day with some slight wind. No rain in the forecast.

Lacie had been in the locker room, doing what she usually did to get ready for a match, listening to her song to get pumped. It was a different one now than the one before.

Since that first opening match in the Team championship, and since changing her go-to pump-up song to an intense System of a Down song, she had been fully locked in. As much as she enjoyed classical music, it just didn’t get her in the necessary headspace to go to war like SoaD did then.

The wind could be difficult to deal with, but it didn’t seem to be too big of a deal for Lacie. They had been announced and walked-jogged out to the middle of the court. They waved their hands in the air and out to the crowds who were cheering for them. Look at me, mom and dad. See where I am?

They saw Gwen and Ana being introduced and brought out against them. They were also wearing matching white tops and black undershorts. Also had their own all-white sneakers on.

 They were first up of the day, so they would get to see who their opponents might be next in the Finals if they got into it.

 The other girls got off to a shaky start, getting down to 4-2 in the first set.

While Lacie was locked in from the jump, Lisa was the one who was a bit off that last game.

“Hey. Are you good?” Lisa asked, as she grabbed her own water, towel, and sat next to her.

Lacie just nodded, “Just starting to see what they’re doing now. I think Ana is starting to favor that left ankle again. It’s not good.”  

Lisa nodded back, and after a deep breath, Lacie could tell she was right back in it.

Once they were called back for the next game, they took their places. Oh, Ana. You really are pushing that ankle.

Ready and waiting for the serve to come over the midline to Lacie.

It came hard over to Lacie hard and strong, and she didn’t react nearly fast enough, but thankfully on the rebound from the pop-up smash hit, Lisa was there to return it.

Next was her serve, she errored the first. After a moment of a deep breath, she was back in. She smashed it over to the other side, the corner that Gwen had a hard time getting to. It was a breaker nearly 130 miles per hour on it.

She was able to dig it out with a wicked backhand to Ana. Ana was ready for it and gave it back to her. Back and forth all of them went. To some, they might see it as poetic in nature or like a movie. To others, simply boring.

To Lacie, it was her seeing a way or sign in the window of if and where they had cracks in their backhands or forehands.

That was until Ana slipped and twisted her ankle badly, going after the ball that was heading to the backline. She hit it and it only ended up going out of play.

Gwen was running to her in seconds. She was right by her side when she yelled out, not even bothering at all for going after the ball.  

“In” The official said. “Point for Team blue.”

Gwen, angry, snapped at the official, “We get it, man!”

“Hey, no back-talk, young lady.” He said back. Not even noticing the situation.  

“Fuck off, dude! She’s fuckin’ hurt.” Gwen snapped again.

Not wanting her to get into trouble with the ref, Lacie jogged to the other side and laid a gentle hand on both Gwen’s shoulder and then onto Ana’s knee.

Ana met her eyes with sadness and said, “I don’t know what happened. It felt okay earlier, then it just seized up on me. Now it really feels tight and stretched.”

Lucie looked down and saw that the ankle had indeed started to swell and was looking like a pretty bad sprain, even with it being wrapped.

The team trainer as well as the coaches were all there and helped Ana.

She got up on her own and said, trying to walk it off but with still a noticeable limp, “I can do this. I can go.”         

The official looked down and then to the trainer, “You think she’s okay to continue?”

He whispered something into the referee's ear and the ref nodded before patting the trainer on the back and turning to everyone, saying, “An injury timeout of two minutes will be given to the Red team’s side.”

With that, and the referee giving one last long look to Gwen and concerned father-like look to Ana, went back up to his spot.

Lacie and Lisa helped Ana back to her bench out of the Sun. They then went to their own sides and Lisa sighed, “I can’t believe that just happened.”

Lacie just nodded sadly, “I don’t think she’ll be able to go, but if she does, she has nothing but full respect.”

Lisa nodded back firmly, “Damn right. That looks like a sprain.”

“I wasn’t gonna say anything.” Lacie replied frustratedly. “Let’s just hope she doesn’t push her limits too far.”

Lisa shook her head sadly back, saying, “I think she’s already pushed far past those.”

        After the two-minute break they got, and after the trainer gave Ana some added protection and ankle support, Ana got back up gingerly but seemed better.

        She was received by everyone with a round of standing applause.

        She waved sadly, but then said to the ref she could continue. So, that was how it went from then on.

        Lacie, periodically throughout the ending of that first set, which Lacie herself had won with a top-of-the-court soft bounce, was looking behind her to the coach and her assistants.

        Lacie was met, at one point, by the coach’s eyes, and the coach just nodded at her. Lacie had no clue why, but it felt as if the coach was saying to her “We’ll keep an eye on her from now on and stop it ourselves.”

Gwen was trying to cover for Ana the whole last game and first 3 of the second set, but it was only ever making her more and more exhausted.

The coach just looked grimly back at her before looking back to her fiancée and asking her something.

When her fiancée had her attention and leaned into her. She nodded twice and then nodded once more before simply mouthing “okay.”

She stood up and made her way with the coach to the sidelines.

The coach called over the referee and signaled it was time to stop it.

“Ana, you can’t go on anymore.” Jill said softly. Knowing it would hurt to hear it at the time. These injury bugs really suck.

Ana just nodded sadly, but after blowing out a deep shaky breath, said, “Alright. I understand.”

Oh, she’s a way better loser than I am. I was depressed for six weeks after my injury default, she just understood it after two minutes. Lacie thought, taking in the sweaty duo they just defeated.

        Lacie and Lisa shared a secret look. Lisa put her hand out for Lacie, and she took it without hesitation. Not caring if or who would suspect or question it.

        “This doesn’t really feel much like we won, but just so much as if we survived against a one-legged and a one-armed opponent.”

        Lacie smirked at that and held their combined hands high up, hearing the celebratory round of applause.

        Lacie looked over, concerned for her younger teammates' health, and saw her being helped off to the sidelines. She was leaned up against a wall and was being helped onto a cart.

        Before they could drive away, though, Gwen waved at them.

        Lacie tapped Lisa on the shoulder and Lisa turned to her, then to where she pointed, and she understood where she wanted to go. They grabbed their racquets and other gear bags before heading over to them.

        They walked off the court and over to their teammates.

“I’m sorry.” Ana said, sitting back on the cart.

“Don’t be.” Lisa shook her head and they all shook hands briskly.

“I feel like I still left a lot out there on the court, but even if we didn’t get to finish what we wanted…” Gwen reassured Ana. “We still did great with what we could.”

Lisa smirked at Lacie briefly before turning back to them and saying, “Well, that just means you are a complete warrior, Ana. You came back and fought hard ‘till the end.”

Lacie then added, “Trust me, Ana. I know where you are at right now, but you have your teammates to lift you up and a great girl by your side.”

Ana glanced cutely over to Gwen, who returned it with much the same look. They are cute together. Hot and cute.

Ana just nodded and then said, with a nod of her head, “Just go win that title you’ve both been chasing for three years and then we can all celebrate together.”

Lisa gave her a pointed look and one that Lacie loved.

“One more, baby.” Lisa said, once they were back in the hotel room that looked as spotless as it was when they came in four days prior.  “Then, we can have some real fun.”

Lacie looked down at her phone and saw who their opponents would be in the Doubles Championship match.

She grimaced and that must’ve shown to Lisa since she asked what the problem was.

She sighed before showing the phone to Lisa. “Looks like we’ll be going to war against my old nemesis, Maddie Ustmeier– The hot, dumb blonde hair with brown eyes and a prettier face than she has personality.”

Lisa just chuckled before patting Lacie on the back and said, “Don’t worry, this time you have my help. And, it’s different because she and her teammate have lost a few.” After a pause, she then looked away before back to Lacie, “You two didn’t ever– you know?”

Lacie looked at her wide-eyed and with a look of horror, “No! Absolutely not. Those rumors were bullshit!”

Lisa just shrugged and shook her hands in a ‘plea’ before saying, “I believe you.”

“I mean, she might be hot, like I said, but she really isn’t a nice chick. Hell, I don’t even know how  she has a girlfriend. She’s just unlikeable right now.”

As they continued moving along, Lisa looked at her confused, “She has a girlfriend?”

Lacie shrugged, looking down at her racquet, “Apparently someone else was shallow enough to do her.”

Lisa just shrugged and shook the thought off, before saying, “Well, it doesn’t matter. We go back home and figure out a way to gameplan and stop them with the coach.”

        Lacie just nodded and already knew they would execute.

                                        …

        During the warm-ups of the match, Maddie kept looking over at their side.

        “She’s been glancing at our side for about five minutes now.” Lisa whispered into Lacie’s ear.

        Lacie shrugged, focusing in on the Championship Doubles moments before starting.

        She knew she should have felt a tremendous weight lifted off of her at being in the NCAA Championship after the full year before’s disaster of  Semi Final. For some reason, though, and she didn’t really know why, she was beginning to feel that imposter syndrome kicking in.

        Lisa must’ve seen it on her face, since as she said once to her in practice that she tended to wear it all on her face, since she asked what was the problem.

        Lacie just shook her head noncommittally before explaining, “I just keep thinking that I don’t care about this and don’t belong on this stage. That, somehow despite all the hours we took to grind it out and get here, I don’t feel worthy or like we even need to be here.”

        Lisa suddenly shook her shoulders hard, getting her attention, before sharply getting her point across, “Normally, you are the one corralling the rest of our team. You get us ready. You get there before anyone else and leave after everyone else. You are one of the three leaders. You have say. You have all the knowledge, respect, and awe from the team… Including me.” Then after a pause, she continued, “The aura of an invincible ancient, Norse warrior is probably within you somewhere. You just need to pull it out of your ass so we can go to war against them.”

It indeed worked again and put a spark in her own eyes.

She turned and said, looking the other dead in the eyes, “But together, we are so much stronger.”

Lisa nodded, patted her on the shoulder twice, and then said, “Let’s saddle up. Time to go to war.”

Lacie stood then and they moved to the center of the court where they met with Maddie and her teammate, Eastern European in looks and possibly accent, too.

Maddie smirked snidely at Lacie before saying, “Well, hello, Olsson.”

Lisa, before Lacie could stop her, cut in, “It’s Oldsson, you stupid ass.”

Maddie briefly glanced her way, before turning her attention fully back to Lacie.

This was then that they actually exchanged brief, short handshakes, with the teammate telling them, “My name is Viola. Granmaz name.”

Lacie glanced at her and noticed she was pretty, too. Curvy, toned body with slim facial features and small but proportional breasts.

Maddie just smirked and said, “About time you got to this stage, Oldsson. I was thinking after that abysmal first–round showing you wouldn’t do so well.”

“Yet here we are again.” Lacie said cuttingly.

Maddie kept that same snide smirk, but Lacie returned it in full, which made Maddie pause a second and then, Lisa said, “ Ready for a battle? We’re not going to lie down and go out this time. And there are no injuries holding either of us back now.”

Maddie looked her up and down, apparently only noticing up-close the beautifully statuesque woman on Lacie’s team. She’s my girl, go stay with your stinky girlfriend.

Maddie’s teammate, having introduced herself as Viola, who was in fact part Bosnian as she stated.

“Good luck to you, too, Maddie.” Lacie said as she retreated to the backline of the court.

Lisa glanced at her. A worried, soft expression there, but Lacie shook her off saying she was fine and not to worry.

Once they were set and the referee blew his whistle, put up his hand, and signaled them to go, they were on their way.

Lacie and Lisa started their match somewhat shaky, but were able to bounce-back those next four games and took them all relatively easily.

However, after another shaky, close win with a clutch backhand from Lacie and then a forehand return off a high pop-up from Viola, they felt the shift.

Lacie was able to punish Viola for that stupid move and they took the eighth game.

All of a sudden, they were on a roll. Gunning down on Viola and, although holding her own, Maddie wasn’t much of a help to her teammate. Missing with errors and forcing some power shots that she didn’t need to. This is how it could’ve gone last season, but now it is all the sweeter.

After that, in fact, they would go on to being able to clutch up. At least to end the first set, winning 6-4.  

They could see how frustrated both the other women on the other sidelines were. Not yelling at each other, but definitely not communicating right. Probably for the very first time since they had been in that season. They had only three losses on the season as a duo, but they were tough losses. Whereas even without losing, Lisa and Lacie’s schedule had been extremely tough from their coaches for a reason.

After a deep breath, they readied for another battle in this second set.

After the first two games, which saw them drop tough, close rallies, they managed to get game 3 off their serves and errors, then game 4, after a short rally back to win, off of Lacie’s hard forehand to Maddie, they managed to reorient themselves.

It was a back and forth affair, Maddie and Viola getting their points. Then the next game would be the same with Lacie and Lisa.

After the second set's 12th game, which saw Maddie and Viola take it, 7-5, she noticed it took a lot out of Viola in the last two games to close-out.

Both Lisa and Lacie decided, after the 9th game, to catch their win and allow Maddie and Viola to do most of the heavy-lifting in the 10th and 11th.

 They were now tied 1-1 with a 6-4 win and then that 7-5 loss, so going to the sudden victory, which meant it would only be one game this time. And this is why we wanted to wear them down at the end of the last one. ‘Cause now it’s about drive, execution, and wearing them down.

Lacie then patted Lisa on the leg, getting her attention, explained, “Now we can catch our second wind here. Let’s finish this off, baby.”

Lisa looked at her with nothing but happiness and pride before simply smirking.

For moments like these. For the Championship, digging-deeper-than-ever-before kind of mentality. Lacie thought to herself, as she briefly looked up to see her coach looking back at her.

She jogged over to the coach briefly, her coach whispered, as they got ready for the next set, “Do the ‘mixer'!”

She just nodded at that, and then told Lisa what the coach said, and Lisa understood it immediately as well. The ‘mixer’ was simply just a way to say in-code, ‘going smarter, not harder. Faster, not too fast.’

After their sideline talk, Lacie felt more ready. Maddie and Viola got that one back, since they knew they had to win the last two games, but this one would be it. Either way, they had to keep going smarter, but not harder. Faster, but not rushed.

The game began with a Lisa ace, one that flew right by Maddie. One that Viola tapped but didn’t get to in time. Realizing that it was in-play and not out.  

15-0. Then, much the same as before, another Lisa ace. Skimming right between Maddie and Viola’s return backhands. 30-0. Finally, after the return backhand off the serve, the popshot sky-high from Maddie, returned by Lisa in the front to the backcorner.

This was actually reached by Viola, but came up short to the net and hit it. Another win for Lisa off the challenge. 40-0.

Then, there was a brief break in the storm of points, as Viola and Maddie managed to have an amazing back and forth and were naturally making both Lisa and Lacie run all over the place. They stole that and the next point.

40-30. This is it. Match point.  Lacie thought tiredness creeping in on her, as she glanced to her side and saw Lisa glance back at her. Both were covered in layers of sweat, their tops and bottoms both taking in the water they’d sweated out. Essentially drenched.

She was met with a wink and a slight, devilish smirk.

It was Maddie’s serve to Lacie. If that’s not the most ironic thing, right?

Maddie served it damn well and hard, it popped up and Lacie was able to switch off quickly to a forehand, snapping it hard back at Maddie. They went back and forth like this for about eight or nine straight, consecutive hits.

Maddie, then, as she tended to get, got greedy and went for the kill shot in Lacie’s back corner, but it instead was returned with a backhand force. It was returned by Viola, but it was a bad passing shot down the lane, one that Lisa said “I got it!” And returned it with a hard, fast force.

Neither Maddie nor Viola had time to rotate to get back to that and Maddie missed the court with her attempted save.

She turned to Lisa, who was beaming at her with love and rushed to her.
She screamed as she jumped to her and jumped into her arms.

Dropping her racquet, Lacie held her in her arms and twirled her around.

Lacie then, without hesitation, said, “I don’t give a shit what they say.”

She leaned in and kissed the girl. The girl of my dreams, yeah definitely.

They were suddenly surrounded by teammates and she shook them all off to go shake Maddie’s hand.

“I know I’m going to seem like the bigger woman for shaking your hand after I won, but I want you to know, despite our differences, I think you are a decent person, Maddie. Despite what the media may say, and even if I may say some things, you really just need to let go of the ego sometimes.”

Maddie just mumbled, tears beginning to form, “Yeah, you’re not so bad either. Just… whatever.”

And stalked off with her teammates waiting for her.

At least she could say she tried and tried to make amends with the past mistakes and missteps.

She just simply shook her head at the confetti flying her way.

She was sweaty, drained, looked a mess, and she couldn’t feel any better having done it with her girl, Lisa.

…

The following day was not very funny, truth be told, since Lisa and Lacie were being ushered around and talking to about 15 different local and national news stations. Lacie didn’t even really have time to come say ‘hello’ to her brothers who came to see her.

Her mom and dad, who would be flying into Colorado and would need a ride to come visit Lacie, wouldn’t be able to see her until possibly the next day. Although, her mom told her on the phone that morning, “I don’t really care. Make time for your parents, Lacie Oldsson.”

What was she going to say? She decided just to sigh and say, “Yes, okay, mom. But I will be busy for a while today and tomorrow. So, maybe just go out and experience local life again.”

Her mother smirked at that through the phone and said, “Fine, that’s fine with me. Just, tell me about this girlfriend of yours.”

She knew that conversation was coming, but decided to wait another day to deal with that, so she just said, “I will, but not right now. I’m too tired.”

Her mother just sighed in an overly dramatic way before saying, “Okay, well we will let you go for now.”

 After having left relatively early to get back to their city and school to celebrate, they all got in and left the school grounds separately. Lisa reluctantly declined that motorcycle ride again.

When Lisa texted Lacie she wanted to come over and hang out before she had to deal with her own parents and their overly affectionate desire to dote on their daughter.

Lacie: Sure. But I have to shower soon. You might have to wait outside the room or something.

Lisa responded a minute later: Yeah, that’s fine I’ve seen you half-nude before.

Lacie decided to be brave for once: Maybe I will just happen to leave the bathroom door unlocked and you can “see” whatever you want to.

Lisa responded much faster to this one: Well, I can’t say no to a pretty little woman’s wishes.

Lacie knew it was entirely too easy, this back and forth game they loved to play. It was utterly intense, but also the most easy relationship she’d ever made.

She felt wanted and she felt comfortable.

While waiting for Lisa to turn up, she went about unpacking and cleaning up their rooms.

Then, within twenty minutes, Lisa was there.

“What did you need?” Lacie asked, from the shower, playing the game again. Except this time it’s slightly terrifying because we’re in-person.

“A shower.” Was the other woman’s response. Then, taking off her underwear and tossing it to the side, asked, “You got any room to spare for me?”

Lacie looked around the single-stall, small shower and said, eyes wide, “I suppose so.”

Lisa then hesitated before putting her hair back and saying, with a shrug, “I don’t want my hair wet, but if it happens, let’s just keep it as dry as possible.”

Lacie just chuckled and simply stepped aside for  her.

Then, standing side-by-side and sharing the cool but refreshing water, Lisa and Lacie both knew that this was dangerous from the first moment thinking about it, but Lisa couldn’t help herself.

She leaned into Lacie’s side, and said, “I know we said we would take this slow, but I want to at least kiss you. Hold you.”

Lacie just smirked and said in return, “Only a kiss, though? ‘Cause I know I’m tempted to just take you here.”

They got closer and closer until they closed their eyes. They could feel the others' breath.

Once their lips worked, they crashed into each other with fiery passion.

After a few minutes of just holding and kissing one another, Lisa decided she needed to feel more of Lacie quivering under her touches. Lisa slowly crawled her fingers up Lacie’s firm, toned legs and suddenly, roughly, spread them apart as far as they’d go in the confined space.

She found spots on Lisa that made her moan and groan. Then she was stopped by Lisa, who simply explained, “I’m clean, but now I need to get dirty with you. ON the bed.”

Lacie just smirked at her, breathing in the same air as her, as she led the way out of the room, only stopping to shut off the shower and to partially, attempting to, dry off each other’s hair.

Lacie just smirked in obvious, open want for Lisa.

Once as dry as they could be, they pounced on each other again.

Once in the main room, and bouncing with an audible “oomph” onto the bed, side by side, Lacie knew she’d never feel passion like this before or since.

This girl was too good. So passionate were her touches and kisses that Lacie almost thought she would burst into flames at any moment.

Lacie was on top of her and grinding her hips and pelvis down. Steadily and sensually.

Lacie and her shared their bodies then. Completely open to the other. Lacie had never felt this kind of connection in-bed or out before, and she was sure that Lisa hadn’t either.  After the awe-inspiring journey we just went on together these last 6 months, or more, I’d like to think we’d be connected.

Any nerves creeping into Lacie’s body about if Lisa might’ve been turned off by her slim, small breasts with pink nipples, were soon expunged from Lisa when she threw her down and looked down on her with obvious love and equal parts lust on her mind.

Lisa saw her as the best dream she could’ve ever wished to worship. She knew, too, just as much as Lacie felt it, that she wouldn’t lust after any other woman.

Lisa leaned down to capture a nipple in her mouth and sucked it in greedily. This led to a chain reaction in Lacie’s body, one that went straight from her nipple, to her stomach, and finally to her pussy. It was a slow-building, nearly as fast an all-consuming lust for the others touch.

With Lisa throwing her down, holding her hands with one of her own above her head, Lacie knew how amazing life was at that moment.

When Lisa pushed two fingers into her, grabbing her neck and wrapping the hand, firm but not too tight, around her throat, Lacie almost saw stars at how beautiful Lisa was above her. Like almost as if she was an Elven princess.

“Oh, fuck!” She screamed out in pure delight.

Even while beneath the other, feeling the equally toned, but slightly longer and leaner, body tight against her own, the hand wrapped firmly against her throat, it was all too much for Lacie to handle.

She wound up screaming once more into Lisa’s hand, when Lisa ravished her nether region and used those long, slim fingers to do fuckin’ damage on her.

She didn’t know if it was possible to feel that way with penetration before, as she hadn’t had much experience, but now she knew she loved it with Lisa.

 Lisa looked down on her with a sickly erotic smile on her face throughout the orgasm.

She then didn’t stop, even when Lacie begged her to. She simply moved down the bed, taking her time to kiss her way down each and every inch of Lacie’s beautifully sculpted stomach and navel. Falling into the cutest little dark-brown triangle of hair at the top. Something she knew she liked to do herself.

As soon as she tasted Lacie on her tongue, she knew she’d never tire of the way the girl writhed on her tongue and mouth.

She went slowly first, testing the waters, and then eventually, when she thought she was ready, she worked her way up and in with two and then, just as quickly a third and fourth was introduced. It was a very tight squeeze in there for her fingers.

Lacie also felt it was extremely tight-fitting, but only groaned, moaned, and yelled out for more.

Then, as she got her to the edge, she pulled out completely.

“Oh, fuck!” Lacie said, pleadingly. “I-I need it. Please.”

Lacie smirked devilishly at Lisa, before saying, “You’re not the only one who can be in control here. Be lucky I’m not leading tonight.”

Lisa just sat up at that declaration and pushed her firmly back down to her back. Lacie cackled at that display then shut up when Lisa started grinding on her stomach with her extremely-wet and warm pussy.

“You like my pussy, hot and wet for you, rubbing on your abs?” Lisa asked.

Lacie only let out another short groan before nodding and saying, fire on her tongue, “Fuck yeah. I do.”

“Yeah, but I think you’ll like something else even more.”

While this all happened, Lisa had resumed her grinding on top of Lacie and had also returned her finger to play with Lacie’s outer lips and tease her clit. Softly but still firmly.

She said, looking at their joined bodies grinding on one another, panting and groaning in equal amounts effort and lust, “I can’t very well decide which I want more, to grind you ‘till we both cum, or we cum in each other’s mouths.”

Lisa sat up farther and then said, only pausing for a second, “I’ll give you my answer…”

Only having to wait a beat, and with the grace of a tennis player, got up into a squat position above Lacie.

Then, before she could ask what she was doing, Lisa moved and positioned herself so as to push Lacie's legs back on herself.

Once this happened, Lacie knew what she wanted. Oh, so she wants to trib, huh?  

Lisa, after grinding down fully onto Lacie’s clit and mashing it with her own, said, in a full growl, “Ugh, God. Pretty girl. You feel so amazing.”

Lacie just gasped and looked back up at her, then said, “Oh, you do, too. I feel so happy with you.”

Lisa, seeing the full vulnerable side of Lacie, took her face in hands and kissed her deeply, a soul-bending, and soul-mending, kiss that stole both their breaths.

While this kiss for the ages happened, she was able to multitask at least a little as she continued to pulverize and demolish Lacie’s clit and pussy with her own.

Eventually, all they could hear was the sound of the bed shaking slightly, their own groans, moans, and sighs, and then also the feel the weight and grinding of their bodies on each other, and hear the wet sounds of their pussies connected.

They held that eye contact for an eternity it felt like, until Lacie couldn’t continue to look and screamed out, “I’m Fuckin’ cumming! Come with me, baby!”

“YEah, I will. I’m right there.” Lisa exclaimed back, pumping her hips firmly up and down, nearly bruising Lacie’s pelvis as she thrust down onto the other woman’s clit.

Within seconds, they were holding each other closely as they both shook. Oh. My. God.

Lacie simply looked up at the ceiling as she was coming back down to Earth. Never before have I felt it like that.

Eventually, they disentangled, with them lying in each other’s arms.

Lacie then stretched out and said, “You know, I don’t think I got a taste of you yet.”

Lisa just gasped as she felt Lacie smile against her neck and begin to, equally passionate as her, make her way down her body and to her soaked pussy.

“I’ve only tasted myself once now, on your lips, so this should be fun. Call it all a little pussy-mix cocktail.” Lacie said, before dipping down and kissing said pussy.

It was a unique-looking, cute, tight pussy but with a distinguishable darker shade due to Lisa’s naturally dark-olive skin tone.

“Oh, shit! Oh, fuck!” She looked down at the devilish smirk rising from the other girls face.

She pulled away from the warm, clean, slightly tarty tasting pussy, and said, “I told you I’d rock your world.”

        Lacie wasn’t kidding, as she went on to give her back-to-back orgasm with her tongue, mouth, and fingers before Lisa tapped out some twenty minutes after starting.

        Lisa then groaned once more, now nestled beside Lacie on the cum-sweat combined mattress, “We’re gonna have to wash these sheets.”

        Lacie let out a content sigh before saying, “After a quick nap and then round 3. Then we can do the sheets.”

Lisa just sighed overdramatically and said, “You may kill me with that passion of yours.”

Lacie smirked back and answered, “Ah, but that’s a good way to die.”

“You see, Lisa. The thing is,” Lacie said, wanting to say what she’d wanted to since five days prior, “I wasn’t lying when I said I always broke up or broke hearts of girls because I took school and my sport, in winning at both, more seriously. Then I realized something was different about you and me…”

“Lacie, you can say it.” Lisa gently stated, hugging Lacie close to her.

Lacie took a deep breath and said, “After winning Nationals with you, by my side, as my partner in crime. I am still proud of what we’ve done. What we achieved that we knew we could, when nobody else did. Being there with me through all of it. Thick and thin. Beautiful and troublesome… I can honestly say, Lisa.” Lacie herself felt the emotions coming  on, and explained,  “You are, to me, and I know this is rushing things a bit, you are my one and only. And I know now that you are always going to be my biggest, wildest dream-come-true.”

Lisa just looked down at her with a mixture of shock, love, and even some lust again. “I like this new side of you I’m seeing.”

Lacie looked down at their interlocked fingers and said, tiredly, “A little?”

Lisa shook her teasingly before adding with a wink, “You know I love it. And love you.”

Lacie snuggled into her neck and they softly, silently fell to a peaceful sleep.

The End.

Notes

Boy that was a labor of love right there. I spent a lot more time than I ever thought I would trying to tighten up this particular story.

I never thought the three-part thing would really work well, but I think it did for this story and the way it flows. I really enjoyed writing these characters and hope you enjoyed reading it. I always reluctantly have to part ways with characters and worlds I build up and it always sucks, even if some are less well received than others.

I know I will part with this and move onto something new and less intense as this, definitely not as tennis-intense, but I will hope you look at a possible spin off involving two characters I mentioned but didn’t quite name here.

I got about 3 other stories that I’m working on that are very much not romance and are darker.

Check out Diana and Leona’s romance story if you like. It was always supposed to be them going from friends to lovers, but some at the studio (most likely a close-minded person) thought it too risky to do (as that was back in 2010 and the early days of League) so they waited a bit. Then announced both Diana and Leona were in fact gay, and a year later, stated they were in fact together in a romantic way when young before Diana went away to seek out new allies and more power elsewhere. So that when she returned, she’d have enough to get back at those who took her family and peaceful clan from her. It’s dark and tragic at some point, but sweet before then.

Well then, Tootaloo!