Chapter 87

The world moved slowly, as Dan watched the ball bounce onto the court, just out of his reach. He was spent. He was exhausted, and honestly, he didn’t have the Stamina needed to reach that shot, even if he’d wanted to. Still, that wasn’t why things seemed to be slowing. Instead, it was more, surreal. That was the final point of their game. That was the final point of their set. That, was the final point of their game.

Clapping erupted around the court as time resumed its normal speed. Dan looked around, sweat dripping profusely from him, his eyes stinging as a piece dripped from his soaked eyelashes and found their mark on his eyeball. That was how much he’d worked. He’d pushed himself so much, that his eyelashes and eyebrows were soaked. He couldn’t remember any time in his life, that he’d worked up that much sweat.

“That’s my boy.” Peter’s voice called out from the crowed. “Way to leave it all out on the court.” Even as Peter called out, Dan felt a sickness in his stomach. It wasn’t sorrow. It wasn’t similar to the emotions of failure he’d felt before. This feeling was different. It was one he was actually familiar with. He’d pushed himself past exhausted, and now he was nauseous.

“Great playing.” Another person called out.

“Way to never give up.” A third voice.

“That overhead slice was amazing.”

“Keep it up and you’ll be great.”

“Maddie, you should have held back on the poor kid.” A sixth voice said, with some additional murmuring and voices of agreement.

“Say that again, and I’ll expect you to be on the court with me next.” Maddie said with a laugh into the crowd. From when their match had begun, the crowd watching them had multiplied, until there wasn’t a clear spot for sitting or standing around the court. Apparently, people deemed this match good enough to watch, even though Dan was still just starting out.

He had a feeling that had to do with the betting taking place. If he had to guess, the moment word got out about Peter hosting bets between this match, many of the players at the club had decided to come watch. From what Dan could tell, everyone there knew each other pretty well, and he go the feeling this club was popular not only because of Maddie’s skill, but the camaraderie they all seemed to share. It was less a club, and more an extended family.

“Ignore the peanut gallery.” Maddie spoke as she neared Dan. He’d been at the net for her last shot, trying his hardest to make return anything she hit back towards him. Unfortunately, the skilled player had managed to send a lob over his head, and he just didn’t have the gas left to chase it down.

“I’ll try,” Dan replied, offering her the best smile he could manage, while trying his best not to lose his lunch. Really, popcorn and soda before this match, had been a poor life choice.

“Really though, you should be proud of how you played.” Maddie herself was sweating, though nowhere near the degree Dan was. She’d moved a lot less on the court than he had. And not for lack of Dan trying. The shots she’d sent his way, the angles she used, he just couldn’t replicate. He could keep hitting the ball back over the net, but never to the degree that really got her working. Save for his special skills. But those, were limited.

“I’m sure I’ll feel proud when I’m able to think straight.” Dan said between deep breaths, as he walked toward the shade and his water. Between the first and second set, Peter had brought both Dan, and Maddie, a couple of bottles each. Something Dan was extremely grateful for.

“I’m honestly surprised by you.” Maddie grabbed her own bottle and drank deeply. “Not only did you have some rather nasty tricks you pulled off, but your stamina is even greater than I’d expected.” She paused, looking down at him with a smile. “It was like you got a second wind during our break between sets.”

Dan only offered her a smile of his own. He’d definitely gotten a second wind then, thanks to his short rest magic. But he wasn’t about to tell her that, and even then, it hadn’t been enough. His Stamina was sitting dangerously low now, very close to single digits, and his vision kept wavering.

“I told you my Danny Boy was the real deal.” Peter’s voice came just as the Senior poured an entire bottle of water on Dan’s head, soaking him. Dan tried to protest, but he was honestly too tired to even do that, and the water, while unexpected, felt good.

“That you did.” Maddie nodded to Peter, and the Senior tossed a tennis ball to her. He’d apparently snagged it on his way over. Collecting the shot that Dan had missed. “But I still had to see it for myself.”

“You did great out there.” Sophia’s voice caused Dan to look back, and he noticed Sophia and Ashley were both walking onto the court, their bags in hand. If he had to guess, the two had changed during the brief break they’d taken during Sets, and he remembered Peter had promised to give the two a lesson. Was he going to use this court? It made sense, since Dan had already been running around on it.

“Hopefully I played well enough to impress you.” Dan replied, half joking. Other than when he used his skills, he’d only earned a handful of points off Maddie. Usually more from luck and sheer determination, rather than skill. As Peter had taught him, as long as he could keep returning the ball, eventually his opponent would make a mistake. And while Maddie was lightyears above his skill level, she was still human. Still, those mistakes were few and far between, meaning Dan had lost every single set they played.

“You could say that.” Sophia said as she set her bag on the ground next to Dan. She crouched close to him, so close that he could smell her perfume, and offered him a smile. “I’m going to have to make sure I keep practicing hard too. I don’t want to weigh you down, if we do play doubles together.” She winked at him, a mischievous smile on her face. “Now, since I watched your match. It’s only fair if you watch Ash and I practice yeah?”

Dan would watch Sophia stand on the court if offered the chance, considering how great she looked in her tennis clothes. But, he wasn’t about to say that out loud. Instead, he returned her smile best he could, promptly ignoring the low growl and scowl from Ashley.

“Honestly, I couldn’t move from this bench if I wanted to. I’m spent.”

“Means you’ll be an easy target.” Ashley mumbled.

“Might want to keep your eyes peeled Danny boy.” Peter laughed as he pulled out his own tennis racquet from his bag. “Seems they’re both gunning for you.”

“One seems a bit more dangerous than the other.” Maddie, who was still standing there, said with a chuckle. “Oh, to be young again.”

Peter laughed and shot her a grin. “Age is just a mindset.”

“Tell that to my joints.” Maddie retorted. “Besides, I made plenty of mistakes in the past, that I’d rather not think about. Young kids like you all make me remember the good, and the bad. I’m just glad I get to watch all of you grow.”

“Uh huh.” Peter was bouncing the ball on the frame of his racquet, twirling it around between each bounce to make the task even more impressive. “I’m sure you’re especially glad for the money we give to the club, and the chance to run us till we drop.”

“Perks of the job.” Maddie laughed and set a hand on Dan’s shoulder. “If you ever need anything, and Peter can’t help you with it, you know where to find me. Thanks again for the match Dan, and know I’ll always welcome a rematch.” She let go and began to leave. “Till then, make sure you keep moving forward. I want to see just how high you reach,” her voice grew soft. “And thank you, for helping Peter out. You’re probably the best thing to happen to him in a long time, and really, seeing the two of you together, gives me hope. Hope for him, and his future.” She trailed off, her eyes going distant, before she shook her head, and without another word, left.

Dan, didn’t really know what that was about, but he didn’t have much time to ponder. Peter was warming the girls up, and Dan could already feel his excitement rising. It was one thing to practice against the two, but he’d never gotten the chance to actually watch the two practice, from the sidelines. Even better, Dan had never seen Peter give lessons to anyone else, without Dan being a part of the lessons too. Meaning, he was eager to watch, for instructional purposes…

As he thought that, Sophia shifted, lunging low to the right, and turning in a manner that presented Dan quite the view, as her muscles flexed, and she returned a ball that had been sent a little wide, back to Peter. Yup, Dan was excited, solely for instructional purposes, to watch this practice. After all, Dan loved tennis.