I really should hurry now or I'm going to be late for practice...and I hate being late. Usually I am always early but tonight I had a stressful meeting that took more time than necessary or than I had planned, and I end up rushing to my flat where I quickly change into a sport t-shirt and shorts.

I grab my bag, put my spikes inside and fill in my water bottle. Maybe I should take a second one just in case, because the weather is still hot for a September night, but I don't have another five seconds to spare. I'm sure I'm making a mistake though and I'll end up thirsty as hell.

I run down the stairs, minding my steps and rush to Central Park for practice.

5:58 pm. Right on time. Thank god.

« Hi girls !» I shout to the group of girls gathered around our spot.

« Hi Ju ! » my best friend Lea greets me, walking towards me to hug me. « How was the beginning of your week ? »

« It went Ok. I had a tough meeting though and I can't wait to release some of the stress I got from it. »

«Ouh. Gotcha. I'm here to make you sweat. » she winks.

« I knew I could count on you » I answer playfully.

Lea and I are best friends. We got on very well right from our first encounter and she gets me. I don't need to talk to her and it always amazes me how good she is at reading my moods. She has been there for the good times and the worst times for the past seven years.

Sometimes she just sits with me, not talking, just reminding me I have someone to lean on or a shoulder to cry on. And at other times, she is that cocky, playful girl who can't help but tease me with her jokes or comments. Like tonight. And I love it. I ususally answer her with the same playful tone but we both know nothing can ever happen between us. We are too close and it would be like sleeping with a sister.

I sit on the grass, take my sneakers off and reach for my spikes inside my bag. I tie the laces and take my hoodie off. All set.

« Ok girls, let's begin. Juliette, you are in charge of warm up. » Lea tells me.

I don't particularly enjoy it...having people follow my lead. It reminds me too much of work and tonight I had rather follow someone's orders. But I guess Lea had an agenda... being in charge would prevent me from getting lost in my thoughts since I had to watch everyone's movements and make sure they were made right.

« Ok girls follow me » I say as I start running.

After two lapses I tell them to stand in a line, and we start our routine. I watch the girls grimacing and I can't help but smile. Feeling the pain in my muscles makes me feel good. Gosh I love softball. And suddenly my mind drifts back to the past, to happy memories...

.................................

I remember the sound of her spikes as she had walked towards me, and her perfume. That day she had worn La petite Robe Noire. Still my favourite perfume. From the way she had approached me I could tell she was shy. She was at softball practice for the first time, just like me. But unlike me, who had no difficulty talking to strangers and blending in, she had remained quiet the whole time we had warmed up and trained.

After practice had ended, I had just learnt her name : Kelly. Her accent gave away that she was not French but American. I guessed she was an exchanged student who had come to France for her first or second year of college. We had this program in my university too and I wanted to apply to one for my third year of college.

I was currently studying English literature and history and loving it. I had fallen in love with the language on my first English lesson when I was 11 years old and I wanted to make it my job to teach it to others. I loved everything related to the American culture so naturally, when I saw softball was one of the many sports I could try on campus, I immediately wanted to try, and I enjoyed it... even more now that there was this hot American mysterious girl.

I got attracted to her, to her accent, I needed to know everything about her. She did not know anyone in France yet and that certainly played in my favour. After practice, I invited her for a drink in the historical centre of town and she gratefully accepted. It became our weekly routine and soon, I knew a lot about her. She was studying economics, was from New York, wanted to improve her French because talking fluently a foreign language always looked good on a resume.

We soon became lovers and at the end of her year in France, I followed her to the USA, benefiting from a student exchange program with a university in New York. I always pictured my life with her but fate decided otherwise.

.................................

I feel the tears welling up in my eyes and push the memories away as I hear Lea's voice asking us if warm up is over.

« Yes, coach, we are all hot, sweaty and waiting for your command » I answer, a bit less cheerfulthan earlier. She raises her eyebrows at me, guessing I had been thinking about her, but I silently tell her I am ok.

Lea tells us to grab our gloves and to start throwing drills. Sandra runs towards me, my glove in her hands. She throws it at me with a grin. She is my throwing mate, I love pairing with her for the drills. We have come to know each other very well on the field, we knew how to push each other, when to throw harder, we know when one of us gets too tired and needs a break.

We start, and soon throw harder, deeper but then one of her balls gets thrown too high. I jump in an attempt to catch it but I fail and the ball ends up off the field's limits, and rolls on the grass and on the running track where it stops against a bench.

I run to get the ball and notice a jogger staring at me, arms crossed, a severe look in her eyes.

« You guys should be more careful. I could have broken my ankle had I not watched where I was running ! » she woman says sterny.

« I..I'm really sorry » I stammer while looking her up and down and up again. She is gorgeous.

Her calves are toned, her body slender with perfect curves, her arms are lean and strong, and I can't help but notice the tattoo on her forearm. I have a thing for tattoos, I have always found them hot on a girl's body. I want to get one myself, I even know where and what I would have inked but I am a bit hesitant because of my job.

« See anything you like ? » the woman asks, drawing my attention back to her eyes.

« Mmh, yes, I...I noticed your tattoo, it's..unusual. » What the hell is wring with me, stuttering again?

« Thank you. Would you like to see it closer? »

« Wouldn't you mind ? »

« Not at all ». She answers, raising her arm to my eyes.

On her forearm is a pattern of entertwined circles, triangles and rectangles, in different shades of red, blue and yellow. Usually I am not a fan of coloured tattoos but I admit this one is beautiful. And the design reminds me of a painting by one of my favourite painters.

I raise my index finger and start slowly tracing the outlines of the tattoo. I can't help myself. After a few seconds that seem like an eternity I feel the woman's gaze on me and realize the inapropriate gesture. I cough, suddenly awkward.

« Don't feel embarassed. » she tells me. « I'm under the impression you like it. »

This is when I notice her smirk and the beautiful shade of her eyes. She had taken her sunglasses off and I notice they are light blue. We are standing very close. I look at her eyes, at her lips. At her eyes again. Finally I find my voice and answer her.

« Yes, I think it is stunning. It reminds me of Kandinsky. »

She laughs.

« Most people who notice my tattoo think I had the drawing made by a child. Rare are those able to see the complexity and the beauty beyond the shapes and colours. You must be one of a kind.» she moves closer to me, staring at my lips.

« Hum, I don't know about that, but thank you.» I manage to answer.

« Do you have any tattoos ? »

Before I have the time to answer the woman's question, I hear Lea's voice. She sounds angry but amused at the same time.

« Hey babe, what the fuck are you doing ? Now's not the time to hit on sexy joggers ! You are expected on the field. »

«Oups sorry... that's my coach. I should go back. Nice meeting you though. » I tell the woman while grabing the ball.

« Nice meeting you too. Maybe I'll see you around. »

« You probably will. I practice every Tuesday and Friday evenings. » I add while face slapping myself in my mind.

I have no idea why I felt compelled to give her all those details. It's almost as if I had asked her on a date. What is happening to me ? I am not the one to make the first move. I am confident don't get me wrong, I make friends easily, but relationship wise, I am always doubting myself. I haven't had any girlfriend in a few years and I didn't think I was ready again. That's why I was surprised when those words escaped my lips.

« Ok, I'll keep it in mind. Enjoy the rest of your training. » the woman says, winking, before running away.