DEUCE * A Challengers Story*

One

2019
This is beneath her.

She is Evelyn Harlow. A tennis legend.

She has 12 open titles, 4 grand slams and is a 3 time Wimbledon champion.

Yet here she is, waking up at 5am only to compete in a middle of nowhere, small town challenger.

Looking at the analog clock, Evelyn groans as she considers staying where she is, in the warm soft hotel bed, that had the perfect amount of pillows, and the softest duvet she had felt for a while. "Just a few more minutes" she thought to herself.

Unfortunately it was all of 30 seconds before Marcus, her boyfriend and coach, who was sleeping next to her groaned "Up Evelyn, you need to shower before breakfast".

Evelyn had first met Marcus in college, but the two reconnected when they met at a tournament 2 years ago. She was playing, and won, and he had just announced his retirement after a nasty wrist injury.

Although they started as a normal relationship, with sweet dates and loving acts, Evelyn barely registered their partnership as romantic now. They were just two people who loved tennis, who decided to love it together, plus sex.

Evelyn sighs, trying to bask in the coziness of her bed, for a few more moments. "3,2.............1" she mumbles shrugging off the oh so soft covers and instantly regretting her decision as the cold air from the AC hits her. Marcus always insists on sleeping with it on full blast, good for 'air circulation' or something.

 Shivering, Evelyn hobbles her way to the bathroom and hopped into the shower, letting out a moan as the hot water trickled over her body, soothing her sore and aching muscles.

She was tired. She loved tennis and always would, and Evelyn needed to play. It was the only thing that could make her feel, well, anything.

But recently it been hard for her to get up and want to play. She is 30, and has been training hard for over half of her life, and needs a break. Time to rest.

Marcus' version of a break, however, was this challenger.

"It's just something to get you back into the winning spirit. You'll win easily, and you'll feel better" he told her, when he was trying to convince her to do it. "I doubt you'll even break a sweat!"

She agreed, mostly because it was easier than fighting back, but she enjoyed playing and enjoyed winning even more, so part of her was happy to take part and dominate the competition.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she realises she has spent much longer in the shower than she had planned, not to mention her skin is stinging from the scalding water, she hadn't realised how hot it was before.  Cursing quietly to herself, Evelyn quickly turns off the piping hot water and jumped out, wrapping a towel around her.

Looking over at the hairdryer hanging on the wall, she dreaded the thought of doing her hair. She found it so exhausting, and her arms were aching after yesterday's training.

"I'm heading down for breakfast, meet you there?" calls Marcus, clearly impatient to get some food.

"Alright, i'll be down in 10.. " she mumbled back but she hears the hotel door slam before she  even finished speaking. 

"Ok then" she sighed to herself, as she picked up the hairdryer, ultimately deciding to straighten her hair. Naturally, it was curly and wavy and wild. Almost unmanageable, and a nuisance for matches. She hasn't worn her hair like for years, now always making sure it is perfect.

That she always looked perfect.

 It made her feel put together, and more mature. Plus smoothing down her hair helps make it easier to tie up and control during matches, so it ends up being worthwhile to put the effort in now.

After what felt like hours of blow drying, her hair is finally the way she liked. Smooth, sleek and not a hint of frizz. With a satisfied nod, she applies her light concealer  and  touch of mascara, all while going over her game plan, the amount of protein to eat and liquids to drink to be fully prepared today.

Evelyn quickly rolls her eyes, remembering that Marcus was already downstairs, probably weighing out her nutrient to a Tee. Marcus was nothing if not a perfectionist. 

They had that in common

Dropping her towel Evelyn walks over to the outfit hanging on the back of the door she had pre planned before arriving. She smiled while looking at it. Her colour was green, always has been and always will be, so it's only right that she chose a dark green tennis dress, paired with her white Nike sneakers, and a white zip up. "Well, at least I look good" she said to herself, while looking at her reflection in the mirror stuck to the wardrobe.

Evelyn glanced at the clock, reading 5:43. "Crap" she muttered. Marcus had gone down over 20 minutes ago and now was definitely in a bad mood. He hated waiting for anything and anyone, and recently, especially hated waiting for Evelyn

Grabbing her hotel key card, phone and she starts to make her way out of the room. She closes the door behind her, still worrying about making it down as fast as possible. "Come on, shit!" she cursed as she dropped her key card in her haste to lock the door. Bending over to pick it up she notices there is someone standing near her. 

Still on the floor, she looks up to apologies for her language to the stranger.

But she was not prepared for the person stood no more than 3 feet away from her.

She blinked, trying to register the man in front of her.

A man she once knew, though it felt like a lifetime ago.

Him