Matchpoint

Chapter 6:

The afternoon rolls around rather quickly. The sky turns a pinky, orange colour, like the leaves in autumn.

All the students are headed back to their parents' cars, with a few eager ones sticking around to hear what they should work on at home. I love the eager ones. They remind me of my younger self, I loved getting feedback and trying to understand what I could do better. It had a way of making me feel more superior than the other kids, as if asking for feedback meant that I was more committed to the game than the rest of them. At least, that was the views my parents used to bestow on me. But with these little ones, it's different. It is as if they truly want to get better and prove to themselves that one day they can get as far as Wimbeldon.

Not to mention that all of the kids are over the moon to talk to Dom, so most stuck around to talk to him.

By the time the last kid leaves Dom alone, I'm already packed and ready to go, and I believe I'm about to escape Dominic Fraser, until my name is called through the autumn night sky.

"You in a hurry or something?" He queries curiously, his eyes sparkle with interest, and he sweeps his hand through his ginger hair.

"To get away from you?" I mutter softly. "Always."

"I thought you thought I was pretty, though." I can hear the jest in his voice.

"I'm pretty certain you've taken that out of context." I turn and squint at him, desperately hoping to keep my composure around him.

"How can I prove to you that I'm not just another show pony?" Dom questions, that trademark smirk sliding swiftly along his lips, as if he is trying to pull me in with his charm.

"You can't have an entire personality change in twenty-four hours, so I guess you're stuck with the show pony persona." I cluck my tongue and spin back around, walking with a stride in my step.

"So you've known me two days, and you've already made your mind up about me?" He questions me, and I know how bad it sounds, but I can not help but feel this strongly about Dom.

"I may have only known you two days, but I've watched you for several years." I state, "I don't exactly want to be working with a player who has anger issues and a problematic mindset."

Dom makes a nasally laugh and is silent for a few seconds after. "Well, at least one of us is looking forward to working with the other."

"Hilarious." I mutter, pulling my bag harder against my body as I trudge towards the main academy centre.

"I'm not kidding. You should hear what is said about you in the academy." It is as if he is trying to entice me with his cryptic words, but I'm unbothered about the gossip that is whispered about me in the academy. It wouldn't be the first rumour spoken about me. "They say you're the one to beat, you're the one to play, you're the one they're all gunning for. They want you to become a coach on your own."

Well, to say I'm flattered would be a lie, I'm actually frozen, unable to utter a complete word. "And I can see it too,"

"I'm not a coach, and I never will be, so, that's that." I huff, but a hand catches me off guard. A hand that grabs my wrist and whirls me around so that I'm face to face with piercing forest green eyes.

"What if I wanted you to coach me." It's not even as if he's asking a question. It's a simple statement that he seems to be waiting for a response for. And yet, I am distracted by the way his breath is hot against my neck, and his hand is yet to drop from my wrist.

"Then you'll be disappointed because I'm not coaching you. Besides, like I've already said, you chose Ladley." I snatch back my arm and hear Dom scoff behind me.