For Senior Year

As The Cold Weather Comes

*Two weeks later*

Tatum POV:

As the cold weather comes I'm starting to like early morning practices more. I don't know why but there's just something about the way the fall air nips at your throat and the way the world seems to slow down with the cold. 

I also like being bundled up in my layers during cold practices in comparison to sweating my brains out at hot summer practices.

It's currently about 7:45am. Our practice started bright and early at 6am and we are scheduled to end around 8am because the boys have the field booked for practice after us. Coach is giving us a quick water break right now and then we are just doing some shooting drills to wrap up practice.

When I got to the benches I grabbed my water bottle from off the ground and popped the lid open, leaning my head back for a quick sip. My water was much warmer than the cold air as I swallowed it. In the warmer months I put ice in my water but not during the winter. The air is already cold enough to nearly freeze it. 

After I finished drinking my water, I twisted the cap back on and placed my water back on the ground before jogging over to the goal where one of our captains Chelsea was taking shots on the empty net. As I walked over she ripped a side arm shot into the top right corner. The speedometer in the net clocked it at 93mph.

"Damn Chels, you're going to burn a hole in the net." I stated as I walked over and stood net to her. She just turned to me with a huge smile and laughed. 

"I'm trying to break 100 by the end of the season so I can set a school record." She replied.

"I bet you can. What's your max speed?" I asked.

"97." She said casually as she shifted her stick around in her hands.

"See you definitely can." I said.

"Thanks Tatum." She replied with a smile.

We kept talking and shooting while we waited for everyone else to finish getting a drink. Once they were done we resumed practice and began our shooting drills. In the middle of one of the drills, Chelsea walked up behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. 

I turned to look at her confused but she just had a smirk on her face as she looked forward and pointed towards the fence. 

"Someone is here for you." She said. 

I then glanced over to where she was pointing and saw a girl standing by the fence. I smiled and my body warmed up despite the cold air when I saw that it was Emily waiting for me. We have plans to go out for breakfast after practice but I didn't expect her to wait out in the cold for me. 

We kissed for the first time since the break up two weeks ago and we've kissed several times since then but we still haven't made anything official. I'm still kind of scared to ask her out because I don't want to push her into it too soon. She did just have a messy breakup with Cam.

"Hey Reese! Pay attention to the drill or we run sprints!" Coach threatened. I guess I've been spaced out for too long because I started at the back of the line and was already at the front. I shook my head before jogging into position for the drill.

"Sorry coach." I mumbled as I ran by. Chelsea just looked at me with a smirk and I could tell that she was struggling to contain her laugh. The entire team just caught me staring at Emily.

When coach wasn't looking I discretely flipped of Chelsea before running off into the drill.

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Emily POV:

Tatum and I made plans to go out for breakfast after her practice. She said that she would swing by my dorm afterwards so that I wouldn't have to wait out in the cold but I couldn't wait any longer to be near her.

I think I've waited long enough.

I laughed when Tatum got caught staring at me by her coach and teammates. She was definitely shocked to see me waiting by the fence for her.

When her practice ended she quickly packed up her things and jogged over. She was wearing a UConn Huskies beanie and the pom pom up top bounced as she jogged over. She wore the typical blue team sweats and grey hoodie as well. Now that she had taken her cleats off she had thrown on a pair of the Ugg slipper boots. 

"Hey." She whispered breathily as she approached me. 

"Hey." I replied with a smile. Before I could even say anything else, Tatum tossed her lacrosse stuff over the fence before hopping over it.

"Hey." She said again as she stepped in front of me, placing her gloved hands on my waist.

"You know you could've just used the gate." I said teasingly.

"I know but I couldn't wait any longer to do this." She replied before leaning forward and connecting her soft lips with mine. 

"I couldn't wait either." I replied when I pulled back. Before either of us could say anything else, the coach's voice bellowed across the barren field and echoed through the cold air.

"TATUM!!! NO HOPPING THE FENCE!" Her commanding voice said. Tatum blushed slightly, either from the cold or from embarrassment before turning to look at her coach.

"Sorry coach! Won't happen again!" She called back.

"AND YOU!" Tatum's coach screamed as she started powerwalking towards us. Tatum and I took a small step apart as if we had just gotten caught doing the deed or something.

"Yeah?" I asked feebly as she approached the fence, crossing her arms and leaning on it.

"From now on wait outside the stadium because apparently someone is worse at focusing when it comes to girls than a teenage boy!" Coach lectured as she turned to face Tatum, narrowing her eyes.

Tatum gulped and she had a sheepish smile on her face. Her blush was definitely from embarrassment and not the cold. Her teammates were now exiting the stadium and could be heard giggling slightly at what coach had just said.

"Sorry." Tatum mumbled.

"Hey coach! Go easy on her. If my girlfriend showed up at practice I'd be distracted too." A girl said as she jogged over and stood by coach. I recognized her as the senior captain Chelsea Reiner. Tatum has told me about her and she seems super cool. The two of them get along really well too which is nice. 

"Reiner let me point out that you don't have a girlfriend." Coach deadpanned.

"OH SHIT! COACH GOT BURNS!" One of the lacrosse players yelled as they all started laughing.

"OKAY THAT'S ENOUGH!" Chelsea yelled but I could tell she was also trying to hide her own laughter. "Tatum had a good practice today, despite the distraction. Right coach?" Chelsea asked as she nudged her coach in the side slightly.

"Yes I will admit that. You are a special player Reese. Maybe you will be captain material some day." Coach said with a smile before turning and walking away. "You just gotta learn to focus on the game!" She called over her shoulder as she walked out of the stadium.

"I'm tellin ya Tatum! You'll be replacing me before ya know it!" Chelsea said as she walked backwards.

"Thanks Chels!" Tatum replied with a smile. Chelsea just winked before turning and jogging out of the stadium to catch up with the rest of the team.

"Sooooo breakfast time?" Tatum asked. Before I could respond my stomach betrayed me and let out the loudest rumble I have ever heard. Tatum just laughed and threw one arm over my shoulders before kissing the top of my head. She kept her arm around me as we started walking towards the exit of the stadium.

"Breakfast time it is." She said with a laugh.

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I'm slacking on the updates I knowwww. I'm sorry lol.