Alphabet Steps

Wimbledon, wretched coaches and reigniting the flames.

Because in my world Lee, Ian and Faye are tennis professionals, Claire a nutritionist and Lisa the ever supportive and slightly interfering bestie. Apologies I think I swore once in this but there is reason. Apologies that it's a little longer than usual and just a warning there is some upsetting content in regards to the coaches words towards Ian, no offence is meant to anyone in any manner. 

Also how amazing is the W made of Tennis Balls! 

Lee Latchford-Evans was returning to the courts following his year off with an shoulder injury. It had been thought at one point he might not be able to rehabilitate but thankfully the US clinic had been able to aid his recovery and he was ready to try once more for the most lucrative prize in the Sport. He'd been a Cheshire schoolboy when his talent had been spotted, ironically he'd been leaning more towards Football but once spotted in a school county competition that had been it. He'd propelled through the youth competitions winning the Junior Competition when he was 13, his first Wimbledon Grand Slam had been just after his 16th birthday, he'd gone out in the second round but to a player who was seeded at 35th in the World. He'd come back fighting and entered more Grand Slams but at the age of 24 he'd not gotten beyond the Quarter Finals. His last match going to 5 sets and him losing on a tie breaker point. He smiled as he spotted Claire Richards, his nutritionist. The whole coaching team was close and he valued her input as much as the tennis coaches. "You seen her?" Claire asked as Lee shrugged. "Seen who?" He asked though slightly suspected he knew who Claire meant. HIs former girlfriend Faye Tozer had been doing well in the sport. They had dated after meeting at a Sports Press Dinner. She had been a pretty upcoming 16 year old. He'd been 17 and still adjusting to coming out of a childhood romance with his first girlfriend, a girl who he'd started seeing when he had been 15.

"You okay?" Claire asked. She'd known Lee from his first ventures, her mother been a Sports Physio and part of Lee's coaching team since the start. In fact following Lee and Faye's split her mother had attempted to set Lee up with Claire though after one very awkward date they'd both agreed that they were best staying friends. "I still don't get why you broke up? You were great together." She mused as Lee sighed. "It was intense, the media scrutiny. They dubbed us 'Tennis's Posh and Becks', everything was picked up on. We couldn't go out for dinner without someone taking a photo." Lee said as he sighed. "I guess it just got too much, we were still only young. After Faye crashed out of the US Open they were busy putting out I wouldn't stay around for an almost Tennis star and linked me with one of the upcoming talents. It was nonsense but it hurt Faye so much. I guess we just drifted." Lee said sadly. "Now she's with that awful coach of hers, I mean what's that about, some 35 year old guy leaves his wife and then starts dating the woman he coaches!" Lee said clearly irritated by the fact. Not helped by the TV screen showing his former girlfriend, her blonde curls in a loose bun as she practised on one of the outer courts. "She looks good." He said with a small smile. "You know you might run into her, you okay with that?" Claire asked as Lee nodded. 

"Faye concentrate!" Jack yelled at his young girlfriend. She was more than a decade younger than him and he grew frustrated at times. Particularly when he was met with a glare from her friend Lisa who had made her feelings towards him more than clear. Jack had argued that it wasn't helpful having Lisa about in the competition, that her negativity would rub off on Faye's performances but Faye had argued she needed her friend for moral support. Jack's concerns were only elevated when Lisa had looked through the listings and spotted Faye would be on court just before Lee for their first round matches. "You know he'll watch." She had said as Faye fiddled absent-mindedly with a loose curl that had escaped her updo. "He might not. Anyway so what if he does." Faye said softly, all too aware of Jack watching her. He had been somewhat jealous of any males she spoke to on the last tour circuit, even her mixed doubles partner who was openly gay. "My backhand keeps spinning off." Faye complained as she looked at her racquet. "Well focus on where your placement is, and your foot, turn your body into the swing!" Jack said as he thrust his hands into his jacket pockets.