Nova Baker

30

Championship ‼️

The day of the championship game arrived faster than I expected. I woke up earlier than usual, the nerves crawling beneath my skin. I wanted to shake them off, but it was impossible. The sound of the alarm buzzed through the room, waking me from a restless sleep. Apollo was already awake, tail wagging, sensing the change in the air. I quickly changed into my tennis gear, determined to start the day right.

I took Apollo with me, stepping outside into the crisp morning air. The court was empty, the only sounds the soft thump of tennis balls as they bounced off the pavement, and Apollo's excited barks as he ran around.

I took a deep breath, focusing on the moment, letting the quiet morning calm me down. I wanted to practice. I needed to feel the rhythm again, to let my mind focus on something other than the big game later today. My racket swung through the air, the satisfying smack of the ball echoing as I hit it back and forth. Apollo darted around, trying to chase after the ball each time it bounced, but I was too fast for him.

As I was finishing up, I noticed a figure walking toward the court. The familiar steps of someone I hadn't seen in a while. The silhouette of Thea Maya, the tennis star I had faced off against in a national tournament last year. She was here for a visit and decided to get some early practice in. I hadn't expected to see her, but it was a welcome surprise.

"Thea?" I called out, waving her over.

She smiled, her eyes lighting up as she approached the court. "Nova! I didn't expect to see you out here this early. Mind if I join you?"

I shook my head, grinning. "Of course, I could use the company. Let's get a practice in."

Thea grabbed her racket from her bag and took a few warm-up swings. She was always one of the toughest opponents I'd faced. We were both fierce competitors, but we also respected each other's game. There was a silent understanding between us, a mutual admiration. We began rallying, getting into the flow of the game. The early morning fog lifted as the sun began to rise higher in the sky.

"Been feeling pretty good lately, huh?" Thea asked, her voice light but serious as she hit the ball back to me.

"Yeah," I said, hitting it back with precision. "A little rusty at first, but I think I'm getting my game back."

Thea smirked. Your finding your rhythm again. You're doing great."

The words settled into me, bringing some much-needed reassurance. We kept practicing, pushing each other harder with each rally. I felt stronger with each swing, and Apollo, who had calmed down a bit, sat by the fence, watching us intently.

Eventually, as the sun climbed higher, I wiped the sweat off my brow and grabbed my water bottle. Thea took a seat beside me on the bench.

I nodded, staring out at the empty court. "Yeah. It's... it's going to be intense. Crenshaw's tough, and with Chris on their team... it's personal, you know?"

"I get it," she said, her voice calm. "But you've got your team. You've got this."

Her words were exactly what I needed to hear. The tension I had been carrying since the start of the day seemed to ease just a little.

We continued talking, catching up on life and the tennis world, before she packed up her things and promised to come support me at the game. I thanked her again for the practice session and watched as she left, feeling more focused, ready for whatever was coming later that afternoon.

As I walked back toward the house with Apollo, the weight of the day ahead pressed down on me. I knew the championship game was going to be one of the hardest things I'd ever face, not just because of the competition, but because of everything tied up in it—the rivalry, the history, the tension.