This was payback. Pelch Panters were going against their rivals once again, the embarrassment of the forfeit last game were still branded on our chest but today we were ready. The team would be coming to us this time but we still got up at 5am like we were the ones making the 2 hour trip. I gathered the girls around in the pool house, I walked up and down the line looking at each and everyone of them like I was going to send them out to war.

“How do you feel?” I asked, toying with the whistle in my mouth. Never in my life had I been given such leadership over something. The feel was always scary, never knew if you were doing something right or completely wrong only results were the answers to those questions. Yet, after my revised workouts their times were better, they looked fit, prepared and just freaking scary if I was the opposing team.

Of course I could say this for everyone except for Regan. She was a mystery in everyway, she was at the end of the line, hunched over in a sweatshirt and sweat pants when everyone else showed up in bathing suits. Nipping her in the bud like I was advised by my brother and Abby was indeed good but I just didn’t feel it was the right step. It would rock the boat for the others and I had just gotten them to where I wanted them.

Janey, wasn’t present with the other girls. She was sitting on the bench watching us all, she had been ‘Red Shirted’. After the break up she stopped showing up for classes and practices. She was failing a few of her classes and now out of shape. I wanted to comfort her but I couldn’t go back and I was trying to be smarter now. I came to the realization that I didn’t know how to really comfort someone especially my ex. I would end up being quilted into sleeping with them anyway.

With a few set backs and minor concerns we were in still what I considered decent shape enough to kick enough ass, at least that was my feeling. Which was good enough for me. Lately, so much bad vibes had been floating around that I didn’t feel good about anything anymore with the pending humiliation of going back home and lying to make my step father Mayor. Even though I was surrounded with that decision I was rewarded with what I received in returned and that was sitting on the bleachers watching me now. Abby was sitting with her elbows on her knees and her head resting in her hands. A smile would creep on her face as she heard me speak to the girls. She was the reason why I was going back home and to have her was a small price to pay.

--

“Today is the day, how do you feel Corrine Japlin?” Abby asked holding up a imaginary microphone to my face. I cleared my throat taking on a serious stature.

“We are gonna kick ass, and kick ass well” I looked at the team behind me. “Can I get a ‘hell yea’?”

“Hell yea” The screamed. I just laughed.

“Alright girls we got a few hours before the meet. Go eat, nothing heavy remember. Shower, rest your muscles and be back here around 9 am so we can do some stretches.” The girls nodded and walked off to the locker rooms. Regan eyes never even attempted to go my direction. She just grabbed her gym bag and headed for the door instead of the locker room. Janey just sat on the bench, her Hazel eyes on the floor and her bottom lip threatening a bust at the way she was biting it.

“I wish there was something I could do” I mumbled to myself once I made it to the hallway with Abby on my arm.

“There’s only one thing you can do,” Abby answered, taking my hand into hers.

“What’s that?”

“Go back to her” Abby squeezed my hand. “And I hope that is out of the question” I just smiled pulling her into me. I leaned my head down capturing her lips for a small kiss. Once the kiss ended she lowered her head and rested it on my chest.

“There is something I got to tell you” I told her taking a deep breath.

“Hmmm?” Abby asked as she closed her eyes listening to my heart beat.

“My name isn’t Japlin anymore,” I began.

“It’s Grant again, I know” Abby answered. I grabbed a hold of her shoulders pushing her back a little bit so we could face each other.

“You know?” I asked bewildered.

“How could I not, your name is different on the class roster and your mail now says Grant” I just bowed my head at the obvious.

“Then why did you call me Japlin?” I asked after a moment.

“Because it has been weeks since the name change and you haven’t said anything, so that was a way to get you to fess up.” Abby and I started walking down the hallway. I slung my arm over her shoulder pulling her close to me.

“So you get the costumes for tonight” I asked walking outside.

“Yup, I of course got the play boy bunny out fit while you have the silk red bathrobe. You would make Huge Hiefner proud.” She answered with a smile. It was still dark outside as we were walking to my dorm room. The cold night air caused Abby to burrow herself into me further.

“I got a silk robe for real?” I asked with a smile.

“Well let’s just say you got something that feels like it” I laughed pushing Abby away from me.

“Cheap ass, I gave you a hundred bucks to get our costumes.”

“Yea well I’m sure you would want me to look good, and for the price I will.” Abby let roll off her tongue with a sexy smile. “After all it is your birthday party.”

“20 years old and counting” I moved my arm around her again. “So let’s see what my money paid for” Abby moved my arm away from her.

“You will see tonight,”

“But” I began Abby just shook her head.

“You won’t be disappointed” I bit my lip and then pouted Abby just laughed.

“That’s so not going to work” She began to walk ahead of me in the direction towards her dorm and not mine.

“You aren’t coming?” I asked running after her.

“If you win, I will and so will you. If you don’t, then no.” She gave me a sexy smile. “And… I’ll talk dirty to you, in Spanish”

--

11am and game time, the girls and I had took to sitting on the benches while Coach met with the judges and referee. My hands were literally turning white as I was clutching the towel around my neck so hard. The crowd was thick tonight, our side was drench in red while the other was decked out in blue. The bad blood between the teams wasn’t something that was silent, everyone knew about our forfeit and the fire in our veins to win. I turned around to see Abby, Pepper, Mike and Ivy sitting in the stands cheering me on.

Once the meeting of the minds were over Coach turned on his heels and walked to us. He held the clipboard tightly in his hands. “Corrine and Regan, you both are up first, this is race that sets the pace.” I stood in sighting a scream from the crowd. I dropped my towel, pulled my goggles over my face and walked to the podium.