On The Court Part 2

by moanalo

~~~~ It is Game Day ~~~~

By Saturday evening I was an emotional mess. My brain was frazzled in so
many directions, and my stomach was in knots. I sat on the edge of my bed,
the tears were streaming down my cheeks. I have already lost the game
before even playing it, as they say in sports. Monique has gotten in my
head and I bore some of the blame, even opening the door. I was looking for
every reason why I would lose, should lose, will lose.

Clam down. Long calming breaths. ‘Getting angry and upset before the match
will not help, there will be plenty of time for anger during the game. I
need to save every ounce of energy I can.’

1 a.m. Sunday morning and my brain is running drills in my head, playing
through Monique’s every move, tactic, and yes faults. She has flaws in her
game. Usually I am there to help her during a game, to cover those defects,
but now I am the opponent and I need to exploit every flaw she has. The bad
news? She has very few flaws.

Finally, I got some sleep and eat a healthy breakfast. The drive over to
the school was nerve wracking as hell, such a shame, it is such a beautiful
day! ‘You should just abandon this whole thing and go to the park, or call
a friend and go catch some rays at the pool. Leave Monique hanging around
the gym waiting for me, and never show! That would really piss her off!’ I
contemplate many such ideas...now I really laugh out-loud. Brilliant!

But I can’t. Truth? My own competitive drive is building inside of me like
a tsunami. My fists are clutching the steering wheel as I envision me
dominating her on the court and smearing her face in a loss! Now I am
aching to get to the school. Aching to face her down. And then that moment
when we finally go-at-one another. Her skills against mine! Her physical
conditioning against mine!

I am pumped!

But of course. She is already here. Bitch! I see her car in the parking
lot. Well, fine with me, I like being fashionably late anyway.

~~~~ Taunts and Rules ~~~~

You would think it was mid-summer when I walk into the empty locker room.
The fucking A/C must be off. Sometimes the school will turn off the systems
on weekends to conserve electricity, but this is one time I am not rooting
for an environmentally friendly act. I am already sweating by the time I
got close to the gymnasium, yet holding out hope that the large space would
provide a little relief to the humidity. You think? Of course not. Besides,
no time to worry about that, I can already hear someone moving around in
the gym before I walk in, and I know who it is.

My heart is pounding out of my chest. It is Game Time.

“You made it. This will be fun. I’ve wanted to play you one-on-one for a
long time.” Monique says while laying out her stuff; Like water bottles,
towels and assorted other stuff. I’m not paying too much attention, but
proceed to do the same.

“We have played one-on-one in the past, this is not some landmark moment.”
My tone is even, but I have to fight back the hostility as I begin to
neatly layout my stuff.

“But oh my dear, yes it is, this game is to settle all accounts between
us.” The extra sweetness in her tone makes the comment actually feel
sadistic and threatening.

“And what is that supposed to mean?” At full attention now, looking
straight at her.

“I know you think you are the better player. The better at everything. So
now let's see if you really have what it takes to prove it.” She doesn’t
even break stride while double checking the laces on her shoes.

“It bothers you that much?”

“Just enough to set the record straight between us.” She gives me an
irritated glare.

“I think the record is pretty clear.” I can’t help but get that subliminal
dig in, that I’ve more than held my ground against her on the the court.
Not sure if she got my intent.

“That all changes today. I’m going to put you in your place, which is face
down on that court.” Yep, she got ‘my drift’. The truth comes out. A very
ugly truth at that. I had no idea she carried such ill-will toward me. Or
have I just been that ignorant? Such cutting words from her triggers my
most primitive emotions. Maybe I’ve wanted this moment just as much as she,
because a boiling rage inside of me is rising up like a storm. But I am
also human, and on the verge of tears that some person, a teammate I’ve
known for years, harbors such spite...maybe even hatred towards me?

“And as I said, let's make things interesting.” Standing up to her full
height, squaring her shoulders with me.

“Yeah, cut to the fucking chase already about that 'interesting' crap.” My
nerves are frazzled trying to keep up with all of her 'interesting'
challenges, words, and attitude.

“First one to five points, drops something.” Monique eyes narrow with a
hint of playful excitement.

“Drops what?”

“You know.” More grinning on her part. Her perfect, pearly white teeth
start to show.

“Maybe I don’t know.”

“Then you’re playing dumb. Don’t do that.”

“And you're playing word games. Don’t do that.” I reply back but restrain my
irritation which is becoming damn near impossible. I no longer have any
desire to hold anything back, every muscle in my strong body is flexing
with desire to get at this bitch now.

“Whomever scores five points first, the other has to drop a piece of
clothing.”

“Strip basketball?” I ask with a bored tone, like she must be joking.

“You catch on quick. And on it goes, in increments of five. The game goes
to 50. Whoever scores 50 first wins top bragging rights, Queen of the
Court. Oh, and every shot only counts as 1 point, no matter the distance
form the net.”

My partial smile is one of total contempt, my cheeks are trembling with
emotion that I am fighting to restrain. “That means we will be totally
naked before 50.” I feel the blood leave my arms and legs. Paralyzed
with...I don’t know what it is...fear...humiliation...dread?

“Yes. Well, one of us will be totally naked, and it won’t be me. So you
better get used to the idea of running around with no clothes on. We keep
our shoes on the whole time of course.” She says all of this so casually,
like she does this type of crap all the time.

“Small favors.” I say smartly in regards to the shoes, struggling to appear
somewhat unaffected by everything I just heard.

I have to block out the stripping down part, which surprisingly didn’t
bother me too much. After all, we have seen each other nude so many times
in the locker room and shower, it is almost routine. The concern is how it
will all unfold during the game, now that bothers me. If I start losing, if
I was dominated during the match, I would be left stark naked and she fully
dressed. It is also knowing she would be hurling nasty and degrading taunts
while I am forced to strip, piece by piece, as the game went on.

Monique then does something that seems so bizarre I almost didn’t say a
word. She pulls out a GoPro camera from her bag and places it on one of the
benches, angling it for the best view of where we will be playing.

“I never agreed to that! No fucking way!”

“For posterities sake.” She smiles, glancing over at me and walks away as
if the recording issue is a done deal.

“I said no! Or I am leaving now. Take your pick.”

She shakes her head, gives me this disgusted look and walks back over,
leans over and pushes the button on top. “There, you happy now?”

Fuck No, I am not happy you lunatic.