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Chapter One: Friday May 6th
The clock showed there was only 6 minutes left of the game. The Lynx were up by 6 points against the Dallas Wings, it was only the second match of the season but Toni knew how important it was to win; especially against the Wings, their rivals for the past 4 years.
Toni was nearly dead on her feet, her breathing was laboured and her heartbeat was deafening in her ears. The match, as always was the case against the Wings, was brutal. The fouls had been flowing all game, with both teams having a player out of the game after hitting their sixth personal foul; Toni herself had 5 fouls against her name, one more and she’d be following the same path.
The atmosphere in the arena was one of the best Toni had ever felt; the recent rivalry between the two teams had drawn in thousands of fans, not only for both teams but also for the sport. The chanting crowd could easily be a distraction, if you got caught up in the excitement of it; but Toni knew she needed to be more focused in now, than she had been all game.
As captain, Toni knew her role now; with the game entering the dying minutes and the Wings players getting desperate, she needed to slow the play down, protect her players from any potential injuries or getting baited into committing silly fouls.
This is what Toni was good at.
She had been playing as point guard since she was 6, had worked hard all throughout school; basketball being the only constant thing in her life. She got a scholarship at college and was drafted right into the main WNBA draw, in her Freshman year of college, with the Lynx getting first dibs on her. Now, in her 4th year at the team, she was the captain and she was determined to bring the championship, from Texas back to Minnesota. Getting an early win against their championship rivals is exactly what they needed.
Toni took the ball from their own half, slowly dribbling the ball, surveying the options as she went.
Dictating the game, controlling the game was perhaps the hardest thing to do, especially with the other team needing to score.
Where they needed to play hard and fast, Toni needed her team to play slow and careful. Avoiding mistakes, avoiding giving up unnecessary points, and most importantly, avoiding playing into the hands of the other team.
The Wings had a reputation for their dirty play, a tactic that was only heightened when they were staring down the barrel of defeat. Toni blamed their coach, Dave Goodkind, for the aggression they brought to games. She’d heard rumours of how they trained to hurt players, how they trained to commit fouls without drawing the attention of the referee. Toni had seen it all before, Dave had taken over as coach the same time Toni joined the WNBA, she’d been on the receiving end of the Wings’ tactics for 4 years; she’d even came to blows with Dave on more than one occasion.
Toni lets the opposition point guard close the gap before body checking her and passing the ball to her vice captain. The team was spread out around the court, constantly moving, drawing their opposition in before passing the ball and moving into new space.
They repeated the movements over and over and over.
The clock had entered the final 30 seconds and Toni knew they were nearly there.
Pass. Draw in. Move.
Pass. Draw in. Move.
20 seconds
Pass. Draw in. Move.
Pass. Draw in. Move.
10 seconds.
The ball found it’s way back to Toni just on the halfway line, the ball slightly behind her meaning she had to adjust her stance, her back now facing the rest of the players. Immediately she was hounded by the opposition point guard, the player was about 5 inches taller than Toni and was using it all to her advantage. Toni held out her arm against the player, using her body to shield the ball for as long as she could. She saw, out of her peripheral vision, a player wearing the white jersey of the Dallas wings charging towards her.
The buzzer sounded before the player could reach Toni.
She dropped the ball at the sound of the buzzer, letting it bounce away. The player pressed against her back didn’t let up and before she knew it the player pushed into the side of her, knocking her off balance and sending her sprawling to the floor.
A splitting pain shot up the right side oh Toni’s ribs. Her first reaction being to curl up into a ball, clutching her side in any hope to ease the pain. The medical team were by her side in seconds, urging her to let go of her side and lay back on the floor.
As she moved to lay back she took stock at the scene around her; both sets of players crowded around the ref. Players pushing and shoving each other. The home crowd in uproar at the unjust foul against their captain.
Both coaches locked in an intense screaming match.
Toni tuned it all out.
The surrounding noise turned into a dull buzz as the pain and disorientation of the fall took over her body.
It was like watching everything in slow motion.
She leant her head back against the ground, turning her head to the side, looking out at the crowd.
Her eyes landed on the small section of away fans, they too seemed to be involved in some sort of shouting match with the home fans in the stand next to theirs.
Her eyes skirted along the stands, she took in the opposition bench and coaching area, which was now empty; all players and coaching staff involved in what was taking place on the other side of Toni.
All but one seat was empty.
Shelby Goodkind, daughter of Dave Goodkind, sat in the cushioned seats of the family box just behind the away area. Toni knew she was present at every match, home and away. Toni doesn’t really understand why, as far as she knows Shelby’s not a fan of basketball in the slightest.
Toni watched all of the Wings’s games - for research purposes only - and she always noticed her sitting at the back of the coaching box. The cameras often gave her a close up, which Toni thought didn’t make much sense; she had no role in the Wing’s coaching staff or any impact on the games at all.
Toni knew they only did it because Shelby was hot, she was pretty sure at least 70% of WNBA fans had a crush on her. She’d become popular on twitter after someone shared a photo of Shelby at a match a few years back looking effortlessly beautiful. Since then Shelby had gained thousands of followers on instagram and had even got verified.
Toni got it. Shelby was hot.
She’d only met her once, last September at a WNBA awards ceremony. They barely spoke, but Shelby was good friends with Rachel, Vice Captain of the lynx; “She’s friends with my sister” was the only explanation Toni received in response to the, in Toni’s opinion, bizarre friendship.
To Toni, Shelby had been the basic white straight girl she’d always assumed she’d be; clinging onto her boyfriend, Andrew’s arm. Through the entire encounter Shelby had barely said 3 words to Toni, instead she’d spent most of her time staring at Toni with what Toni could only assume was a look of disgust. She knew Dave was deeply religious, half the players on the Wings were, and Toni herself had been subjected to a few too many homophobic rants from Dave; so it was no surprise his daughter was the same.
She dragged her eyes up Shelby’s body, her eyesight a little unfocused. She reached her face and had to do a double take.
Because Shelby’s eyes were locked on hers.
An almost unreadable expression on her face; but, if Toni didn’t know better, she’d almost say it was concern.
Toni stares right back at her, her eyes never leaving Shelby’s face. She’s not sure how long they stare at each other for, but soon she’s being urged to a sitting position by the medical staff and the little spell they found themselves in, is broken.
Once she’s sat up, she’s having two small tablets pushed into her hands, she vaguely hears one medic say something about painkillers before she’s pushing an open bottle of water into her other hand. Toni joins the dots and swallows both tablets in one go.
As soon as she’s done she’s being helped to her feet and guided off the court. Her teammates take turns coming up to her, patting her back as she makes her way to the medical room.
It’s two hours later when Toni finally gets released from the medical centre. Her ribs, whilst unbroken, are badly bruised and she may have to see the next game out from the sidelines. The medics also insisted on carrying out concussion checks, making sure the fast fall hadn’t caused her any underlying issues; thankfully she was all clear, just slightly disorientated but that had long worn off now. She was more tired now than anything, desperate to get into the changing room, shower, get changed and head home to sleep off the grogginess.
The changing room is deserted by the time she gets there, unsurprisingly. The team had gone out to celebrate and Toni was sad to miss it; but they’d facetimed her and included her in their toast before going out to party, which Toni had greatly appreciated.
She took her stuff to one of the showers and let the hot water soothe her aching body. As per her usual shower routine, her mind was occupied with the earlier game. Each play running through her head; analysing the game, appreciating the great plays, critiquing the ones that didn’t quite work and figuring out how to perfect them next time. Her mind was alight with new tactics she wanted the team to try, new ways in which to hurt the Wings in particular; she wanted to win the next match against them by more than just 6 points.
The hot water helped her relax and she found her mind wandering.
Wandering until it landed upon green eyes staring out at her from across the court. The hazy memory coming back to her in pieces - look in Shelby’s eyes, the way her eyebrows were furrowed and mouth turned down slightly at the corners, a look of concern - a look that didn’t mirror any of the other Wings staff, players or fans.
Toni snapped herself out of it and quickly exited the shower, her body was failing her now and she could feel fatigue seep into her bones. She hastily dressed in team joggers and a clean sports bra; she had to somehow wrap a bandage all the way around her stomach and back in order to protect her damaged ribs.
The bruising on her ribs had already turned purple, a small cut rand down the middle of it adding to the garish look. She skirted her hand over the bruise, pressing down slightly in areas; testing the pain.
“You really shouldn’t touch it you know” Toni startled at the sound of the voice behind her and spins round, her hand dropping from her ribs like she’s been caught doing something she shouldn’t - which, technically, she has.
In the doorway to the Lynx’s changing room stands Shelby Goodkind, gazing at Toni with a glint in her eye. They stare at each other for a period of time that borders on awkward, Toni’s speechless; not entirely sure why Shelby is still in the arena never mind in the changing room.
Finding her voice Toni asks “What are you doing here?” Her eyes never leaving Shelby’s.
“Daddy took the team straight back to Texas… y’all really got to him” She responds, walking towards Toni. “Cute changing room” Her eyes glide along the purple seats, the big Lynx logo engraved into the floor. Toni takes in the changing room with Shelby; the whiteboard now wiped clean of previous tactics, the cloth bins emptied of their jerseys - already on their way to be cleaned and returned to them ahead of their next match. She stops a few feet away from Toni, her eyes shifting back to Toni’s face before dropping down to her ribs.
Toni shifted slightly, her arms hanging awkwardly at her side as she stood under Shelby’s scrutinising gaze.
“Already gone back to Texas?” Toni asks, just to try and get Shelby attention off her bruised ribs “Didn’t picture him as a sore loser”
She’s lying.
Toni has never come across a bigger sore loser than Dave Goodkind.
Shelby scoffs, a small smirk taking over her face as she glances up at Toni.
“You and I both know that’s not true”
Toni laughs slightly - she doesn't mean to, she can feel her cheeks tinge pink in embarrassment but the smile Shelby shoots her way quickly clears the embarrassment from Toni’s body. In its place Toni feels butterflies; her stomach filling with them, making her feel slightly uneasy. She clears her throat, turning slightly to pick up the bandage - just to give her hands something to do.
“Yeah” Toni leads, staring at the bandage in her hands “Your dad has never been a-“ She trails off as she feels Shelby’s hands take the bandage from her. Shelby leans in close - close enough that Toni can smell the perfume on her neck - and wraps the bandage around Toni’s body.
When her hands lift up to skirt over Toni’s bruise Toni has to physically stop herself from reacting, stop herself from shivering. She holds her breath as Shelby’s slender fingers dance across her ribs, her long acrylics scratching lightly at Toni’s abs. Toni gasps, her stomach tenses.
Shelby’s eyes immediately shoot up to Toni’s face. “Sorry did I hurt you?” She whispers.
It’s a stupid question really, Shelby’s hands weren’t anywhere near her bruise - Toni’s reaction solely being from Shelby’s hands on her abs and Shelby knows that too.
“It’s fine” Toni murmurs. When Shelby starts moving her hands again Toni ducks her head, her eyes tracking the movement of Shelby’s fingertips.
Toni really can’t wrap her head around what’s happening, she feels like the doctors got it wrong and she actually is concussed because, to her, that is the only logical explanation she can come up with as to why Shelby Goodkind is currently in the lynx’s changing rooms checking on Toni’s injury, making sure Toni’s okay; Touching Toni.
She’s drawn out of her inner breakdown by the feel of the bandage being wrapped around her body. And if anything this is worse than the touching, because now, when Shelby retrieves the bandage from around Toni’s back, she leans in until their bodies are almost pressed fully together.
Shelby’s deft fingers continue to wrap the bandage around Toni, taking her time to do so. Toni knows Shelby’s doing it to ensure the bandage is smooth and applied correctly - wrapped around at the right pressure.
But a small part of Toni thinks Shelby might be taking her time on purpose.
Toni’s not stupid, she knows she’s masking her reactions poorly. Every time Shelby leans in a little closer, every time her hands brush against Toni - her breath hitches, her abs tense and she finds herself gulping. There’s no way Shelby hasn’t noticed.
And Toni’s pretty sure Shelby’s playing up to it. Her hands linger longer than they need to, her hands move the bandage around Toni so slowly, and she gets closer to Toni the longer it goes on.
Shelby’s been wrapping the bandage for the best part of two minutes now, Toni has her hands lifted slightly in the air allowing Shelby to run the bandage around her smoothly, the higher up it got.
“Nearly done” Shelby whispers, breaking the previous silence in the room.
As they reach the end of the bandage Shelby steps closer, their noses nearly touching as they share the same air.
Toni doesn’t know what’s happening, all she knows is her breathing is suddenly laboured and her hands are clammy.
Shelby leans in even further, so her head is along side of Toni’s. Her deft fingers lift the back of her sports bra up slightly to make way for the bandage, before she tucks the end in.
Shelby steps back and Toni eye’s drop to Shelby’s lips, a fleeting thought of wanting to kiss Shelby crosses her mind.
Silently berating herself, she lifts her eyes up quickly, hoping Shelby didn’t see; the slight smirk on her face telling Toni she definitely did.
Shelby flattens her hands against the bandage and slowly glides them around Toni’s body, pressing firmly.
Toni stares at Shelby’s hands whilst Shelby stares at her.
Her hands meet at Toni’s back where she presses lightly, and Toni swears she has to stop herself from moaning.
“All done” Shelby says, dragging her hands slowly off Toni’s body. She doesn’t step back immediately, still remaining in Toni’s space.
And Toni doesn’t know what to do, doesn’t know where to look and she’s so confused about how she’s ended up here.
“Thank you” Toni replies, her cheeks heating up at the sound of her croaky voice; Shelby’s smirk makes it all the more worse. She clears her throat once before continuing “How do you know how to do that?”
Shelby laughs and finally takes a step back, allowing Toni to finally breathe.
“How do I know how to wrap a bandage around someone?” Shelby asks, a teasing lilt to her voice. “It’s hardly rocket science Toni”
Toni’s cheeks colour even more and she ducks her head, slightly embarrassed as she just replies “Yeah okay”
Toni’s still smiling lightly when she lifts her head back up, she meets Shelby’s gaze and the light, teasing mood that had previously taken over the room is replaced with something else.
Something Toni can’t put her finger on.
Something that makes Toni have to physically restrain herself from letting her eyes drop to Shelby’s lips.
She clears her throat before the silence can go on any longer.
“Thank you” She whispers, afraid to break the tension in the room.
“No problem” Shelby replies. Her voice sounds slightly husky which Toni is finding very distracting.
And then the silence is back. Their eyes locked on each other as they stand in close proximity.
Toni can hear her heart beating out of her chest and she’s surprised Shelby can’t hear it as well. Shelby’s hands are fidgeting with the bottom of her shirt; like she doesn’t know what to do with them.
It’s Shelby who breaks the silence this time.
“I should probably go now” She stutters out
Toni nods her head repeatedly as she mumbles a “Yeah”. Silently berating herself for the weird reply.
Shelby gives her one last glance before backing towards the door, turning her body to the front halfway on her journey there.
“Thank you again” Toni calls out, not wanting whatever just happened, to end on a weird note.
Shelby turns smiles at her; a big toothy grin.
Toni melts on the spot.
Shelby nods lightly at Toni before carrying on.
“Bye Toni” She calls out as she leaves the changing room the same way she’d come in.
“Bye” Toni mutters to an empty room.
She’s standing in exactly the same place as she was 10 minutes ago, t shirt clutched in her hand; only this time she’s staring at the door Shelby Goodkind just walked out of after helping Toni care for her bruised ribs.
She shakes her head, turning to pack her stuff into her bag, trying to process the last 10 minutes of her life.
She remembers the way Shelby had just walked in here. How she’d ran her fingers along Toni’s ribs and stomach. How she’d bandaged Toni up, her hands running smoothly around Toni’s body.
Toni shivers at the memory, her mind clouding over slightly with thoughts of Shelby.
She rubs her eyes and collapses into the cushioned seat behind her, only one thought on her mind:
“What the fuck?"