Chapter 1 Saint U

Allison

Smith: 6–3, 4–2

My grip tightened around the racket as I glanced at the scoreboard.

Just two more games and I'd be one step closer to the Nationals.

That had been my dream since the very first day I joined Saint University's tennis club in my freshman year.

And this was the closest I had gotten to achieving that dream.

I just had to win these next set and I would officially qualify to represent Saint University at the Regionals. Then straight to the Nationals.

I wanted to go back to the bench to join the other players but I was way too anxious so I decided to go to the bathroom instead. I would probably use the remaining of my break to throw up.

“Allie, here!” I collected the bottled water from my best friend.

“Thank you—” I turned towards her abruptly when I noticed she was at the entrance reserved for just players and staffs. “Sophie, you're supposed to be with the rest of the audience. Why did you sneak past Coach Lindsay again?”

“I didn't exactly sneak past her.”

I gave her a look that suggests I didn't believe her.

She dropped her hand and sighed. “Alright, fine. I did. Bryan was being so annoying. No offense babe, I know he's your brother, but damn, he just annoys me so much. And Kaden was being his usual boring self. I mean, who sketches at a tennis game? It's ridiculous.”

I chuckled at my best friend's frustration, momentarily forgetting my own anxiety. She wasn't entirely wrong. My brother was annoying, but he's always made sure to show up for my games, even when I lost. I love my brother so much.

“Wait, Kaden is here?” I asked.

Sophie nodded. “Apparently, Bryan dragged him here so he can ‘stop being a bore and enjoy life’. The man had barely looked up from his tablet since the game started.”

Kaden Blackwood was my brother's best friend and roommate and literally the most emotionless prick I've ever seen. I didn't have a problem with him exactly, we didn't interact enough for me to have a problem with him. But for some reasons I've yet to recognize, his presence always made me uneasy.

He's always had that ‘don’t talk to me and I won't murder your favourite toy’ kinda look.

“Anyways, all their masculine energy was getting to me so I decided to bring you some water, and also give you this.” Sophie grinned as she handed my phone back to me.

I've always left my phone with either Sophie or Brian before every game to avoid distraction.

“My match isn't over. Don't give it back to me.”

“Just check it. You have a nice text message that I really think would cheer you up.” Her grin widened.

Well, now I'm officially curious.

I switched on my phone, and surely, my face lit up when I saw a text message from my boyfriend.

Sean: You're amazing. I'll be cheering loudly for you when you win.

I let myself bask in the emotion for a while longer. There were people here to support me, rooting for me. And I didn't plan on letting them down. I was going to finish this match and represent Saint U at the Regionals.

I just needed to beat Abby and claim the top spot. It shouldn't be difficult. She had finished her match and I still had two more sets to play. I could outscore her.

If I didn't outscore Abby, she would be chosen to represent Saint University at the Regionals.

Abby was what you would call my rival on the team. While Coach Lindsay always encouraged healthy competition, Abby took the word literally. She competed with me in everything, even non tennis related things.

But for now, she didn't matter. What only mattered is winning. I glanced at my boyfriend's text message again and smiled.

“Where is Sean, by the way?” I asked as I scanned the crowd. I waved at my brother who gave me a thumbs up.

“He went to get us snacks when Bryan wouldn't stop glaring at him.” Sophie rolled her eyes.

I nodded. For some reasons, my brother wasn't a fan of my boyfriend, which was still surprising because Bryan could literally befriend anyone. I mean, he became best friends with Kaden Blackwood, the guy who hated almost half of the earth's population.

“Alright. I have to go to the bathroom before I'm called up again. Love you.” I gave Sophie a quick hug and basically jogged down the hallway. I had just a few minutes left before I have to go back out and I might just implode if I didn't use the bathroom.

Fortunately, the stalls were empty when I got there. I went about my business quickly and sighed at the relief I felt.

I was halfway through the corridor when I heard a familiar laughter coming from the storage room. My steps came into an abrupt halt. I was about to ignore the ominous sensation I felt when I heard the laughter again. It sounded suspiciously like Sean's.

I heard the umpire calling for the next set to start, but for some reasons, I found myself opening the door to the storage room. And what I saw made my heart stop dead in my chest.

Because right there was my boyfriend—who was supposed to be getting snacks—entagled with my rival. I watched as Sean wrapped his arms around Abby's waist and kissed her hungrily. It felt like my entire world had stopped in that moment.

“Baby, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Sean said as he kissed her again.

Abby gave him a coy smile. “Even better than Allie? You know she could beat me at the match and take the spot to Regionals?”

“Of course, better than Allie. You were amazing out there, babe. I'll be cheering for you loudly when you win.” Sean responded and stroked her hair fondly.

Those were the same words he had texted me just a few minutes ago. The same words that had brought a smile to my face was now being repeated to another woman. I felt disgusted.

“Sean…” I didn't realize when the word left my mouth, didn't realize as I whispered his name while desperately wishing this was a terrible nightmare I could wake up from.

But so far, the nightmare still continued.

Sean tore away from Abby with a frightened look in his eyes. “Allison, baby, it's not what it looks like.”

I couldn't speak, I just stared at the both of them in shock. I've never thought that Sean would betray me like this, for Abby nonetheless. The girl who had made it known that she hated me right from freshman year.

I glanced up at Abby to see a triumphant smile on her face. She knew exactly what she was doing. And that's when I snapped, “Fuck the both of you. Fuck this. We're done.”

“What? Allison, don't…”

I didn't wait to hear the rest of his pathetic excuse before I bolted out of the storage room and into the court. I tried so hard to stop the tears from falling. I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me hurt. I wasn't going to give Abby the satisfaction. I was going to win this and beat her even if it was the last fucking thing I did.

The umpire called for the next set. I grabbed my racket and got into position. Tears blurred my vision but I blinked them back. I have to focus. I needed to focus. I wasn't going to let them win.

I grabbed the ball and bounced it twice, tossed, and the swung. The serve sailed long.

“Fault.” The umpire called.

I swallowed hard and blinked, but somehow, I still got transported back into that storage room.

“I'll be cheering for you loudly when you win…”

Lies. All lies. He had just lied and lied and lied. He had betrayed me for her.

I tried to stop my hands from shaking as I swung the ball a second time.

“Double fault.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself to focus. I needed this. I have to win this. I have to go the Regionals, then the Nationals. This was my dream, I wouldn't let them ruin it.

“Even better than Allie…”

“You're amazing, babe…”

He had just stood there and let her insult me. He told her the exact words he told me. He held her the same way he held me. He… he…

“Game, set, and match.”

I looked up at the scoreboard and my heart sank. My mind had stayed trapped in that storage room as the game slowly slipped away from me.

The applause sounded faraway, like I was drowning underwater and everyone was cheering instead of actually saving me. Like nobody cared what actually happened to me.

I sunk to my feet and hung my head low. I didn't cry. No, I wouldn't cry.

I heard distant telling and someone calling my name. I recognised those voices. My brother's and my best friend's. They were not Sean's voice. They were not the voice that had whispered sweet no

things to me in the middle of the night.

I raised my head to look at the scoreboard again.

I had lost the match. And badly.