ELA
POV
Phyl and I chat in the bleachers, desperately wanting to talk with Coach J., but are scared, when a cute voice giggles, "Gee, you two gals are here spying on us every day, you may as well try out for the team!"
Phyl starts to reply, tearing up thinking, "We've wanted to play basketball for the past six years, but all we did in Jr. High and High school was warm the bench." standing up to walk away.
I now tear up and start following Phyl, when the tall blonde says, "Wait, I'm Ataliya, and the brunette is my bud, Lanie. What's your name(s) and why are you two gals crying?"
Blubbering, I'm Elaine, but please call me
Ela
, and my bud's name is Phyliss, who likes
Phyl
." still sniffling, "We love basketball, starting to play with our Dads' at five years old, but are always told we're too short when trying out.
Phyl and I are emotional, telling Ataliya and Lanie about our past experiences. I add, "Phyl and I have probably practiced shooting more than
5,000 Free Throws
in the past six years."
Finally, Lanie says. "Ela and Phyl, please come to our dorm at 7:00 p.m. and talk more about our basketball team. We'll pick up some
KFC
and eat a snack while chatting. Is a platter and PepsiMax okay with you gals for dinner tonight?"
Ataliya smiles, pulling us in for hugs, "Lanie and I are dual scholarship Freshers, in Academics and Basketball, so our room's in the Ladies Athletic Dorm. I'm certain you two have scoped the area out.
Phyl excitedly says, "Meeting you two is super as both Ela and I are also on Academic Scholarships with 4:00 GPAs."
RELAXING WITH KFC:
LANIE
POV
Ataliya and I are back in our dorm at 6:30 p.m. just a few minutes before our
KFC
order arrives. We cuddle for a few moments and then get ready to welcome Ela and Phyl, two nice young fresher gals like us.
For some reason, I feel these two dedicated players will help us have a good season this year, which Ataliya fully agrees. So, we will eagerly work to help them get into a college basketball mindset.
Ela and Phyl have the skills, especially ball handling and defense. However, they have not developed the competitive edge, of being on the floor in game situations.
They've played six years of secondary school basketball, with less than a full game of playing time. So, we'll need Carl and possibly Jordan to spend extra time with the girls on pick-up types of practice games.
Ataliya and I don't worry about their commitment to our plan as we see the intense desire to play through the eyes of Ela and Phyl's soul(s).
We four girls talk seriously for an hour, with Ataliya flatly stating she wants them on the team by our first game with
MES
, in NOV.
Ataliya and I'll talk with Coach J. about their moving to the athletic dorm for the spring semester. The two options are they have a room similar to ours, or the four of us can share a two-bedroom suite, with one full bath.
Ela holds up her hand, "Ataliya, you gals are serious about this plan, which scares me. We don't want to fail, with you both giving so much time and effort!"
I step in, "Ataliya and I just want your promise to focus on, your studies, basketball, and your friendship for the next two months. You want this chance to play college basketball, and we feel you two will be great team players, so are with you 100%."
I continue, "Ataliya and I are best friends since meeting in Seattle 6-years ago. Ela, you and Phyl have been best friends since meeting in K2. So we must keep these beautiful friendships solid as we go through life.
Ataliya and my friendship has become stronger and more binding since we moved into the dorm. We just ask the two of you to be discrete about both our friendships should we decide to share a 2-bedroom suite.
Phyl teary-eyed, "No other students have ever treated us with kindness and care as you two. Ela and I are close, but probably not on your level, so maybe we can ask you questions about different lifestyles sometime later."
Ela pulls Phyl in for a hug, "You and Ataliya have our unconditional promise to practice and play basketball like demons.
"We'd love to share a 2-bedroom suite with the two of you as our first choice because you're our mentors. We'll never be disloyal or speak out of turn to anyone about either of our special friendship(s)."
***
The four of us meet with Coach J. and Carl, fully informing them of our discussions and future basketball plans. I assure Coach J. that Ataliya and I know Ela and Phyl will be an asset to our team, especially being Freshers like us.
Carl comments on their ball handling, control, and free throw percentages. He wholeheartedly agrees with our assessment and Jordan has volunteered to help Carl improve Ela/Phyl's floor intensity, from lack of playing time in secondary school.
Coach seals the deal, "If Ela and Phyl improve as per our plan, and make the team, she'll release a 1/2 athletic scholarship for each girl, matching their academic scholarship.
Coach J. will immediately investigate switching Ataliya and me to sharing a 2-bedroom suite with the girls. We are all 4.00 GPA Freshers, so it should be
easy peasy
."
***
BASKETBALL-BASKETBALL:
PHYL
POV
It's been three weeks since Coach J. accepted Ela and me as tryouts for the
GU
Women's Basketball team. I swear Ataliya and Lanie are trying to
Legally Execute
the two of us. We run and run, getting into playing shape, while practicing hours of free throws and short passes of all types.
Carl and Jordan also spend time with us and are very encouraging constantly applauding our unique ball-sense.
Carl always tells Ela and me, don't worry about your height, just be sure to play tall. You're fast with quick hands and sharp minds, just let go of your fear(s) of rejection.
We briefly meet Carl's friends Shy/Sly, both now in the 3
rd
trimester of pregnancy. We've also met Ataliya and Lanie's DC family, Moms, Sisters, and Grandma Wanda.
Neither girl explains their family's specifics, but it's obvious they have two Moms, Kenz/Mars. Ela and I are also certain Carl loves Shy and Sly, is their boyfriend, and is the father of their soon-to-be babies.
Ataliya opens up with us about her, and her younger sisters, Laryssa, and Galyna being refugees from Ukraine, but does not share any details. Tanya is the bio-daughter of Mom Mars, and her father was killed in a mass shooting.
We also learn Lanie, still having a bit of a Latino accent, was often mistreated and bullied in primary school and called ugly names. So Ataliya is her first true friend in life.
Ela and I look n listen but don't ask questions, not wanting to
look a gift horse in the mouth
. Ataliya and Lanie have been super patient with us, so they'll tell us more about their background and early lives when ready.
***
It's late on a Saturday morning when we finish a five-mile run and then stop in their athletic dorm suite to shower. Ataliya had hinted at telling us more of their history, so Ela and I are all ears. We think Ataliya and Lanie are girlfriends-lovers but are not certain.
Ataliya winks, "Lanie and I'll shower and wash our hair now as the stall is big enough for two. You two can shower and shampoo your hair next since I'm sure you've seen each other
Nakid
before," as they strip, and flounce to their bathroom."
Ela looks at me eyes big as
Silver Dollars
whispering, "Wow, didn't expect that move, but Ataliya's right, since we've played team sports where girls shower together all the time."
They return from showering in booty shorts and T-shirts, combing their damp hair. So, Ela and I eagerly follow their lead, stripping, showering, and combing our hair.
Ataliya hands Lanie her comb, then slides in front of her, so Lanie can comb her hair. Ela and I repeat their hair-drying moves and we're now sipping lemon-iced tea, when;
Lanie smiles, "Okay girls, I know you're itching to ask personal questions about Ataliya and my lifestyle(s), so let's get that out of the way.
"We're all bushed from busting our butts this morning and the past three weeks, so I for one, am taking a nap."
Ela boldly steps up, "Are you two girls' lovers? For the record, it makes no difference to us. Phyl and I just want to be on solid ground, since you've treated us with more kindness than any other basketball players we've met."
Ataliya, "You know Lanie and I, now 19 are best friends since meeting at 13. Our friendship begins to evolve romantically soon after moving into this room two months earlier.
"We're technically virgins, but consider ourselves lovers. We'll always be honest, but again asking you to be discrete."
Lanie chimes in, "Ela and Phyl, you've been friends since age 5, so I know you have a special closeness. It may or may not evolve into love, but I'm sure you'll be lifetime friends.
"You currently don't and have never dated anyone, so you two are certainly very close as friends.
"Let's sleep a couple of hours, have a snack, and then visit Ataliya and my family, spending the night." climbing on one twin bed and pointing towards the other one.
So Ela and I follow suit, lightly hugging each other, and are fast asleep minutes later. We awaken, have a bite to each, then Uber to Ataliya and Lanie's home, having a delightful two days with their family.
The younger girls are all over us, and surprisingly we all sleep in Ataliya's ensuite lounge on padded mats. We truly sense the special and adoring bond Ataliya and Lanie have for their little sisses.
After breakfast, Ataliya scoots the little ones over to Carl's place to harass Shy and Sly. "Be honest girls, do either of you have any issues about sharing a double suite with us in the athletic dorm? We can ask Coach J. now so neither of us is embarrassed."
Ela and I run over hugging them, "Your friendship and support are the best thing that happens to us. We love your family and last night with your little sisses was a fantastic experience. We hope our younger brothers, 12 and 13 can meet the girls sometime."
Finally, "I ask Ataliya and Lanie if they will talk more with us about their evolution to love when we move into the sports dorm in the new year?"
***
Coach J. announces we're officially Lady Hoyas, after six weeks of intense training with the team. She activates our combined scholarships and Ela and I are over the Moon.
