~~~~ 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?
