Author's Note: This is an edited version of a story I wrote and posted on Literotica in 2015.
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Chapter One
Marie looked at her watch nervously. It was almost four o'clock that Saturday afternoon, and the party was set to begin at eight. She had worked so hard for this night, and she desperately needed everything to play out as planned. The nineteen-year-old brunette had spent most of the afternoon at Tom's house. This was her last chance to practice, and she was determined to make the next few hours count. Marie pressed her ex-boyfriend to deliver serve after serve across the table. While Tom's house needed cleaning before his party, Marie's priority was practicing table tennis. Marie invested a good part of the previous year learning the ins and outs of Ping-Pong. While she wasn't about to win any major tournaments, Marie felt confident enough to take on her most reviled opponent.
All of Marie's training, focus, and preparation were dedicated to winning a single contest; she was committed to finally besting her older sister at something, and this was going to be her night.
Marie, who dreamed of becoming a teacher, was about to start her second year at community college. Kristen, on the other hand, was finishing up her undergraduate degree at NYU and choosing among numerous law school options. Marie's parents, along with almost everyone else Marie cared about, felt as though Marie was settling. While she was perfectly content with her life, Marie's family, and her parents in particular, continually pushed her to emulate her older more successful sister.
Growing up, Kristen and Marie had been almost inseparable. They had come from a respected family and had plenty of friends. Kristen had always been very protective of her younger sister, and Marie idolized her older sibling. It was a given that if you made fun of or harassed Marie, you would deal with Kristen. In high school, Kristen's priorities changed. Her interest in boys, sports, and academics replaced the time she once spent with her younger sister. Marie hadn't accepted Kristen's newfound priorities well. Marie resorted to a variety of tactics to keep her older sibling's attention, but these only pushed Kristen further away. Kristen was her high school's valedictorian, captain of the cheerleading squad, and homecoming queen. Marie, on the other hand, was a decent student with average looks. Marie failed to make the cut in Kristen's social circles, and Kristen was more than happy to leave her little sister behind.
Over time, Kristen's apathy toward Marie turned to resentment. Kristen could no longer tolerate Marie getting attention or recognition, and Kristen was prepared to ensure Marie accepted the new order of things. By the time Kristen graduated, the sisters didn't have much of a relationship at all. It was Kristen's track record with boys that upset Marie the most. While Kristen never dated any one guy for more than a month or two, Marie longed for a steady boyfriend, but any time a guy would show interest in Marie, Kristen would insert herself into the equation. Marie started relationships with three boyfriends in high school; each of them eventually left Marie to either date or attempt to date Kristen. Marie's older sister dumped each of the boys within a few months.
Even after Kristen went to college, Kristen managed to sabotage Marie's social life. Kristen stayed in touch with high school contacts mostly via social media and reached out to any guys showing interest in her younger sister. A little online flirting from Kristen was usually enough to distract them away from Marie. Tom was one of the three boys lucky enough to both date Marie and get dumped by Kristen. Tom actually grew up with Kristen; they were in the same classes from kindergarten through high school. Tom, like most guys, had a crush on Kristen but didn't stand a chance with the school's most attractive girl. Instead, he settled for Kristen's little sister.
During Tom's senior year, he dated Marie for a few months. They hit it off well enough but never got past second base. Marie and Tom's relationship ended prematurely, however, when Kristen suddenly focused her attention on Tom. True to form, Tom dropped Marie for her older sister; Kristen then ended up dumping Tom with a text message the night after graduation. Marie and Tom stayed in touch but never dated again. Marie liked Tom well enough but couldn't get over his betrayal. Tom liked Marie well enough but couldn't get over Kristen. Somehow, through everything, they developed a solid friendship.
Even though Marie would never admit it, Tom was the closest thing she had to a best friend. While Kristen was able to build a social life apart from Marie, the younger sibling was more reserved. Marie was hardly a social outcast; she just didn't have many close friends. Starting before his junior year in high school, Tom threw an annual back-to-school party at his house. It was the one party he could throw every year where his parents would be out of the picture. Even Tom's younger sister, Tina, was usually out of town with her parents.
These parties were anything but stereotypical keggers with drunken kids jumping off the roof into pools and with lines of horny couples leading into the bedrooms. Tom's parties usually consisted of between ten and fifteen friends watching movies and playing table tennis. Held the final Saturday before school began, the get-together always took place during the town's River Festival. Each year, Tom's party finished with a quick trip downtown. They would walk through the crowded streets and talk about the coming school year. Tom had always had a passion for table tennis. He would spend hours watching online videos of various competitions and tutorials. He played in several regional tournaments, but never threatened greatness. Tom's obsession even became a running joke around the school. Everyone kidded Tom that he played table tennis because he wasn't tall enough for basketball or big enough for football. Tom took the kidding in stride; but on some level, he knew it was true.
Tom taught both Marie and Kristen to play table tennis, but neither girl initially acquired Tom's passion for the game. The sisters eventually devoted time to improving their skills, but their focus wasn't thanks to Tom or to a love of table tennis. Instead, the sisters' embraced the game out of competition with each other; it could have been skeet shooting or water polo as long as it gave Marie an opportunity to one-up her perfect older sister. Marie remembered Tom's last back to school party like it was yesterday. Over the past year, in fact, it was pretty much all she had thought about. During that party, Marie lost a table tennis match and corresponding bet to Kristen. It was the most humiliating experience of Marie's life. She was determined that a rematch would happen this year and that she would win.
While most college freshmen were making friends and enjoying their freedom, Marie was practicing her serve. When other students were preparing for midterms, Marie was working on her forehand smash. Now, after a full year of preparation, Marie was ready for revenge. Marie was set for her rematch against Kristen. "Let's call it an afternoon," Tom suggested. "You can't lose. I promise you."
"Not after what happened last year," Marie insisted. "I can't take any chances."
"Come on," Tom begged. "It really wasn't that bad."
"Not that bad?" Marie argued. "You weren't the one passing out drinks wearing a thong and pasties."
"This is true. Still, you've been working at this for a year. How could Kristen possibly beat you?"
"Just one more game," Marie insisted. "One more game and you can get ready for your party."
"Deal," Tom replied. "But you're helping set up for the party."
"I'll help you set up already. Now serve the damn ball."
Tom was more than happy to spend time with his ex-girlfriend. While Marie would never win any beauty pageants, she was plenty attractive in a girl-next-door way. Marie had straight shoulder-length brunette hair and big brown eyes. She was shorter and curvy but nowhere near overweight. Every time Marie joked that her hips were developing faster than her b-cup breasts, Tom would refute her statement. Generally speaking, Marie was a good-looking young lady who would never be mistaken for a supermodel. Marie's self-consciousness about her looks was born primarily out of endless comparisons to her five-foot-eleven-inch sister. Kristen sported a blonde Penelope-cut hairdo with piercing blue eyes. She had developed firm grapefruit-sized breasts by the eleventh grade and toned her body with a rigorous athletic routine. Where other girls had magazines and movies for unrealistic body standards, Marie only had to look to her flawless, valedictorian cheerleading sister.
After their final practice game, Marie kept her promise and helped Tom get ready for his party. She set out trays of food and ice while he lined up his movies and video games. Any actual cleaning would have to wait until after the party. "So how many are coming?" Marie asked.
Ten, maybe twelve," Tom responded casually. "The usual."
"I just hope I can get her to play me," Marie said.
