No Man’s Land

When I got off my bus I was greeted by Maria’s energetic smile. She looked a bit upset that I was wearing quite a similar outfit to what I wore yesterday. I sported a different pair of dark blue skinny jeans, but my same dark gray hoodie and black Converse. 

I asked her, “How long have you been waiting here for me?”

“Not too long.” She replied. “My bus just gets here first.” She gave another disappointed glance at my outfit. She gestured with her hand and said, “Follow me, we don’t have much time before class.”

I walked behind her but instead of leading me to Mrs. O’Connel’s science class we ended up at the door to the girls’ locker room. I still felt a major trepidation at the precipice. Being dragged in after school was one thing, but this was far more risqué. Maria held the door open for me and my anxiety over being impolite overpowered my anxiety over being in the girls’ locker room. 

It was empty, thank goodness. Realizing that wouldn’t always be the case, I asked Maria, “Does the rest of the team know about me?” 

While she rifled through cardboard boxes she answered, “I told everyone last night. Here’s your uniform.” She handed me the same tank top and skirt I had tried on last night. 

I gave a quizzical look. “Do you want me to put this in my bag?” I had slid my book bag’s one strap down to my elbow but not off of my arm before I was corrected. 

“No, I want you to put it on now.” My mouth and backpack both swung at this. Maria assured, “We wear our uniforms all the time on game day, we have an exception in the dress code for it.” I didn't have the heart to tell her a dress code violation was the least of my worries.

After I sheepishly took my uniform she went back behind the same set of lockers she did last night. I guessed that I’d probably have more privacy if I changed as soon as possible. As I got to it Maria explained, “After school we want you to practice on the courts outside. The rest of the team will be in the weight room, but we want you to get as much on court experience as we can.” 

Processing what she was telling me allowed me to not think quite as much about the clothes I was putting on. I asked, “How do you want me to train?” I pulled the skirt up above my waist as I was instructed last night. I wore underwear in a similar color today so it wouldn’t be so obvious at least. 

She responded, “We have those machines you tried out with in the equipment shed. Just set one up and we’ll be out to get you once our workout is done.” 

As I revealed myself I saw her smile. A smile had never felt so unnerving before. It wasn’t sinister, but the fact that my outfit changed her expression from sour to sweet shook me. The five minute bell rang and we sped off to our home room. 

The benefits of partnering with Maria were starting to reveal themselves. I could focus on the experiment and committing the lesson to memory while she recorded our results. We had chemistry. I noticed a couple guys giving me the side-eye, Maria gave them a forceful look and that seemed to deter them.

Before I left, I sheepishly mentioned, “Hey, Maria, you can, uh — you can call me Katie.” 

She squealed at this and quickly nodded, adding, “Sure thing Katie!” She pulled out her phone as I exited the classroom.

I was terrified walking to my next class, no one had paid me much mind in Science but Math was sure to be a problem. Every step I took was agonizing. Anxiety gripped my thighs and begged me to not go through with this. Luckily I saw a familiar face. Kairi, one of the girls who saw me last night, came up to me when she saw me enter in the uniform. “Katie,” she called, “you can sit with me if you want.” If I could remain under the aegis of the tennis team, perhaps I could survive this day. 

The school day ended and I made my way to the courts. It wasn’t much trouble setting up the machines, but I became far more aware of the angle I was returning the ball. I didn’t think of hitting a ball into the net or out of bounds when I was messing around in the gym. Time flew as I refined my technique. 

I had begun to acquire an obnoxious audience. I was first alerted to them by their wolf whistles. The football team came stomping by. Some hung onto the fence surrounding the tennis court like a zombie horde. I would do anything to escape right now but there were just too many. I had to settle for squatting down rather than bending at the waist to retrieve my tennis balls. 

I was met with a cacophony of “Bend over for me slut!” “Show us some skin!” “I’ve got some balls for you to handle!” “I’ll show you what a real man is supposed to look like!” The final jeer was met with one of the group grabbing the arm of the leader to express objection. The objector, a lanky freshman with a burnt umber complexion, had his request rebuked. The captain, a bulky senior with close-cropped blond hair and fair skin shouted at me, “If you don’t get over here right now I’ll make you my—”“

“She doesn’t belong to you, Brock!” Maria, my savior, shouted as she led the rest of the tennis team to my rescue. She ranted, “If you don’t take your rancid band of reprobates away from our new member, I’ll have to get the teachers involved.”

Brock retorted, “Yeah, and I’ll let them know about your perverted little scheme.” He sneered at me, knowing that I couldn’t do anything about his cruel behavior. 

I froze. I had trouble with bullies before but I had yet to experience someone threaten to use systems of authority against me.

Maria spotted my trepidation and, after thinking for a few moments, came up with a plan. She smiled a mischievous smile, seeing that made me feel a little more at ease. “Tell ya’ what!” She said with a confident swagger, “why don’t y'all put your money where your mouth is. One set of doubles, if we win, you have to leave Katie alone, and you have to give us your credit cards for a little shopping spree.”

Brock chortled, “A bunch of girls, beat us? Yeah right.” He sneered, “When we win, not only are we going to expose that freak, but you’ll have to go on a date with me.” He finished, pointing at Maria. 

I felt a little upset at that. Everyone knew Maria didn’t like guys, forcing her to go out with one, let alone someone like him, was too much. How could anyone want to be with someone who was coerced? I couldn’t understand that level of entitlement.

I also couldn’t understand what compelled Maria to declare, “You’re on!” 

Brock dragged the lanky objector along with him to find rackets. Maria walked up to me on the court. “Why did you accept?” I whispered, “I can’t see how the possibility of having to date someone like him is worth it.” 

Maria smiled at me. “I know we won’t lose, definitely not with you on our side, Katie.” 

Brock came back yelling, “Alright ladies,” he added a particular snarl to that term. “Last chance to back out.”

Maria didn’t need to acknowledge him with words. Merely adopting a fierce athletic stance was enough to bring this set to start. 

Brock cockily tossed the ball up and smashed it towards me. It was a manageable distance away. I was able to react with a forehand lob to my other opponent. He seemed to react sloppily and barely returned to ball over the net where Maria was able to get a banana shot which left Brock flapping at air as the first point was called by Jackie. 

Jacqueline, a teammate with deep dark skin and with cool undertones, tossed a loose ball to Maria for the serve. She had a magnificent ace serve which I was transfixed by. Brock’s teammate must’ve been transfixed as well as he hardly reacted as the ball bounced right past him. 

While the girls were cheering and Jackie announced, ”30-love” 

Brock was berating the freshman. “If you make me lose this, Jaleel, I swear you’ll be running gassers until you puke!” Jaleel begrudgingly complied.

Maria gestured to me to serve. I tried my best to emulate her form but I didn’t quite have it. I sent the ball careening towards Brock, but he was able to volley. He poked and prodded shots Maria’s way but his strength was unable to match her technique. Eventually he brought his other hand to the racket and spanked the ball past Maria. 

Unfortunately for him, his power sent it straight past the backline. 

“40-Love, Game Point!” Shouted Jackie. 

Maria was secure in this lead, she sent a softer serve to Jaleel who blocked it my way. I shuffled to get the ball and hit a dig to Brock. Brock hit a moonball back to me. He hoped that if he hit the ball high enough it wouldn’t land out of the court. I used the skyhook to send the ball back to Jaleel who reflexively volleyed back to Maria. Maria was done playing around and hit a drop shot to Brock. To our surprise he was able to return it to me with brute force. I saw my opportunity though. With a two-handed backhand I sent a flat shot down the centre line. Both boys tried to get it but they ran into each other as the ball landed for our final point.