Chapter 5 - Court Battle
1995 Words
The afternoon sun was warm on Luca’s shoulders as he and Mara walked down the path leading off campus. Class was finally over, and Luca was still trying to shake off the strange, charged energy of the day. Presenting with Adrian, arguing with him, standing too close — it had all left him feeling unsteady in a way he didn’t want to examine.
He needed something normal. Something simple. Something that didn’t involve Adrian Vale.
Mara stretched her arms above her head. “Well, that was intense.”
“That’s one word for it,” Luca muttered.
They walked a few more steps before Mara snapped her fingers. “Are you ready for your first tennis practice this afternoon?”
Luca stopped walking.
“Tennis practice?”
Mara blinked. “Luca. Please tell me you didn’t forget you’re on the tennis team.”
He stared at her.
He had forgotten.
Completely.
In his first life, tennis had been one of the few things that made him feel free. In this new life, he’d woken up with a schedule already set — including being on the tennis team. He didn’t remember signing up; that was the other him. With everything happening, he hadn’t even realized practice was today.
Mara groaned dramatically. “Luca! Coach Ramirez is strict. If you skip the first practice, he’ll make you run laps until you cry.”
Luca winced. “Okay, okay. I’ll go.”
“You better,” she said, nudging him. “Besides, it’ll be good for you. Fresh air. Exercise. Distraction.”
Luca wasn’t sure he needed more distractions, but he nodded anyway. “Yeah. You’re right.”
“Of course I am,” Mara said proudly. “Now go home, change, and hydrate. You’re going to sweat like crazy.”
Luca sighed and headed home, trying to mentally prepare himself. Tennis had once been a refuge — a place where he could lose himself in movement instead of thought.
He hoped it still was.
He hoped today would be simple.
He hoped he could just… breathe.
---
The tennis courts were already buzzing when Luca arrived. Six players were warming up, the rhythmic thwack of tennis balls echoing across the campus. The sun glinted off the white lines of the court, and the air smelled faintly of rubber and sunscreen.
Luca scanned the players, recognizing a few faces from orientation.
Then he froze.
Standing near the baseline, dressed in crisp tennis whites, bouncing a ball on his racket with effortless control—
Was Adrian Vale.
Luca’s breath caught.
No.
No way.
Adrian wasn’t supposed to be here.
He had never been here in Luca’s first life.
He had never been part of the team.
Yet here he was.
Looking like he belonged.
Looking like he’d always been part of this world.
Looking up at the exact moment Luca stepped onto the court.
Their eyes met.
Adrian’s expression flickered — surprise first, then something sharper, something almost amused, something that made Luca’s stomach twist.
He walked toward Luca with that same calm confidence he carried everywhere.
“You play tennis,” Adrian said, as if Luca had been hiding state secrets.
Luca swallowed. “Apparently.”
Adrian’s lips curved. “This should be interesting.”
Luca wasn’t sure if he wanted to run away or hit him with a racket.
Maybe both.
---
A tall man in his early thirties strode onto the courts, sun‑browned and athletic. “All right, team! I’m Coach Ramirez. Welcome to the start of the season.”
His voice carried across the courts, warm but firm.
“We’ll start with warm‑ups, then rally drills. After that, single‑game eliminations so I can see where everyone stands.”
Luca’s nerves tightened.
Warm‑ups were fine. Rally drills were fine. His body remembered the motions, even if his mind was a mess. He hit clean forehands, steady backhands, and even managed a few solid volleys.
But every time he glanced across the courts, Adrian was there.
Focused.
Fast.
Precise.
He moved like he’d been born on a tennis court.
Luca tried not to stare.
He failed.
---
Eliminations began.
Luca won his first match easily. His second was harder, but he scraped through. By the third, sweat dripped down his back and his legs felt heavy.
But he won.
When he walked back to the bench, catching his breath, he heard Coach Ramirez call out the final pairing.
“Vale versus Navarro!”
A ripple of interest moved through the team.
Of course.
Of course it would come down to them.
Adrian walked to the baseline, spinning his racket in his hand. “Looks like we meet again.”
Luca tried to sound steady. “It’s just a game.”
Adrian smiled. “Is it?”
Luca’s pulse jumped.
---
The match began.
Adrian served first — fast, clean, impossible to return. Luca barely got his racket on it. The next serve was just as sharp, but Luca managed a solid return, and they fell into a rally.
Back and forth.
Harder and harder.
Neither giving an inch.
Luca felt alive.
He felt terrified.
He felt like he was being pulled into something he didn’t understand.
They reached deuce. Then advantage Luca. Game point.
Luca bounced the ball twice.
He could win this.
He could actually—
He double‑faulted.
The ball hit the net with a dull thud.
His stomach dropped.
Back to deuce.
Adrian didn’t gloat. He didn’t smirk. He just readied himself, eyes sharp.
The next rally was long. Brutal. Luca chased every ball, lungs burning, legs screaming. He hit a deep shot to Adrian’s backhand, expecting a cross‑court return.
Instead, Adrian stepped forward and tapped a soft drop shot over the net.
Luca sprinted.
He didn’t make it.
“Advantage Vale,” Coach Ramirez called.
Luca bent over, hands on his knees, trying to breathe.
Adrian’s voice reached him, low. “You okay?”
Luca nodded, even though he wasn’t.
He served again — too soft, too cautious. Adrian stepped into it and sent a clean winner cross‑court.
Game.
Match.
Adrian.
Luca stood frozen for a moment, disappointment crashing over him. He’d choked. He’d had the game in his hands and he’d let it slip.
He hated that feeling.
He hated how familiar it was.
Adrian walked toward him, racket resting against his shoulder. “Hey.”
Luca didn’t look up. “I messed up.”
“You played well.”
“I lost.”
Adrian’s voice softened. “Everyone loses. But not everyone plays like you did.”
Luca blinked.
He hadn’t expected that.
Adrian hesitated, then added quietly, “You pushed me. Harder than anyone else today.”
Luca’s chest tightened.
He didn’t know what to do with that.
---
Coach Ramirez gathered the team. “Good work today. Remember, the city tennis championship is coming up. I want as many of you to sign up as possible.”
He walked past the group, stopping right in front of Luca and Adrian.
“Especially you two.”
Luca froze.
Adrian smiled. “We’ll think about it.”
Coach Ramirez raised an eyebrow. “Don’t think too long.”
When he walked away, Luca exhaled shakily. “I don’t know if I should sign up.”
“Why not?” Adrian asked.
“I’m not… good enough.”
“You’re wrong.”
Luca looked at him.
Adrian held his gaze, steady and certain. “Sign up. With me.”
Luca’s heart thudded.
He didn’t trust this.
He didn’t trust himself.
But Adrian was waiting.
And Luca found himself nodding.
“Okay.”
---
The locker room was humid and echoing with the sound of running water. Luca hesitated near the benches, debating whether to shower. He was sweaty, exhausted, and sticky with dust from the courts.
But he was also nervous.
He didn’t want to be around anyone right now. He didn’t want to be seen. He didn’t want to think about the match, or Adrian, or the way his chest had tightened when Adrian encouraged him.
He waited until he thought everyone was gone.
Then he stepped into the showers.
The warm water hit his skin, washing away the sweat and dust. He closed his eyes, letting the steam rise around him. For a moment, he felt almost calm.
Footsteps echoed.
Luca’s eyes snapped open.
He turned — and froze.
Adrian had walked in.
He wasn’t looking at Luca at first. He was adjusting the water, testing the temperature. But then he glanced over, and their eyes met.
Adrian gave a small, easy smile. “Didn’t think anyone was still here.”
Luca’s heart jumped. “I was just finishing.”
“Take your time,” Adrian said, stepping under the water.
Luca turned away quickly, flustered. He tried to focus on rinsing off, on breathing, on not thinking too hard.
But curiosity tugged at him.
He glanced back.
Adrian was facing away, water running over his shoulders. Then — almost as if he sensed Luca’s gaze — he turned his head.
Their eyes met again.
Adrian’s expression softened. Not teasing. Not smug. Just… warm. Curious. Quiet.
Luca felt heat rush to his face.
He turned off the water, grabbed his towel, and hurried out, heart pounding.
Behind him, he heard Adrian chuckle softly — an amused, gentle sound.
Not mocking.
Just… knowing.
---
That night, Luca lay in bed staring at the ceiling. The room was dark, but his thoughts were bright and loud.
The match.
The encouragement.
The coach’s words.
The locker room.
The look Adrian had given him.
He didn’t understand any of it.
He didn’t understand himself.
He pressed a hand over his chest, feeling the rapid beat beneath his palm.
He wasn’t ready for this.
He wasn’t ready for Adrian.
But Adrian had already stepped into his world.
And Luca wasn’t sure he could push him out.
Not this time.
- Writer
