Lahat ng Kabanata ng Dangerous Pleasures: Kabanata 1141 - Kabanata 1150

"That's right. And how long have you cared about one Ethan Johnson?""Alright, I see your point. I'm good." She looked like she didn't believe me, which was probably fair, but I forced myself to concentrate as I went out to warm up for my singles. The girl I was facing was a lefty, which meant everything changed. Shots to a normal player's backhand were to her forehand, and vice versa. Her serve would spin differently, and her angles would not be what I was used to. I spent the warm up recalculating everything in my head and planning what I wanted to do. It was the perfect distraction.I won the toss and elected to serve, bouncing the ball between the court and my racquet as I walked back to the baseline. I looked down at the 'G' on my top, the red skirt swirling around my legs. I was a Lady Bulldog, a tennis player for the University of Georgia. I would not let down my teammates, my coach, my school. I felt the fire race through as I raised my eyes to the girl who had the audacity to

"No. Not fictional ones, at least.""Good, let's go.""Huh? Where?""We're going back to my room and you're watching the first two episodes of Buffy with me.""Did you finish correcting your test?""Oh, right, the test." Mitch had the decency to look sheepish.I glanced at my phone. We'd been going at this for almost an hour, and I didn't want to burn her out. "Okay, look. Give me another solid thirty minutes, and I'll let you show me your silly T.V. show.""Deal."In the end we went for forty-five minutes, and Mitch had a spotless re-work of her exam, so she'd get all possible bonus points. She'd actually really buckled down, and, well, I was proud of her."This is good, right?" Mitch held it up, a little dumbfounded."Yeah. You said quarter credit, right? So that should take your forty-four to a fifty-eight, only two points off of passing. You do well on your next one, and you'll have a solid grade going."Mitch shook her head. "Yeah, but the second exam is where I bombed out last s

If Mitch noticed my embarrassment she didn't show it, instead just nodding towards the locker rooms. "Let's hit the showers so we can watch the varsity matches."We did just that, and once we were dressed we headed back out to the stands. A few of the girls were already gathered, but I pointed to Ethan, who was sitting half way up on the far end. "I'm going to sit with Ethan. You want to come with me?"Now, Mitch isn't good at hiding her emotions, but I'm not the best at picking up on things like that, either. Nevertheless, there was still an obvious discomfort in her face as she wrestled with the decision."No, I think I'll sit with the others. Enjoy Mr. GQ." She failed to keep the dislike completely out of her voice, and a part of me really wished I were going to sit with her instead.Still, we had a good time, I guess. He bought me a soda and a pretzel with a cheese cup, which I love. We struggled in the doubles, actually losing the point going into singles, with Carrie and her par

"What did the coaches say?"Mitch laughed. "The coaches said ask Spencer."I gave her a feigned dirty look and stuck my tongue out at her. She just grinned at me, and I fluttered inside a little. Why did that happen? I shook it off.Carrie gave me the real answer. "The coaches said drop shots, but my drop shot isn't great.""I think it'll be fine. It won't need to be perfect. I haven't seen her come to net once. I doubt she's comfortable there." I thought for a moment, and they were both watching me. "Also take a little something off your shots.""What!?" Both of my friends responded the same way at the same time."No, seriously. Look how fast she is at getting back to the middle. If you take something off and hit some more acute angles, she won't be able to do that. It'll open up the court, and she doesn't have the power to punish you for shorter shots. Be careful though, she'll try to cut that angle."Mitch pointed at Carrie's tablet. "Why wouldn't she just take it up the line?"I s

"That there's something wrong with me. That I'll never..." I couldn't finish."Hey, stop. Now, keep your eyes closed. You see him?""Yes.""Now, just blow him out like a candle. Poof. He's gone forever. How do you feel?"How did I feel? I dreaded every time my phone rang, or chimed with a text. What if that were gone? "Still scared. But relieved. Peaceful.""So, what does that tell you?""I know. I've never broken up with anyone, though. It feels like failing.""See, that's the thing about love. You only have to get it right once."I grinned wickedly across the divide. "So does that mean you're going to give it a shot sometime?""Yes. I will."The intensity in her voice surprised me, and she must have seen it in my face."You don't believe me? I'm hurt, Spencer.""No, I just, um, God, I don't know. I'm sorry."Mitch lay back and looked up at the ceiling. "No, I have every intention of falling in love. But I'm only going to do it once. And then I'm going to stay in love forever, just l