Game, Set, Match. (Student Teacher)

Chapter 1

Blinking up at the ceiling, I listened to the birds cheerfully singing their 5am song in the distance.  I glanced to my right at my bed side clock and sighed, in two minutes my alarm would go off signalling the start to my first day as a student of Middletons Tennis Academy.  Sitting up with a small groan I flicked the off button on the alarm before the shrill sound could shatter the peaceful morning quiet.  To say that it is unusual for me to be awake before my alarm goes off is an understatement; I think in fact this was a first.  I stayed in the shower for longer than usual, trying to let the steamy jets pummel the languid feeling that comes with lack of sleep away and settle my nerves.

I surveyed myself critically in the mirror when I stepped out of the shower; my olive skin looked slightly paler than usual and I could see the beginnings of dark circles creeping in under my eyes.  I sighed and silently thanked the gods for make-up.  I dried my long brown hair and pulled it away from my face into a neat pony tail before trying to repair the damage of my broken sleep with cosmetics.  I smiled at the finished result, the dark circles had all but vanished and my skin looked as radiant as it ever would thanks to a quick dab of concealer and my sheer mineral foundation.  My lips looked natural with a barely a hint of tinted lip balm to cover them.

I grabbed the hanger holding my new tennis whites from the hook on the back of my bedroom door where they had been sitting since I bought them from the sports shop a few days ago and laid them out on my bed.  I discarded my towel and pulled them on, relishing the feel of the cool cotton against my skin.

It was then that I heard my front door open; I smiled knowing the only person it could be was my best friend Becky.

‘Rise and shine!’ I heard her yell up the stairs and I hastened to grab my sports bag housing my racket, towel and a change of clothes for later before heading downstairs.

I was greeted in the kitchen by the mouth-watering scent of breakfast pancakes, my senses sang with each waft of the tantalisingly sweet aroma.

‘Wow, good morning!’ I grinned at her where she was standing pouring coffee out of the containers and into mugs.

‘Good morning’ she grinned back, handing me a mug and pushing a plate of pancakes towards me.

‘You are amazing, thank you’ I sighed happily and sank into a chair to eat.

‘Well, we couldn’t have you skipping breakfast on your first day now could we’ she said giving me a knowing look and sitting opposite me to tuck into her own food.

My stomach turned slightly at the mention of my impending arrival at the academy, if the food wasn’t so delicious I think the thought would have put me off eating it entirely.

‘Ugh, I’m nervous’ I groaned, resting my head on my fist as I stabbed a piece of pancake with the end of my fork.

‘Of course you are’ she rolled her eyes ‘it’s because you want to do well, which I know you will’ she smiled encouragingly.

I wish I could have that much faith, I thought wearily.  Ever since I failed to get through the academy entrance try outs last year my confidence had taken a massive hit.  Even though in my heart of hearts I know this was down to my reckless lifestyle at the time (skipping training to go partying, drinking, late nights and a general lack of commitment), there was that small part of my brain that insisted on questioning my own abilities.