Strings Attached

Part 1: Catch You Courtside

She was captivated by his determination and the way he carried himself with such dominance and presence. As the game started, she couldn't help but stare at him. She didn't have a care in the world, she only saw him. The excitement of the game carried her into a state of trance, anxious as to whether her newfound interest would win. As the ball went back and forth, she watched his every move. His powerful serves, his strong forehand, and the way he dominates over the court like it's easy.

"Belle? Hey, are you listening?" Abigail's voice slowly fades into her ears. "You keep staring at him, I told you he was cute!"

"Okay, I will admit he is captivating. We did pay extra to be able to meet the players right?" Belle asked, hoping she would have a chance to see him face to face.

"Hahaha, of course! I didn't want to miss the chance to talk to him. I just hope not a lot of people did the same, we wouldn't be able to get to him!" Abigail says slightly dejectedly.

A few hours passed and the game was over, Edmund won! Abigail and Belle were so happy they couldn't help but squeal with joy. The crowd was loud with cheers and claps as the players paid their respects. Belle rushed to fix her stuff while Abigail kept yelling at her to hurry up, the two were just too excited to meet the tall brunette. Without any care, Belle just dumped all her materials into her bag not worrying about securing the cake of yarn near the edge of the bag.

The two girls ran down the steps towards the meeting area of the players but they were beaten to it, there was already a crowd of people surrounding him. Interviewers trying to get a word in, camera crews filming content, and fans trying to meet the players; they felt like they had no chance to meet him. As the people slowly started leaving, the two girls were also on their way out disappointingly. A person rushing to get out bumped into Belle knocking the cake of yarn connected to her sweater out of her bag, the unfinished sweater was still inside. Unknowingly, Belle and Abigail kept walking.

The cake rolls on the ground getting kicked by those walking. As it rolls and rolls, it finds its way back to the meeting area of the players. Rolling straight into Edmund's feet, he looks at it puzzled.

"Where did this yarn come from? I think someone must've dropped it," he wondered out loud as he picked it up and rolled it back into the cake.

On the other end of the yarn, Belle finally notices that it slipped out of her tote bag. She follows the trail of yarn, collecting it as she goes. The two slowly get closer to each other without noticing, focused on following the yarn trail to the end. Inch by inch they collect the yarn, grasping at the strings until suddenly they feel a hand. They both look up and notice that there's someone in front of them, on the other end of that string.

"Hi, sorry. I noticed this big ball of yarn that rolled by me so I wanted to clean it up," he says as holds up the cake of yarn.

Belle's eyes go wide, she can't believe it. She is face-to-face with Edmund Carson. The actual living and breathing Edmund Carson. The Edmund Carson that hypnotised her with his movements and determination, even drawing her away from her beloved crochet. He towers over her 5'5" stature with their 5-inch difference. Her eyes scanned all over him from his deep blues, chiselled jaw, athletic and defined build, and big hands.

"Hey, you okay? Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you or anything. I just wanted to return this to you. I'm Edmund Carson, nice to meet you!" He says respectfully as he extends his hand to shake hers.

"Yeah, sorry. I was just a little distracted, thank you! I saw you play, you were amazing! You did really good, I usually don't care to watch other things when I'm focused on my crochet but you were different," she says as she shyly extends her hands to shake his.

His grip was firm as expected by a tennis player, but there was a kindness and warmth to it. It was welcoming. He returned the yarn to her, feeling it one last time. She wrapped it back around properly and kept it properly in her bag so no more accidents could happen.

"Could I ask, where did you get that ball of yarn? It's so soft, I feel like it would be a satisfying thing to play with and toy around." He asked.

"Oh, I actually got this from my store! I own a yarn craft shop here in Misty Pines, it's called 'Sloane's Skeins and Stitches'. I would be happy to give you some if you ever have the chance to stop by!" She says excitedly, hoping that she gets to see him again.

"I will definitely check that out, I'm planning to stay here for a month before my next match. Could you perhaps assist me tomorrow? I'm sure a guy like me who knows nothing about this stuff could use all the help I can get. Is there a number where I could contact you for help?" He asked politely while grabbing his phone from his tennis bag.

"I'm there all the time but I can give you my phone number if you have any more questions about yarn. We open at 8 in the morning until 9 in the evening, 5 days a week." She explained as she input her personal phone number into his phone.

He gave it a test call to make sure it was right and they bid their farewells. She exits the place where she sees Abigail waiting for her as she pulls up the car to the door.

"Did I see what I think I saw? I totally saw you with Edmund, I think he likes you," she says teasingly with a wide grin on her face.

"Abby! He does not like me, he was just the one who picked up my yarn. That's all. He did ask for my number, he's planning to drop by the shop tomorrow!" She exclaims, unable to hide her excitement.

The two girls get into the car and all that Belle can think about is how her day is going to go tomorrow. She can't wait to meet him again, especially outside the court.

"I wonder what kind of clothes he wears outside. What kind of yarn should I suggest to him? What will I wear? I have to clean up the place before he comes, I don't want him to think I'm always this messy!"

Abigail drops her off at the store, Belle owns the entire building as an inheritance from her grandmother. She lives on the 2-storeys above her yarn store, she converted the space into her loft. The girls share their goodbyes as Abigail thanks her for the tickets. Belle is filled with thoughts about tomorrow as she prepares excitedly and goes to bed, waiting for the day to come.