Disclaimer: I don't own Radio Free Roscoe or any of its characters. I am however the creative genius behind Alexandra (Alex) Strong, not to be confused with Alexandria Hicks, who is also nicknamed Alex, who belongs to Infinity86. I don't own the Canadian TV show 15/Love either.

Author's Notes: This fic's dedicated to singergirl22, who loves basically anything about Alex Strong and who's a fellow fan of the show 15/Love. This is also dedicated to MissDelight, who has been writing Tangled Web for me. Go read it and flood her with compliments to encourage her to write more!

Time To Stand Alone
Chapter 1: The Opportunity

It was business as usual in the gym for the Cougar Tennis Team. River Pierce was leading the team's practice session and the team was divided between the juniors and the seniors, each side working on something different. The junior singles players were working on their rallies from the baseline, while the junior doubles teams were working on their serve-and-volley technique. The seniors were all busy hitting balls coming at them from the ball machine.

Right above them on the second floor, in the teachers' lounge, Mr. Stefanski, an English teacher who happened to coach the Cougar Tennis Team, received an unexpected visitor.

"Hello, Coach Stefanski?" a tall dark man asked as he approached.

The redheaded man looked up from the essay he was marking, stood up and said, "Yes, sir, may I help you?"

"Coach Gunnerson, from the Cascadia Tennis Academy, sir," the man explained as he shook hands with the English teacher/tennis coach before him, "I was wondering if I may speak to you about the tennis team you're coaching."

"Sure thing," Coach Stefanski replied, "Have a seat, sir."

"It has recently come to my attention that you have a talented team assembled here at Roscoe High...the top team in your region, your best male player ranked 3rd in the region and 7th in the province, your best female player ranked 1st in the region and 3rd in the province...that's quite impressive."

"I take pride in my team, Coach Gunnerson. They all work hard for every single victory while maintaining their grades at a satisfactory level. I'm proud of each and every single one of them."

"Do you believe they have the potential in them to take their game to the pro level?"

"Perhaps...why do you ask?"

"Due to an unfortunate turn of events, there is an opening at Cascadia for a new student. We're looking for the best all-around person who can balance studying with playing. Our scouts believe the right candidate is right here in Roscoe, playing for your team."

Coach Stefanski sighed. "I think I know who they've suggested...and she's not ready," he said firmly.

"On paper, Alexandra Strong's the best player on your team. According to one of the scouts I spoke to, she has a solid two-handed backhand, a killer slice serve and she plays smart tennis."

"She needs more power, more endurance. She needs to be challenged more before she's put in a more competitive setting. Besides, there's more to a player than what's on paper. She isn't psychologically ready for the intensity of the Cascadia environment. She's only played singles for about four months."

"Four months? That's amazing! Going to Cascadia can only help her game at this point."

"She has certain issues that need to be dealt with before she can truly stand alone, mainly the loss of her mixed doubles partner in a tragic car accident nearly seven months ago."

"We have one of the best sport psychologists on staff, Dr. Hartley Myers, and we believe he will have the ability to take good care of Alexandra. We are dealing with a loss at Cascadia as well and I'm sure Dr. Myers can help her out."

"The Cougar Tennis Team has helped her deal with a traumatizing loss. She still relies on the moral support of her teammates. I've read about your school. It's every player for themselves. Alex isn't ready for that."

"Listen, Coach, she wouldn't have to make a commitment until January, which leaves her about four weeks to make a decision. I think she should be the judge of how ready she is to take her game to the next level. I think you should allow me to present this opportunity to her. Who knows how far she may go?"

Coach Stefanski sighed once more than he said, "Thanks for coming down and speaking to me about this opportunity. I do believe Alex has the skill to take advantage of it, despite what's happened to her." After a slight hestitation, he added, "Uh...well, since you're here already, would you like to see the team in action? The team captain, River Pierce, is leading the practice in the gym right now, if you'd like to see them for yourself."

"Sure, that would be great," Coach Gunnerson said with a smile.

Both tennis coaches stood up and left the lounge.

As far as the practice went, the juniors had their turn with the ball machine while the seniors practiced rallies and their serve-and-volley technique.

"C'mon, Chase, pick it up!" River called out to the co-captain of the team and one of his buddies, Chase Hunter.

Chase yelled back, "C'mon, man, give me a break!"

Over on the juniors' side, Alex, with her friend Stam Bridges, were waiting for their turn to hit a ball.

"River's looking really hot today," Stam commented, then hit the ball that came flying towards her and went to the back of the line.

Alex hit the ball that came at her then joined Stam. "Yeah, your point?"

"He's hot, is there any other point?"

"Stam, he's a jerk. I only put up with him because of the game."

"I know, Alex, but you gotta stop taking everything so seriously."

"Whatever."

As Stam as was poised to hit a ball from the ball machine, Coach Stefanski stopped the machine. The juniors noticed the man that the coach brought in and gave each other curious looks.

"May I have your attention, everyone?" Coach Stefanski said, "We have a visitor today."

The seniors stopped their rallies and they joined the juniors to gather around their coach and the guest.

"Guys, this is Coach Gunnerson, from the Cascadia Tennis Academy. He's here to see you guys in action."

Through all the excited chattering, Alex approached the two coaches and asked, "Which one of us is being scouted?"

The team suddenly grew quiet. They all wanted to know the answer but Alex was the only one who had the courage to ask.

"Alexandra Strong," Coach Gunnerson announced.

Alex smiled. "That's me, please call me Alex," she said as she shook Coach Gunnerson's hand.

"Very well, Alex, we'd like to offer you the spot recently vacated by one of our students at Cascadia. Our scouts believe that you're the best choice out of everyone they've seen and from the footage we've managed to acquire, even President Bates is convinced you're the perfect fit for our school."

Alex's jaw dropped, then in her mind, she heard the same male voice that once haunted her dreams. "We're in this together! We'll get get to Cascadia as a team." She took a deep breath and managed to say, "Wow, I am so honored, Coach Gunnerson..."

"Our second term begins in January and it would be our pleasure for you to join us then."

"Uh...I...oh...heh...I don't know what to say..."

"Don't say anything yet, Alex," Coach Stefanski cut in, "We need to discuss this with your aunt and uncle, as well as your parents, and there's still time. You can think about it over the holidays."

"Yeah, I'll need some time for this sink in."

"Yes, we'll keep in touch, Alex," Coach Gunnerson said, "Coach Stefanski will know how to reach me and I'll send some information to you through him about Cascadia."

"Thank you, sir," Alex said politely.

Coach Stefanski said, "So why don't you guys show Coach Gunnerson what you're made of, huh, team?"

The team collectively screamed, "YEAAAAAAAAAH!"

The two mixed doubles teams played against each other, the two girls' doubles teams and the two boys' doubles did the same while River took on Tyler Atwood and Alex took on Cynthia Miller.

"I must say, you've assembled a great team," Coach Gunnerson commented, "Thank you for seeing me and having me at your practice."

"It's not a problem. I'll arrange for her guardians, her aunt and uncle to meet with me and discuss this further. Hopefully, we can contact her parents as well."

"I must get back to Cascadia, but perhaps we can arrange a phone conference of some sort."

"That would be a good idea. How long will you be staying in town?"

"Until tomorrow."

"Then we'll arrange for later this evening, say 7 o'clock?"

"Agreed. I'll see you in a couple of hours."

Soon after Coach Gunnerson left, the practice ended and the teens went to the locker rooms and hit the showers while Coach Stefanski took off for the teachers' lounge to call Alex's aunt and uncle.


In the girls' locker room, everyone was excited...everyone it seemed except for Alex.

"Alex, you're so lucky!" April Dennison exclaimed as everyone was getting changed, "Cascadia's so exclusive!"

Sophie Watson, April's doubles partner, chimed in, "You know who goes there, right?"

"Squib Furlong!" Kyara Lee said in unison with Stam, who was grinning.

"Two questions," Alex said, "First off: who names their kid Squib? And who is this guy?"

"His real name's Gary but everyone calls him Squib. He's one of the best players in BC and he's in the top group at Cascadia. He made quite a showing at the junior nationals last year," Justine Locke explained.

Adria Stapleton added, "I hear he's in a bit of a slump this year...his roommate, Sebastien Dube, died after the Hampsteads tournament in England, along with Megan O'Connor, one of the top players in Ontario before she left for Cascadia. Brett and I used to share a coach with her and her best friend Adena Stiles."

Alex smiled faintly. She was being offered a spot that used to belong to someone's best friend who had recently died...

"Well, you are going to do it, right?" Kyara asked curiously.

Alex felt 7 pairs of eyes on her and she chuckled nervously. "I don't know yet, you guys. I mean, Cynthia, you deserve this shot just as much as I do and Nick...you guys have been at it for longer..."

"It's not about merit, Alex," Cynthia said, "because we all deserve a shot...you've got something special that we don't have. You have that extra bit of drive...you went from mixed doubles to singles in a matter of months..."

"Because I had to," Alex cut in.

"No, you didn't, Alex. You could have given up but you didn't," Sophie added, "You should go for it! You could go far in the game."

Alex nodded. "Thanks for your support, you guys!" she said with a faint smile.

The girls wrapped Alex in a group hug and then one-by-one, they took off.