Hi, everyone!
My name is Martyna. Hit By Love is my first story that is going to be published here, so I'm very excited about that. I'm really looking forward to reading your reviews and receiving feedback in general (hopefully only positive :).
The story will contain 11 chapters plus epilogue. Most of them are already written. I promise you that the next chapters will be longer than the first one.
Huge thanks to my amazing beta Elizakiwi for proof-reading the story and dealing with all my mistakes (English is not my first language). Check out her profile!
Hit By Love by gilmoregirl-pl
Love is nothing in tennis, but in life it's everything.
Author Unknown
Chapter 1. Determined
Bounce. Bounce. Bounce.
Throw.
Hit.
Instead of lulling me, the repetitive motion was making me more and more energetic with each hit. Each movement of my racquet was faster, each throw higher, and each hit more accurate.
Bounce. Bounce. Bounce.
Throw.
Hit.
"Bella, if you're going to serve like that in three days, you will completely destroy poor Tia Kanebi," I heard a giggle coming from my left.
"That's my purpose," I replied without turning my gaze from the court.
Bounce. Bounce. Bounce.
Throw.
Hit.
"I'm glad it's not you against me then," Alice laughed and stood up to stand by her husband's side.
"Excellent," Jasper, my coach, complimented me. "Alice's right, your serves are really good. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever seen you serving so well."
"I'm just really determined to win the US Open this year. I'll do everything I can to achieve my goal," I stated, flushing slightly with excitement.
I was six years old when my father, Charlie Swan, took me to a tennis court for the first time. Tennis was always his great passion and he hoped it would become my passion as well. Indeed it did. My childhood and adolescence were filled with matches and tournaments. I had little free time and a poor social life, but I didn't mind.
Tennis was my life.
At fifteen I won the Junior Wimbledon. That was the breaking point in my career. I started climbing up the women's ranking and was currently fourth. Everybody considered me as one of the favourites to win this year's US Open. It was my biggest dream… in fact it was my only dream. Being only nineteen, I had the whole world at my feet and a beautiful career in front of me, but I still didn't have this one title – the US Open winner. My father had tried to cool my temper multiple times, repeating that I had been here to do my best, not necessarily win the title just yet, but I wouldn't have listened. I had to win.
"I know you really want to win this tournament, Bella, and I will do everything I can to help you do that," Jasper smiled.
"Thank you," I answered, smiling back in gratitude. Jasper had been my coach for the last two years and I had a complete faith in him. He and his wife Alice, who was my sparring partner as well, did an awfully good job in helping me reach the world's top 10. Jasper was only ten years older than me, but he was already one of the greatest coaches of our generation. The Whitlock's were my best friends, the only ones in my crazy world of constant travelling, and I was extremely happy to have them by my side.
"Where is your father?" Alice asked. "He usually attends your trainings."
"He's organizing some interview for Eurosport. You know I don't really like interviews, but this year I'm one of the favourites and I really couldn't refuse."
Alice nodded her head.
"Okay, Bella, I think we might wrap up training for today. I know you probably want to prepare for tonight's party," Jasper said.
"Are you attending it, Bella?" Alice inquired, excited. It caused me to wince internally, knowing I would be at her mercy for the next few hours. Being a sportsman, I rarely wore make-up or fancy dresses. However, Alice, being a born fashion specialist, always tortured me whenever I had been to be interviewed or take part in some gala. No matter how much I preferred my casual style, I had never been able to deny her, seeing how much pleasure it had always brought her.
"I am," I confirmed. "I still have a few days before the tournament starts, so I don't have to wake up early tomorrow. Besides, my father said that my sponsors had insisted that I showed up, so I don't really have any other choice," I sighed.
"Great!" Alice exclaimed. "Don't worry, I will help you prepare."
I bit the tip of my tongue to stop myself from saying that that was exactly what I was worried about. Instead I moved to the nearby bench to gather my things and head to the locker's room.
I tried to straighten my dress one more time, but it was simply fruitless.
"Alice, please don't force me to wear such a short dress," I whined. The dress was gorgeous, I had to admit that - simple, black, strapless, but waaaay too short.
"Come on, you wear dresses this length during every one of your matches," Alice put her hands on her hips and cocked an eyebrow.
"I know, but there it is necessary for me to feel comfortable and move freely. I don't want everybody starring at my legs during the party, especially not creepers," I tried to reason with her.
"Hey, it's not like you can't show off a bit. You have amazing legs and you know it," Alice sighed longingly. I rolled my eyes. I knew I had nice legs – all the years of trainings had to compensate in some way – but that was not the point. I didn't feel comfortable being so naked out of the court.
"You won't give up, will you?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Never," Alice laughed, sensing her victory.
"All right, but I'm not wearing these high heels," I stated firmly. "You know how clumsy I can be."
"But Bella…"
"No."
"Pretty please?" Alice did her famous pleading dog's eyes and I could feel my strong stance melting. How could I say no to her? As I said before – I simply couldn't.
"Fine," I sighed and turned towards the mirror again to avoid her triumphant gaze.
We arrived at the US Open kick-off party in New York's centre just after 9 pm. The party was an annual event that came right before the US Open – which begins Monday August 29th this year – and it was always a celebrity hotspot.
Jasper, Alice and my father stood aside as I walked along the red carpet in my extremely unstable black heels, posing for photos and praying to God that I wouldn't fall. I didn't really like red carpets – my self-consciousness kicked in each time – but I had grown to accept it as part of my job. I was a public person and it was only natural that I would be photographed. Besides, I needed to please my generous sponsors.
"Isabella, here! Smile!" Photographers shouted from every direction and I tried not to wince every time I heard my full name instead of 'Bella'.
20 minutes later I was finally able to enter the ballroom. I don't think I've ever seen so much people in one room. They were simply everywhere – dancing, drinking or just talking. I saw some familiar faces of tennis players or celebrities and made a note in my head to approach them at some point.
My father quickly got engaged in some conversations with representatives of various companies, while my friends and I managed to find a free table. Alice and Jasper ordered some drinks, but, of course, I couldn't – the beauties of being under-age. Not that it made me frustrated or anything; I had drunk some alcohol in the confines of my home a few times and it hadn't tasted that good or anything. I didn't think I was missing out on something.
"I need to go to the toilet," I stated later, getting up. "I will see you guys in a few."
"Sure thing," Jasper replied, "just don't get lost."
"Ha ha ha," I laughed without humour, "very funny."
He just winked at me in response. I made my way through the ballroom, saying 'hi' to various tennis players I knew well, and headed towards the toilet. When I was done I washed my hands and went out on the corridor quickly, eager to get back to my friends.
A bit too quickly, I have to admit.
I forcibly bumped into somebody and would have surely fallen down, if the stranger hadn't placed his arms securely around my waist and steadied me. When I lifted my gaze, my eyes met the most ones of the most handsome men I had ever seen. Green eyes, reddish brown hair, angular jaw, tall, muscled, simply my ideal. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was sure I knew this guy from somewhere. Then, after a few more seconds during which we simply stared at each other, the realisation dawned upon me.
The guy that currently had me in his arms was no one other than Edward Cullen.
He was one of the most famous tennis players in the world. Unfortunately, I knew little about him apart from the fact that he was twenty-one, in the top 10 of the world's male tennis players ranking and on most of the covers this year – that's why I had been able to recognize him.
Edward slowly loosened his grip on me and I shifted my gaze away, suddenly embarrassed that I was staring at him. How could a girl not, though?
"Hello, I'm Edward Cullen," he introduced himself and flashed me his famous smile that made girls weak in their knees. I tried to be resistant to his charming self, knowing that it would bring me no good if I got distracted by him.
"Isabella Swan, or just Bella," I replied and shook his hand. When our palms met I felt a current of electricity run between them and it caused a shiver to go down my spine. I swiftly brought my hand back to my side.
"I don't think we've met each other before. I'm seventh in the male ranking," he replied firmly, his cocky attitude he had been known of already appearing. I got slightly irritated and I was glad I could show off in front of him a bit as well.
"I'm fifth in the female ranking," I said, smiling smugly at him. I thought he would have been intimidated by that or at least backed off a bit, but his smile, to my surprise, grew even bigger.
"I actually know that. I saw one of your matches actually, you are really good."
He saw me play? Was it live or on the TV? Wait, was he really complimenting me? I suddenly got extremely curious and wanted answers to the questions all at once.
"Thank you," I blushed slightly at his compliment.
"You're welcome," His smile got wider if it had been even possible.
"So, when did you see me? Was it live?"
"This year's Wimbledon. I saw your quarter-final game on TV in my hotel room."
"Oh, that one," I winced, remembering my lame services at that time; even though I was already very good, the services caused me to lose.
Edward must have noticed my grimace, because he put his big palm on my shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly.
"Hey, everybody loses sometimes."
"I know, but that does not mean I must like it," I replied, scowling. "My serves were really pathetic that day."
"They were not," Edward argued, taking back his hand and laughing quietly. "Maybe it was just not your day."
"Maybe," I sighed, suddenly eager to change the topic. I have a very strong determination to win this year's US Open and thinking about my failures was neither helpful nor pleasant. After a few seconds of silence I realized that I left Alice and Jasper a long while ago and they would probably be worried about me soon.
"So... I guess I'll see you around then? And sorry for bumping into you," I said, already turning to leave.
"My pleasure," I grinned at me and I felt my chest flush slightly. I felt the need to straighten my dress to make my dress longer under his intense gaze. "I'll see you soon, Bella."
I really liked the way his tongue wrapped around my name. I knew I did not need any distractions right now, so I probably shouldn't have wanted see him again, but I knew I would – the tone of his voice, so confident, made me sure of that.
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