Author's Note: I am so excited for this story, you guys. I was debating on sticking with baseball/softball for Negan, but I decided to change it up and do basketball (since I know more about the rules/how to play lol). Since I'm using basketball as the sport Negan will be coaching, I'm going to alternate gifs between JDM's apperance in The Walking Dead and also his role in The Possession. Enjoy! :-)
Basketball season was fast approaching and with it being your second year in college, it was going to be difficult to try and make it on the team. Collegiate sports were much more challenging than high school. Usually, the teams were already made with athletes that have received scholarships in order to play, but that wasn't going to stop you.
The previous season for the women's basketball didn't end well. With an embarrassing record of only ten wins out of thirty games, the University of Alexandria needed to redeem themselves. The school board decided to have Coach Negan, also the coach for men's baseball, to coach basketball. They believed that he was what they needed in order to succeed this time around.
You, however, decided to try out. You played basketball your entire life starting from when you were just a little girl up until senior year of high school. Unfortunately, your high school coach didn't bother to have recruiters sit at any of your games, so a scholarship never happened for you. Either way, you were determined to get back into the sport after a year and a half of a break.
Your roommate, Taylor, had told you about open gym and tonight was the first one you were going to attend. You were excited, but also nervous. Open gym was meant for potential players to showcase their talent and also get to know the other players that were already on the team. It allowed you to be exposed to just the right people for you to make it on the team.
"You sure you're playing basketball because you look kinda hot," Taylor, said.
"What?" you laughed, pulling your hair up into a neat ponytail.
"Listen, I know I'm gay and all, but I know a hot girl when I see one, and you are looking hot."
"Stop," you shook your head. "I'm going out there tonight simply to show them that I'm capable of being on the team as a newbie."
"With that ass, I'm sure the coach will be more than willing to let you play," she winked.
"Taylor!" you grabbed a pillow from your bed and threw it at her, narrowing your eyes. "Should I change then?"
"Nope. Keep those shorts on and that tank-top," Taylor laughed, leaving your room.
You were clad in black tank-top over a black sports bra with shorts that were unusually shorter than regular basketball shorts. You didn't mind though. It allowed you to move more easily without the extra weight of clothes.
Grabbing your duffle bag and placing your Nike basketball shoes inside with a towel and water bottle, you left your room and pointed at Taylor who was lounging on the couch. "I'll be back tonight. Are you ordering pizza?"
"Would you like for me to?" Taylor asked.
"Yes please. It's been a while since I played basketball, so if things end horribly, I'd love to come home with a box of pizza and maybe ice cream."
Taylor sighed, standing from the couch to walk to her roommate who had become her best friend. "You're going to do great. I've seen you play basketball before. You've got this."
"Thanks, Taylor. I'll see you in a bit."
"Don't forget to have fun, make new friends… Oh! If you see any cute girls, tell them I'm available."
"Really?" you rolled your eyes, but a smile remained on your lips. "I'll see you later."
You left your apartment and climbed into your car. Your nerves were building and your hands began to shake as you put the key in the ignition and started the engine. It roared to life and you contemplated for a moment on backing out and just staying home, but you had already told your father that you were going to try this out. He, aside from you, was the most excited.
The drive to the school didn't take more than thirty minutes, so when you parked your car and noticed the few cars that were also parked, you realized that it was now or never. Climbing out, you draped your duffle bag across your body and walked to the gym, taking note of the lone motorcycle parked in one of the vacant spots.
As you approached the opened doors and the sounds of laughter and dribbling of basketballs, you took one deep breath and stepped inside. You kept your eyes focused on the ground, staring down at your sandals that you wore with your socks, you tried to ignore the unfamiliar looks you were receiving.
Sitting at the end of the bleachers, you set your sandals in your duffle bag and retrieved your shoes. When you looked up, you noticed a few other girls that were significantly taller than you were. Your height had always been a problem in high school, but now that you were thinking of playing basketball in college, it was going to be even more difficult to prove yourself.
Making sure your laces were tied, you grabbed a basketball from the rack at the end of the gym and tested its grip. You grinned to yourself, excited to finally be back on the court. You found an empty hoop towards the back and quickly ran to it, biting your lower lip as your eyes swept the room.
Though, standing underneath the hoop, you finally noticed the man in a hat with a whistle draped over him and the salt and pepper beard. You were in deep trouble if this was going to be the man who was going to coach you and the rest of the team.
You forced yourself to look away and began dribbling the ball, familiarizing yourself with the basics. However, your eyes continued to drift to the man standing nearby. He was watching you too and when he flashed a polite smile, you could have sworn that your panties were now wet.
Not only was he ruggedly handsome, but he had the deepest dimples you had ever seen.
You noticed that he had begun walking towards you and you instantly looked away to practice before open gym started. You jogged to the basket and lifted your right leg in correspondence with your right arm to lay up the basketball into the hoop. When it made a quiet swish, the man grabbed your rebound and held the ball in his hands.
Now you were forced to talk to him.
"Are you new?" he asked.
You bit your lower lip. His voice was deep and husky and you were already beginning to imagine what it would be like to hear his voice whisper quietly into your ear and the feel of his beard between your legs.
"I am…" you answered.
"What's your name?"
"[Y/N]."
"You any good?" he asked.
"I hope so," you laughed nervously.
"I fucking hope so too. You're nice to look at," he teased.
You blushed. You didn't think this was appropriate, but you didn't mind one bit. He was hitting on you so the attraction was mutual.
"Are you the coach?" you asked.
He nodded, "Coach Negan."
You took a step forward and gently placed your hands over his, allowing your fingers to run through the backs of his hands as you gripped the ball and took it from him. You looked up into his eyes and smiled, licking your lips slowly. "Well, Coach, I better get back to practicing. I've got to impress you somehow."
"Oh, doll, color me fucking impressed already," he winked.
You laughed, shaking your head. Your turned your attention to the laughter from the other court and noticed that a few more girls had arrived and you were busy flirting with the coach.
"Seems like your team made it," you said.
"I'm new too. Last season ended fucking horribly, so I'm hoping I can whip you girls into shape to bring some fucking dignity back to this school."
"Do you always have a foul mouth?"
Negan smirked, "Believe me, its use is much better in bed."
He walked away, walking around the court and smiling politely at the rest of the girls whose eyes lingered on him. He was tall, handsome, and his salt and pepper beard with his dimples just accentuated his good looks. His dark eyes seemed to change naturally, but despite the natural twinkle that was held within his orbs, you noticed that deep down, he was trouble.
After fifteen minutes of warming up, Negan blew the whistle and the girls crowded around him. Though, his eyes swept over you and he smirked, looking away and turning his attention to the girls.
"All right. As you may know, your previous coach was let go due to an embarrassing fucking season last year. Now, you may all recognize me as the baseball coach, but I know a few things about basketball that'll get us to the championships this year. This is simply an open gym. We'll run a few drills then scrimmage at the end. Just because you are all women doesn't mean that I will fucking take it easy on you," he said, his eyes deviating to you. "I'm going to fucking work you day in and day out until the only thing you can think of is basketball and me."
You bit your lower lip, knowing that his words were solely meant for you. You absently squeezed your legs and when he blew the whistle, you and the rest of the girls ran to the baseline.
"Suicides from baseline to free throw line, back to baseline to the half court… You get what the fuck I mean. We're running through it four times. Go," he ordered, blowing the whistle.
You were at the end of the line, instantly beginning to run when he blew the whistle. Since you were shorter than the rest of the girls, you were much faster and your determination to prove to yourself and to your hot, sexy coach was obvious.
After the suicides, Coach Negan allowed a water break and you jogged to your duffle bag to retrieve your bottle of water and your small towel to wipe the sweat from your face. You took a long swig and looked around, deciding to make friends after open gym. After all, your mind was simply occupied by your coach.
"All right, ladies! Each of you grab a ball. We'll run through various shooting drills then transition to dribbling."
Negan separated you and the rest of the girls in threes and assigned each of them a court. There were six baskets available and three girls were at each one. Negan instructed to start with lay-up drills and with the sound of his whistle, you and two other girls were quick to begin.
Again, you were much faster and agile and each of your lay-ups and both sides had gone in the basket. When it was your other teammate's turn, you rested your hands on your hips to catch your breath. You had forgotten how tiring and difficult practicing basketball was. This was simply an open gym and just a sneak peek of what basketball practice and the season would be like.
Negan was circling around each court, making sure to watch the girls to see any potential while keeping an eye on the ones that were already on the team from the previous year. They were good, but you were better.
Finally approaching your court, he stood next to you and smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Doing okay?" he asked.
You looked up at him, nodding as sweat glistened along your body. "Mhm. In dire need of a shower, but I'm doing great."
"You're pretty fucking good. Did you play last year?"
You shook your head, "It's only my second year and now that I'm used to this college life, I figured why not try out?"
"Well, you've got a clean fucking slate with a new coach and everything. I think you're just what we need in order to make this team great again," he grinned.
"You think so?"
Negan made sure to make it known that his eyes lingered on your frame, causing you to blush and shift on each foot. "I fucking know so, doll. Good work."
After open gym ended, you were sweating profusely. You managed to exchange names and numbers with a few other girls and realized that you were the last one in the gym. You removed your tank-top and used the towel to run along your abdomen and chest, sighing heavily.
Clad in shorts and your sports bra, Negan whistled to himself and pulled on a leather jacket, looking down at you with a grin. "Well, hello."
"Hi," you giggled, blushing at the way his eyes were lingering on your newly exposed upper half.
"You worked up a sweat."
"I did. Kinda wanted to prove myself to you and the other girls who are on the team," you shrugged.
"Well, you don't need to prove yourself to anyone, doll. I already see your determine in those beautiful fucking eyes of yours. There's no talent if there's no passion behind it, right?" he winked.
"Right…"
"Come on. Let me walk you to your car," he said, resting a hand on your lower back and leading you out of the gym.
Once in the parking lot, you noticed your car and the motorcycle from earlier being the only vehicles left. You bit your lower lip and unlocked your car, setting your duffle bag inside. Negan stood next to you, watching as you shut the door before he gently reached a hand out to run his fingertips along your upper arm.
"Tell me this fucking attraction isn't only one-sided, doll…"
You bit your lower lip, his fingertips leaving a trail of blaze that lingered along your body and settled within your core. "It isn't… I am very much attracted to you, Negan."
"Good because not only are you fucking beautiful, but you're a fucking athlete. I like that."
You blushed, leaning up to kiss his cheek lightly. You pulled away and extended your hand, looking up into his eyes.
"What?" he asked.
"Your phone."
Negan arched a brow and removed his phone from his pocket, handing it to her. He watched her input her number into his phone and he grinned, taking it back from her when she handed it to him.
"Call me," you smiled.
"Oh, I fucking will. You can guarantee that," he winked.
"I'll talk to you later, Coach Negan."
Negan growled, "Mm, hearing my name come out your mouth is doing some very naughty shit to me, doll."
"Maybe I'll find out firsthand what you mean by that," you flirted.
"Maybe? No, you definitely fucking will."
You giggled, climbing into your car and starting it immediately. You rolled your window down and winked at Negan, licking your lips slowly. "Good night, Negan."
"Good night, doll. I'll call ya."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
