Mario Tennis, Power Shots: Part I: Ace's Story

Chapter Four: The Confession in the Gym

"You mean to tell me it's-"

"Kevin, you know, don't you?"

Ace and Clay entered the gym, but they didn't need to hide because the two coaches were blocking them from Kevin's view.

"Shush!" Kevin said, his voice wavering. Ace tried to look around the male coach's back to see Kevin, but he blocked the way. "I told you, keep your voices down!"

"You're not talking your way outta this one!" the female coach threatened. "You know and you're hiding it from us!"

"But-!" Kevin said, realizing he was outnumbered. "Help me out, Mark!"

Ace realized that there was another coach standing in from of the female coach. She could see his face clearly, mostly because the female couch wasn't as broad as the male coach. Mark turned to Kevin and nodded.

"Alex swore us to secrecy."

Mark's words only angered the male coach. "He's a good kid! Why would he have you guys keeping secrets?"

"I know whatever it is it must be important," the female coach said, coolly. "I mean, why else the masks? But why not tell us?"

"Look," Kevin said, his voice calm now. He had a nice mellow voice and Ace found she liked it. "I know how you feel…should we tell them, Mark?"

"You asked for help with the tennis curriculum," the male coach started. Ace could hear a warning in his voice. "Yet you won't tell us what's going on?"

"That's for the academy's sake!" Mark said, picking up on his threat. "It's got nothing to do with what's going on right now!"

"If you won't help us, we won't help you," the female coach said, finally. They had the upper hand now. "Tell us who they are or you guys are on your own!"

"Well," Kevin said, sighing. "The curriculum isn't really our problem, but we're still in trouble without your help."

Kevin and Mark looked at each other, realizing they were defeated. Ace held her breath. They were going to say the names of the players. Clay grabbed the collar of Ace's shirt and dragged her under the table to keep them out of view. She could now see Kevin in full view, and she felt her heart flutter. He looked only a couple of years older than her, about sixteen, and his brown hair was groomed nicely so that a few strands fell into his handsome face. Mark had spiky red-hair and onyx-black eyes. She had heard from the returning players that Kevin and Alex were the two youngest coaches in the academy, the rest were from 17-25, making Mark about 17 or 18. He was pretty short though, compared to the other coaches.

"Okay," Mark was saying. Ace forced herself to stop staring at Kevin and she tried to strain her ears to listen. "I guess Alex wouldn't mind."

The two coaches leaned closer, and then Kevin and Mark pulled them even closer.

"You see," Kevin and Mark were whispering. They were barely audible as Kevin and Mark explained the situation to the two coaches. The coaches then pulled away from them, gaping.

"You mean…" the coaches said in unison. Ace leaned closer. "That it was Ma-"

Ace lost her balance. She crashed into the leg of the table and it flipped over. Ace squealed as she hit the ground, her chin banging on the hardwood floor. Clay moaned as he scrambled to his feet to help Ace up. The four coaches jumped in surprise and Ace knew from the look on Kevin's face that she and Clay were in trouble.

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Next time on MT: PS-

"She's only been here for a day," Alex said, standing up for Ace. "She can't memorize all the school rules. I'm still learning them and I've been here for a long time."

"Alex," Terra said, her tone suggesting that he back down immediately. He declined.

"Sharon," the headmaster said. She perked up, happy to hear that he'd give in and suspend Ace after all. "If this had been Elroy, or Alex even, would you still try to suspend them?"

Sharon's face flushed too, and soon Sharon and Terra were both tongue-tied.