Disclaimer like always, FNL belongs to those who wrote it and produced it.
A/N: Thanks to everyone for your reviews, they helped me to keep going.
Mercedes leaned heavily against the mirrors of the exercise room where she held her kick-boxing classes three times a week, the dance barre dug into her back but that was a pain she could deal with unlike the cracked ribs which the doctor said were healing nicely. She really shouldn't have pushed herself today, should've just asked Sara to take over when the pain meds started to wear off; but she couldn't. Mercedes had a reputation at 24-Hour Fitness, 'No Mercy Mercedes' and everyone who has ever taken her class felt the pounds melt and the muscles grow. They loved her, and it wouldn't fit if someone took over for a little bit of pain. With deep shuddering breaths Mercedes carefully stretched, wincing every so often from her ribs.
"Mercy, you alrigh' hon?" Becky from the locker rooms shut her blond head in and Mercedes immediately covered her bruised middle. The dark haired girl grimaced and nodded. "Ya need any help in here?"
"Yes, that would be lovely," Mercedes replied breathily as she pushed away from the barre. "I've got a night class in a few, just for today could you put the mats away?" She held an arm gingerly over her bare midriff to hide the ugly bruising from the fight.
"Sure hon. I know ya gotta drive some ways, so g'on get."
"Thanks so much." Mercedes grinned and hurried off to the locker-rooms to shower and change. She felt lucky enough that Becky or anyone else didn't notice either the greenish purple bruising or the bandaging under her tight worktop. That would have brought up too many questions that didn't have answers.
During her art history lecture, Mercedes let her mind wander to the conversation that she had with Coach Taylor earlier that day.
-Mercedes, how're you? Heard you had a nasty spill at work.- Coach Taylor approached her as she stood waiting for the end of practice by the fence. She effectively ignored the cat-calls and sexual favors.
-Yes, was a minor accident, nothing I can't handle.- Mercedes replied with a slight smile on her face, pushing up her sunglasses to rest in her dark hair.
-Good , that's good. Been thinkin' 'bout my offer?-
-Actually that's what I came here to talk to you about, sir.-
-Oh?-
-The kicker position, it is temporary?-
-Until the season is finished. Yes.-
-Then you have yourself a kicker for the Dillon Panthers.- Mercedes held out her hand and smiled.
And so her fate was sealed. Mercedes Belluci was a Dillon Panther Football Player.
The moment Tim walked onto the field for practice, he knew something was different. He was aware that something had changed. Tim's first clue was the new player talking to Coach. He was a tiny one, his gear was awkward on him and he was skinnier than that kid that Saracen hung out with. But it didn't make much a difference to Tim, so long as the kid doesn't barge in on Tim's game with the ladies it's all good.
"Riggins, 'bout time you showed up son," Coach Taylor called to him. Tim had no choice but to see what the coach wanted, with a grunt he changed direction to where Coach Taylor and 'short stuff' stood only to stop short when he noticed that the newbie had dark hair longer than his.
"Coach…"
"Riggins, meet our mid-season kicker; Mercedes Smith. Mercedes, this is one of our starting fullbacks, Tim." It was that girl, that hottie with the boner worthy ass! Tim was stunned stupid.
The girl held her hand out to shake his, but was only met by his silence. With an exhale she grabbed his hand and pumped it up and down once before discreetly wiping her palm against her pants. She spoke slowly and her accent became more pronounced as though speaking to a stupid person, "It's…nice…to…meet…you…Tim."
"Uh…yeah. You too." He replied cautiously, a little surprised she didn't fling herself at him or any of the usual female reactions to his presence.
"Okay, Riggins, I'mma need ya to git the team through the warm-ups, while I git Mercedes set up." Coach Taylor pat Tim's shoulder once and then led the hot girl away. He ignored his teammates' comments about how sweet it would be to fuck the hot chick and started barking orders. The last thing he needed right now was for them to notice his raging hard-on.
On the other end of the field, Mercedes was getting the instructed by Coach Taylor and one of the assistant coaches on the game; since never actually watched a game in the two years she's lived in Dillon.
"So, my purpose is to kick the ball? I don't do anything else productive?" Mercedes asked slightly miffed she didn't get to do more.
"Well, football's a men's sport, sweetheart. We don' want ya to git hurt." She cast the assistant coach an icy look.
"Wilson..." Coach Taylor warned with a hand restraining the young woman. If only he knew just how dangerous she could be. "Mercedes, let's git you started." The look Mercedes pinned the assistant coach with would have wilted a better man.
"Of course, lead the way."
As she adjusted the helmet on her head while Coach Taylor set up a few footballs on kickstands, he turned to her with a nod. "Let's see what you got."
"Over and between, yes?"
"Yep." Thinking of the words from Assistant Coach Wilson, Mercedes took two steps and swung her leg, connecting with the ball with a loud THWACK! It flew high, far and straight towards the other end of the field where the rest of the team went through drills. The moment the ball bounced on the other side of the goal post, all activity stopped and every head was turned to the player adjusting her helmet to not fall over her face.
"Ugh, stupid thing…" She pulled off the helmet and drops it at her feet, "Coach, is there another size helmet, my sightline was off."
"Um…sure, I'll try to order ya one. Could ya try a succession?" Coach Taylor tugged off his cap and scratched his head amazed. He knew she was talented, but not to this extent; then again it could be a onetime thing…a fluke. The shift of her shoulder pads indicated a shrug as a succession of four THWACKS rang throughout the field. Everyone watched as each ball flew straight between the opposite posts.
Mercedes' nose wrinkled in distaste, "Ugh, I'm still pulling to the left. Perhaps Coach I'm not as good as you thought. But—"
"Mercedes, I don' expect perfection, but that was damn good." Eric Taylor chuckled with a heavy hand on her shoulder. "You'll do just fine."
"Oh, are you sure? None of the balls went directly over the middle post."
So… I hope you enjoyed this humble contribution to the FNL world. Enjoy! Please leave me a review and tell me what you think!
