The next day, Thayer was walking by the tennis courts at the club when he saw something he hadn't seen in a long time. He walked over to the practice wall, the one that people use to practice by themselves, to get a closer look. He wasn't mistaken. There was Sutton Mercer actually practicing of her own volition. The ball shot off of the wall just out of her reach and bounced at his feet. He picked it up and smiled.

"Don't think I've seen you opt in to practicing tennis before," he called as she walked over.

"I've been doing a lot of things I don't normally do lately," she responded, snatching the ball from his hand. Her forehead glistened with sweat and he could hear her labored breathing. How long had she been here?

"I forgot to congratulate you on your report card yesterday. What did it take for you to realize just how smart you actually are?"

"Everyone trying to tell me that I wasn't," she stated simply, taking a sip of her water.

"Glad to see you using that rebellious side of yours for good rather than evil," Thayer taunted as he took a step toward her.

"What are you doing here, anyways?"

"A friend invited me to play tennis, but bailed on me. What are you doing here?"

"Getting in shape for spring tennis season," Sutton explained, setting her water bottle back down on the ground, "Nisha's not my only competition this year and with my grades I need a scholarship to get into college."

"Want an actual partner to play against instead of a wall?"

"You want to?"

"That's what I was here to do anyways."

"Okay," Sutton said with a smile, "Your on. Hell, you might actually have a chance at beating me this time."

"I'm only down by two games," Thayer defended. Ever since Sutton started playing tennis the two of them had a perpetual match going on. At this point Sutton had won 267 and Thayer had won 265. After 500 games, they knew each other backwards and forwards. It made for some interesting rallies that could last for twenty minutes if they tried.

"You were up by three the last time we played," Sutton reminded.

She sauntered past him and onto an open court. He was happy with how easy it was for them to fall back into their friendship. He would always love her and she would never feel the same way. They both knew that and they both needed to accept it.

He jogged to the other side of the court and readied himself for her serve. They could go back to the way things were. He knew that. He wanted that. He only hoped Sutton felt the same, but when had him and Sutton ever felt the same way?

They played for two hours. Thayer did manage to win two games, but Sutton kept her lead by winning the final game. As they stepped off of the court, both were grinning from ear to ear.

"I seriously need to get back into shape," Sutton stated as they walked toward the club, "I mean, I just lost to you twice."

"I'm not that bad," Thayer defended.

"You're not that good, either."

"Ouch," Thayer exclaimed, reaching for his chest like she'd just stabbed him through the heart.

"Oh you know I'm kidding," Sutton spat, "You've always been a great partner and you've always pushed me to do my best. I just wish you could always be my training partner."

"Do you want me to be?"

"What?"

"You said you're trying to get back in shape for tennis in the spring. It'll be easier and more fun if you have someone to help you with it."

"You'd do that for me?"

"You know I would."

"Alright," Sutton conceded, "I'd love for you to help me with this. I mean, you know better than anyone what I need to work on with tennis. We have played each other over 500 times."

"How about we start Monday at two?"

"You're on," Sutton practically challenged. She smiled at him and Thayer returned the favor. Maybe this could work. Maybe they could go back to the way things used to be. They sure as hell were going to try at least.

For three weeks, Sutton worked harder than she ever thought possible. She ran two miles in the morning with Emma and in the afternoon she worked out with Thayer. He pushed her harder than anyone ever had. She did drills until her legs gave out underneath her and she had nothing left to give. She had never been in this good of shape before and honestly she never wanted to be again.

It was two months before tryouts and Thayer was putting her through another grueling workout. Today they'd been working on going for diving shots. Thayer would toss a ball that she would have to return, and then she'd have to get up and return the next one he threw. She was exhausted and Thayer refused to give her a break.

"Again," he called when she missed the second return for the third time in a row. He was getting more and more frustrated by the moment and Sutton had no idea how to make him happy.

She set herself back in the middle and prepared for his toss. She returned the first one with ease and then hopped to her feet to get the next one. She got there just in time and sent it back over the net. It landed fair and she smiled. Maybe now he'd give her a break.

"Again," he called and Sutton's heart sank.

"Are you kidding me?"

"No Sutton. Now come on, get back to center so we can go again."

"Thayer, I've been doing this for an hour straight. Can't I get a break?"

"No," he spat, "Now get back to center and stop wasting my time."

She took her place and waited for his toss. It came and she reached for it, barely getting her racquet on it. She pushed herself to her feet and went for the ball again, but it was too far away. It bounced by her before she could even reach her racquet out for it.

"What the hell was that?"

"I told you," Sutton responded through labored breaths, "I need a break, Thayer."

"You don't get a break in the middle of a rally. It doesn't matter how tired you are you have to keep going until it ends."

"I have never seen a rally last an entire hour where one player is constantly having to get to their feet because they're diving for everything. It's ridiculous."

"So now I'm being ridiculous? You know I don't have to be here with you, Sutton. I don't have to spend my Saturday afternoon training with you. Yet here I am, because you needed a training partner."

"You know what, never mind. Just set up for the drill again."

"No," Thayer responded, "If you don't want to do the drill anymore, you don't have to. Pack up your bag. We're done for the day."

"Seriously?"

"I'm not going to work with someone who doesn't want to be here," Thayer shouted.

"I never said that, Thayer."

"You might as well have. Sutton, I thought you'd figured it out. I thought you understood that you had to want this for you to achieve it. I guess I was wrong."

He stomped off of the court before she had a chance to respond. What had she done to make him so angry? So she didn't want to pass out from heat exhaustion. Was that really such a crime? There was something going on with Thayer and she wished he would just tell her what it was instead of taking it out on her in practice.