Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The break bell sounded and the girls poured out of the classroom. Sharvona raced towards the canteen area with Megan close behind her.

“I had no idea you were interested in sports”, Sharvona laughed.

“Well I do have other interests besides makeup and fashion. In any case you would need someone to play against and I’d rather it was me”

“Are you afraid that if anyone else plays tennis with me they’ll become my best friend?” asked Sharvona.

“Well not really, I mean I wouldn’t be jealous or anything. I’ve been friends with you for ages and if someone takes over I don’t know how I’ll handle it”, whispered Megan.

Sharvona put her arm through hers, “stop worrying about it, look let’s put our names down and see when the practise is”.

“You’ll be a natural at tennis; you are athletic in any case”.

“I know and also it will strengthen my arms and legs for ballet, so it has advantages to it”.

They signed their names on a piece of paper and went to the playground.

“They have their first practise today after school Sharvona, can you come?”

“I think so, because if it is from 3.20 to 4.20 then I can go to ballet afterwards… oh no the tap dance try-outs, I won’t be able to make it”, groaned Sharvona.

“Never mind, I won’t go either how about we go tomorrow instead”, suggested Megan.

“Yeah I’ll see what I’ve got on; maybe I have too many commitments?”

“I don’t think so; I think that at the moment you’re stressed because of the gala, once it is all over you will be able to relax”.

“Yeah I guess so” Sharvona.

Just then the bell rang for the end of break and Sharvona and Megan made their way to the gym.

“I wonder what sport we’re playing?” commented Megan, she was looking at the tennis nets and rackets scattered around the gym.

“I think we’re probably playing tennis Meg, so I won’t miss out on a practise after all. If we get changed quickly then you can partner me”.

5 minutes later the girls were dressed in green tracksuit bottoms and white polo tops trimmed with green and the school logo.

“Have you got a spare hairband Sharvy?”

“Yep, here catch” she called throwing her a white hairband. Megan tied back her hair and then picked up a racket.

“Your serve or my serve?” called Megan.

“Don’t know, we haven’t tossed for sides yet”

At that moment the gym teacher walked in. She was a young woman, of 20 with fair hair and brilliant blue eyes. She wore a peach tracksuit with white trainers and had her hair tied back with a rose hairband.

“How nice to see you ready early. You can start practising the backhand serves and the overhead shots” she said before walking away.

Sharvona and Megan took their places at the net; Sharvona bounced the tennis ball before giving it a graceful smack across the net. Megan raced to the backline and smashed it over the fence. They were an evenly matched pair, Megan was very athletic and Sharvona had a very graceful style.

“Hey guys you started already?” called Alice who was coming in with Sarah.

“We were inside in any case, why don’t you get a racket each and join us?”

Alice and Sarah picked up a racket and a game of doubles began. Since everyone was playing their hardest they did not notice the others begin to play in either singles or doubles; and no one noticed the teacher making notes on an A4 clipboard.

“Hey, I just noticed Miss is making notes, why?”

“I think it’s for the tournament against Manor High” said Sharvona, tying up her shoelace which had come undone. Sharvona was right, for towards the end of the lesson Miss Rose called the girls over.

“As some of you may be aware there is a tennis tournament coming up a week before half term. Today I have been paying special attention to the girls who put their names down to join the tournament. You all played very well; however I can only enter 10 of you for the tournament. The girls who have been chosen are: Sharvona, Alice, Megan, Sarah, Kyla, Sabrina, Saffron, Florence, Esther and Miriam. The others of you who have not be chosen, don’t despair, your time will come. All of the girls, who I have called, need to meet here tomorrow after school” she paused and glanced at the clock. “Right go and get changed, Sharvona when you have finished I want to talk to you”.

The girls raced off towards the changing room, Megan ran over and high-fived Sharvona.

“We’re in the tournament!” yelled Megan cartwheeling around the changing room. The others laughed.

“Hurry up and get changed idiot or you’ll be late for English” said Sharvona. She changed quickly and then slung her bag over her shoulder. She pushed open the door and called back over her shoulder.

“Wait for me Megan”.