Ali Vali - Love Match

Emily and Bobbie sat watching the crowd around them waiting for the rest of Parker's guests to show up. Gary had waved to them before disappearing down the tunnel that led to the locker rooms. He wanted to check to make sure the bandage on Parker's chest was still all right before the match started.

"I hope she'll be all right. That cut on her chest looks nasty." Emily's comment was overheard by more than just Bobbie and they were both surprised by the deep voice that commented back.

"It will take more than stitches to slow Park down. Mendela will be eating fuzz by afternoon's end is our prediction." Both Emily and Bobbie looked up to the two women that were towering over them effectively blocking out the sun. "When she was ten, she played in a tournament with a broken arm. Hell if the tadpole didn't come in third," continued Kimmie trying to make Emily feel better.

"You must be Parker's sisters." Emily went to stand when Kimmie put her hand on her shoulder keeping the small blonde in her seat.

"I'm Kimmie and this is Gray." The oldest of the three sisters stuck her hand out and greeted Parker's two friends. They tried to ignore the buzz from the fans around them that recognized the two volleyball stars. Today was for Parker.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Emily Parish and this is my friend Bobbie Daley. Parker was so happy you two could make it up to watch her play. The last time I saw Parker, you two were headed to south Florida for your own tournament, how did it go?"

"Are you kidding, Em, they kicked butt. The Viper and the Terminator took the title and the cash pot without breaking a sweat. I saw it all on ESPN II," said Bobbie. Emily could see that her friend was having a hard time not falling to her knees and worshiping the two giants that had taken their seats so they wouldn't have to crane her neck looking up at them.

Emily almost laughed at the look of rapture on Bobbie's face. The avid sports fan was going to swoon before the day was over if one more of her idols showed up. First she scored center court seats to the Open and now was getting to share them with two of volleyballs greatest players.

"I suggest you breathe at regular intervals throughout the day, if not you are going to miss the match when you pass out." Emily whispered the warning as a joke to get Bobbie to calm down a little. The woman that was Parker's practice partner was coming down the steps to join them, and Emily watched as Gray King's eyes stayed glued to the tall Swede.

"Kimmie, why don't you slide in here next to Bobbie and let Natasha have your seat?" suggested Emily.

Gray turned her head to the small pilot and smiled. "Thanks, Emily, I see that my little sister is starting to wise up in her choice in women." The announcer introducing Parker and Mendela helped take the attention away from Emily and the blush Gray's compliment had caused.

The crowd got to their feet when the two players walked out to the court and sat down on opposite sides of the judge's chair. Parker's tan looked even darker against the tight white shirt she was wearing, and she looked like she was anxious to begin.

The players picked their rackets and took their places, both nodding to the judge that they were ready to begin. "Quiet please." The man pointed to Parker after a hush fell over the crowd.

Two new balls were thrown to Parker from the ball girl in the corner behind her. She bounced them both on her racket before selecting one and throwing the other one back to the young lady that had given them to her. Parker squared her shoulders and let out a long breath as a way to blow out the pain and forget about it for the next couple of hours. After four bounces she threw it into the air, connecting with it dead center on her racket. It flew past her opponent so fast, the girl didn't bother to move her racket from the ready position. Mendela got out of her stance when, "Fifteen love," was announced from the chair.

"If you were hoping for a slower paced game from Parker King, sports fans, you have come to the wrong place." The sports announcer calling the game on the radio reported happily as the first shot went over the net. Gray had been nice enough to bring earpieces for everyone so they could listen to the commentary during the match. "I thing she was giving Mendela a warning shot across the bow with that one. The stitches will not do the Spaniard any favors today."

"Quiet please." Parker waited for the crowd to cooperate before setting up for her next shot. This one nicked the net on the way over so she had to serve again. The second serve was a little slower paced and Mendela returned it. The young player hit it back to the baseline then ran to the net to establish an early aggressive game against the number one seeded player. It was a mistake when Parker hit a two handed back hand that hit just inside the baseline. If there was going to be anyone volleying from the net, it was not going to be from Mendela.

For the next forty minutes Emily watched Parker almost surgically remove every aspect of her opponent's game, all while barely breaking a sweat. When her opponent would rush the net Parker would send some blistering heat toward the baseline with deadly precision. When Mendela took the hint and moved to the baseline, Parker would drop the ball right over the net almost making her opponent lose some skin when she went diving after one of them.

Watching the game at the USTA Tennis Center had been an experience for both she and Bobbie. The atmosphere and energy of center court live was not easily captured on the small screen of her television, and Emily was still smiling at the 'Kong' chant the crowd was still shouting. The big tennis bag was repacked and shouldered, but Parker took a few minutes on her way out to sign autographs for the fans hanging out of the stands.

Up in their seats, the King sisters high-fived each other before turning to hug Nick and Gary. In their celebration Gary failed to notice the attendant standing in the aisle holding a folded piece of paper. The coach cringed when the young man tapped him on the shoulder and handed him the note. Gary decided he was going to exercise his promise to quit if it was directions from Parker to ditch Emily. For the first time he had open one of Parker's short pennings, her coach's face creased in a smile.

"Let's go take a tour of the locker rooms, girls." Both men moved to escort the four others to meet Parker when they were stopped by the last person they expected to see at the match. Alicia had attended with her manager, their seats not quite as good without Parker's help. The young rocker had given three interviews on the way in when she was recognized by reporters, so there would be no misunderstandings about her feelings for Parker.

"Gary, could you tell Parker I'll wait for her outside? I figured we cold share a limo back into Manhattan." Alicia was looking at the small blonde trying to remember where she had seen her before. She was figuring to make Parker suffer a little for forgetting to invite her to the match. Getting her back was not going to be so easy for the jock this time around.

"Sorry, Alicia, Parker has a ride back into the city. I'll tell her you came to watch the match. Thanks from both of us. After all as you know, dedicated fans are what it's all about." He didn't want to be rude but he pushed his group forward before Alicia had any chance to cause a scene. Maybe tonight Parker could have dinner and stay dry throughout the meal.

Emily stood back and let Parker have a moment to greet her two sisters. It looked like Bobbie kept pinching herself at the good fortune their day had turned out to be. Getting to see the match would have been good enough, but on the way in they had seen a number of other players milling around the locker room waiting for their time to play.

"You think if you slept with her, we can come back this weekend?" Bobbie asked Emily in a whisper.