"Game on!" and he bursts out of the flag station heading for the right tape bunker. Sliding in he is already taking stock of the opponent. One on each side in the back, and one pushed up in the middle. Not a very aggressive move in 3-man. He lets fly with a stream of paint at the man in the middle, calling signals to his team mates. At once, the player on the opposite tape breaks a run down the tape to mid-field and opens up on him. Damn! "Hot Dog hose that guy on the left tape - you just let him take the 50!"
A quick glance back at the mid-field opponent and he's thinking his front player has opened up the game for him! That's one lesson this guy will learn today as three quick rounds takes that one out. The paint from their front player is all over the bunker - time to do something about that - 1, 2, 3 go! Up to the next bunker, hey, here's their right tape player with his butt hanging out! Two down!
Now where is that front player? Holy shit! Hot Dog is gone and Jake too! Its one-on-one!
Where IS that player? Yeow! That hurt! But I got a bounce, still in the game. There! The paint flys, the players move, seconds later its player on player - and he goes down.
That's it he got me. Walking up to shake that guy's hand and ... Oh my god! It's not he, it's she - and not just any she! "Well, who'd have thought I'd run into you? That was some fine shooting!" he stammers.
"Not bad shooting yourself. Surprised to see me?" she says slyly.
"Uh, yeah! I mean, you are a LONG way from home!"
"Well, evey since I got into paintball I've been traveling more. They just don't play as much out there as they do here. I like to get to the big events when I can."
"It is SO amazing to see you, after all of those conversations on the boards, and those, um, interesting PMs - I just can't quite believe I'm seeing you face-to-face! You look amazing!"
"Thanks! Its pretty kewl seeing you too! I'm not sure if I should blush or what!"
(referee) "Hey, you two want to take it off the field - we've got another game about to start!"
The Walk --------
They walk from the tournament staging area to a wooded area on a hill side, and into the woods. All the way they talk about stuff - paintball, the boards, Star Trek, whatever, but he can't take his eyes off of her - she's sexier than he'd imagined! "What? Oh, yeah, I agree, those guys are totally crazy ... " Yeah, whatever. Look at those eyes! Look at that ass! "Uh, yeah I'm listening, but I'm totally distracted! I'm still in shock!" ... "Yeah, I'll keep my eyes on your face and not on your tits!" Smooth move, old man. Now she thinks you are an old perv!
The path moves up a ridge, across a gentle wooded slope, and then to the edge of the tree-line where a beautiful meadow stretches out across the side of the mountain. The two walk out into the thigh-high grass, sprinkled with wild flowers. At the bottom of the hill a stream gurgles by and beyond the wood start up again leading to the feet of the mountains visible in the distance. There isn't a sound other than her voice and his heartbeat and the stream - the noise of the tourney is far behind.