Making The Team 1

Making The Team

Which team will Elle get a chance to play for?

~~

A/N - This story was written for the

yay-team-sex-and-sports-story-challenge-2025-coming-soon

. This story features Elle, who wants to rule the ice in the women's hockey league.

This is being posted to the Lesbian Sex category. If this type of story isn't your preference, I completely understand and appreciate you stopping by.

All characters and names are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real-life events or individuals is purely coincidental and unintentional.

Special thanks to Nicole and Georgie for their invaluable editing and suggestions. Any errors are mine; these eyes aren't as sharp as they used to be!

~~

Elle

I sat on the edge of my dorm room bed wearing what I'm comfortable in, last year's old practice jersey. It

was

my good luck jersey. The once-bright colors faded from twelve months of i e, sweat, washings, and hope.

A rejection letter still crumpled, but I read it again. The words burned like a hot poker searing my mind no matter how tightly I squeezed the paper, as if I could crush the disappointment right out of it.

'Dear Elle,

We, the selection committee, on behalf of the Professional Women's Hockey League, regret to inform you that we will not be inviting you to the Professional Women's Hockey League draft for this year. We feel you are a skilled player but you have the opportunity to grow as well.

We hope to see you at next year's draft.

Assistant Commissioner

Professional Women's Hockey League

~~

Damn rejection! I read it for the twentieth time in the last two days. Yeah! As if they really knew what rejection felt like. How many of them had ever truly experienced rejection?

Someone made a decision and left the torturous task of typing, printing and mailing the letter to someone else. As if they had ever felt anything close to the twisting ache in my stomach. As if they had ever felt their chest hollow out, scraped clean of everything they had spent years building.

At twenty years old my dream, the dream, had slipped through my fingers like a puck on fresh ice. I had spent endless hours in rinks, skating through pain, through exhaustion, through every voice that told me women's hockey would never take me anywhere.

And now? Now, it felt like they were right. But that was last year, a new season was upon us and I was ready.

At least I was invited back next year. I fully hoped the scouts would see me and believe in me.

When the letter first came, my parents reminded me that they supported me from home in Milford, CT. They asked if I wanted them to come up this weekend and see me after I told them what the letter was.

Mom was cool, "To cheer me up and do something fun." I thanked her and passed telling her I would buckle down and study, plus I had practice. We were a few games into the schedule and had a game against the University of Maine coming up.

What one of my best friends had texted in all caps, urging me not to give up.

'ONE MORE SHOT' Then she sent "One more shot at showing them".

But what if I wasn't good enough now, would I ever be good enough?

I knew the stats, the brutal truth behind them, how many girls wanted this, how few spots there were. And yet, beneath the exhaustion, beneath the crushing weight of failure, something remained.

A spark. A dull glowing ember, a whisper of defiance, "It might happen this year."

If I really wanted it, really wanted it, I had twelve months to become undeniable. Twelve months to take every weakness, every missed shot, every second of doubt, and carve myself into the kind of player they couldn't turn away.

It wasn't over. Not yet.

~~

A knock rattled my dorm room door. My stomach clenched, my pulse quickened. I already knew who it was. That distinctive knock solidified who it was. I took a deep breath, forcing my limbs to move, to answer. The door creaked open, and there he stood Kelvin or Kel, my on-and-off-again boyfriend, his usual confident stance filling the doorway. His presence should've been comforting, but tonight, it wasn't.

Actually as of late I had been avoiding him. I just wasn't into him but I didn't have the nerve to break up with him... yet.

I turned on my heel without a word, retreating to my small couch, exhaustion pressing down on me like a lead weight. He followed, standing too close, his voice too firm.

"Come on, no moping today, Elle. We agreed you wouldn't do this."

"Pffft we agreed?" I thought to myself, I never agreed to that.

I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into the fabric of my sweatpants. A part of me was furious, yes furious that he couldn't just be there for me, furious that he expected me to snap out of it like flipping a switch. But another part of me, the rational one, knew he was trying in his own 'Kel way'.

And yet, there was a third part of me, the most exhausted part, which just wanted to sink into the floor and disappear. But disappearing wasn't an option, not if I was going to turn it around.

I forced a faint smile. "I have practice in the morning. We can go out, but not late." I let him pull me into a hug, my body stiff against his. Even at five-eight, I felt so small wrapped in his towering frame.

"Good. Put on some jeans and a nice shirt. It's cooling off, and we're meeting the crew at Bobby's."

I swallowed the sigh threatening to escape. Another night of fake laughter and half-hearted trivia, of listening to the guys pat themselves on the back while the rest of us smiled and nodded.

I mustered another smile. "Okay, let me find something decent. Now go, I want to shower. I'll text you when I'm heading to your dorm."

He smirked, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. "Plan to stay over. Mike's crashing at Abigail's."

I nodded. "Sure, I'll bring something nice to sleep in." That wouldn't happen. I am damn near positive.

His grin widened. "No need, babe. I got you all nice and warm after... you know."

I bit my tongue so hard I almost tasted blood, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. He swatted my ass playfully before finally leaving.

As soon as the door shut, I exhaled sharply, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes. God, I was so tired. I wasn't in this mood tonight but I wasn't in the mood to argue with Kel either.

~~

I showered and then threw on a Bobcats sweatshirt, my old jeans, and my favorite necklace and matching earrings, the ones Eddie had given me at Christmas my sophomore year of high school. That was the last Christmas I spent with him before he left for Afghanistan.

Thirteen days later, he was gone.

The news had called it "the surge." For us, it was a chasm in our lives that nothing would ever fill. My big brother, my protector, my biggest fan, and god he supported me constantly while I was playing hockey, was gone.

And now, my parents, my little sister, and I had been left to figure out how to breathe without him. How was I to survive the enormity of his death, I didn't know.

I wore his sweater number, 16, I made mine. It was my way of keeping him with me forever.

~~

When I knocked on Kel's door, he opened it and pulled me into a bear hug so tight I almost couldn't breathe.

"Babe!" His voice was too loud, too happy. And then I smelled it. Bourbon.

Shit! This was going to be one of those nights.

Mike was there, he was already drunk, his arm slung around Abigail, all of them holding cups. The moment Mike offered me a drink; Abigail met my eyes and smoothly stepped in.

"I got her," she said, filling my cup with mostly soda. I could've hugged her.

We tapped cups and toasted. "Bobcats."

As we stood by the sink, she leaned in. "I'm really sorry, Cap. I should have played better. I will the next game. I let in two weak ass goals."

'Cap' was her nickname for me; I was the women's team captain. I was the first ever Junior to have that honor. It wasn't just given, it was earned and last year the upper class women respected the coach's decision.

Her quiet words sliced through me, but I refused to let the emotion win.

I swallowed hard, nodding. "Thanks, Abs, I appreciate you more than you know."

She smiled and winked. "I love that you stayed this year Cap, I want that trip to the Four this year."

We touched cups again and smiled. "To the Frozen Four"

~~

We made our way to the bar, the night blurred from there, the boys drank too much, there was too much noise and there was too much pretending.

I looked at my phone and saw the time. "Guys I need to call it an early night; we have practice in the morning. Abs and I need to be at the rink on campus at five-thirty.

And then Mike's voice rang out, sharp and cutting. "Why? You didn't make the fucking cut. Stay and drink. You aren't that good; you didn't make the fuckin' tryouts." He laughed, loud and careless. "Fuck let alone get invited to the draft!"

"Who the fuck even watches girls' hockey anyway?" He was really loud that time and laughed even louder.

Everything inside me went cold; dead cold. There was a sudden and somewhat palpable hush in the tables surrounding us.

Abigail exploded beside me. "What the fuck did you just say, Michael Davis?"

I turned, searching for Kel, and there he was. Laughing.

"Yeah fuck them, stay and party." He looked right at me, his smirk lazy, his words slurred. "Yeah, why do you even wanna play girls hockey? It's not a real sport." He laughed again. "Not like football or lacrosse."

A fissure cracked open inside me, rage and humiliation flooding through it like wildfire.

Before I knew what I was doing, my drink was flying through the air, splashing onto Kel's face.

Another drink followed, that one straight into Mike's stunned expression.

"Fuck you! Fuck you both!" My voice broke, hot tears streaking down my face.

I heard Abigail shouting at them as I grabbed my coat and bolted. The bar turned silent as I shoved open the door, cold night air slapping me in the face.

Tears blurred my vision, my chest tightening with every shaky breath. My sneakers hit the pavement hard, my ears ringing with their cruel laughter.

Then I just ran as fast as I could, leaving it behind, leaving those asses behind.

A few minutes into my semi-run, I heard a car horn.

"Elle!" Abigail's voice. "Elle, stop!"

I kept going. I didn't want to be seen like this. Didn't want to feel this exposed.

The horn blared again, an engine revving.

"Elle, please." There was going to be no escape. I stopped.

The world spun lazily around me as I panted. Just standing there, sobbing, shaking, feeling like my entire world had just shattered all over again.

Then Abigail was there, arms wrapping around me, grounding me.

"Fuck them," she whispered. "Come on, Cap. I got you."

I let her guide me into her car, my body numb, my heart shattered.

And for the first time in a long time, I let myself cry.

~~

I was up early the next morning and at the rink with Abigail, but neither of us mentioned the events of the previous evening. I have received a ton of text messages, Jenna, my right winger, was the first I received. She told me it was all over social media. Someone captured the argument, post drinks thrown in the face.

We warmed up and skated through practice in silence. After practice, I showered, got dressed, and headed to campus with Abs. I had an hour before my first class, Econ II. Ugh. It wasn't that I struggled academically; in fact, I was an excellent student. I just never talked about my grades.

Coach had to monitor them for my scholarship, but that was the only reason they mattered to anyone else.

The car ride was eerily quiet until she finally cleared her throat as we pulled into the dorm parking lot.

"Cap, listen. I'm sorry. I really am. And... I just wanted you to know I broke up with Mike last night after I dropped you off. Took the coward's way out and sent a text, but I can't see him again. I won't. Not after that" She hesitated before adding, "I just wanted you to know."

I glanced at her. "Thanks, Abs, but you don't have to do that for me. I know, or at least I think I know that you really like him." My voice was soft, cautious. I valued our friendship, and I didn't want it to become strained, even if she decided to keep seeing Mike.

She laughed. "Nah, I've got something else in the works. But after last night, there's no going back."

I smiled. "See you in the weight room later?"

She nodded, and I made my way to Econ II.

By lunchtime, I was back at the dorms, sticking to my strict diet plan for the season. Nutrition was non-negotiable. I couldn't afford to mess up with the wrong food. But as soon as I walked into the building, I saw him.

I froze. My pulse pounded, but I refused to acknowledge him. He stood, opened his mouth to speak.

I turned sharply. "I told you last night to fuck off. I never want to see you again. Ever!" My voice rang through the hall.

Dorm room doors opened and girls peeked out of their rooms, watching the scene unfold.

He took a step forward towards me and started to speak. I pointed my finger at him. I took a deep breath, my tone now cutting and precise.

"Kelin David Johansson, if you care about your scholarship or your academic career, you'll leave this building and never speak to me again."

Without waiting for a response, I walked to my room and shut the door behind me.

I skipped my afternoon classes; I was feeling sick to my stomach. Around three, someone knocked on my door. I ignored it. I skipped the weight room.

Screw it all. I grabbed my headphones, cranked up some Led Zeppelin, and let the music drown everything out. Eddie, my brother, had always loved Led Zeppelin.

The pounding in my door wasn't normal, it wasn't rhythmic and it was constant. I pulled my head phone off and started screaming at the door, well I was screaming at whoever was behind the closed door.

"What do you want?" I yelled once more, grabbing the knob, turning it, and yanking the door open.

"Oh fuck! Sorry Coach." I lowered my head.

"Yeah? You're sorry? You want your ass benched? My Team Captain isn't supposed to miss or skip scheduled practices or the weight room on non-game days."

I lowered my head even more. "Five-thirty at the rink tomorrow morning or turn in that C and lose your scholarship!"

She turned and stormed away. I saw Abs standing there. "I am so sorry Abigail." I murmured.

"Geez Elle, I sent like ten texts and called three times." Abigail threw her hands up in the air.

"Can I come in and talk?"

I nodded. Abigail walked in as I closed the door. She sat on my couch; I sat down next to her.

"I am sorry Abs, I let the whole team down but worse than that, I let you down as a friend." I looked at her and tried to smile. "I swear I won't do it again."

She smiled and reached over to hug me. "Okay Cap. Get your head out of your ass. I don't wanna have to be the savior for the team all the time."

I pulled back and we both laughed. "Okay cool?" I asked, she nodded.

~~

Three days later, we crushed U Maine, four to zero. It was the kind of game that made your heart race, the kind that reminded you why you bled for this sport. On the bus ride home, Coach called me up front for a private chat. It wasn't bad, but it was the kind of talk meant to light a fire under me, to make sure I wasn't just coasting on a big win.

"We've got a home game next week, and in three weeks, Colgate and Cornell back-to-back, on the road. Those games are going to test us, Elle," Coach said, her voice steady but firm. "This is your junior year, scouts will be watching. I need you dialed in now, and so do your teammates."

"I got it, Coach." And I meant it.

I made my way back to my seat, still buzzing from the talk. An hour left on the ride, but my mind was already racing ahead. Abs glanced at me, a silent question in her eyes. I just shot her a thumbs-up. She smiled, satisfied, and closed her eyes.

A few days later, we made quick work of Rochester; it was a shutout for Abs, two goals for me. The kind of night that made everything feel right. Coach kept us grounded afterward, reminding us we had two days off from practice, but the weight room was still waiting for us.

Later, as we were getting ready to hit the showers, I could feel everyone's eyes on me. I smirked and stood up.

"Y'all, get off my ass. I'm locked in." A pause, then, grinning, "Maybe I'll start dating after the Frozen Four. Maybe staying single is good luck. You know how superstitious hockey players are."

That got some cheers and laughter before we broke for the showers.

Afterward, Abs and I rode back to the dorms, still high off our performance. Music blasted through the car, the kind of soundtrack that made everything feel big and possible. Then, out of nowhere, she reached over and turned down the volume.

"How about a cheat night? Maybe burgers... maybe a drink or two?" She was smiling, I could hear it in her voice; see it in the way she glanced at me.

I snorted. "Abigail Frances, you damn tease. You know I will never say no to you." I shot her a wink.

Wait. Wait. Why the hell did I just wink at Abs?

Her grin widened. "Careful, Cap, careful. I might ask for something more one day." A little laugh, light, teasing, but something about it stuck with me.

I smiled back, but a shiver ran through me. Suddenly, I felt a little too warm. A little too aware. Of what, exactly? I wasn't sure.

We slipped into her dorm room, unnoticed and untouched by the chaos of the women's basketball team's celebration on the first floor. Not that the room mattered, she lived in the same quad I did. Once inside, we exhaled, letting the door click shut behind us. It was just us now.

Time to unwind, to eat, to drink.

This wasn't the first time I had relaxed in Abs' room, but tonight felt different. There was a quiet thrill in being here with her, an undercurrent I couldn't quite name. We each settled onto the smaller sofa, indulging in our cheat meal. When my water ran dry, I stood and grabbed another from her fridge. Turning back, I held one out to her.

She smiled, but there was mischief in her eyes. "Nope. Cheat meal means cheat drink. Pour us a bourbon on the rocks, Cap."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "Abs, I'm not getting drunk with you. I don't need my ass kicked again."

She arched a brow, a smirk playing on her lips. "What happened to 'you'll never say no to me?"

She winked then laughed, but I knew she was serious. She had me wrapped around her finger, and we both knew that too. With a sigh, I poured two blue solo cups of bourbon, dropped in some ice, and walked them over.

Standing near her, I met her gaze, unwilling to look away. The air between us thickened as I bent forward, tapping my cup lightly to hers. "Bobcats, Abs. Bobcats."

My eyes never left hers or hers mine. We were frozen in time and space. After what seemed forever, a pleasant forever, she took a sip, and then suddenly choked out a curse.

"Fuck, Elle!" Abigail fell to the couch.

My stomach tightened. "Abs? What? What's wrong?" I sank down beside her, my pulse quickening.

She didn't answer right away. Her eyes locked on mine, something unreadable swirling in their depths. I barely noticed when her hand brushed against mine. A shiver ran through me.

I swallowed hard. "Sorry, Abs, I... I just got lost for a second." My voice had softened, almost uncertain.