Smash to the Heart

Third-Person POV

The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, charged with the weight of anticipation. 

The crowd was buzzing, the bleachers filled with students from both schools, each one eager to witness the ultimate showdown. 

The air was thick with excitement as Margo Castellen and Aerin Lysvane stepped onto the court, ready to face each other in the final match of the division tournament.

Margo, dressed in her sleek tennis gear, stood at the baseline, her posture confident, her eyes focused. 

Aerin, on the opposite side, mirrored her stance, gripping her racket with intensity. 

They had been rivals for years, but this moment, this match, was the pinnacle.

Both players were hungry for victory, pushing themselves beyond their limits to secure the title.

From the sidelines, Margo’s friends—Syra, Caia, and Miv—stood watching, their eyes filled with concern and pride. 

On the other side of the court, Aerin’s friends—Soleil, Galey, and Jex—were equally invested, their voices ringing with support as they cheered for their friend.

Aerin and Margo had both fought hard to get here, but this was the moment that would define it all. 

They weren’t just competing for the title—they were competing for supremacy, for pride, and for the honor of being the best.

The umpire’s whistle sliced through the air, signaling the start of the match. The first serve went to Margo.

First Set

Margo’s serve came fast, her body launching into a powerful motion as she sent the ball hurtling toward Aerin. 

It was a clean, fast serve—sharp and precise—but Aerin was already moving, anticipating the ball's trajectory. 

She stretched, reaching for the return, and managed to send it back with a solid backhand, deep into Margo’s side of the court. 

The rally began.

Margo sprinted to meet the ball, her footwork graceful, but Aerin was quick to adjust, her eyes locked on Margo’s every move. 

The ball flew back and forth with speed, the power and intensity of each stroke echoing through the arena. 

Margo smashed a forehand, but Aerin blocked it, quickly sending a slice back, pulling Margo to the far side of the court. Margo, never one to back down, dug deep, but she overextended and sent a return wide.

1-0, Aerin.

The crowd roared, sensing that Aerin was on a roll. 

Her friends cheered from the stands, but Margo wasn’t one to show weakness. 

She served again, determined to regain control of the match. 

The tension mounted as Margo’s serve cut through the air, a bullet that Aerin barely managed to return. 

This time, Margo’s shot was placed perfectly, forcing Aerin to scramble.

With an intense grunt, Aerin lunged to intercept the ball, but Margo was already there, hitting a backhand down the line, just out of Aerin’s reach. 

The point was hers.

1-1.

The match continued at a relentless pace. Both players were exchanging powerful serves and volleys, each point a test of stamina and willpower. 

Aerin’s agility was her strength—her ability to move quickly across the court kept Margo on edge. 

Every time Margo tried to drive Aerin into the corner, Aerin would respond with a precise return, challenging Margo to outmaneuver her.

But Margo wasn’t backing down. Her serves were becoming more aggressive, each one aimed to push Aerin out of her comfort zone. 

The rallies grew longer, more intense. Aerin seemed to have the edge with her consistency, but Margo was pushing her to the limit, finding angles that made it difficult for Aerin to get into position.

At 2-2, Margo struck. She served with speed, and Aerin, caught off-guard, misjudged the ball’s spin, sending it long. 

Margo broke Aerin’s serve and moved ahead.

3-2, Margo.

The crowd held its breath. 

Aerin wasn’t rattled, though. 

She’d been here before, in pressure situations. 

Her serve came hard and fast, but Margo was ready. 

The rally began again, and this time, Aerin found an opening. 

She hit a sharp cross-court winner, sending Margo scrambling to the opposite side of the court. 

Margo’s legs burned as she tried to reach the ball, but it was too late.

3-3.

The match was tied again, and both players were feeling the pressure. 

Margo’s serve came next, and she hammered it into Aerin’s backhand, but Aerin was quick to respond. 

She whipped the ball down the sideline, forcing Margo to stretch and barely return the ball. 

The rally continued, neither player giving an inch. 

A deep forehand from Margo, a swift return from Aerin—back and forth, shot after shot. 

Sweat dripped down both of their faces as the tension in the match built.

At 4-3, Aerin broke Margo’s serve again. The ball came at Margo fast, but Aerin’s return was even faster, her forehand clean and precise. 

Margo rushed forward but couldn’t reach it in time.

5-3, Aerin.

Aerin’s friends erupted in cheers, but Margo was steely-eyed. 

She wasn’t giving up. Not now, not after everything they’d both fought for. 

Margo served once again, this time with even more power, trying to reclaim her lost ground. 

Aerin fought back, keeping her calm, but the tension was palpable. 

A long rally ensued, both players digging deep into their reserves. 

Margo hit a backhand that nearly caught Aerin off-guard, but Aerin scrambled to return it. 

Margo’s next shot, a sharp angle, was too much, and Aerin couldn’t catch up.

5-4, Aerin.

Margo had given herself one last chance. 

With the crowd urging her on, she kept up the pressure, but Aerin wasn’t about to let go of her lead. 

With a deep breath, Aerin served once more, aiming for Margo’s backhand side, knowing it was her weak spot. 

Margo tried to counter, but Aerin anticipated it, charging forward and hitting a clean winner down the line. 

The crowd gasped, sensing that Aerin was closing in on the set.

6-4, Aerin.

The final point was a display of Aerin’s composure under pressure. 

She had fought through the long rallies, the powerful serves, and Margo’s relentless attacks. 

And in the end, it was Aerin’s consistency and mental toughness that had won her the first set.

Margo, standing at the other end of the court, took a deep breath. 

Her resolve was unwavering. 

The second set would be a different story. 

And she wasn’t done yet.