Chapter 2

There were a few other girls from the team too. They were doing light workouts on the field or jogging laps. This was an optional workout day.

While those girls did their leisurely exercise to stay in top form, Erin was put through the wringer, running sprints on the field. Valentina timed all the intervals and checked Erin’s heart rate after each set.

About half an hour later, Erin was a heaping pile of sweat, collapsed on the grass, gasping for air.

“Pretty good,” Valentina said, standing over her. “You’re in solid shape for someone who’s not currently on a team.”

Erin huffed while still laying there. “I love running… but… I may have to reconsider that stance. Jesus, my lungs are on fire.”

“Do you want to be on the team?”

“If you’ll have me,” Erin said, calming down. “It’s a dream.”

“Great, which means I’ll have to explain some rather private things to you.”

Erin sucked up the pain and got back to her feet. Struggling to stand, she faced the trainer and eagerly awaited some answers.

A billion questions ran through Erin’s mind but she wanted to stay in her lane the best she could. This was her new superior, after all. And since they were standing on an open sports field, this wasn’t exactly the place for such a discreet conversation.

“Are they dating?” Erin asked, finally catching her breath. “The Coach and Morgan, I mean. Are they in a relationship or something?”

Valentina gave a light chuckle. “They definitely have a relationship, but I don’t think anyone would call it dating.”

The revelation hit Erin like a ton of bricks. There was nothing romantic about what she saw in the sauna. It was purely sexual. And everyone knew it.

“It’s common knowledge?”

Valentina gave a curt nod. “There are… We have… It’s difficult to explain. You’re new. Let’s say the team has already bonded with each other, a lot.”

“I’m a fast learner.”

“Look, I hope this isn’t discouraging,” Valentina said.

Erin tried to shake it off. “Oh please, it’s 2019. Big deal. I can handle anything.”

“You’re going to fit right in. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to finish up practice for the rest of the girls.”

“Okay, let’s wrap it up ladies!” Valentina hollered to the small group of players on the field.

They all headed inside towards the locker room. The small group of women were as rowdy as the other day. They joked, laughed, and hollered at each other, while stripping off their sweaty jerseys.

Erin walked alone behind everyone else, and after Valentina praised the work ethic of the girls, the trainer came back to her. Although the situation was strange, she trusted Valentina like a mentor. She’d only been helpful thus far.

“You’re still new here,” Valentina said with a disarming smile, while giving Erin a pat on the shoulder. “When we get closer to a big game, you’ll see how much pressure these girls are under. The pressure to win is enormous.”

“I’m sure of that. I played sports in high school, and even then I was stressed out. I can only imagine what a big game would feel like.”

“Well, these women deal with pressure in their own ways. That’s why they’re the best. The team’s record speaks for itself. You’ll learn soon enough.”

Erin gulped and nodded. “I think I already have an idea.”

“Do you? If you’re intimidated by what Morgan was doing to the Coach’s ass yesterday — with her tongue — then I’d understand. Not a lot of people can handle being in that sort of environment. I get it.”

Erin held firm this time, wanting to prove herself. “And if I’m not intimidated?”

“If that’s the case, then you may actually be a real asset to this team. You’re talented and we could use you.”

They could hear the shower heads being turned on as some of the women got an early start washing themselves. Steam hit their face as they entered the locker room. Women were walking around in their sports bras and shorts, barefoot on the floor. They stripped down without shame, like any other locker room.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to join a team like this,” Erin said with great pride. “I mean, I don’t have any plans to become a professional player, but I’d love to play with these talented women. That’s my final decision.”

Valentina extended a handshake. “Welcome aboard, Erin. I’ll let the Coach know that you’re up to par, and that you have what it takes. Practice is on Monday, don’t be late.”

Erin was thrilled when shaking the trainer’s hand. This felt right. It felt like the decision that should have been made months ago.

“I wish I could talk to you all day,” Erin said enthusiastically. “But I know you’re busy after this and I’m desperate for a shower.”

“Actually, I think I have a few minutes. Are you sore anywhere?”

“Where?” Valentina asked.

“Calves, and my arms from all those push ups.”

“Need a massage? That’s part of my specialty.”

“It’s part of my job,” Valentina explained. “I need to keep the girls fresh. I need to know if they’re sore, if they’re aching, if they’re stressed. Small issues can lead to really severe injuries if they’re not addressed early. I’m an assistant coach and I take my job very seriously. So if you ever need a massage, please let me know.”

Erin was delighted to hear of these services, but was too shy to ask for a massage at that very moment. Her calves and glutes were burned out and she needed to be fresh by Monday.

“Where do you do it?” Erin asked. “I didn’t see a table for that.”

Valentina flashed a shy smile. “In the shower area. I know what you’re thinking, it sounds weird, but we’re an open group, and I find that hot water and steam are great for muscle relaxation. It enhances the massage.”

“In the shower area?” Erin gulped, unsure of what she had just heard.

“There are benches and seats attached in our shower. It’s weird at first, but you’ll get used to it.”

Dirty thoughts ran through Erin’s mind. Did this trainer have the same attitude as the Coach? Were all the players so nonchalant about everything?

Erin’s eyes shifted to a pair of players undressing by the locker, before heading to the shower. The women giggled as they talked amongst themselves. There were other sounds of conversation coming from the shower area as more women entered.

It occurred to Erin that she hadn’t seen the shower area yet. Were there even private stalls?

“That sounds interesting,” Erin noted. “You all seem really close.”

“We have to be. Again, friendship and being a sisterhood is a massive stress reliever. We’re like troops going into battle. We have to be close.”

“Makes total sense.”

Just then, Valentina’s phone beeped and she checked it.

“I need to go,” the trainer said after checking a text. “This is your first time showering here. Just relax, okay? Get used to the madness before the entire team is here on Monday. These girls are lively, but harmless.”

There was a cautious tone in Valentina’s voice which set off alarm bells in Erin’s mind. Was this something to be afraid of?

“Anything I should know?” Erin asked. “Do you have any friendly pointers for a newbie like myself?”

Valentina nearly blushed. “These girls are a friendly bunch, as you’ve noticed. Talk to them. Be their friend. Say something. Don’t be intimidated. Think of this as a sorority of athletes. Oh, and no one uses a stall. Everything is out in the open. These girls are close and share everything; soap, shampoo, towels. It’s like an exclusive community.”

“I get that feeling from them. It seems like a cool, kind of sisterly bond.”

“That’s the mentality we need,” Valentina explained. “They share more than just material items. It can be something as simple as a touch, an encouraging pat on the back, or even affection.”

Erin’s toes curled inside of her shoes. “I got the feeling that something like that was going on. I didn’t want to be rude.”

“There’s more on your mind, isn’t there? Go ahead, ask me. Last chance before you head in there.”

Erin gulped. “The thing I saw yesterday with the Coach and Morgan… how common is that sort of thing, exactly? The other girls seemed so… so… carefree about it.”

“It all depends on the mood of the team. So what if they wash each other’s hair in the shower? Or they share a tongue here and there. We’re all adults, right? The girls work super hard. They’re entitled to their forms of relaxation.”

Sharing a tongue? Erin felt her pussy clenching and it nearly made her legs cross in the process. This was a lot to handle, and for a moment, Erin considered running back to her dorm room to shower. But that’s totally against team spirit.

“You’re right,” Erin said with false confidence, and an even faker smile to match it. “We’re all adults here. I’m excited at the prospect of making new friends.”

Valentina gave a genuine smile and a pat on the shoulder. “I need to go. You’re way too uptight. You’ve showered in gyms and locker rooms before, haven’t you?”

“This is the same thing, but with higher testosterone, college chicks. Go make some new friends already. See you Monday.”

Erin could almost sense the laughter that Valentina wanted to release just before leaving. Now she was all alone as the trainer left the area.

Wanting to get this over with, Erin went over to her locker. She kept reminding herself that this was a friendly bunch. Everyone had been so welcoming and inviting to her.

Small banter was exchanged as Erin sheepishly made her way into the dressing area. She went to her assigned locker and began removing her sweaty clothes, hanging them on a hook. She kept reminding herself that this was just like getting naked in any other gym shower. So why was she getting so nervous?

Armed only with a scrub, Erin proceeded to walk naked into the shower area, towards all her new friends.

She saw a Forward named Annabelle casually strip off her sports bra and bottom to stand completely naked. A different player, a Defender, walked right past her and gave a loud slap on the butt. Annabelle laughed returned the slap.

This was reality. There was no way Erin could have dreamt something like this, something so casually lewd.

She saw two women, Bryce and Graciella, standing butt naked by the entrance area of the shower. They casually shared the same showerhead, standing mere inches apart while speculating on their grades for a Calculus exam they had taken the week prior.

Venturing deeper into the shower area, she saw a Hispanic girl named Penelope, sitting on a bench while enjoying the steam, with her legs spread. A blonde girl named Hannah was on her knees, giving Penelope’s crotch a careful shave with a razor and cream.

It seemed like they were having a casual conversation about what they’d be having for dinner that night.

As Erin walked passed the group, they all gave her a quick ‘hello’ and a smile, welcoming her to sorority of athletes. Erin gave them all a smile of her own, trying not to be ashamed that they were all completely naked in such a casual setting.

Would this be Erin’s new reality on the sports team?

Monday: Erin Joins the Women

She spent an anxious weekend trying to digest what she’d seen and wondered what was to come. When it came time to actually head to practice, she was absolute in her resolve to join and have fun. She might not be the best player, but she was still good and knew she could cut it. As far as the messing around went, she worked so hard in school and life, so she deserved to let loose a little, right? At least that’s what she kept trying to tell herself.