Chapter Text
Whasington- Draft of the WNBA
''And the No. 1 pick for 2012 by the Los Angeles Sparks is... Maya Bishop!'' It was announced between shouts of enthusiasm and excitement in the room.
''I can't believe it! They chose me, they really chose me out of all of them!'' And it was true, Maya couldn't believe it, despite being sure that she was the player of the moment, that the teams were really fighting over her, deep down she had a small doubt, which was quickly extinguished when she heard her name.
''Maya, congratulations, you did it!'' Alice, her manager, went to give her a big hug.
6 years had passed since Maya had left Los Angeles to go to London, in order to practice the sport that she loved so much, basketball, the only thing she had left since the death of her parents in that accident. She graduated in the European country and was quickly hired by one of the best clubs and there she showed everything she was capable of doing, winning tournaments and awards that propelled her higher and higher. And now, after those 6 years she returned to the city that brought her so many memories and ghosts.
''Thank you...puffff'' she said between her manager's tight arms around her neck. ''Thank you Alice, Alice now! But let it go, you're going to suffocate me and I need these lungs to give you the championship, which from what I saw from last season's videos, they need me a lot, HAHAHAHA'' said Maya when she managed to escape from April's arms.
''Calm down star, on that side of the pond they don't know you that well yet. You're going to have to prove a lot and you already know that...''
''Excuse me'' April was interrupted by a woman in her 40s, dressed in sports equipment and with a rather serious gesture ''Maya Bishop, I'm Martha Harrison, from now on; your coach.''
''Yes yes, I know you, she is Alice, my manager,'' said the blonde.
''I just need you to know that in a week I'll be waiting for you on the field to start training and that even though you've won some crappy trophy elsewhere, that doesn't guarantee you a place here. So you're going to have to sweat your ass off quite a bit Bishop, I want to make it clear, VERY clear.'' The coach turned around and left, leaving the 2 girls looking at each other.
‘'I told you it wouldn't be easy. Besides, that woman really imposes." Said a very scared Alice.
''I never thought I was dear, you know I like challenges'' Maya winked at her. ''Let's go? Tonight's party is awaiting for us!''
''Well, but tell your friends or whatever the girls you usually spend the night with; are called not to upset you or make you too tired, that tomorrow the jet leaves very early for Los Angeles'' and before leaving, Alice looked at the blonde for the last time "and don't give me that little smile, you know what I'm talking about."
''Yes MOM, I promise that I will only celebrate a little with my so called friends'' the player answered, rolling her eyes.
Los Angeles - Carina's center deparment
''Does anyone know where my white Dior shirt is?'' shouted a sexy Italian woman, quite upset, from her room.
''What's wrong with this idiot now?'' Emily asked Megan. They are sitting on the living room couch, watching as the whirlwind Carina DeLuca had been yelling at them and cursing for more than 2 hours for anything that happened to her.
''What’s happening with her? The same as always, she's nervous because tomorrow she has a very important meeting and she needs her favorite shirt.'' Megan explains to her girlfriend.
''Does anyone know where my white Dior shirt is? EMELY! HAVE YOU SEEN MY SHIRT? I SWEAR THAT IF YOU DARE TO USE IT YOU, WILL MEET AN ANGRY DELUCA.'' Shouted the Italian ''Te ne pentirai sicuramente!'' (You would definitely regret it!)
''Psss, as if I didn't know her'' Emily comments funny, which makes Megan laugh too.
''May I know what you two are laughing about? Don't you have your own house? Instead of helping me, you laugh at me!'' Carina took a exasperated breath and continued ''I need my lucky shirt to close tomorrow's story, and I can't find it''
''Calm down, Italian asshole, if you keep shouting like that I'm going to send you to New York with a kick in that big ass,'' Emily said, already tired of listening to her friend.
''HAHAHA, miss breast surgery, you're not scaring anyone with that''
''Look Carina…'' tried to continue Emily.
''Enough girls'' Megan interrupted. ''Emmy, don't fight with Carina, she's nervous and Carina, your shirt should be in the clean clothes, because if I remember correctly, you wore it for your session with Versace last week.''
''TRUE! TRUE! Thank you Megan, you really are helpful'' the Italian gave the dancer a hug ''not like others...'' she looked at Emily badly and continued looking for the shirt.
''Shut up DeLuca! It seems Gabriella hasn't been treating you very well in bed lately, because you're in such a mood,'' the green-eyed girl said softly, so that only Megan could hear her. ''By the way, where is Gabriella? The bloodsucking vampire?''
''I heard you Emily!'' Carina entered the room again with the same white shirt in hand, and quickly went out to defend her girlfriend. ''Gabriella, MY GIRLFRIEND, who is not a blood-sucking vampire, had a very important parade or something like that I think''
Carina and Gabriella had been dating for a year and a half, they had met at a photo session; in which Gabriella was the model and Carina the photographer. Yeah! Carina DeLuca was a photographer, one of the most recognized, famous and demanding in the entire industry. She had graduated with honors from the college of art and design, her parents gave her a luxurious apartment in Los Angeles so she could study without having to worry about working and paying rent at the same time. But getting to the top had not been easy, single with a small daughter in such a big city was scary, however, she had the help of her two best friends and her parents to get ahead. Today, she could say she had everything she wanted, today Carina DeLuca could say she was happy, but... was she really?
''Carina, CARINA! Can you hear me?!'' Emily shouted at her, making a gesture in front of her face.
''Mmmmm yes YES Emmy, what were you saying? Sorry, I kept thinking about mmm... Gabriella.'' She lied a little.
''I was wondering if your parents have told you anything about Gigi, I miss the dwarf running around the apartment''
''Yes, I talked to her a while ago, for an hour she was telling me EVERYTHING she had done during her day, this girl never gets tired! My parents don't even know what to entertain her with anymore.'' Carina laughed.
''Ehm, remember that they are in Seattle, there isn't much to do there either.'' Emlily added.
''Well, I'm going to go to sleep, I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a very important day.'' Carina said, saying goodbye with a hug and kiss on the cheeks to her friends, ''good night, close the door when you leave.''
Beverly Hills – Maya’s new mansion -9:30 a.m.
''Wow Alice, you've really shined with this place, it's huge and it has a pool!'' It had been a long time since the blonde could enjoy a swim in a pool, you could say that London was not very inviting when it came to swimming.
''Haha, I knew you would like it, champion, well, I'm saying goodbye, my plane leaves in an hour.'' The manager says, looking at her watch. ''Hey Maya, you know you can call me whenever you want? I still think you won't have any problems, I left everything arranged. You just have to win games, that's easy, isn't it?'' the redhead finished with a small laugh.
''Uyyy yes, easy. About 30 points per game will be enough, don't you think?'' Pure irony from Maya, who knows that with this team she doesn't have it easy at all. ''Well, I'll accompany you and while I'm at it, I'll go downtown to run for a while.''
''Run? At this time Maya? I think it would be better if you rested for a while, you just arrived at your new home from a flight of more than 10 hours.'' Alice looked at her worried.
''Rest? Nooo, that's what death is for, come on, move! I already want to see the American lifestyle again''
Los Angeles – city center -10:45 a.m.
''OH MY GOD! but how late it is! I'm late! Damn it, damn the alarm that doesn't ring, damn the cashier that took a while to make my coffee, damn the car that won't start and damn the blocks I have to walk from my studio because I can't get a damn taxi in this damn city.'' A very grumpy Carina cursed, the same one that was practically running to her studio.
Maya was running, taking in all the details that Los Angeles had to show her. The blonde was surprised by how much the city had changed in just 6 years.
And when they were both turning the corner... BE CAREFUL!
''BEWARE'' And folders, iPhones, coffee began to fly...