the best friend duo were completely smitten when they met you. the first time was at that tennis match, they couldn't take their eyes off you or your play — they were surprised to meet someone so dedicated to the sport, although they were also tennis players, they could see how your relationship with this sport went beyond. then they decided to attend that event organized by Adidas to celebrate you as one of the great tennis players of the future; even at just 18, you were achieving what any youth player would want.

and of course, they took the opportunity to chat with you.

the night passed peacefully until the event ended, and once the two friends returned to the hotel room (coincidentally, the same hotel you were staying at) both of them had the same doubt: would you really show up at their door just like they invited you hours ago?

"you talked to her like we wanted to fuck her," said JJ, who is lying on the bed with his legs up, leaning against the nearby wall while his hands they bounce a tennis ball against it. Rafe sits in a small, worn armchair in front of him, smoking the cigar between his lips, “but we want to do it.” he replied nonchalantly, frowning and looking at his friend in confusion as if it were the obvious.

“i mean, yeah—but i don’t know— you really think she’s goin’ to come?” Maybank asked thoughtfully, looking at Rafe from his supine position. Rafe rolled his eyes and threw the half-smoked cigarette to his friend, earning a complaint from him.

they both fall silent. just as they're about to continue the conversation, a knock on the wooden door catches their attention. the boys stop what they're doing to quickly stare at each other, and as soon as the room goes quiet again, they both think that perhaps it was just a product of their minds those knocks they just heard — seconds later, a second, calm knock on the door again.

“shit—” mumbles jj as he quickly gets out of bed, turns around, stands up and starts tidying the bed which is a complete mess as is the whole room. cigarette smoke in the air, a full ashtray, a broken air conditioner, and even their tennis bags lying around the room.

The lit cigarette still dangles from Rafe's lips as he stands up and clumsily begins to arrange the blanket on the bed, and JJ does a flip on the mattress to get off the bed and almost fall to the floor — they move anxiously and clumsily, trying to spruce up the room with its warm lights, which smells of testosterone and cigarettes. maybe cologne too.

rafe puts out his cigarette in the ashtray and quickly stands back up next to his friend. They wait a few seconds, until an impatient JJ deigns to open the door.