January 2019

A loud yell cuts across the Proactive Sports Gym causing Christian to lose focus and stumble out of his lunging position. He glances across the gym where two other athletes are preforming box jumps and sprints. One athlete is a female and the other is a male. The two are clearly giving it their all attempting not to lose. Christian shakes his head and lets out a laugh as his buddy, Baker Mayfield, gets passed by the female athlete who lets out another yell signifying her dominance over Baker.

"CY!" His trainer Deondrick barks and Christian centers himself back on the workout he's doing.

Christian had been coming to Proactive Sports since he was in high school and had continued to show his love and support for his hometown gym by showing up for a few weeks in the offseason to get right. It is also nice to spend some time in LA and catch up with old friends. Milwaukee is great don't get that twisted, but sometimes a dude needs a little sunshine instead of snow. Christian pumps out his movements to strength his legs quickly and hops on an assault bike to get his heart rate up.

While pedaling another yell comes from the other side. This one is an obscenity from Baker. Christian glances over curiously. The girl and Baker are in plank position. Baker's face cringes in pain and the girl smiles. Her intensity can literally be felt from his position and honestly, it's a little much for Christian. He watches her pop up out of her plank commands her trainer to "turn this the f**k up" and start dancing to Cardi B's Moneybag as if her previous 45 minutes of intense workouts hadn't phased her at all. Christian's eyes widen in amazement as she starts to shake her hips like it wasn't 6 am in the morning.

Deondrick gives him the nod to cool down and Christian begins to pedal slower.

"Who is that?" Christian asks with a chin jerk towards the female as nonchalantly as possible.

Deondrick smiles and raises his eyebrows and let's out a little laugh as if to say, 'buddy you're in for a ride asking that questions,' but shrugs, "That's Kat Bledsoe she's the number one collegiate volleyball player in the world right now."

Christian nods his head approving the title, "What's her deal?"

"Surprised you don't already know her she's been coming her before you have, but she was pretty big time in high school and took her full ride to University of Oklahoma after she took a gap year to play in the 2016 Olympics. She's been at OU for two years and is the first collegiate female athlete that's ever been paid. Pretty big deal in that world and in the athletic world." D tells Christian.

An article in Sport Illustrated comes flashing back to Christian like a train. He remembers reading about this scandal that OU wouldn't give her playing time because she was making too much money due to her massive Nike contract that even included her being the only person that was actually signed to represent Off-White brand. It was a huge deal because she protested by sitting on the court until the coach finally subbed her out. The coach not playing her didn't work because she was the best player on the team, and they were about to lose a national title without her playing so she ended up getting to play again.

"She won some big award, too right?" Christian asks trying to remember the rest.

D nods while watching Kat and Baker challenge each other in a pull-up competition, "Yeah she was Freshman of the Year in 2017, Big XI Volleyball Player of the Year in 2018, NCAA Volleyball Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018, NCAA National Female Athlete in 2017 and 2018. On top of all her first team, players of the week, and a shit load of other records she broke. Not to mentions she's been the runner up for NCAA Athlete of the Year getting beat out by her two best friends Baker Mayfield and Trae Young."

"She's cools with Baker?" He asks trying to see if there might be a connection he can play off of or a relationship he shouldn't mess with.

D nods intensely at Christian, "Oh yeah they're thick as thieves from what I've heard. Plus, they do all their workouts together because she's really fucking intense. Baker can barely keep up with her most days because she goes so hard."

Christian looks over at her and takes a good long look at her for the first time. Kat had been dressed in baggy sweats and an OU volleyball t-shirt, but she has taken both those things off and stands in turquoise spandex and a black sports bra. She's a tall girl probably around 6'0" or even 6'1" and she has really smooth tan skin. Kat's black hair is pulled up and the tail looks like its thick enough to choke someone out. Her face is defined with high cheekbones, a slight nose, big green eyes, thick dark brows and lashes, and full pink lips. Her shoulders a broad to match her chest and her torso is toned with muscle lines. She has legs that prove she's a volleyball player because they had thick quads and as many guys on his team would say "a fat ass".

Kat stands there talking to Baker while adjusting two massive iced out chains on her neck. This then leads Christian to notice the diamonds that run up her ears, her long neon pink acrylic nails, and how could he miss the obvious nipple piercings that are prominent due to her tight sports bra. Christian shakes his head in distaste. This girl is far too extra for him.

"She always works out in her chains?" Christian scoffs.

D laughs, "Yeah, she keeps the ice on and the gangster rap playing she's a real LA girl that's for sure."

"She's a little too intense for me." Christian shrugs and gets off the bike to stretch his muscles that are already getting sore.

"Honestly, she's really only like that around Baker he gets her amped and I guess in games too. Kat isn't bad at all she's super sweet, but glad you're not interested. Not to be rude but you don't stand a chance." D comments with a laugh seeing Christian's face drop from the joking insult.

Christian shakes his head, "Why do you say that?"

D shrugs trying to play it off, "I don't know CY she's be running around with some pretty big names since she turned 21 last October."

Christian frowns and scrunches his face, "Oh yeah like who? Who's bigger than the NL MVP?"

D rolls his eyes, "For a while your buddy Cody Bellinger was scooping her up and taking her out, but word in the gym is she got tired of him being a jerk and has been seeing Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors a lot and I know that is true because he picked her up from her workouts last week."

Christian shakes his head, "Can't believe Cody actually had enough game to tap that."

D shrugs, "I don't know what to tell you dude, but I'll just prepare you; you two are taking your physical fitness test together on Saturday."

Christian's mouth drops, "Are you kidding me. I don't want to do that if she yells like she did at Baker then I'm gonna shutdown that shit doesn't work with me."

"Chill, you'll be fine I swear she isn't that bad." D promises and leaves Christian before he gets anymore complaints.

Christian stands and twists his back to stretch. He's the only athlete left in the gym from the morning sessions and he takes his time making his way out. His schedule is clear today and a little beach time might before in store for later. Christian struts out of the gym and heads to his rented BWM Beamer.

"Yo, Yeli!"

Christian turns to see his buddy Baker leaning on a blacked-out Dodge Challenger. Now, Christian is no car expert, but he knew this was a dope ass car. This wasn't just any Challenger this was the Widebody Demon that was barely street legal and was the fastest quarter mile car ever. It was basically a recreational drag racing car and anyone who drove this was basically pretty fucking dope. He had looked at one, saw the $95,000 price tag, and had a serious chat about how much he wanted a drag racing car right now.

"Bake! What's good." He greets with a smile as they clasp hands and pat each other on the back in a solid bro hug.

"None, my guy, none. Hey, have you met Kat Bledsoe before? She's my girl from OU." Baker says and Kat stands up from her seat in the car.

Christian knows she's tall but is taken aback when he doesn't have to look very far down to meet her eyes, "Nah I haven't, but what's up I'm Christian Yelich." He says and offers a hand, which she takes.

Kat flashes a pretty smile at Christian, "Nice to meet you I'm Kat. You're that dope ass baseball player, right?" She comments.

Christian can't stop starring at her flashing green eyes, "Yeah I play for the Brewers." He manages to reply with a nod to break their eye contact.

"Damn that's tight. Funny story I'm transferring to University of Wisconsin, Madison this year." She says.

Christian's eyebrows shoot up, "Shit, really why's that?"

Kat shrugs, "I'm tired of OU cutting my minutes and Wisconsin has a pretty good program for me to join." It is a reasonable answer, "I'm moving out there in like a month we should all go out sometime maybe you can show me the ropes. I guess Milwaukee is like less than an hour away from Madison?"

Christian nods, "Yeah for sure you and Bake should come to a game." He offers.

Baker nods in agreement offering his first contribution to the conversation since the introduction. He is smiling seeing his two friends hit it off.

Kat nods, "Yeah definitely, but only if you come to one of mine."

Christian swears he saw her wink, but maybe he is imagining that. He goes to reply, but Kat pulls out her phone and rolls her eyes before answering it, "Hey Peter what's up." She turns to Christian and points to the phone mouthing 'agent' as if that explains everything, "Yep, I am on my way to the airport right now." She says yes to a few more things before ending the call.

With a dramatic eyeroll she sits in the badass car that clearly belongs to her and shuts the door. The car roars to life with the throatiest engine Christian has ever heard. It gives him chills. Nipsy Hussel's 'Hussel and Motivate' blasts from the speakers so loud the bass rattles Christian from five feet away.

"Sorry I gotta hop on a jet to the Bahamas. I have a photo shoot for Sports Illustrated tomorrow, but I'll probably see you around and nice to meet you." Kat yells over the music before backing out slowly and speeding off down the road.

Baker grabs Christians shoulders and rubs them, "Don't worry dude I remember the first time I met Kat too. I asked her to marry me so you're doing a lot better than most."

"Fuck off I don't even think she's that hot." Christian lies and swats Baker away.

~*~