Tomboy: All American Heroine (Chapter 1) (Patreon)

Tomboy: All American Heroine

FEM Fighters Super Heroines in Peril

Chapter 1

Her hot, wet tongue slipped out to wet her full lips. Kelly Kingsley paused to look up and around. She wanted everything right here, right now, etched in her brain forever. She was one pitch, one strike away from winning the Girls Softball state championship. The eighteen year old blonde beauty threw the softball into her glove once, twice, thrice. A good-luck ritual almost as vital as her physique.

The catcher got her attention. Charlee Timberland squatted behind home plate in her uniform (blue socks and shirt, white pinstripe pants), behind that padding and catcher's mask. Kelly smiled, because Charlee even wore her cap backwards off the field. Old habits.

Glancing to her right, she saw all the eager, hopeful faces of her teammates. Coach Caruthers looked stressed as usual. The school cheerleaders stood with her hands pressed together before their faces, as if they were praying. They all had wide eyes, except one. Jessica Albright seethed as she glared at Kelly. Yeah, that bitch would rather her own school blow the whole championship than see Kelly be the hero like that.

"Just do it," she muttered, baby blues narrowing as they focused on the catcher's hand signals. Charlee signaled for a curve ball. Kelly shook her head. The pretty brunette frowned at her through the catcher's mask, and then gave the signal Kelly wanted: Fast ball. "Go for the glory, or go home. Win the game, the state championship, and piss off Jessica. A trifecta of perfect."

The batter tapped home plate with her red aluminum bat. She adjusted her batter's helmet, and then bent over in her stance, bat held back and up, and more than ready. Kelly caught her eyes, feeling that connection. Just enough to distract the batter.

Kelly wound up, and threw that ball underhanded like she'd never thrown a pitch before. She put all the mustard on that ball. It must've been the fastest pitch she'd ever thrown. The batter's shoulders barely moved before the loud THWAP of softball hitting glove leather sounded throughout the packed stadium.

"Strike three! You're out!" the umpire cried.

The stadium erupted with insane cheers and applause. Kelly's teammates exploded out of the dugout and charged the mound. The infield reached her first as Kelly leapt up in pure joy and exhilaration, fist pumping the air in victory.

Everyone began chanting, Kelly! Kelly! Kelly!, her swarming teammates loudest of all. Overhead, the announcer enthusiastically reminded everyone it wasn't just a 5-to-nothing victory, but a NO HITTER for Kelly Kingsley.

The Taurus University scouts in attendance had to be pleased with her performance. Next year, she'd be pitching for them. She'd already accepted a full athletic scholarship from that university. At the end of the summer, Kelly would move to the big city and begin her college career. Life was good!

"You did it! You did it!" Coach Caruthers shouted, face red in his excitement. The middle-aged man wrapped her up in his arms and hugged her tight, before swirling her around. Then, setting her back down on her feet, he signaled to Kelly's teammates. "Pick her up now."

To Kelly's surprise, her teammates lifted her up on their shoulders and danced around within the crowd. She saw other students, band members, cheerleaders, and teachers in the crowd, including a lot of her teammate's parents. Her widowed father had to work. As usual.

I wish Mom had lived to see me today, she thought.

Her mother died when she was a toddler, and under mysterious conditions. They'd been living in Ocean City at the time, and her father immediately moved them to that small Ohio town. And he never, ever spoke of her mother. The subject was strictly taboo.

Kelly was carried over to a portable platform, which was done up in purple and gold. Coach led her up by the hand, so she could accept the trophy for the team. Heck, that was almost as exciting as throwing the winning pitch. Her hands trembled as she accepted the gleaming golden cup – from the state Governor, no less. It was all a jumble, and she couldn't think straight as she thanked everyone for their support of the team. Really, she didn't recall anything she said seconds after saying it. But it must have been good, because cheers erupted again.

The next hour proved a whirlwind of smiling faces and congratulations, pats on the back and even one pat on the butt from a really old guy. Yeah, he got a pass. Kelly clutched the trophy the whole time, unable to get the big-ass smile off her face. It was the greatest moment of her young life.

Today, I'm the hero, she thought. Make that HEROINE. But tomorrow, I'll be back to being just another kid on the block.

But her summer vacation was going to be EPIC! Three whole months before she headed to Taurus University and the City of Dallas at the end of August. Hell, returning to the city of her birth to play college ball was almost as exciting as winning the state championship. Almost.

When the exuberant crowd began to thin, Kelly made her way into the locker room. Her arrival caused another ruckus, and soon all the players were crowded in the middle of the room jumping up and down, laughing, crying, squealing with uncontainable joy. Kelly found it a little uncomfortable, since many of the girls were topless and in their panties.

After they were all showered and dressed in street clothes, the coaches were allowed in. Only Coach Caruthers was male, but they came in together. Coach called Kelly to his side.

"Ladies, you played brilliantly tonight!" he cried, to their squeals of glee. "You played like pros and dominated! I've never been so proud of anyone in my life. And then there's our sweet Kelly. Kelly of the super-powered arm! No one stands before the power and might of Kelly Kingsley!"

Suddenly everyone wanted to hug her. Kelly laughed, more than a little self-conscious.

"Kelly, I'm proud to announce the team has unanimously voted you this year's Most Valuable Player, on top of you been declared the series' Most Valuable Player," Coach said. He lifted up a scuffed up softball. "I am honored to give you the winning ball. This is the very ball you threw in that game and series winning pitch. Congratulations, and good luck in college."

The tears came flowing out. Kelly accept the game ball graciously, and thanked everyone for all their effort and wished everyone continued success. Really, she didn't know what to say.

"All right, girls," Coach shouted above the din. "Calm down, calm down. Good. I am officially telling you all to go back to your hotel rooms and get some sleep. It's a long bus ride home tomorrow. Don't be late. We pull out at six in the morning." He frowned at them, though his eyes kept on smiling. "But we know you girls are gonna go out and party. Be safe, stick together, and DON'T DRINK."

They laughed. The coaches took the trophy and returned to the locker room office, while the players slowly filed out of the locker room. The team's hotel was right across the street, so they didn't have to take a bus back. Kelly hung back by the door to hug each and every player.

"The party's next door at Hooligan's," said Charlee, the last player to leave. "Don't be a good girl as usual and skip the party. We all expect to party with our hero tonight."

"Don't worry. I'll be there," Kelly said and giggled. "I just want to put on something my dad wouldn't approve of first."

After Charlee left, Kelly looked around the empty locker room and sighed, a big smile on her lovely face.

"What a day," she whispered. "I'll never forget it if I live to be a hundred." Her smile turned into a wicked little grin. "And I totally spiked the ball in Jessica's face today. What a way to end my high school life. Victorious!"