Note: You can change font size, font face, and turn on dark mode by clicking the "A" icon tab in the Story Info Box.
You can temporarily switch back to a Classic Literotica® experience during our ongoing public Beta testing. Please consider leaving feedback on issues you experience or suggest improvements.
Click here"What did the coaches say?"
Mitch laughed. "The coaches said ask Spencer."
I gave her a feigned dirty look and stuck my tongue out at her. She just grinned at me, and I fluttered inside a little. Why did that happen? I shook it off.
Carrie gave me the real answer. "The coaches said drop shots, but my drop shot isn't great."
"I think it'll be fine. It won't need to be perfect. I haven't seen her come to net once. I doubt she's comfortable there." I thought for a moment, and they were both watching me. "Also take a little something off your shots."
"What!?" Both of my friends responded the same way at the same time.
"No, seriously. Look how fast she is at getting back to the middle. If you take something off and hit some more acute angles, she won't be able to do that. It'll open up the court, and she doesn't have the power to punish you for shorter shots. Be careful though, she'll try to cut that angle."
Mitch pointed at Carrie's tablet. "Why wouldn't she just take it up the line?"
I shook my head. "Too risky. This girl wants to hit to the big court."
We talked it over for several hours, and I gave her some other pointers, like to be more aggressive on her opponent's second serve, which was already something she was planning on attacking. All in all the time went far faster than I could have imagined.
We got to the hotel, and one of the assistant coaches paired us off and handed each pair a small white envelope with card keys.
"Okay ladies, go get settled in. Dinner at seven in conference room one."
I handed one of the keys to Mitch and began to wheel my beat up old carry-on sized suitcase toward the elevators while toting my tennis bag over my shoulder, while Mitch followed behind with her bag, an old, beat up army canvas duffel. Something about that just made me laugh.
"What?"
"You, Michelle, are a trip."
"I can't have a fancy bag like that. I have a rep to think of." She grinned at me shaking my head. "It's one of my dad's from when he was in service. It's all part of my butch lesbian mystique."
"Yeah, but I know you're just a big softie."
"You take that to your grave, Cindy Spencer."
Her face was so serious, but I knew she was kidding. Funny. I wasn't usually good at reading people, but I was starting to be able to tell with Mitch. We slipped inside and Mitch closed the door behind us. I tossed my bag onto the nearer bed.
"So, are you planning to try to seduce me tonight?"
I was expecting some sort of smart aleck quip, but I didn't get one. She just shook her head. "No."
The sincerity of it surprised me and I looked at her. Was she sad? Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to tell her I was kidding, as Carrie knocked on our door at that moment, checking if we were headed down to dinner.
After eating we ended up in one of the upperclassmen's rooms watching a movie. I jumped onto one of the beds, and made room for Mitch to sit next to me, but she didn't, instead taking a chair on the other side of the room.
I was surprised at how hurt I was. When Mitch and I watched shows in her room, which was becoming a regular thing, we always sat together, sometimes under the same blanket. Maybe she didn't want people to know we'd become friends.
As the movie progressed I got the distinct impression that Mitch was doing her best to not look in my direction. Maybe I was just being overly sensitive. Finally, as lights out approached, we made our way back to our room.
"Do you want the bathroom first?"
I nodded. "Yeah, sure." Mitch's voice had been soft, very unlike her. "You okay?"
"I'm fine."
I may not have the highest E.Q. in the world, but I knew that wasn't true. "When I'm done we're going to talk." I grabbed my pajamas and headed into the little bathroom. I took my time brushing my teeth and putting my hair back into the braid I usually wore to bed. By the time I came back out Mitch was already changed and under her covers, facing the other way.
"I'm out, if you need it."
"I'm okay. Goodnight."
"Michelle?" I couldn't keep the hurt out of my voice. "Are you mad at me?"
She rolled over and looked at me. "I'd never do that to you. We're friends."
The thing I'd said when we'd first gotten to our room came back to me. "Mitch, I was kidding about the seducing thing. Is that why you didn't sit with me during the movie?"
"I thought it might make you uncomfortable, with everyone around. I know me being gay bothers you." Her voice was unusually quiet.
My jaw dropped open. "It does not!" Mitch just looked at me. "I mean, it doesn't anymore." I sat down on the edge of my bed. "You realize you're the first gay person I've ever known, right?"
"I doubt that."
"I mean, that I knew was gay, that lived out. And now you're my best friend. I'd say that's growth."
She smirked at me, playfulness returning to her eyes. "I'm your best friend?"
"I spend more time with you than anyone else, even Ethan. And I look forward to hanging out with you. So yeah, I think so."
"Damn it, Spencer, I'm touched."
My face turned stern. "What did I tell you about calling me by my last name?"
Mitch laughed. "Sorry, Cindy."
"I forgive you, Michelle."
I climbed into bed, lying on my side facing my friend. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot?"
"Why Mitch? I mean, your parents did not call you Mitch when you were little."
That got a laugh. "No, they most decidedly did not." She shrugged. "When I was a kid I spent a lot of time outside with the neighborhood gang, playing ball, riding my bike, mostly with the boys. I was better than them at most sports, faster than all of them, and they always wanted me on their teams. I also kicked the ass of the ones who made fun of me for being a girl. One of them, Billy Stephens, had an old fashioned, honest-to-god tree house with a ladder and a 'No Girls Allowed' sign. So they decided to make me an honorary boy. But a boy couldn't have a name like Michelle, so they decided on "Mitch.'
"They kept calling me that, even at school. It started to stick with the other kids. I got teased a lot about being more of a boy than a girl anyway, so I just kind of went with it. Names lose their punch if you're not embarrassed by them. And here I am."
"Did you, I mean, have you ever wanted to be a boy?"
"Maybe a little when I was a kid, and I couldn't join certain teams, or got teased. Or when my aunts and uncles bought me dolls. But I'm good now. And I like having lady parts. They're a lot more fun. And it's easier to have kids."
That made me grin at her in disbelief. "You want kids?"
"Sure. Why wouldn't I?"
"I just figured you were planning on playing the field for the rest of your life. So many curious, so little time, remember?"
Her eyes and voice got thoughtful. "My parents met their first day of high school. Dad says he walked into his English class and there she was. He said she was glowing. He managed to work up the nerve to ask her to Homecoming, and they've been together ever since. They're so deeply in love it's scary."
"And you want that?"
Mitch nodded. "I don't know if it's even possible for most people. My dad always told me I'd know the one when I met her, but I'm not so sure."
I felt a tear sting my eye at the longing in Mitch's voice. I'd never even considered she could feel that way, and that wasn't the first time I'd sold her short. I needed to stop doing that. "C'mon, you're only nineteen. You'll find her. I know you will. You're going to make someone so happy someday."
"Thanks, Cindy." There was a note of pain in her voice, which made me sad.
We smiled at each other, but the moment was interrupted by a knock on the door. "You ladies in there?"
We answered in unison. "Yeah, Coach."
"Okay. Lights out, get some sleep."
We heard footsteps move away, and Mitch climbed out of bed. "I probably should use the bathroom." She did, turning out the lights when she finished. She was wearing a tank top and boxer shorts, her long legs and powerful shoulders bare. She was incredible.
She climbed onto her mattress, pulling the covers around herself. "G'night, Cindy."
"Goodnight, Michelle."
END CHAPTER ONE
**********
Thanks for reading rating and commenting! Also, a big thanks to Ash_legend and Rileyworks for helping edit. I always feel honored when you take time to comment, and they keep me going. And if you have any questions or more direct comments, please send me feedback.
- COMMENTS
I really really like it!
I’ve been looking for a good butch-femme romance for a while now. I finally found it! I just love your characters, so real to me. I can’t wait to see more of them!
baby
Not my usual type of story, gave it a try.
Loved it! Very well done, going to the next part.
Finally found a butch-femme love story! I haven’t read it all yet but I love it already!
baby
I enjoy the insight into competitive tennis. Maybe it’s completely BS, but rings true.
I loved this the first time I read it and am possibly liking it even more this time.
Excellent story. The whole series drives me through so many emotions. This is one of those go-back-and-read-it-again things.
Really well written. I’m a little sad that Mitch is such a stereotype and Spence is a selfish twat. Other than that it’s a really good story so far.
I'm reading this again because I was wanting to read a story that makes me nervous and laugh and cry and this is it. And I wanted to read it before I reread The Tennis Star again, as they are intertwined. Both are absolutely the best. The character of Mitch is cleverly constructed and well-developed, as she slowly "courts" (not seduces) Cindy to see her as the gentle caring person she really is under all but butch bluster. Very sweet and captivating.
Another second time reader here, just as good as the first time round with the exception that there are details that I missed the first time round that I’m picking up on now, great story!
I too am reading A Girl Named Mitch the second time, or maybe its the third, I don't know. I just know it is one of my favorites because of the constant tension between Mitch and Cindy. It's palpably painful as they begin to open themselves to each other. The tennis context is fun too. Can't wait to immerse myself in Chap. 2.
Read it the second time. I am so touched. Can't stop redind, it' s just great.
JCM is one of the greatest writers on the platform, I love all her stories!
Great story! You have a wonderful way of making your characters so real. You make the reader feel the emotions, it’s amazing. Great job! I’ll read everything that you publish.
I loved this series! I had it on my reading list for two years, not wanting to get into a long story. Once I read Ch. 01, I was hooked and read them all in one sitting. The emotions are real. If you turned this into a novel I would buy it on its release date. Ignore the haters, they don't understand what good writing is and could easily close a story they don't like and move on, it's called self censorship. I'm on to your other stories, I can't wait. Thank you.
All butch lesbians hate men? Really? Would it be okay for all men to return that sentiment? Or would some call it homophobic?
Do lesbian authors really only want their work read by half the population? Or even worse, be read only by those who agree with them? Intentionally shrinking your audience seems counterproductive to me. Isn’t the point of writing to be read by as many people as possible?
Lissy, hating on your audience isn’t the best way to expand it or attract others. What good did that type of thinking do for the movie Bros? Do lesbians writers really only want to be read by other lesbians? I think not. The reactor only expressed an opinion on a public forum with the desire to see a good writer expand her perspective audience. It must have worked because she didn’t engage in disparaging men in Unrequited. Bethany doesn’t attack men and the character of Tim, Sally’s husband, never treats Bethany in any other way than respectfully.
The proof is in the rankings. Unrequited chapter 5 is number one in the category.
"There's no need to attack men to tell your story." You need to read it in the context it was used, Mitch a very butch lesbian expressed her feelings. Was it an attack? Maybe but I think it was very much in character for that character to have that view. You cannot have a butch character who does not feel that way. JCMcNevilly used it to setup a scene with Cindy telling her she was wrong. I did not feel attacked by it. If you did maybe you need some help.
Quote from 'anonymous': "There’s no need to attack men to tell your story. Cracks like 'most women would be happier as lesbians' does not expand your audience. "
Just a thought. If you dont want to read stuff that disparages men, maybe you shouldn't read stuff written by lesbians?
Loved it so far. The story is developing beautifully. I can see Cindy becoming more like Mitch as we go through the story so I'm looking forward to them melding.
Loved how well you developed your characters. You could write about a phone book and make it interesting. Will follow your work.
Btw, scholarship athletes at SEC schools have an abundance of academic support services available to them. Mitch would have been assigned a tutor the first time she failed a test.
A couple of things—first, you’re obviously not from the South. I’m guessing Midwest since one your stories is set in St. Louis and one in Michigan. People in the South don’t drink “soda.” They drink Coke, especially folks from Georgia where Coca-Cola is headquartered. BTW, every soft drink in the South is a Coke. Even Pepsi is a Coke.😜
Second, you are a good enough writer to express yourself without trotting out lame lesbian tropes. There’s no need to attack men to tell your story. Cracks like most women would be happier as lesbians does not expand your audience. Men are bad lovers. Men are imperceptive buffoons. The country girl shows up to college and falls in love with the first lesbian she meets. So many curious girls, so little time. When guys say that, they are predators. What’s lesbian for predator? 🤔 The lesbian who is butch but femme at the same time.
If you want people to believe that lesbians are not monolithic, stop writing male characters as straw men who are.
Lastly, parents in the South are sports crazy and support their daughters as much as their sons with the exception being football for which there is no female analog.
p.s not attacking just offering criticism that may stretch you in uncomfortable ways
Your writing is amazing, it's one of the best things I've read, I love it pretty much
Thank you
I just love this story. It is my favourite fiction story.
I have one favourite book which is nothing like this. It is called "Between Silk or Cyanide", but is not a story for the weak, as it details the realities of war.
5 stars - just love the story and the way you tell it, no sex and it works really well.
"I'd gotten my lube on the first time..."
Seems to me a good man would make that part of the foreplay. Then again, one wouldn't dump her by text, either.
On a tennis corpse (per Google)
Watching Wimbledon has got me reading this story for (at least) the third time. I love your character development, but also the tennis strategy, scouting opponents, etc. ACE!
I have read comments about Mitch's gaydar not working with Cindy. I think if you read closely it worked the 1st time they met. She even asked Cindy if she was a lesbian and saw it made Cindy the woman that was glowing uncomfortable, so Mitch backed off. Mitch slowly worked to befriends all the while loving Cindy and wanting to be much more. This is something that was not appearant to me the first time I read this. But after reading this story and also The Tennis Star completely it jumped out at me as I reread this. 5* for a wonderful job.
------
I saw some comments about it being only 4* only because it was not finnished. Really? We get to read the stories here for free, if you truely think it deserves 5* then give it 5. That it is not complete is not a reason to give it less than what you think it deserves. I have seen similar Posts on other stories, people have lives, sometimes those lives interfere with posting stories. Be thankful that these authors share there stories freely. Thank you for all your time it took to write this story.
Great read! Great writing! I've never wanted a story to be real before, but this one I genuinely hope is!
I love the slow build. Even though I'm not a tennis fan, you make it fascinating, and the strategy makes a perfect backdrop for the developing relationship.
Barry
Completely solid storytelling from characters to backgrounding, subjects (algebra, tennis), pacing, and even that pesky 'unsexy sex'.
I'm hooked and am happy to watch this develop at the pace you are setting.
Yeah Ash_legend and Rileyworks, thank you for great read ;)
I hope the story of Cindy and Mitch will go for at least 18 seasons.
The story, dialogs, flow are just right.
Thank you!
This is honestly one of the best written story that I have read in this website.
Thank you very much for writing this
ok Moira Rose, the random big boy vocab words were hilarious but the changing of tenses was a little confusing. I like the concept.
This is my favourite story, I return to it every so often. It's like receiving a special hug.
Your characters are so real, I’m always smiling or sighing or laughing or at the edge of tears… I’m thrilled with your new story so far, please never stop writing!!
Great story with nice add ons ....... Im not native english and she all those shorties are quite intense to get the meaning of an sentence sometimes ...... But all your knowledge about tennis or algebra or wlse pushes this perfectly to just only 5 stars
This is a beautiful story of how true love is constructed. With all the beautiful sex that lesbians have I can't understand why would some of them breakup or cheat after making a commitment to each other. In a hetero relationship, I can understand that happening because the sex will be the center of the relationship if not for both at least one party and that would be devastating to the woman and she would have no clue why. All she needed either a full time relationship or maybe even part time one, nevertheless she would ultimately discover what she was missing out the ecstasy all her life by not having relationship with a woman.
This is the first time I have read one of your stories and will be reading the rest of them which will take some time
thank you very much
Really great writing and imagery. I dont even like tennis but I could see the shots and feel the games you wrote about . Great job!
I so love this story! And at the same time, I'd like to grab Cindy by the hair and say that she shouldn't live a life meeting the expectations of others. I suppose it's difficult always having believed you're straight and then gradually even recognising the possibility that you're not. The suspense of Cindy making her own discovery is sublime.
Even though I think the outcome is a given, it's a very interesting road Cindy and Michelle are travelling.
Was super excited when I saw that you had dropped Mitch and Cindy's story with me being a fan of Tennis Star, but I did not know the story was fully uploaded! I really could NOT do the wait patiently for the next chapter 😭 thingy so I decided to wait and read all at times. Sorry 😐..... It's nice to see or read about young Mitch, Cindy and Carrie. Mitch though 😂, you've got to love her.
This story is so amazing, i dont really know what to say.
If this was a real book, i would buy it. Im impressed. Ugh, so good! =D
Congratulations on winning the contest! Well deserved a great story, well told!
I am a straight man. There are only 3 lesbian women I am personally aware of. I have felt in love with 2 of them in past. One revealed her status when I had made a move, the other was not aware of her preference at that time yet. I am still the very close friend of her and the third woman is her life partner.
Since then, I occasionally find good time reading good lesbian stories on Literotica, to perform empathy, getting in their shoes, feeling what their life troubles and joys may look like.
I have started with the The Tennis Star story I am going to reread later. I enjoy this Mitch girl story very much, greatly written.
I remember one great author posting several strong stories, linked by unique way. One was the usual way of sharing characters and intertwining stories, The unique way was sharing a lyric poem or a song, using different parts of it as a motto of the particular story. I have to find it again. 2 stories were about escaping the same English village with very extremely religious community, leading their protagonists to become partners in the "free country".
So well written - a absolute pleasure to read. Looking forward to seeing how the story develops…
Just brilliant. I was struck by how much is going on in what the characters are not saying.
I enjoyed the story. The chemistry between the characters is lovely. Very interesting details - like the part where you watch your favorite show with a loved one and watch their reactions? Can’t wait to read the next chapters.
I love this story. Have been looking forward to it for a long time. You capture the tennis and relationships perfectly. looking forward to chapter 2.
I can’t tell you how excited I was to see you had a new story! You do not disappoint. Thank you so much for sharing these with us.
Love this new work as with all your others. Can't wait for the rest of the chapters.
Beautiful start.... I really love your stories, well-constructed and wonderfully written. As a former "athlete" myself, you have the emotions and the conflicts to a tee.
Surprisingly, you have actually made me want to start watching Buffy!! I cannot wait for the rest of the chapters!
Masterful writing as usual. I sometimes wish authors as gifted as you would simply post the entire story all at once so that we would not have to wait so long between postings...
OMG! "One. You don't like me. How come? Everybody likes me. Two."
This exchange alone got you 5 stars!!!
Honestly, you would have earned 5 stars regardless. Love all your stories so far.
What a great start!!! Love your writing and the character development and detailed feelings. Can't wait for next chapter :))