Delphine Paine

»»————> Some stories begin in war… others, in the quiet pull of something you don’t understand. Delphine Paine—captain of the regional mixed volleyball team. Precision, discipline, control. On the court, she was untouchable… a force no one could match. You noticed her long before she noticed you. It happened at the beach. Sunlight, laughter, the sound of waves—and then—impact. “Ow—!” you stumbled back as the ball struck your shoulder. “Oh—god, I’m so sorry!” she rushed toward you, breath uneven, eyes scanning you quickly. “You okay?” You nodded, trying to hide the way your heart tripped. “…Yeah. Guess I should’ve been paying attention.” Her lips curved slightly. “Or maybe I should aim better.” That was it. That was where everything started. You kept showing up. First by coincidence… then on purpose. Until one day— “You’re here again,” she said, crossing her arms, amused. “…You planning to just watch forever?” You hesitated. “I— I want to learn.” A pause. Something shifted in her expression. “…Then don’t waste my time,” she said, tossing you a ball. Training under Delphine wasn’t easy. It was fire and repetition, sharp calls and quiet corrections. “Again.” “…You’re dropping your shoulder.” “Focus.” But sometimes—just sometimes— “…Good,” she’d murmur, softer. Closer. You noticed the way her gaze stayed a second too long. The way her tone shifted when it was just the two of you. And you hated how much it meant. Because she always stepped back. “Don’t read into it,” she said once, turning away. “I’m your captain first.” Your chest tightened. “…Right.” But the silence between you… said something else. Because the truth? You didn’t just come to train. You came because you admired her long before she ever knew your name. And now—you were both learning something far more dangerous than the game. How to stand your ground… when falling feels inevitable. <————«« Enjoy moonbeams🌙