Chapter 1: Exposition
The October breeze brushed against Emily's face, carrying with it the hint of winter to come. The field hockey game was in full force between the New England Prep girls and the Exeter Pioneers.
A screechy blow on a whistle gave Emily a start. Snatching her attention away from her woolgathering, Emily, team captain, called out, "Gather up, girls!"
The players trotted in, damp hair clinging to their foreheads in strings.
Her teammates glistened in bright red and white, looking fierce and battle-ready, even as the wind turned their fingers numb. Emily smiled wryly to herself. Only the New England Prep girls would play field hockey in the start of a snowstorm without an ounce of complaint. They were her makeshift family, her closest companions who embraced eccentricities and welcomed challenges to break monotony.
As her teammates found their positions on the field, Emily stole a glance at Emma, the tall goalkeeper known for her athleticism and a bit of a tomboy.
Emma had just saved a bullet of a shot from the opposing team, her lithe frame winding into a fluid movement that would have been graceful if it wasn't for the sheer power behind the save. Emily's thoughts lingered on Emma for a fleeting moment, her admiration for the girl's prowess on the field converging with the attraction that had gradually grown between them.
Next to Emma was Taylor, the shy and reserved member that few knew beyond the surface. Taylor was reserved, but she wasn't a wallflower.
She had a quiet strength about her, a determination that shone in her eyes when she looked at the ball. She was the kind of player who didn't need to score goals to make her presence felt. Her passes were precise, her shots powerful, and her defense solid. Off the field, she was a different story. She kept to herself, her shyness a tangible barrier that few could breach. But Emily had seen glimpses of a different Taylor—one who laughed freely, who danced with abandon, who looked at the world with wide-eyed wonder. Emily was determined to see more of that Taylor.
She turned her attention to Sarah, the wild card of the group. Sarah was the shortest among them, but she played with a ferocity that made up for her lack of height. She was reckless, daring, always pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable. She was the one who made them laugh hardest, who challenged them to step out of their comfort zones.
Sarah was also the one who had suggested they wear those large silicone mouthguards instead of the traditional ones. "They're not half bad," she'd said, grinning.
"They feel... different, somehow."
Emily remembered the sensation now, the way the silicone mouthguard filled her mouth, the slight pressure against her teeth and tongue. It was oddly... stimulating. She shook her head to clear the thought.
"Alright, listen up!" Emily called out, clapping her hands together. "We're up against a tough team today. We need to be sharp, focused. No mistakes."
A chorus of "Yes, Captain!" echoed around her, and Emily smirked. She loved this feeling, the sense of power and camaraderie that came with leading her team.
But today, she couldn't shake off the distracting sensation of the mouthguard filling her mouth. She tried to focus on the game, but her mind kept drifting back to the unexpected arousal she felt from something as mundane as a piece of silicone.
After the game, as they were packing up their gear, Emily decided to voice her thoughts. She took a deep breath, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Hey, guys, I've been thinking..."
Four pairs of eyes turned to her, curious and expectant. Emily cleared her throat, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"You know how we've been using those new silicone mouthguards? Well, I've noticed something... strange."
She paused, gathering her thoughts. "I mean, don't get me wrong, they're great. They fit better, they're more comfortable. But... they also feel kind of... good. In a way that's not entirely... innocent."
A moment of silence followed, then Emma let out a low whistle. "Emily, are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Emily nodded, her cheeks flaming. "I think so. I mean, it's just a hunch, but...
yeah. I think there might be something to this. I mean, why else would we all be feeling... different since we started using them?"
Taylor was the first to speak up, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've noticed it too. I mean, I didn't think much of it at first, but... yeah, there's something there."
Sarah grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I knew it! I told you guys these things were special."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "So, what are you suggesting, Emily? That we... what? Use them as some sort of...
sex toy?" she asked, her voice laced with a mixture of skepticism and amusement.
Emily shrugged, trying to maintain her composure despite the heat rising in her cheeks. "I'm not saying that's what they are, or that we should use them that way. I'm just saying that there's something to this sensation, and maybe we should explore it. Just... among ourselves, of course."
Taylor's eyes widened, her gaze flicking nervously between her teammates. "You mean, like... experiment with it?"
Sarah, ever the adventurer, was already nodding enthusiastically. "I'm in.
It's not like we're hurting anyone, right?" Sarah said, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and excitement. "Besides, it's not every day we stumble upon a potential... mouthguard fetish."
Emma chuckled, shaking her head. "Only you, Sarah, could make this sound like a perfectly normal conversation." She paused, considering Emily's suggestion. "Alright, I'm game. But let's keep this between us, yeah? No need to make this a team-wide thing until we know what we're dealing with."
Taylor hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the straps of her bag.
"I don't know, guys. This sounds... weird."
Emily stepped closer to Taylor, her voice softening. "Hey, no one's forcing you to do anything, okay? If you're not comfortable with this, that's perfectly fine. We won't push you."
Taylor looked up at Emily, her eyes searching. She seemed to find reassurance in Emily's gaze, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Okay. I'll think about it. Maybe."
Sarah clapped her hands together, grinning. "Excellent! Now that we've got that settled, who's up for some pizza?
I'm starving," Sarah declared, already heading towards the locker room, leaving the rest of them to follow suit.
As they walked, the conversation flowed naturally, shifting away from the unexpected topic they'd just discussed. They talked about the game, about the upcoming holidays, about anything and everything except the elephant in the room. Yet, it lingered, a subtle undercurrent in their laughter and banter.
Taylor, who had been relatively quiet since the discussion, suddenly stopped in her tracks. "Guys, wait up," she called out, her voice a mix of hesitation and determination.
The others turned to look at her, their expressions varying from curiosity to concern.
"Taylor, what's up?" Emily asked, her voice gentle yet firm. She had a knack for making people feel heard, and Taylor appreciated that about her.
Taylor took a deep breath, her eyes flicking to each of her teammates before settling on Emily. "I've been thinking about what we talked about earlier," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I want to give it a try."
A moment of silence followed, then Sarah grinned, her eyes lighting up.
"Well, that's the spirit, Taylor!" she exclaimed, clapping Taylor on the back. "Welcome to the fun side, kiddo."
Emma nodded, her expression more serious than Sarah's. "We'll go at your pace, Taylor. No pressure, alright?" she said, giving Taylor a reassuring smile.
Emily felt a swell of pride in her teammates. They were supportive, non-judgmental, and ready to explore this new territory together. She turned to Taylor, her eyes reflecting the same determination she saw in her teammates. "We're in this together, Taylor.
Every step of the way," Emily affirmed, her voice steady and reassuring. The group fell into a comfortable silence as they reached the locker room, the scent of sweat and grass clinging to their skin. The room was a flurry of activity as they peeled off their muddy uniforms, the clatter of hangers and the rustle of fabric filling the air.
Taylor, still visibly nervous, hesitated at the edge of the room. Emily noticed her discomfort and gave her a small, encouraging smile. "Hey, why don't you grab the first shower?
You look like you could use it," Sarah suggested, nudging Taylor gently with her elbow. Taylor looked at her, grateful for the distraction. She nodded, grabbing her towel and toiletries, and headed towards the showers.
As the sound of running water filled the locker room, Emily turned to her remaining teammates. "So, where do we start?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emma shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "Well, we are already wearing the mouthguards, aren't we?" Sarah replied, a mischievous glint in her eye. She was lounging on the bench, her wet hair dripping onto her towel-wrapped form. "Maybe we should start by... getting used to them again."
Emily raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You mean, put them back in?"
Sarah grinned, holding up her mouthguard, which she had taken out after the game. "Why not? It's not like we haven't been doing it all season."
Emma, who was in the process of braiding her hair, paused and looked at them.
"You know, I've been thinking about this," she said, her voice thoughtful. "I mean, we've been wearing these mouthguards for months now, and we've never really... explored them, you know? Not like this."
Emily nodded, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean, 'explored'?"
Emma shrugged, her gaze dropping to the mouthguard in her hand. "I mean, we've been using them for protection, but what if there's more to them? What if there's some way we can... enjoy them?