1, 2, 3 go, I throw the ball and it goes down at the side but doesn't make it into the basket. Luke grabs the ball and dibbles back with it. "Here you're too stiff you need to lose your wrist more," He stands beside me and shows me his form. I snatch the ball back, "I know how to do it."

"Really? then let me see your defense. How your defense?" he dibbles the ball. He lets his guard down a little and I take the ball and shoot a basket. He fakes a pass; I end up falling for it. "Ugh," I fall, Luke comebacks dribbling the ball," you ok?" he stretches out his hand. I don't take it.

"Luke, over here," The head coach waves him over.

"Here," He hands back the ball.

I continue to shoot some hoops when I glance in the head coach's direction. I see him give a team jersey.

"All alright, team Gather up." the assistance coach blows the whistle.

"We will have our first game soon. But before our first game, I want you all to consider that the starting lineup is not finalized. I will be considering any improve mention after the four games. After that whoever makes the starting lineup will go to Taurus where they will be recruiting."

Murmurs start to get louder. But all I can think of is getting on that lineup list.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blond highlights. Where are those blond highlights? I see Luke coming out of class. This morning I decided I need to get on that list. After hearing about possibly getting recruited, I am going to do everything I can to get on that list and away from the whites.

I approached Luke and grab him. "Hey, What's the deal?"

I take him to where there are fewer people around. "Look, here's the deal. I know you got into the lineup list after Blake left."

"Yeah, so."

"I need to get on that list."

"And I care because?" he raises an eyebrow.

"I need you to help me. I need to get on that list no matter what?"

"No."

"No?"

"Well, Why should I? " He pauses. "How do you know that I made the list."

" I checked. But If you do, Then I'll do your physics homework for 1 week," I propose.

"Um... Tempting. But no." He pushes my arm blocking him away. "And now you're stalking me?"

"What no!" I insist, "I'll do your English and physics homework."

"Nah"

"Then What do you want."

"It doesn't matter. I just don't want to. And I don't feel like helping you, "He leaves.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Psssst Abby, abbbbbbbbbyyy," it's funny how my sister is trying to whisper, LIKE come on we are like one yard away from each other.

"Abbbbbyyyyy," She continues.

I answer with a moan, "what?"

"Are you awake?" she asks. I don't know if I should answer sarcastically or be straightforward like it's 11:00 pm and we're supposed to be asleep.

"What do you want?" I say as she climbs into my bed.

"Next week at the mall remember on Saturday," she says sweetly, I can even imagine her already doing puppy eyes. I turn around to face her even though it's dark.

"O. K, but we can't let Peyton know Okay? it's our little secret."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday arrives, Jessica and I get ready for our sister date at 9:00 am. I'm happy that it's just me and my sister today at the house," it's too bad mom and dad had to take a business day and aren't coming till midnight" Jessica says as she closes the front door.

"Jessica!?" A little girl with blonde hair runs toward us and hugs my sister.

"Stacy," my sister hugs back. I followed to where the little girl came from and a boy with brown hair and blonde highlights, wearing a checkered long sleeve and blue jean pants is standing there, hands in his pockets, looking with his deep blue eyes.

" Hey, Jess," Luke nods his head towards her. HEY JESS!!? Like am I painted to the wall or something!?

"Abby, this is Stacy and her brother Luke, he had two free tickets and Stacy decided to invite me and you," Jessica explains.

" is that so?" I eye Luke and squints my eyes at him.

"Oh, and he goes to your school." Jessica states.

As it's our turn to check our tickets in line, for the fun fest carnival outside the mall, Stacy and Jessica skip happily to the first ride they see.

"So, did you plan this?" I ask Luke, looking straight ahead.

He huffs and looks down for a while," think what you want." He picks up his pace to catch up with the girls before he loses sight of them. I try to catch up, but it's just like trying to get to class, a lot of people, and constant shoulder bumping.

" Do you constantly act like you in pain?" Luke says as he pulls me out of the crowded area.

"Buzz off," I shake his arm off.

"Abby, I want cotton candy," Jessica points to the cotton candy stand. I feel bad since I don't really have any extra cash. On Friday before I was able to book the tickets for the fun festival, Jessica had told me not to, because she had it under control. I didn't know, that didn't include the snack bars.

"Um mm... How about water? The sugar will only make you thirsty, "I look for a stand with water. Give me credit it's the best excuse I got.

"Luke, can I have cotton candy?" Stacy asks. Just my luck.

"It's a shame you can't afford cotton candy?" He heads over to the cotton candy stand and comes back with 3 cotton candies.

"Here you go Jess." he hands Jessica a cotton candy," some people don't want to share their milk money".

He looks at me, "thanks, Luke."

He hands Stacy a cotton candy. he turns to me handing me pink cotton candy.

"No thanks, I don't like sweet things, too much sugar."

" that's not true, you love cotton candy, your always buying cotton candy and get sad when you can't eat it," Jessica points out. Why sister have you betrayed me? I take the cotton candy and start eating it. While Jessica and Stacy, ride the windmill, Luke decides to go to the restrooms, so I wait for Jessica and Stacy. I sigh. life can be so stressful. All I want is for this Christmas to be able to give my sister what she never had. A family.

"look at this," shocked I turn around at the sound of the voice.

"you even wear black outside of school, are you like messed up or something? it's hot to be wearing a black jacket." Taylor approaches me with his group of heathens.

"It's just sad how your brown hair won't be able to see the sun," he touches my hair twirling a strand of hair with his finger. I don't move nor do I speak.

"Do you ever stop hoeing around?" he asks a rhetorical question. I then feel an arm around me,

"Hey, Taylor," Luke says as he sips some of his snow cones.

"Luke? What are you doing here?" Taylor lets go of my hair.

" you know just whoring around," Luke uses the spoon to scoop some of the snow cone into his mouth.

"Having a date with my girlfriend," Luke says as he shoves a spoonful of the snow cone in my mouth before I could protest.

"Funny, see ya around," he bro shakes Luke and leaves saying, "I wouldn't associate myself with her."
I let out a sigh through my mouth. I turn to Luke while looking at the ground.

"Thanks, "I mumble. I feel a lump in my throat and my eyes a little watery. I assume Luke noticed since he has the spoon is in his mouth when he says," brown uh, Blacks better." Sometimes, I do things I regret doing later.

"Well, are you free all afternoon?" Luke asks as Jess and Stacy return from the windmill ride.