"Just a weather check. Where still cool right?" Luke pops his face right in mine. I nod. "Do you hate me again?"

I shake my head, "No, It's just that Mrs. white doesn't like me staying out late." 

"Mind if I walk with you to the gym?" He follows me his hands in his pocket. 

"It's a free world, do what you please," I close my locker.

"You have a curfew? Or are you not allowed to hang out with me?"He's walking backward and facing me. 

"No, it's not that, I'm not allowed to go out much. It's just one of Mrs. White's rules" I shrug. 

"Ok, so how about we go window shopping tomorrow? And we can probably buy something for your sister's birthday?"He suggests. 

I stop," how do you know that?" He walks head, " A little birdy told me. It's a date." 

I open my mouth to protest, " I ca-...ugh" And he's inside the boy's Locker rooms.

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I don't necessarily dislike him but even now he can be a handful. I have to apologize sometime soon, I may have been harsh on him when I first day. I really need an insanity check. I wonder when we are having our first ga-. "oof" I barely catch the basketball being pass to me. "Hey abs, zoning out so soon. Practice hasn't even started yet." Lura motions for a pass. 

"Hey, haven't seen you in a while." I grab a ball and dibble a bit. "you know I got a cold and that took me out for a week" she shoots a basket, " Seems like you've gotten pretty close with the new kid." 

I pause," You mean Luke? Not really he's just in our physic class."

She ignores that comment. "Are you guys a thing, now?"

I look at her, "A thing?"

"Yeah, are you dating?"

"No," I say without hesitation. 

 "Ok, so how about you set me up?" she shoots a basket.

"Set you up?"

"Yes, Abby. Like you set me up with Luke on a date. How about it? Your not with him, so maybe I can?" 

"You like Luke?" I ask trying to get my head wrapped around this. 

"Is it a crime? Or is it that you want him for yourself?" her voice becomes bitter. 

"Lura, I barely even know this guy, I just can't ask-"

"So you didn't let me have Blake and now I can't have Luke?" She raises her voice.

I look at her in disgust, "What's your problem? Why are you being a priss?"

"What's my problem? My problem is that I've been your friend for a long time when you been nothing but an ass to me." 

"Really? That's how you feel? NO ONE ASKED YOU TO BE MY FRIEND. NO ONE ASKED YOU GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ME, " I yell at her. "I never asked you, Ok? You decided that on your own."

"You witch!" she slaps me right on the cheek. She grabs me and throws me on the floor. "After everything I did for you, you freak! No one likes you, I didn't like you."

Someone comes along and pulls her off of me. 

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There are banners everywhere. Bold letters that read 'Benjamin Clinton high.' Continuous cheering. Today is the first game for the basketball girls. My palms are sweaty, and my mind is working at a high velocity. My only friend is not my friend, she never was. I'm not even a starter for the girl's lineup. To get me in the first game, will be a miracle. I clench my fist. We're behind by 4 points. 24 to 28. 

The whistle blows; it's half time. Players on the court and the bench gather around the coach, "Everyone, you have to get your head in the game. We are behind by 4, which means we can either catch up or lose the game.  We can win, but you have to strengthen your coordination. Alright, that's the white half time is over. Get out there."

All the starters get back on the court. Kyra and Jackie make a pass but miss the basket. The other team holds the ball and gets past Lura. Lura doesn't even try to get the ball back. "Mcgarden, focus!" The head coach calls out. He sits back down and talks with the assistant coach. The assistance coach gets up and signals the referee to make a substitution. 

"Johnson, your up," Jackie is called out of the game. "I'm not a shooting guard," I remind him. "Now you are, get in there." I jog into the court. Shooting guard. I'm a shooting guard. support the point guard. Kyra. Kyra is the point guard. Kyra looks at me, I nod and hold up my arms. She passes it to me, I shoot. The ball swirls around but doesn't go in. 

"What a troll!" Kyra calls me out. I roll my eyes. 

I look at the clock. Five more minutes. 

Our team gets the ball again, Vivan passes me the ball. I take it forward, I look for an opening. I see Kyra holding her hands up for a pass. I hesitate. I take a shot at the basket. The ball swirls again. It goes in. The whistle blows. The game is over. 

I look at the scoreboard. 52 to 50. We won but only by 2 pts. 

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I grab my sports bag and change quickly. Not only to avoid Lura, but to avoid Kyra as well. I leave the gym before anyone is done showering. As I open the door, a cold breeze comes along. I sneeze. 

"Gesundheit. Johnson, I have to say we have a lot of work to do," I turn to the voice and see Luke leaning on the wall next to the doors. I notice he has his sports bag. 

"I suck don't I?" I ask.

"Just a bit," he teases.