A/N -

High School AU... Yay, a not so fictional chapter!
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Alex's PoV -

     This was a big deal it was the first basketball game of the year. Basketball at my school is taken very seriously, possibly too seriously. I had paid my way in and now I crept down the bleachers to find a good front row seat. I didn't really care for the game, in fact I didn't even know the rules. Basically when everyone else clapped or cheered I did the same. I didn't have any friends to go with so I just sat by myself and stared at the game watching the players run back and fourth along the gym floor. I did watch one player in particularly, Vlad, he was the star basketball player and my crush.

     I knew I loved him for a long time now, other students changed their crushes left and right but not me. I knew I loved him from the first day he started going to our school, nearly 7 years ago. The only problem was he didn't share my feelings or at least I didn't think he did, I had never asked him on a date or anything. In fact, I had never really talked to him. I was easily overlooked. I was more of a wallflower at my school, I didn't have any special talents and I looked rather plain.

     I took my seat at the bottom of the bleachers and only a few minutes later the game began with the ringing sound of the buzzard. Of course Vlad played and I watched him and the other players run back and forth. I caught myself staring at him a few times and quickly adverted my eyes.

Vlad's PoV -

     It was nearing the end of the game with only a few minutes left on the score board. The score was tied and I had possession of the ball. I instinctively headed for the basket. I had to focus, the fate of this game rested on my shoulders. I tried so hard to block everything out besides the ball and myself. My attempt at this was fruitless though.

     At half time one of my teammates warned me about some student in my grade that had been staring at me throughout the whole game. It made since, I had felt someone's eyes focusing on me in particularly, during the game but I, as usual, blocked out all distractions. I hated stares and unwanted attention. I only played basketball for the love of the game not the countless fans and girls that tended to flog me. In fact I wasn't the least bit interested in them at all. Once the buzzer went off to head back into the game, as I ran back into the floor I dared a quick look at the bleachers to find the student my teammate had told me about.

     Dang he was nice looking. I blushed at the thought, trying to conceal my red face, I pretended to wipe some sweat from my temples. I had seen him before and recognized him as being in my grade. We even had a few of the same classes but somehow he always went by unnoticed and without a word ever spoken to me. Alex, that was his name. His hair was a dark raven black and combed back in a way that suited him. He wore a green jacket and brown shirt, our school colors. His skin was pale and his beautiful green eyes shined in the bright lights of the gym. I felt a slight tingle go down my spine. He gave me chills in a way I had never known anyone else to effect me quite like before.

     Focus. I tried to snap myself back into the game. Throughout the rest of the game I had caught myself stealing glances at him. When ever I scored, he cheered the loudest. He seemed so awkward siting there, alone. His cute face with a slight blush always seemed worried yet content at the same time. He commanded every aspect of my attention. I had to focus.

     Suddenly, my flashback over the past few minutes dissipated and here I was, dribbling the ball back in fourth between my hands like second nature. Then I was at the basket and I set my form. I jumped and shot at the same time. Mere seconds were left on the board and the audience sat on the edge of the bleachers in suspense. I landed from my jump and now stood impatiently waiting to see if my shot made it. Swoosh, the ball made it in hitting nothing but net. As it slowly dropped to the ground the buzzer sounded and the slowed time resumed to normal.

     Everyone was cheering, my teammates congratulated me with playful slaps to the back. The crowd cheered and everyone stood. The opposing team stomped off.  Only one thing was wrong, I should have been as elated as everyone else but I wasn't. None of this mattered to me. Only, Alex, mattered to me. Something in me wanted to run over to him and hold him but I couldn't let myself do that. Finally, after pictures and congratulations our team regrouped with our coaches. They congratulated me on winning the game and I shyly smiled. Then we were left to change in the locker room.

     I threw my jersey into my locker and quickly pulled a t-shirt on. "Hey, you okay dude?" one of my teammates asked me, "you seem kinda distracted by something."

     I sighed, should I tell him? "Thanks but I'm fine it's just this boy, I think I may have a crush on him, he was there tonight watching me play and I just couldn't get my mind off him," I spilled my guts to my friend.

     He smiled understandingly, "I understand that feeling, I felt the same way about my girlfriend before we started dating," he glanced at the celling as if in thought, "they say only one person out there has that ability to control your thoughts and heart like that, it's a blessing and curse at the same time."

     "Thanks, it's nice to talk to someone who understands," I replied with a hopeful smile.

     "Speaking of my girlfriend she's probably waiting on me, I got to go," he said walking away.

     I finished changing and being the only one left in the locker room I turned out the light and locked the door. I crossed the gym and walked up the stairs and exited. I pulled out my car keys from my jean's pocket as I neared the parking lot. Just as I clicked the key to unlock my car I heard a sob from the other side of the parking lot. I sighed and followed the sound, re locking my car as I did so. There I found the very boy that corrupted my thoughts, Alex, he sat there crying on a park bench. I walked over to him and sat by him awkwardly not quite knowing how to act around him. Luckily it was dark and with no street lights around he couldn't see my blush. "Hey, you okay?" I asked as I reassuringly lay my hand on his back.

     He looked up and sniffed back some sobs. Cutely he smiled at me but all I could notice was the tears running down his face, a knife slash across his chest ripping his shirt, and his right eye seemed to be showing the formation of a black eye. "Who did this to you?" I asked.

     "Just some bullies, they always pick on me it's nothing new," he replied.

     "Who?" I asked again wanting to know who could possibly have been so mean to him.

    Alex sighed in defeat and whispered their names to me. I gasped, they were the names of some of my fellow teammates. I couldn't help but hug him after that. He needed someone who cared for him. "Why, did they do this to you?" I was pissed at my so called friends and I would give them a piece of my mind.

     "They had a suspicion of who my crush was and they wanted me to tell them but after I refused they beat the information out of me and laughed at me after I told them. They think he'll never love me back and honestly I agree with them," he sobbed some more.

     I felt my heart break after he told me this. He had someone else he loved. I still had to comfort him, I hated seeing the one I loved in so much pain. "Who do you like?" I questioned, "I'll tell you who I like if you tell me first."

     I blushed at the thought of admitting my love to him but at the very least it would make him feel cared for. He hesitated and looked down embarrassed. He mumbled something but I couldn't quite make it out. "I'm sorry what was that?" I questioned again.

     Tears filled his eyes and he mumbled, "You, I love you, Vlad," he cried into my shoulder.

     I was stunned. He loved me. I patted his back and pulled him into a hug trying to calm him down. "What about you, who do you like?" he asked.

     I couldn't help but noticed how much he seemed to dread my answer. "Oh, I have a crush on this cute boy in my grade, we share some classes together and he has beautiful short black hair, enchanting green eyes, the cutest smile and a slight awkwardness to him that makes him unique and perfect in my eyes, his name is Alex," I smiled at him lifting his chin so I could see his face.

     Alex's eyes lit up and he hugged me tighter and planted a kiss on my lips. A moment later I kissed back. A few seconds later we parted lips and I found that both of us were crying. "Vlad," he mumbled my name into my chest where he held me tight.

     "Yes, beautiful," I coed in his ear.

     "I love you so much," he replied.

     "I love you too, Al."

     We sat there for awhile in the cool Autumn air letting our cuddling keep us warm. This night had been perfect. I scored the winning shot and best of all I won the heart of my soul mate!

A/N -

Sorry for the long and unannounced break I took. I lacked the inspiration to write but once I sat down to wright the rest of this chapter I took off like lightening. I'm back snitches!!! Anyway I might not be updating as often so be warned but I will still write.