On entering the gym, we realized that it was almost filled up. Wow, this school really takes their basketball games seriously.

We walked in and found 2 empty seats on the second to the last row of the bleachers. When we confirmed that they belonged to no one, we took our seats.

It was like a preparation game, just like Clover said but unfortunately, we were late - thanks to Cynthia and her friends - so the game was about to end. From what I could see, Steve was the captain of one team, Team A and Peter, his deputy, was the captain of the other, Team B. Blake was on Peter's team and Steve's team was leading by one point. It looked like a tight match as both teams were trying to land a final shot before the buzzer went off. They had just five more minutes.

I watched as Peter grabbed the ball from a member of Team A, running for their basket but Steve snatched the ball from him just as he reached it and started to go for Team B's side of the pitch. He aimed for the basket and fired but just as it was about to enter, Blake jumped and pushed it back.

A random member on Peter's team grabbed it and started to go for Team A's basket when he was tackled by Thomas who happened to be on Team A, but then he passed the ball to Blake who had run to the other side and was standing ready just in sight. Blake made his way to the three point line, skillfully avoiding the guys that got in his way. He stood just right behind it, aimed for the basket and fired the shot.

We all watched in slow motion as the ball hit the ring, circled round it twice, before finally dropping into the basket. The gym erupted in cheers and with the way I was cheering, I might as well have been the head cheerleader. I was up on my feet, cheering and clapping so hard, my palms started to hurt.

People started to leave the gym and soon there were just a few people left. Clover and I decided to wait by the entrance to the gym for Blake and Thomas to, you know, congratulate them and stuff. We couldn't do that in there because the guys on the basketball team were immediately swarmed by cheerleaders and some other students who also wanted to congratulate them on what a nice game it was.

Even from the little I watched, it showed that they were ready for the big game with a very high chance of winning. Peter's team won the match by 2 points but this time, Steve didn't act like a sore loser, he actually looked happy. I guess beating the Swans must have been a really big deal for him.

After some time of waiting and chatting, I looked into the gym to see that the other students had left and they were having a meeting with their coach. Ugh, this could take a while.

Clover and I waited for some minutes more before the players started to come out. By now, we had moved to the opposite side of the entrance. Steve was the first player that I recognized, to come out. He came out with Cynthia and a few other cheerleaders on his tail.

He and Cynthia were talking when he spotted me. He excused himself and then came over.

"Hey Robinson" he greeted, his hands at the back of his neck.

"Hi, how's the - " I started to say but he cut me off.

"Fine. It's fine" he replied quickly, his eyes saying 'shut up, blabbermouth'.

"Oh okay. So what's up?" I asked, ignoring the look.

"I came to uh, you know" he started, looking troubled as he scratched the back of his neck.

"You know what?" I asked, confused as I looked at him.

"I came to, uh, what you did the other day" he tried again, trying to give me a hint. Wait, was he trying to say thank you?

"Steve, are you trying to say thank you?" I asked, a smile creeping on to my face.

"No!" He blurted out and then with a tiny voice he said "Kinda"

"Oh" I chuckled "You're welcome then" I said, putting him out of his misery and amused at the way he was acting. Was it that hard to say thank you?

"Yeah, bye" he said and he was gone.

"Is it just me or did you and Steve McJerkface just act civil to one another?" Clover asked, a shocked look on her face.

"Yeah, it's complicated" I replied, chuckling lightly. Just then, Thomas walked over.

"Hey guys" Thomas greeted with a slight wave.

"Hey" I replied, returning the wave.

"Hi, nice game" Clover replied, already turning red. They practically spent the entire Friday night together yet she still acts so nervous around him. Tsk, Classic Clover.

"Thanks" he replied, flashing her a bright smile. I didn't have time to watch and cringe, thanks to a certain brown haired boy who walked over as well.

"Hey guys" he greeted, placing an arm around my shoulders, filling my nose with the smell of sweat.

"Hi Blake" Clover replied, waving a little and he waved back.

"Eww, get off me, you stink" I replied, dramatically pinching my nose.

"That's right, I stink of victory" he replied, a grin on his face. He looked so excited, like a child who finally got to open his Christmas present. His hair was scattered like he'd run his hands through it multiple times and boy was he sweating.

"Somebody's getting cocky" I commented, a smirk on my face.

"It's not cockiness, Dani" Thomas replied "It's preparation for the feeling we'd get when we mop the floor with Jed and his team mate's faces"

"Yeah man!" Blake exclaimed and they shared a high five. Cue the eye roll.

"Who's Jed?" I asked, looking at Thomas.

"Jed Barden" Clover answered "He's the captain of Blue Lake's basketball team"

"Yeah and a total douche" Blake added.

"Oh, okay then. I look forward to the mop" I replied, earning me a chuckle from both boys.

"Come on, let's go get changed" Thomas said, pulling Blake off me and saving me from the stench of sweat and cockiness.

"Thank you!" I replied, dramatically sighing.

"Meet us at the cafeteria!" Blake called back as Thomas pulled him away.

"Yeah whatever. Come on Clo," I said and we left for the cafeteria. I couldn't resist pinching my nose again as we walked by the boy's locker room. It was way worse than Blake's smell. Ugh! Even Clover had to pinch her nose.

Lucky for us, we made it out of the stink zone to the delicious zone alive. We entered and went straight to a table at the far corner of the room as usual. It wasn't lunch time yet but we might as well eat now and then head home 'cause the school was almost empty. We dropped our bags and went over to get our lunch.

There was no lunch line so that didn't take time at all. We got our tray of food and went back to our table. Some minutes later, the boys waltzed in through the cafeteria doors, looking a whole lot less sweaty. They must have had a shower because Blake's hair was wet and slightly tousled. I didn't realize that I was staring until Clover snapped her fingers in front of my face, bringing me back to reality.

"Could you take it easy with the eye raping?" She asked, an amused smile on her face.

"What?" I asked, feigning confusion but I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks "What are you talking about?"

"Come on Dani, your staring wasn't very discreet" she teased, wriggling her eyebrows.

"I wasn't staring" I denied, but before she could reply, Thomas and Blake came over, tray in hands.

"Hey again" Thomas greeted as he and Blake took their seats opposite us "You guys are coming to watch the game tommorow right?"

"Of course we are! Right Dani?" Clover asked, turning to look at me.

"Duh, I want to see what a Hornets versus Swans game is like" I replied "And I'm definitely not going to miss some face mopping" I directed the last part at Blake.

"You will not be disappointed" he replied, his mouth full of food, making Clover and I laugh.

"So, the game's in the evening right? What happens from in the morning till then?" I asked.

"It's basically like a holiday for Arlington so we don't have school tommorow" Thomas explained.

"Yeah, those that come, come only to watch the game" Blake added. His mouth was empty this time.

"Oh that's nice" I commented as I placed a meatball in my mouth. Just then, André walked up to us.

"Hey Daniella" he greeted on reaching us.

"Oh hi, André" I replied, after swallowing my food of course. Not all of us lacked table manners like that guy. "Didn't know you were in school today"

"I wouldn't have been if i knew we were barely going to have classes" he chuckled "I was totally clueless"

"Well, that makes two of us" I replied, laughing lightly.

"Mind if I join you guys?" He asked.

"Sure" I replied, scooting over to make room for him right next to me.

"Thanks" he said, sitting down and then he greeted Clover "Hey Clover"

"Hi André" she replied, waving at him.

"Who's he?" Thomas asked, not so warmly.

"Oh he's -" I started to say but was interrupted by André.

"I'm André, Dani's friend" he said "We attend the same church"

"I've never seen you around before" Thomas stated, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at him.

"Yeah, I'm one of the new intakes. I only just resumed a week ago" Andrè explained.

I looked at Blake since I noticed he was being quiet, but then I also noticed that he was staring at something. I then traced his gaze to a tattoo on André's wrist. Hmm, I hadn't noticed that before.

"And you must be Blake" André said to Blake, a smile on his face.

"Yeah, what is this tattoo?" Blake asked instead.

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Hey y'all! Sorry I had to cut it off there, it was getting too long 😊. How are you guys? I hope you're staying safe.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please don't forget to do the usual, you know, VOTE, drop COMMENTS and SHAREEE! Love you!♡