"Come on." Demi grabbed Becky's hand and made to move down the grandstand.

"What are you doing?" Becky pulled her hand from Demi's grasp and pointed behind her. "The exit is this way."

Demi laughed. "Do you think I came to watch the basketball just for you?" She tweaked her head in question, and then added, "We're going to the edge of the court so I can say congratulations to Harley Owens. He's the team's point guard." Demi twirled a strand of hair around her finger as she smirked at Becky and simpered, "Since I don't need that lawn mower imma be a mascot."

"Point guard." Becky looked at her unbelievingly and chuckled. "What in the hell is that?"

"It's a basketball position," Demi scoffed in disgust. "God damn you, Becky. Don't you know anything? You're gonna have to learn this shit." She grabbed Becky's hand again. "Imma be Mrs. Point Guard and you're gonna be Mrs. Shooting Guard."

"What..?" Becky yanked her arm back to free her hand and shook her head. "No... not that I have any clue of what you're talking about, but there is no way I'm going down there." As she spoke she looked at the court to see the players walking into the tunnel. Demi had her back to them; Becky kept quiet so they'd be gone before she noticed.

"Kane is the shooting guard." Demi put her hands on her hips and shook her head as if Becky was stupid. "He's the player who shoots most of the goals. He's also the best jumper so he starts the game by doing the tip-off. Harley's position is specialized. He runs the team's offensive when they're on the court and has to make sure the ball gets to the right player," Demi said with all knowing pride. "We're going down there so they know we're alive, now come on." She made to take hold of Becky again.

"No." Becky jerked her hand out of Demi's reach. "They're gone anyway."

Demi spun around and stamped her foot. "Shit." She turned back to Becky. "Look what you've done. She who hesitates is a wall flower my friend." She threaded her fingers through Becky's and moved up the stairs tugging Becky behind her. "I have another plan," she said as they wove around people.

"Demi." Becky chuckled and let herself be led. "I think I want to be a wall flower. I'm not chasing Mr. Shoot Guard or whatever he is. I'm going through a break up. Remember."

"Oh... I remember." Demi laughed but didn't look back at Becky as they continued to make their way. "You've got two choices." People stepped in front of Demi; she stopped climbing the stairs to let them in, and then turned around taking both of Becky's hands in hers. Looking down from the step above she said, "You either sit back and wait for the scorching boyfriend to go off the boil completely, because he will eventually or... you let that sizzling piece of sugarcane turn every particle of your body into molten caramel." Demi beamed, still holding one of Becky's hands she turned and moved up the stairs jiggling her hips saying, "Mm... mm... I can see it now. All thick and hot and gooey going plop, plop, plop as he gets them female parts of yours all warmed up." Demi turned her head so Becky could see her run her tongue over her lips. "Then he's gonna dip his paddle pop stick into that cara..."

"Demi!" Becky's face turned ashen as she stared beyond her friend's shoulder. "Hey," she said as she quickly glanced at Demi, and then added, "That was a really good game."

"Yes..!" Demi spun on her heels and craned her head to look up at Harley and Kane standing on the step above her. "An awesome game! I was just explaining the positions to Becky." She shot a thumb over her shoulder as she continued, "My basketball illiterate friend here."

Becky noted  Kane's eyes widen, his mouth gape a little, and then his lips tweak a fraction to quickly settle into a more serious countenance. Each of these facial expressions had happened so fast that no one else would probably have noticed. She hoped he hadn't heard any of what Demi had been saying. She eased out a breath thinking they hadn't heard, as Harley and he had been talking between themselves and battling with the crowd when they'd come into her view. Becky pondered some more and wondered what the look was really about.

Harley stepped in front of Kane so Becky could no longer see his face. "Are you girls coming to the after party?" Harley asked as he smiled down at them. "I'd really like it if you came."

"I bet you say that to all the girls," Demi cooed, and then quickly added, "We'd love to come." She looked back at Becky and winked. "Wouldn't we?"

Harley laughed as he stepped back. Becky felt her face burn. Demi and her flirting had all sorts of double meanings. She ventured a quick look at Kane. He wasn't laughing like his friend or Demi but was studying her as if she was a puzzle he couldn't work out.

"Come on then." Harley took Demi's hand and pulled her behind him up the last few steps. "It's in the common room. We'll walk there with you."

Kane let them pass and waited for Becky to follow. He stepped in behind her but didn't say a word. She could sense him there but he was out of her peripheral vision. The urge to say something was eating at her guts but she held her tongue. She was not going to be one of those giggling girls who prattled to cover their nerves.

As they left the building and walked along the path Becky focused on Demi and Harley's backs to calm her anxiety. She smiled as she watched him say something, and then bump his hip against Demi's. Becky hoped he was a genuine guy. Even though Demi made jokes and flirted a lot, Becky felt she really did want a boy to call her own.

"Is Becky short for Rebecca?"

Becky gasped and took a quick side step as she came to a stop. The sound of Kane's voice was unexpected. She looked over at his smiling face. He had his hands up in the air chuckling quietly.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you, Sapphire." He glanced at the two in front and watched them move further along the path before looking back at her saying, "So... your name. Becky or Rebecca? I want to know which you prefer."

"Becky. Everyone knows me as Becky."

Kane took a bow, and then held out his hand. "Hello, Becky. I'm Kane Hart. It's lovely to meet you."

"Hello." Becky laughed, and then held out her hand as she said, "Becky, Rebecca Bridgestone."

"Nice name." He smirked and gave her a wink as they shook hands.

It hit her like a match flare. That look on his face when they'd approached them in the court had been because Demi had casually said her name and he genuinely hadn't known what it was. She smiled, tipped her head and said, "Thank you."

"Now the official introductions are over, we better get a move on, Sapphire." Kane nudged his head in the direction the path took. He could tell she was tense. His mind raced. There'd be no playing games with this girl and he liked that she'd walked without talking. Whether that was due to nerves or confidence it made him think even more that this was the girl for him.

"Becky." She gave him a quizzical look. "I've just told you everyone calls me Becky."

"I know." Kane indicated that she should go first and walked slightly behind her as he said, "To me, you'll always be Sapphire."

Photo copyright - Nimia.com

Demi the matchmaker. I wonder if Becky will see it Demi's way.