I felt it right there in my guts. Even if I had chances of making the team before, they were gone. The little hope I had managed to gather vanished immediately she walked out the door and reality was now laughing in my face, mocking me for even daring to hope.

❦︎

~[VICTORIA]~

Oh, how I wanted to devour the chocolate cake before me, savour the flavour with every bite. But intense, grey eyes were staring at me, making me shift uncomfortably in my seat. He looked at me like I wasn't supposed to eat the same thing he was eating.

Couldn't a girl just love chocolate in peace?

Alas, I was forced to listen to Tracy fangirl about BTS.

Then the most embarrassing thing happened when Tracy tried to feed me. Open your mouth for the choo choo train, she had said. I willed the floor to open and swallow me up... but it didn't.

I almost cried.

And I could see the cringe on Jason's face; definitely, he was as embarrassed as I was. Meanwhile, Charles was laughing his butt off, not caring about the attention of the few customers he had pulled.

I wanted nothing more than to get out of there as I literally dragged the fork out of Tracy's grip and began forcing the cake down my throat.

So, imagine how glad I was when Tracy finally drove back into school and I was able to get out of my initial position with Jason at the back seat of her car.

“Ria,” Tracy nudged my elbow, her usual bright grin on her face. “You liked the place, huh?”

“Yeah, it was nice.” was my simple reply.

“Tori?” Charles was now by my other side, grinning like Tracy. “I can call you that, right?”

“Yeah.” I shrugged.

“It’s a good thing we have a free period after break, else we’ll be in a hot mess.” Tracy sighed.

“It’s French period now and I don’t offer it so I'm good.” Charles chuckled. “But I still have to get to class though. I'm the new class rep.” he proudly announced.

We were now in the hall way of the SS3 block, walking toward the stairs at the extreme end and once again, I found myself staring at the crystals of chandelier like when I first stepped foot in the building.

“We’ll see later.” Charles said before walking into his class, leaving Tracy and I with Jason trailing behind us.

The class was noisy when we stepped in, it was a free period after all.

“Ria?” Tracy called out as we took our seats.

“Hmm?”

“I have cheer practice tomorrow. Can you come with me?” she asked, batting her lashes at me as she pouted. “Please? I don’t want to go alone.”

“I—”

“I can go with you.” Jason intercepted my speech, he sounded weirdly desperate and surely enough I found that desperation in his eyes when I looked at him. Like he could do anything to go with Tracy instead of me. “We’ll go together, Tee.”

“You have basketball practice,” Tracy sighed. “You can’t miss. Plus, you're the team captain.” she turned to me, pouting at me with puppy eyes. “Please, go with me."

“I’ll go.” I nodded with a shrug. “It’s not like I have anything to do.”

“Don’t you do any sport?” Jason asked, bending a little to look at me.

I frowned. He could not have been talking to me, right? It wasn’t possible.

“Are you into any sport?” he repeated when I did not answer.

I cleared my throat. “Yes, I play basketball.”

Oh, my mother would be turning in her grave right now.

It's a waste of time playing and bouncing with balls, she had always said. No daughter of mine would do that. I could imagine her dark face looking at me with deep contempt and disappointment at that moment.

But did I ever stop playing basketball ball? No.

“Then you should join the team.” his dull, grey eyes were back to their voidness. His voice had no hint of excitement.

“Yes, Ria!” Tracy squeaked. “Join the team and my girls and I would cheer anytime you make a basket! I'm sure you're very good, with your height and all.”

“Yeah, I’ll take you for the try outs personally tomorrow.” Jason offered, a ghost of a smile on his face. But there was something about that smile freaked me out, scared me.

I don't trust him.

It didn’t seat well with me. For one, he had not smiled at me since I resumed, if anything, he glared at me. Nobody had to tell me that he loathed me. So, the sudden change was bugging me. And that look in his eyes, that glint of mischief, I did not like it. But did I say anything? No.

“That would be nice.” I smiled, tight-lipped.

“No problem.” he actually smiled, shocking me. “No problem at all.”

                                °°°°°

Miss B had summoned me to her office to receive my uniform and Tracy accompanied me, insisting that she must go with me.

We both walked out of the office after I had received my uniform, Tracy explaining what and what not to wear on each day. I stopped in my tracks and looked up when I heard a deep voice speaking in front of me.

“Bubbles, we meet again.” he was smiling, his dimpled cheek drew my attention as he walked towards us from Charles’ class.

Fidel, I remembered, the guy from Data Processing class.

“Who’s Bubbles?” Tracy asked, shaking her head. “Who have you given another stupid nickname?” amusement laced her voice.

“Her.” he nodded his chin towards me, smirked. “Her skin shines like a bubble.”

“Hence the name.” Tracy chuckled, turning to me. “I guess you're Bubbles now.”

“Won’t you say hi, Bubbles?” Fidel raised a brow at me. “Don’t be rude.”

Bubbles. I did not like the name one bit, but I did not have the strength to complain either.

“Hi.” I rasped out.

“Del, you're just crazy.” she playfully punched his shoulder. “Who calls someone Bubbles?”

“Tray, if you punch me again, I’ll have to return the favour.” he feigned a warning glare. “You know I'm nice.”

Tray? He calls her tray?

“Yep! He calls me Tray… as in the serving tray.” she looked at me, making me wonder if I said my thoughts out loud or if she was just clairvoyant. “He’s crazy like that.”

The sound of the electric bell startled me as it rang abruptly.

“Well, I have to go now.” he turned to me. “See you some other time, Bubbles.” he walked towards his class in model-like strides, hands shoved in the pockets of his blazer.

°°°°°

{The next day}

“It looks so good on you!” Tracy chirped, smiling as she looked at me from head to toe. “You're gorgeous!”

“Thanks.” I responded, looking down at the pink tee-shirt and navy-blue shorts I was wearing. The shirt had the logo of the school over my left breast while the shorts had it close the hem if the left leg, they were both made of some kind of thick material.

“And your shoes!” Tracy went on. “They go well with the sport wear.” she said referring to my pink, Nike bounce shoes. “I see you belong to the check family.”

“Kinda.” I shrugged.

I was pumped about joining the team. All my life, I had played basketball in secret, because Mom said it was not worth. I swear I tried to give up on it, but basketball was the one thing I could not bring myself to compromise because of Mom's preferences.

Funny how I didn't think about trying for the team until Jason suggested it. Then again, it was only my third day.

“We’ll go for your try outs today.” Jason appeared, startling us; we had not noticed him walk into class. “Don’t forget.” he took his seat.

 “Yay!” Tracy hooted in excitement like she was the one going for the try outs. “I can’t wait to cheer for you.”

“Chill,” I breathed out a laugh. “I’ve not even been accepted yet.”

“Yeah,” Jason spoke, not turning to look at us. “We don’t know if she’ll be accepted yet.”

It was a simple statement alright, but the way he said made it sound like he was so sure I was going to flunk the trials.

I brushed away the negative thoughts threatening to penetrate my mind. I needed to be in the right mental space if I wanted to do well in the try outs.

                                °°°°°

 
“I don’t have time,” the coach said, her face pinched. “The junior team, they're beginning the under fifteen tournaments today.”

Jason and I were in the basketball court. I was warming up for my trial when I heard the coach say that and I stopped, looking at both of them.

 “But you said—”

“I said I would be available because the initial plan was for coach Tina to go with the junior team but she got a strange call this morning saying that her mother had a heart attack.” she rapped, cutting Jason off. “And her mother is all the way in Badagry.”

“So, what do we do now?” Jason asked, deflated.

“You can do it!” she yelled suddenly, her voice resonating in the court. The other players even had to pause to make sure all was well.

Jason looked behind him, perhaps to be sure he was the one she was referring to. “Me?”.

“Yes.” she rested her hand on one hip, crossing her arms. “Jude can help you with it.”

“But—”

“You can do it.” she walked over to him, placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed slightly. “I trust you.”

She was already on her way out before he could utter another word, whistling amazing grace as she scampered away.

I felt it right there in my guts. Even if I had chances of making the team before, they were gone. The little hope I had managed to gather vanished immediately she walked out the door and my reality was now laughing in my face, mocking me for even daring to hope.

So long it's Jason trying me out, I'd never make the team.

•
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A/N

I struggled with this chapter. So sorry if it's somehow.

I'm literally laughing at Jason and Victoria being in the same basketball team... There are crazy things in store I tell you.

And how do you think Victoria's relationship with her mother was? I have not revealed too much but I have dropped some obvious clues, haven't I?

Lemme throw an obvious question, do you think Victoria would make the team? Yes? No?

Please, biko, ejo, Ya Allah, VOTE!

How will I have thirty views and 8 votes, ko right nau. Biko, let it balance. Don't let us fight today.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday 😗

Next update: Wednesday.