Chapter 13

As Kris and I sat in my room it felt like old time. We were laughing and telling stories and I guess it just felt normal again.

"Hey do you have a charger?" Kris asked as she started sitting up on my bed. I grabbed the charger out of my back pack and handed it to her.

"Here ya go. Theres an outlet right behind you." As she grabbed the charger she refused to get off the bed so was basically hanging off the bed trying to plug it in.

"I swear I'm gonna get this." She said trying to hold back her laughter. I just sat and watched her as she tried so hard to reach the plug.

"If you fall I'm not gonna help I'm just going to laugh at you."

"Shut up Ave." As soon as she said that she went face first into the carpet. I couldn't help it, I started cracking up and so did she. While we laughed I just felt like everything was going to be okay. It was so nice to just have my best friend back even for just an hour or two.

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I sat in class the next day I couldn't help but think about Kris. After she left yesterday I couldn't stop thinking about her. I couldn't get her off my mind. Ms. Acuna was just droning on about some science thing and I couldn't focus. But I didn't really understand either so I just kept thinking about Kris. I kept thinking about her eyes. I would just get lost in them. Even during games.

Today is Tuesday and were play against some team three towns over. Right now me and the team are in the locker room getting ready. They turned up the radio and are trying to get as pumped up as possible. This team is supposed to be really good. They've only lost one district game. We haven't lost any but that doesn't mean this is going to be easy. We need to stay focused and have no distractions. I put my headphones on and lay down on the bench. This is my pregame ritual. I need to hear my music. Not theirs. I close my eyes and let the music take over my body. I can feel my nerves calming down and my thoughts and worried just start to disappear. All of a sudden I felt someones hand on my stomach. I flinch and look up to see Sara looking down at me with a stupid little smirk.

"Hey Braddock is already coming in, take your headphones off." I nodded and sat up just as Braddock was walking in with the Jv and freshman coach.

"So I looked at the stats for this team. We have a good shot of beating them. But thats up to you. Number 5 and number 8 are their shooters. I want Avery and Sara on them. You can pick who gets who. Kris I want you on their point. As for the posts, well their big girls. Kara and Kristina you guys are going to have to really fight for the ball. We've been having a really decent season. Lets not ruin it now by playing like we don't want it." After Braddock's speech we huddled up for the prayer, and im always the one who had to say it.

I walked onto the court and I felt like there was no one on that team that could beat me. I'm the fastest person on this court and if they wanted to beat me I was gonna make them fight for it. After warm ups we set up for the tip off.

Three quarters later and were up by ten points. The score is 58 to 45. In the huddle Braddock is pissed.

"Kris I told you to stay on the point. She's gotten past you and scored five times already. Sara, Avery 5 and 8 have already scored half their points. " I fixed my headband and looked around the crowd. My mom was there. She gave me a wave and a thumbs up. Next thing I know the buzzards ringing and Braddock is yelling at us to do our best. He's bipolar sometimes.

I ran to the sideline to throw the ball in. The Ref hands me the ball and I look at the court to find Kris. She's being guarded my the other teams point number 10. With the ball her my head I'm trying to find someone to pass it to. All of their players are up guarding Kris and there are two people guarding Sara. How stupid. I wind the ball back and throw it all the way across the court to Kristina who is right under the basket unguarded. She catches the ball and makes an easy basket. One number 8 on the other team looks at me and gives me a small smile. Weird. I ignore it and run back to get on defense.

We ended up winning 74 to 63. After Braddock talked to us I walked back into the gym to find Kris. I was looking around the gym for her when I rammed into someone.

"Oh my god I'm sorry I didn't mean to.." I start. But when I look up and see Mack. She just stares at me and gives me a dirty look. I'm about to open my mouth to say something but I feel someones hand around my wrist. Sara pulls me by the arm and drags me all the way to the locker room before I can protest.

"What the hell Sara I didn't even get a chance to say anything to that stupid hoe.

"And you're not gonna."

"What the fuck why not?" I felt like my whole body was on fire. I was so mad. Just seeing her made me so mad.

"This is why! Because starting shit with her is only going to cause problems between you and Kris. And you cant do that because we both know you're totally in love with her." I felt my face turn red for a whole other reason now. I looked around the locker room hoping no one else was in here.

"Thats.. uh.. no.. thats not.... No." I could barely get anything out. I had no idea what to say.

"Don't deny it." I just kept looking at her light brown hazel eyes. She just stared back at me. I couldn't tell what she was thinking. That was a first.

"Sara I just..." I didn't know what to say.

"We aren't anything Ave. So don't look at me like that." She gave a forced little smirk and walked out of the locker room. I didn't think it would hurt this much to watch her leave.