●•I really want to not do this●•

○CHAPTER 3○

Chapter 3: Distractions and Decisions

The afternoon sun bathed the classroom in a warm glow, but my mind was far from the quadratic equations scrawled on the chalkboard. Mr. Henderson's monotonous voice droned on, but the words seemed to bounce off me like raindrops on a windowpane. My thoughts were consumed by the whirlwind of events that had unfolded that morning.

Regan's unexpected transfer to Heartsville High had thrown my carefully curated world into chaos. The impending competition for the coveted basketball scholarship had become a relentless presence in my mind, a looming storm cloud that threatened to obscure my true aspirations.

"Lucas, are you paying attention?" Mr. Henderson's voice cut through my reverie, snapping me back to reality.

I blinked, realizing that the entire class was staring at me, including my best friend, Calvin, who sat two desks away. "Uh, yeah, Mr. Henderson. Sorry, I... got lost in thought."

Mr. Henderson raised an eyebrow but didn't press further, continuing his lecture on algebraic expressions. My mind, however, continued to drift, my thoughts wandering back to Regan and the upcoming basketball tryouts.

After what felt like an eternity, the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. I gathered my books, preparing to make a hasty exit, when Calvin caught up with me in the hallway.

"Dude, you've been zoning out all day. What's eating you?" he asked, his curiosity evident in his raised eyebrows.

I sighed, ruffling my hair in frustration. "It's that whole Regan thing. I can't believe he's here. It's throwing me off, you know?"

Calvin chuckled, his easygoing demeanor in stark contrast to my turmoil. "Come on, Lucas, you've faced tougher opponents on the court. Don't let him get under your skin."

"I know, I know," I replied, but doubt still lingered in the back of my mind.

"Hey, speaking of opponents," Calvin said, his eyes lighting up with mischief, "I heard there's a killer party happening this weekend. You in?"

I hesitated, my reluctance evident. "You know I'm not really a party guy, Cal."

Calvin leaned in closer, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "But this party is different, man. It's a costume party, and you know what that means, right?"

I furrowed my brow, unsure of where he was going with this. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Calvin winked, and a sly grin played on his lips. "Think about it, Lucas. It's the perfect opportunity to show up as the most unlikely character, have some fun, and throw Regan off his game. Plus, I heard there's a cash prize for the best costume."

I couldn't help but laugh at his absurd reasoning. "You're unbelievable, Calvin. Fine, I'll go. But I'm not dressing up as a basketball player."

Calvin clapped me on the back, his excitement palpable. "That's the spirit! We'll brainstorm some killer costume ideas."

As I walked home that evening, the weight of the impending party settled in my mind. I had never been one for social gatherings, but if it meant distracting myself from the Regan situation, maybe it was worth a shot.

Upon arriving home, I headed to my room to tackle the algebra homework that had been assigned earlier. I barely managed to solve the first equation when the door to my room burst open, and my 13-year-old cousin, Luna, stormed in.

"Luna, what's the rush?" I asked, bewildered by her sudden appearance.

She plopped down on my bed, her fiery red hair bouncing with her movement. "Lucas, you're so boring! You never hang out with your girlfriend. What's the point of having one if you're always doing homework?"

I sighed, setting my textbook aside. Luna had a knack for pestering me about my relationship with Fern. "Luna, it's not like that. Fern and I just have busy schedules."

Luna rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with my explanation. "Well, if you're not going to hang out with your girlfriend, why don't you get a boyfriend instead?"

I couldn't help but laugh at her suggestion. "Luna, I'm not gay."

Luna raised an eyebrow, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Are you sure about that?"

I shot her a bemused look. "Yes, I'm sure."

She shrugged, as if to say, "Your loss." "Well, whatever. You're still boring."

Luna's persistence was unwavering, and she wasn't about to give up on her mission to inject some excitement into my life. "Guess what, Lucas? There's a party happening this weekend, and you're going."

I arched an eyebrow, taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm. "A party? What are you talking about?"

Luna leaned in, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "I overheard you and Calvin talking. You're going to a costume party, right?"

I nodded, feeling somewhat cornered. "Yeah, but it's not a big deal."

Luna's face lit up as she jumped off the bed. "Not a big deal? Lucas, this is your chance to have some fun, maybe meet someone interesting, and stop being so... dull."

Before I could respond, Luna was already rummaging through my closet, tossing aside my usual jeans and T-shirts. "We need to find you the perfect costume, something that will make you the life of the party."

I sighed in resignation, realizing there was no way I could escape Luna's well-intentioned meddling. "Fine, Luna, but don't go too crazy."

She shot me a mischievous grin as she pulled out an array of clothes. "Don't worry, Lucas, I've got this covered."

As Luna enthusiastically dug into my wardrobe, I couldn't help but smile. Despite her relentless attempts to shake up my life, Luna was the only one who truly understood me and knew about my real dreams. Maybe, just maybe, this costume party was exactly what I needed to break free from my self-imposed monotony and embrace the unexpected twists of life that lay ahead.

AN: I wonder how this party will go...