Hearing the bell go off for half time I jog off the court in a huff. 'Are your eyes glued shut or something? How did you miss eight times?'
'Nah because you're seriously pussy whipped at this point.' Colton leans onto his knees before wiping sweat off his forehead. 'I broke up with my girl and I still scored points.'
'I'm sorry.' Damon pinches his nose bridge to show that he's obviously stressed. 'Look I'll sub out for this game.'
Turning to look at Thale he gives me an equally confused look since Damon never subs out. Obviously he's not the man of steel. He subs out when coach is convinced he needs a breather but you'll never catch him subbing himself out, no matter how much pain he's in. Especially during an actual game and right now we're twenty points behind. His stamina is so fucking good it should be illegal. At this point I can practically feel my dad staring at the back of my head from somewhere in the crowed of people watching.
We're versing Broadwater High and they're supposed to be good but so are we. It's not like we've never lost but we've never lost by this many points and we're only half way though the game. We wouldn't be lacking if he wasn't playing like someone who's never picked up a basketball before.
'What's going on boys?' I hear coach yelling at us so we back up. For a 5'3 girl she's incredibly scary which is a side we don't see often since we're usually winning by this point. 'We have almost half the school watching us and the cheer team has basically forgotten their losing cheer?!'
'I'm sorry it's my fault.' Damon ruffles his hair, 'I really didn't sleep at all last night so I'm barely awake.'
'You knew we had a game this Saturday? I instructed you all to go to bed at 8pm on the dot.' She hisses as she throws an energy drink at him. Obviously he catches it and downs half the can down. I don't think that's healthy but he needs it right now.
'Thanks.' Damon mumbles before looking over to his side. Walking towards the bench to where a couple of the subs are seated they're uncomfortably talking to Damon.
They used to complain about being on the side but now I think they're just signing up so they can say they're on the 'notorious' team and wear the varsity jacket. The idea of them actually playing kills me and I would prefer Damon's shit performance any day.
Frustrated I roll my head before making eye contact with Katie who's walking down the bleacher stairs. Pursing my lips I immediately look away before excusing myself.
Saying that I'm going to the bathroom Jacob tells me to run which I definitely do. I don't want to admit it but I've been actively avoiding Katie for the past couple weeks. I'm honestly stressing about the game and I don't want to be even more stressed for when she approaches me.
Walking down the hall I look for my locker before finally finding it and opening it. Looking though my stuff I finally find a blue metallic thing so I pull it out. Recognizing it at my vape I take a puff out of it.
I'm going to be honest vapes are one of the corniest things to exist and the way it's used irks me. But I'm also not an idiot and I know if I continue to smoke at seventeen I'll be dead by twenty-seven. So I switch in and out between vapes and cigarettes.
I'm just exhausted and I need the rush that I get from the nicotine but I don't want to go back smelling like cigarette smoke. I'd rather go back smelling like artificial grapes.
'Hey.' I feel someone tap my shoulder which shocks me. Turning to see it's Katie I begin to cough up the smoke.
Covering my mouth so I don't blow smoke on her face so I apologize.
'Um...Damon told me to come get you since there's five minutes left on the clock.' She trails off before looking at my hand, 'can I try that?'
'You want to try this?' I hold up the vape to clarify. Katie radiates 'good girl' energy who's never done any wrong in her life so the last thing I'm going to do is get her addicted to nicotine. 'Yea right.'
'I've already tried it once before.' She defends herself but I just move it so she doesn't get it. If she was someone who's been using it more consistently then sure, go right ahead but she's not. I'm not gonna be the person to introduce someone to things like this.
'Katie.' I chuck my shit in my locker before making sure it's shut. 'Look. I've gotta get back on court. I'll see you later or something.' I let her know before brushing past.
—
This game is so shit.
Groaning I don't even bother trying to block the last shot from the opposing team. We're so many points behind so it wouldn't make a difference. The sub makes an effort though and hits it out their hand but stupidly aims for the ground which allows another member of the team to get it again.
The time goes off for full time anyways so it's not like he can do anything with the ball. Tossing it into my chest I catch it before it can hit me. It's out school ball anyways. We went back up in points once Damon got off court and we still lost since the subs couldn't keep up with us.
They're not bad at playing and I can see them getting better but they don't work at the same pace as the rest of us. I could see them actively struggling to keep up so they kept subbing in and out with each other and I don't blame them. They're not used to playing an actual game I guess.
'You guys did great.' Damon says drowsily as we sit down but we all just look at each other since we don't know what to say. We haven't really seen him like this and it's a little concerning. He's captain for a reason and he puts almost everything below basketball, he's literally a literal future D1 player.
'I'm sorry but seriously who is this chick?' Jacob asks him but he's ignored. 'Don't choke up on us. It's a girl. I can tell so just let us know, is it made of magic or what?'
'I haven't slept with her.' Damon stands up to stretch his legs as he looks to the side. In shock I exchange another look with Thale. I've never seen him act this way over a girl before so im shocked that he hasn't tried her.
'Oh shit!' Jacob puts his water bottle down before grabbing Damon's shoulders. Aggressively shaking him I worry that he's going to kill him since he already looks like he's on the edge. 'Dude you're whipped over a girl who you haven't even been whipped by? What are you doing? Is she playing hard to get or what?'
'I've spoke to her three times in the past five months.' Damon frowns which pushes me to speak.
'I'm sorry?' I choke as I pick up my stuff. 'No because I'm siding with Jacob right now...we lost a game because of a girl you don't even talk to?'
'That's a little shocking coming from you Damon,' Thale shrugs and I hum in agreement. It's really shocking and it's also so sudden.
Watching as the rest of the guys pick up their stuff we don't wait for the opposing cheer team to finish their victory cheer. It's nine pm at night and I just want to shower and go home right now so we head out to the changing rooms.
'Talk to her,' Thale speaks again, 'like seriously why wouldn't you talk to her? It's not like that's an issue for you. You should've had her on your roster like three conversations ago,'
'Maybe you like her because you can't have her?' Colton looks over at Damon and he just shrugs.
'Why can't he have her?' I raise my eyebrows at Colton but he doesn't respond so I just roll my eyes.
'Woooow. Okay.' I groan, 'I get you guys are best friends or whatever but we're all friends so just spill.'
'It's Brylan.' Damon mumbles as we enter the changing rooms.
Raising my eyes I'm a little startled. Brylan is definitely not the girl I expected. She's quiet. Eh. Maybe quiet isn't the word. She just isn't the most extroverted person but she's a sweet girl. I can guarantee she wouldn't me the first 'sweet girl' that Damon wanted. They're usually the easiest to get to come around so I don't see the issue.
'I'm going to ask again,' I laugh in confusion. If I liked her that much I would've still talked to her, 'why can't you have her?'
'I don't allow her near my friends so Katie would do the same. I can tell by the way Brylan looks guilty when she speaks to me,' Damon looks to the ground in frustration.
Noticing Coltons eyes on me I look back but he immediately looks away. Confused I crease my eyebrows but he just continues looking away suspiciously.
'Who?' Thale squints. He hasn't actually interacted with her before. I would have expected him to have either since neither have I but I've been in the same space as her and she's Katie's friend so I'd know.
'Katie's little friend,' I take off my shirt so I can actually get changed.
'You're always surrounded by white people so how does it feel?' Jacob teases Damon but he's obviously not in the mood for anything right now. I'm a little worried about him driving home tonight since he might fall asleep and crash.
'I see you almost everyday and you're not white.' Damon gives him a side eye as he slips off his shoes.
'That's not enough,' Jacob flicks his forehead which gets a smile out of Damon. That's something. I think it's the only time he's smiles today.
'So what's the deal though? Do you like her?' I'm trying to understand the premise of all of this. It's just so confusing. Just a couple weeks ago he would've laughed at me if I so much as mentioned him being in a romantic relationship and that's not an empty claim. It's said from experience.
Not knowing what to say he kind of just turns away from me. 'Nah I fucked up real bad. I just feel so guilty...' he zips open his duffel bag. Turning my head towards Colton, his physical reaction completely defies what he claims.
'Yeah whatever,' I wave my hand at him.