Page 30 of Unspoken Words
“How cool would that be?”
I shrugged again.
“Hey, you have a basketball ring.” Ellie walked around me toward the garage. “I mean, of course you do. You’re a basketballer.”
“Was,” I corrected her.
She frowned. “Where’s your basketball?”
“I don’t know. I think it got lost in the move.”At least I hope it got lost in the move.
“There it is!” She skipped over to where my stupid (not) lost basketball was sitting in our stupid sports equipment tub. “Wanna shoot some hoops?” Ellie bounced the ball a few times then lifted it and performed a Netball shot, swishing the net beautifully.
She was good.
The ball bounced. And bounced.Take the shot, Aaron called. Take it.Heat fizzled up the back of my neck, and I blinked. Aaron wasn’t there.Take the shot.
“Go on, try to beat that,” Ellie taunted before throwing the ball at me.
Watching in what seemed like slow motion, Ellie and the rest of the world froze as the ball careered toward me before slamming against my chest, near knocking the wind out of my lungs. It bounced at my feet. So loud. So familiar. So painful.
“Connor! Connor, are you okay?”
My eyes slowly focussed on Ellie, standing right in front of me, her hands on my arms, her green eyes full of concern as they searched mine.
“I’m …” I blinked again and shrugged out of her grip. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“But—”
Dropping her backpack, I hurried inside to get away from the ball, the bounce, and Ellie. I didn’t stop when she called after me. I just left her standing there.
In my driveway.
With the ball and all of those damn books.
Chapter Nine
Ellie
Ipeeked through the openslit of my curtains to find Connor, fussing uncomfortably as he stood waiting with his parents on my front doorstep. I hadn’t talked to him since he’d left me standing in his driveway a couple of weeks ago. He’d tried to sit next to me on the bus, but I refused to move my bag from his seat or make eye contact. I’d been angry. Hurt. But I was over it now. It was my birthday; the best day of the year, and I wasn’t going to let anyone ruin it.
Yanking his grey shirt out from its tucked position in the waistband of his black trousers, he shifted on his feet then combed his hand through his hair. He was clearly nervous, and it made me smile.Serves him right.
“Connor, what did you do that for?” Mrs Bourke said, reaching out to try and tuck Connor’s shirt in again. “You just messed it up.”
He swiped her hands away. “I looked dorky, Mum. No one tucks their shirt in anymore.”
She turned to Mr Bourke. “And that’s what’s wrong with today’s youth.”
Mr Bourke scratched his balding head. “Leave him be, Raelene. It’s just dinner at a friend’s house.”
“It’s also dinner at my boss’s house.”
Connor and Mr Bourke rolled their eyes, and it made me giggle.
Stepping back from the curtain, I hollered, “They’re here,” then wrenched the front door open.
“H—Hiiii, Eloise. Happy birthday. You look …” Mrs Bourke paused, her eyes unblinking as she scanned me from top to toe. And for a second, she appeared to struggle to find the right word. “Colourful,” she said, quickly. “You look colourful, like a walking, talking rainbow.”
