Page 39 of Kicking It with the Point Guard

Seeing the head bitch and her lacky twice in one day is a little worrisome, but not enough to broach my concerns with Cameron.

When lunch is over, he stands, holding his hand out and pulling me to my feet.

“So, when are you going to come to one of my games?” he asks, his smile tentative.

“I wasn’t sure if you wanted me there.” Not a total lie. I’d be a nervous wreck if I was performing such a high-intensity sport and someone I was close to was watching.

“If you don’t want to come, then you don’t have to. It won’t kill me to not have you there. I’m used to a small fanbase.” His ears turn red, and he rubs the back of his neck. “But if you did come… I’d like it.”

“I don’t know much about basketball. The extent of my knowledge is what I’ve picked up from listening to my dad grumble at the TV.”

He laughs. “You don’t have to know anything. I’d feel good just knowing you were in the audience.”

“Then I can’t not go, can I?” I smile at him.

He beams at me. “You can sit with Oscar if you want. If he can be, he’s usually at every home game.”

Anxiety I wasn’t fully aware of melts away. One of the reasons I didn’t want to go is because I’d be alone. I would ask Mia to come with me, but her work schedule prevents her from doing much in the evenings.

She’d probably ask to switch shifts with someone or request to have a day off if she knew I really wanted to go, but I didn’t know if I really wanted to go or not.

What if I don’t seem excited or happy enough? I wasn’t lying when I said I didn’t know anything about basketball. I don’t want to disappoint Cameron.

Plus, not that anything would happen, but with Oscar there, I’d likely be safe from Allyson and her bitch squad. I assume they’ll be there. I’m pretty sure they cheer for every sport. Or most of them, anyway.

Oscar and I have gotten closer as well. He’s been hanging around with Mia when he gets the chance, and seeing as he’s Cameron’s best friend, we eat with him more than we don’t.

“That sounds great,” I say, a genuine smile on my face. “That way, I can annoy him with all of my basketball questions. He may not like sitting with me after this.”

Cameron snorts. “It’ll be good for him. Maybe he won’t yell so much.”

“So, when is the next home game?”

“It’s this Friday,” he says, wrapping an arm around me, and starts walking me in the direction of my next class.

We stop outside of the classroom, and he smiles warmly at me, making my insides flutter. I’ll never get tired of seeing that smile.

“I’ll be there. If you don’t mind, can you text me Oscar’s number so I can find him?”

“Sure thing.” He leans down and lightly presses his lips to mine, smiling softly before heading to his own class.

A gasp has me turning, and I see Allyson, mouth agape. When she snaps out of her stupor, she glares, and an uneasy feeling washes over me. This will not end well.

Whirling, her long hair flows behind her, reminding me of a cape. One you might find on an evil queen, plotting to take the throne.

There’s nothing I can do now, though. I’ll just have to watch my back. Very closely.

Violet

The rest of the week goes by without incident. I’ve noticed one or two of Allyson’s lackies following me around occasionally, but they never approach me.

Finally, it’s Friday night and time for me to attend my first basketball game. I went to a couple of football games freshman year out of some unspoken obligation, but when I realized I was cold and bored, and literally no one would care if I wasn’t there, I quit going.

Sports are not for everyone, and they aren’t for me.

But Cameron wants me here tonight, and that makes me giddy. Maybe basketball won’t be as boring.

The gym is packed when I walk in, and it’s loud.

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