Page 44 of Kicking It with the Point Guard

It didn’t feel that loose to me, but I can’t really do much about it now.

She pulls tight, too tight, and my hair gets tangled in the blindfold as she didn’t bother with moving it as she ties the knot.

I know this is not something I’m going to be able to take off on my own.

I try to step forward, back toward the noise of the crowd, but strong arms grab me from behind. I struggle, trying to break away, but the arms just squeeze tighter. I can tell I’m being taken farther away from the game, but it’s becoming hard to breathe, so I just go limp.

I knew something was coming. I’ll just have to accept whatever this is. A buzzer sounds, signaling the start of the second half, and I wonder if Oscar is looking for me.

I should have just listened to him. Cameron would have understood if I left because of Allyson.

We never really finished our conversation about it, but we came to a silent understanding.

There was nothing between them for me to worry about. I’m almost positive that there used to be. But she did something to ruin that, and apparently it was bad enough to earn the hatred of one of the most calm and patient people I’ve ever met.

Finally, the arms that have me bound set me down roughly on my feet. I stumble a little but right myself.

“Put the headphones on her.” Allyson’s voice comes from nearby.

I spin toward it, trying to reach her before I’m subdued again, but the strong arms from before grip me again, making sure my arms are banded by my sides. I shake, and cold sweat beads on my forehead. What plan has the evil bitch queen concocted?

“If we get this right, it’ll look like an attention grab.” Allyson says.

“And it might piss Cameron off enough to make him dump her ugly ass. You know how important basketball is to him.” Another girl says from somewhere near Allyson.

Noise canceling headphones slide over my ears and my blood runs cold. They’re setting me up.

So now I can’t see or hear anything. Perfect. I should try to get away here. Nothing about this will turn out well for me, but I’m vastly outnumbered. Arms will just squeeze me until my head pops off or something ridiculous like that. I just need to bide my time… maybe I can escape at some point.

Arms set me down, and hands shove me back. I fall into a chair, and someone takes my shoes off, sliding something heavy on my feet, tightening it around my ankles. The pressure similar to the headphones. More duct tape?

I’m pulled to a standing position once more, and I realize what they’ve got me wearing. Roller skates have been taped to my feet.

Whatever Allyson has planned. This could get dangerous. My heart beats faster as I’m pulled along behind someone. I’m completely lost without my two main senses.

Maybe I was a little too optimistic about escaping.

The person pulling me stops, and I don’t feel anyone around me. But I don’t dare move. I don’t know where I am.

I stoop down to try to remove the duct tape, but someone quickly pulls me back to up.

The bruising grip on my arms loosen and for a moment, I’m free. Then, I’m shoved from behind, and I fly forward. I scramble, trying to stop, reaching out for something to grab to slow me down, but I come up empty handed. I shriek.

Something large barrels into my left side, and I’m flung sideways. My head hits the ground and bounces.

I take a breath. Pain screams through me. Nausea washes up my throat. Starbursts light my vision, quickly swallowed by a spinning darkness.

And then I’m out.

Cameron

My phone buzzes in my locker, but I ignore it. Coach just left the locker room after a rousing speech, and it’s time to go back out there.

I saw Violet in the crowd next to Oscar. My heart soared to see her in the crowd, eyes wide with wonder at the atmosphere I’ve come to love so much.

We emerge from the locker room as the cheerleaders are cleaning up whatever halftime entertainment they’ve cooked up and wait patiently for the court to clear so we can get back to doing what we do best.

I glance up at the crowd, but Violet isn’t there. I try not to let the disappointment take over. Maybe she’s just in the bathroom.

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