Bucket List

Oh, basketball.

Severe irritation rang through my body along with the sound of my alarm. I immediately tap on the snooze button and roll over onto my back to stare at the ceiling. It was still dark at six in the morning, and I could hear my mom's heels clicking as she prepared her lunch for the day. Fucking Mondays. Such a cliche thing to say, but it'll never get old. I have never been one for mornings, especially now with the shit show that is my senior year. I start to fade back into sleep when my alarm rings again, and I swear to god it lies about it being nine minutes. Flicking on my lamp, I pull myself to the edge of my bed while the alarm rang still. It was almost like the sound of it gave me PTSD. I was moving in slow motion as I change just my shirt, the sweatpants I slept in will just have to do for today. I run a brush through my hair. My curls looked so nice yesterday having been showered and styled with product, but now that they're slept in only the curls in the back of my hair remains while the front parts were a dull wave. I sit in front of my little vanity mirror to apply some mascara and blush, I'd say I don't care how I look but that would be a partial lie. A little bit of makeup does wonders for the sleep deprived look I seem to put on.
I love to drive, and especially love the drive to school. The roads are busy with people getting to where they need to be. Although it's early, I still love my music loud, and refuse to give anyone a ride to school as it's crucial alone time. I need time to think about what a shitty day it's going to be, prepare even. There's nothing like sitting in the parking lot, already on my third cup of coffee while watching the people I don't like slug through the parking lot. Unless it's the people I do like, then I'll maybe even join them on the walk. If not, I'll put in my earbuds and pretend it's the intro to the movie about my life. The sun is starting to rise as I make my way through the lot, my jacket pulled tight against the cold January air. Once I'm inside the building and situated in my first class, I'll turn my music down a little bit but keep my earbuds in, my hair perfectly resting against my ears to hide them. All day I do nothing, my teachers will give a quick assignment
and then not bat another eye. I think they've stopped caring about this whole thing as well. Getting through the day is a struggle, I used to love school, before covid. I would see my friends and we could laugh and goof around in the halls, no one telling us we needed to separate or put our masks up. Now, half of my friends don't even come to school, Daphne and Carmen are never here on the days I am. I miss seeing them in school, Carmen and I had psychology together this year, and it would have been a lot of fun if she was here. Once I get through the day though, my highlight has arrived; practice. I love to run, it's the one thing that has always come naturally to me. Winning a race is another type of high that no drug could ever give me. It's indoor track season, there are no scheduled meets due to covid, which I'm more than thankful about considering they're usually every Saturday and last from 7 am to 6 pm. But we get to practice, and it's the only time I'll see Carmen during the week. Part of me misses competing, cross country season was probably the highlight of my life considering I was ranked top ten in the WPIAL and everyone knew my name. I know I sound cocky, but I work hard to be good.
"What's up babe."
I set my bags down in the locker room when Carmen comes up behind me.
"Oh hello, gorgeous," I tease and she makes a kissy face at me.
We're laughing on our way out of the locker room and I'm not paying attention because she's flicking me with her gloves. I chuck my water bottle at her and she ducks, to which it hits the ground and rolls to the feet of several guys walking towards us from the other end of the hall. They're all dressed in sweats, with "Sunset Valley Academy" in bright purple letters on their chests, a prep school from the other side of the city. There must be a basketball game tonight, I widen my eyes and look at Carmen before going to chase after my water bottle. One of the guys picks it up and is laughing at me.
"Sorry about that," I laugh and he tosses it towards me, catching it, I make eye contact with the boy behind him. Pale blue eyes meet mine and what feels like deja vu comes over me. I look at him, perplexed when I realize it's the boy from the other night at the restaurant.
"Hey, I'm wearing a mask this time," he says to me as he's walking past. I just stand there and look at him. What the fuck. Once they're out of earshot I turn to Carmen.
"What the fuck."
"Wait a minute," she says back, realizing it was the same guy as well.
"Yeah, what the hell?"
"Dude."
"I know," I stare at her, open mouthed under my mask, but then regain my composure. "Whatever, that's really strange but I guess it's a small world."
"Nah that's a sign, you should go get his number."
"Oh please," I laugh, "I don't have time for that." I pull my hat over my head and rejoin the rest of the team as we wait for our coach to get our temperatures checked. It was deemed too cold outside, so we have to do our warmups in the upper gym, which overlooks the main court. Once up there, I can the gym looking for the boy. I spot him just as he's taking his sweatshirt off to reveal his basketball jersey. He seems to be very tall, like 6'3 tall, and his arms are extremely defined, accompanied by broad shoulders and short blonde hair.
"Hubba hubba," Carmen teases from behind me. I smile and sit on the floor of the upper gym to start stretching. Due to covid, all our locker rooms are closed to opposing teams. So sure enough, Sunset Valley Academy's team infiltrated our stretching area to make their game plan.
"Okay, everyone!" I heard my coaches voice booming through the gym. "Clearly we've been hijacked," he was making obvious that the basketball team shouldn't be up here, but no one really cares much for an indoor track team. We gather around him as he clasps his hands together. "We'll have to cut our stretches short today, but I wanted to make it known to everyone that tomorrow..." he pauses and motions for me to stand next to him. Without even meaning to, I glance over at the basketball team to see the boy watching and listening. I blush under my mask and take a few steps forward to stand next to my coach.
"Tomorrow, our very own Remy Jackson is signing to run division one cross country and track at Florida State."
The team claps, and I pull my mask down to smile and show my appreciation. I've waited so long for a day like tomorrow. When you're good at football or basketball, everyone in the school puts you on a pedestal, but when it's something like running or swimming no one really gives a fuck. So signing with a division one team all the way in Florida is me proving myself that I can be great, and that I will be. I glance again at Sunset Valley's team and make eye contact with the boy, he raises an imaginary glass to me and I feel my heart flutter. Quickly, I step back into place with the team and we make our way back to our commons area. We're just doing an easy run around the building today, since it's too cold to go outside. Running past the main gym doors, I peak inside just as the buzzer rings, and the boy tips the ball towards his team's side of the court for them to score.