Guilty Indulgence

Chapter 6~ Autumn Term

Friday 11th of October:

It's Samira's quarter-final league game, I'm watching the first-half from the bleachers within the sports hall. To be honest, the sports hall floor has multiple-coloured lines and I don't know which one is the netball court. It was originally scheduled to be outside on the Astroturf but because of the rain that has been ongoing all day; They deemed it unsafe to play on the outside court. I'm elated to not be sitting out in the rain, in which I channel into my shouts of motivation; otherwise, I'd be cheering our team on miserably.

Some girls had their boyfriends here cheering them on with a few extra lads, including Oliver and unfortunately James. But I'm presuming that Oliver is here for Samira, especially with the way he is encouraging her to make the defensive blocks from the side-lines. It's not like I'm able to avoid James in this school, let alone this town. There are only 6 teams in this netball league which just goes to show how little schools are in this area and we are one of the biggest alongside Edgewood High.

"Yes, Sam!" I shout as I watched her block this purple ball smaller than a basketball from going into the hoop. She quickly passed it to her teammates in burgundy netball dresses as it hopped from one pair of hands to another in rapid successions. Samira may have joined netball for the short dresses they wear but soon enough her competitive nature took over, and she plays every game possible even if it's a friendly to win and conquer the other team.

"No!" I sat, as one of our players shoot bounced off the hoop and out of play; the referee called for half-time. I check my phone to see where Caleb was at and if he has messaged, to see there were none. He said at lunch-time that he will be at this game to support Samira with me, but he's nowhere to be found. James and his mates call out to me to join them further up the bleachers but I politely decline their offer.

I watched as the player's moved to the side-lines for a 5-minute break for some reason they get a break every 15-minutes which seems odd. I thought games lasted 45-minutes before half-time. Oliver passed Samira her bottle of water and gave her a few compliments on her defence; she thanks him and looks for me in the not-so-busy crowd of supporters. She found me, all on my lonesome, right in the middle of the bleachers. I stood up and raised my hands up, pretending to take a shot; swoosh, Samira jumps up in defence and knocks the imaginary ball out of play. We both end up chuckling to ourselves at our silliness.

The game begins again for another ridiculous 15-minutes. I heard the door to the sports hall open at the side of the bleachers; I hoped it was Caleb. It will be about time he shows his face. My attention shifted onto the game to appear annoyed at him for being late and a figure moved towards me from the corner of my eye. He better not give me a kiss on my cheek like everything's alright with his flaky behaviour.

"Hello, is this seat taken?" I recognise Mr Cain's voice from anywhere. The seat beside me was available, and so were many other seats. I let him know it was free. He had the choice of any seats but he chose the one beside me that blocked my view of James and vice versa.

"What brings you to the game, Sir?" I ask with a grin on my face at the proximity. He smelt like fresh sweet-earthy texture of pine needles with a musky wood undertone and a gust of citrus; he smelt divine.

"Thought I'd show my support for the school's most predominant sports," he said matter of fact as he leaned forward showing a keen interest in the current game play.

"I've not seen you at any of the lad's football matches," curious about his reply. Football is our school's strongest sport. We even thrash Edgewood High at it; I know because I've watched every single one of Caleb's games since we've dated, which is coming up to a year in November.