It's almost 5pm and i decided to go to the park since my mother wasn't home and to see if Charlotte was there. I wonder if the plan will work. What if it doesn't?
I'm talking to myself while walking down the street. People must think i'm mental or something, i'm just so nervous.
I've only talked to her two times: the day when we were at the park and then at the restaurant.
I looked around when i got to the park and there were a few people. Some kids running around, others riding their bicycles, others doing zumba and some we're playing basketball.
I walked past the basketball court and heard a guy yell.
"Hey you!" I kept walking since i knew they weren't talking to me. "Hey you with the white shirt!" He said.
I looked to my left and a bunch of guys were looking in my direction. "Me?"
"Yes you." I approached them. "We need another player to be on our team."
"Oh sorry i don't play." They all looked at each other confused.
"What do you mean you don't play?" Another guy said. "You're tall and you could probably dunk the ball."
"Sorry guys i don't play." I started walking away.
"Dude come on. It's just for fun, no one will make fun of you."
I thought about it for 6 whole seconds and decided to do it. What could go wrong?
I nodded and the guys started yelling. "Lets do this!"
Oh shit what have i agreed to? The guys were all tall and buff. My mother says i need to eat more and do more exercise but i eat a lot and exercise is not my thing.
Since another group of guys were playing on one side of the court we had to play on the other side.
I'm really nervous about this game. I didn't say no because these guys are probably in a gang and i don't want to get killed just because i said no. I came here to see if Charlotte came and ended up playing basketball.
The game was about to start and the guy from my team handed me the ball. The game started and i passed the ball to one of the guys from my team.
He dribbled the ball and passed it to another dude. I was standing there, not moving a finger, just watching them play around me.
The guy cut through and threw the ball. Two points for us.
The game kept going and i haven't touched the ball since it started. I'm laughing internally at myself, i'm so pathetic.
"Dude!" I looked at the guy dribbling the ball and realized i was alone. He passed me the ball too high and me being all clumsy and stupid, i hit myself in the face with it.
"Fuck." I mumbled to myself while touching the bridge of my nose.
"Nice catch." A guy from the other team said.
The game was now tied. Our team needed to make on more shoot or shot or however you say it and we win.
The guy from my team stole the ball from our opponent but couldn't throw the ball so he passed it to another guy. He looked around and saw that neither of the other two guys could get the ball and that left me.
He passed me the ball and i threw it once i saw the others running towards me. When i threw it, the big guy pushed me and i was left on the floor in pain.
"We won thanks to the weird guy." Are they talking about me?
"Hey buddy." He came up to me and gave me his hand so i could stand up. "We won because of you."
"Luke." I told him.
"Well Luke, good game." As soon as he finished that sentence he walked away and so did i.
I was in pain and decided to sit on one of the benches close to the elders.
I couldn't move, even breathing hurt. I need to rest and buy a bottle of water to hydrate a bit.
Who would've thought me, Luke Robert Hemmings, would play basketball and score the winning points. That's right. That's one thing i can check off my bucket list.
I reached down my pocket to find my wallet and grab a dollar to buy some water. I looked at the machine from were i was sat and thought about standing up.
"Are you going to stand up?" I jumped a little, frightened by the voice of a female.
"Charlotte." She's here. "Hi. Yeah. No. Probably. I don't know."
She laughed and her bright smile was beautiful.
"Give me the dollar and i'll go buy it." She took the green paper from my hands and walked towards the vending machine. Soon enough she was walking towards me with the water bottle and handed it to me.
I drank half the water and then closed it.
"I saw you play."
"Did you see the whole game?"
"Well i saw you get hit with the ball and then that guy pushed you." By saying that i knew she saw the whole game.
"How embarrassing." Im so embarrassed i might cry.
We kept talking about the basketball game and laughing at me for being an awful player. She seemed different from the time she went to the restaurant. There she was all serious and now she's all giggly. She seems happy.
"I see you have another book." I pointed at her lap.
"Yeah i have a chapter left." She placed the book next to her on the bench. "I like reading."
"I can tell. What else do you like?" I decided to ask her and start the plan.
"Well i like bands, painting and tv shows." She said while playing with her fingers. "I also like skittles."
"Me too. Although i don't do painting but i do love bands, tv shows and skittles." I said. "Maybe one day we could go to a concert together then watch tv shows while eating skittles."
"That sounds perfect." She laughed and covered her face. "We haven't met properly. I'm Charlotte."
"I'm Luke." We shook hands. "Do you live close by?"
"I don't think it's a good idea for me to tell you. For all i know you could be a serial killer."
"What a movie-like thing to say."
"For now all we need is our first name."
She was mysterious and fun. We kept talking until she had to leave and so did I.
The first thing i did after walking home was call Michael.
After a few rings, he answered. "Hey Luke."
"Michael i think the plan is working."
"You saw her today? You weren't being weird right?" I was walking around the house. Whenever i talk on the phone i never seem to stand still.
"Why does everyone think i'm weird.?" First the guy at the game and now Michael.
"I don't know, you just are. Are you going to see her again tomorrow?" Tomorrow?
"Umm.. W-We didn't talk about tomorrow or when we would see each other again."
We talked for like two hours and i only got 3 things, she likes bands, tv shows and skittles. We didn't say anything about when we were going to see each other again. I'm not good at socializing.
"W-What if she's playing me?" I said nervously.
"Dude first of all, why are you stuttering so much? Second of all, calm down." Michael said with a serious tone.
He told me to not over think things or it won't let me sleep at night. He's probably right. I'll just go again tomorrow and see if she's there.
***
I don't know if you guys are liking this story ? I'm sorry it seems so boring but i promise it will get better. Please comment your thoughts.
Thank you, I love you all x.
