Other Half

Blue

The sky is blue, why? Why is the sun out? Why is it not raining?
In England it rains 133 day per year on average. So on a mid April afternoon, on the worst day of my life, why is it sunny?
It can't be real. This day is not happening this whole year hasn't happened. It's not true it can't be.
My beautiful sister, my best friend, my other half. She can't be gone.

I really love basketball, I played it all though primary school and now that I'm thirteen years old Im allowed to try out for my high school team, I am nervous, of course I am. I nearly backed out. Elena stopped me of cause, her words are ringing in my head pulling my sports bra over my head," what do u mean? No way are u giving up. Listen nessy not one of those boys trying out could beat you at any of the drills at try outs, you know that".
" yes El I know, but it's hard for girls to get on the team", I laugh recalling her reaction, I tie my boots " cut it out, your not just a girl your Ines Toledo , Spanish, English basketball wizard, sorry witch, who can kick ..... Bottom, of any guy and look great doing it" Elena was bright red after saying that, obviously horrified that she had almost said arse. Of cause after Elena's big speech there was no way I could give up, so I finished up in the girls room and walked out with my head held high. Some of the team laughed when I joined the other boys who were trying out. Let them laugh. I glance at Elena in the stands and she smiles at me. That girl is always smiling always happy and this smile gave me a burst of confidence as I, again, recalled the speech she gave as I started to warm up with a worn out ball from the basket at the side of the gym court.

"Nes!" The shout came from Cameron, he has only been captain for a month but the role seems to suit him. I know that a lot of the boys think that he will go easy on me because of his little sister, Emily, but after all the practice with him and his friends in his back yard, I know different.
The sweat is pouring down my face, my legs burning, my heart is race ing and I'm glaring at Cam wishing that looks could kill . "Come on Nes faster" I'm dribbling the ball as fast as I can around the cones towards the hoop to score, i have done this sixteen times and not missed once. The other boys only did it ten times and most of them dropped the ball or missed. He is making me angry, working me harder and faster than anyone. Finally I hear it, the sound of pure bliss, the sound that makes my pain and worry worth it. "score! Right Nes your in, sorry guys we only had one spot today and that has been filled by Ines Toledo" moans and grumbles can be heard from all the failures but all I care about is the fact that I, did it , I succeeded, I'm on the Fray Granger basketball team.
Reaching Elena and Emily I collapse onto both of their shoulders, they are screaming and shouting at the tops of their voices " omg I knew you'd do it".
"Congratulations bbe".
Elena squashed me in her embrace and squealed in my ears.
"God woman get of me" I laughed pushing her arms away so I could breath. Elena passed me a water bottle and towel, "cheers" and I took a large drag and continued to squirt the water over my head and face. "Ooooooh that feels good" both Elena and Emily jump back to get away from the water and I laugh at them and squirt them with the luk warm water inside.
Cam is standing near with a towel over is naked shoulders, don't know why he needs it he didn't do any work I think bitterly.
" I wouldn't say it like that if I were you" he says to me smirking, my mouth drops open "Cam grow up" his dirty mind shocks me sometimes, but I guess he is two years older. I notice Elena and Emily looking away from the boys, they are all taking off their shirts, and laugh "they are just boys, girls come on let's go, I need a shower".
Nestor and Danny give me high fives by the gym door " welcome to the team Nes "
"Yea Nes congrats"
I grinned and pushed open the door wincing when my sore arms pressed against the heavy doors. A great force pushes me backwards into a hard body and knockes us both to the floor, unfortunately the hard body I was pushed into was just as hard as the floor. " IS SHE UP? DID I MISS IT? DID SHE GET IN? " Jack, out of breath and glasses wonky, looks around frantically, until he realises everybody is starring at him, and turns bright red and half hides behind Elena.
"Oh what you doing down there?"
Someone coughs from underneath me and I turn to see that I'm still sitting on the hard someone, Cam , " oh sorry man, and ya Jack you missed it, yes I did get in. No thanks to that jerk who had me doing two times the stuff the other boys did" I give Cam the evils. Elena gives me an arm and I stand willing my aching body not to fail me.
"If you wanted to be on top of me you could of just asked" Cam winked at me and walked out the gym. I choose to ignore the comment and walk towards the girls showers.
It feels amazing to be in clean clothes again, wrapped up warm against the cold April chill, walking out the sports department, I look up, so blue today.
Cam, Emily, Elena and Jack are waiting for me by the gate. Cam sitting on the wall and the others leaning against it refusing to break school rules by jumping up. I laugh and jump up to to sit by Cam guessing it will be a long wait for Nestor and Danny. Elena gave me a stern look but knew she couldn't do anything about it. She hates it when I break the rules, and she always let's me know when she dislikes what I'm doing by giving me "the look" "Oh chillax El everybody does it" I say it calmly with a smile an she returns it with a small smile of her own, no matter what I do, if I smile she smiles back.
Cam lets out a long and forced breath "can't believe those guys are taking more time to shower than a girl".
He had hardly finished his sentence when he let out a yell and fell of the wall, well was pushed off. A sound of high fives and laughing was coming from the other side of the wall and the two boys came out sniggering.
" guys what the hell?" Cam yelled standing up.