Begin Again - A.I

sixteen.

Over the next week I hung with the boys a bit more. I kind of realised that they really did want me to hang with them, and even Michael was becoming more welcoming. And, I kind of hated to admit it, but I was sort of starting to have fun with them.

They were constantly doing something. Always doing. Even when they were sitting around on the couch, they were still doing something. Everything was always entertaining with them, because they were always together. I didn't realise just how much of a distraction they were from my broken life. They kind of made this shitty small town somewhat tolerable.

"Here he comes! Calum Hood, the fast, the furious. The six foot, hundred and fifty pound, all star champion. He's making a bend, he's running. And he shoots! He shoots! AND HE SCOOORRESS!" Luke cheers, cupping his hands around his mouth as Calum shoots his basketball through the hoop. Calum starts running around, lifting up his shirt as he screams; hands flailing in the air.

I was sitting next to Michael on the bench beside the court, watching as Luke, Calum and Ashton raced around the area shooting hoops. We had just finished school, another very boring day in this hell. The boys weren't practising today, so instead were practising for their basketball careers.

"Hell naw," Ashton cries."I can do better than that." I could barely keep my eyes off him, he looked so good. He was wearing a simple black tank and basketball shorts, his toned and muscular arms glistening with sweat. He shakes his curls away from his face as he starts bouncing the ball, picking up speed and then successfully missing the hoop.

"You suck, Ashton!" Michael yells from beside me.

Ashton turns and throws the ball our way. I shriek and we both fly opposite ways to dodge it. Michael just laughs, picking up the ball and throwing it back.

I had to admit, I hadn't been too keen on sitting around watching boys run around chasing after a ball all afternoon, but when they looked like they did ... it wasn't so bad. Especially Ashton, dear god. He was fine. Every time I saw him I grew more attracted to him, which angered me immensely because he was a complete and utter dick who I actually hated. But damn was he hot.

Michael had been busy on his phone, typically, and sounded like he was playing some game. All I knew was that it was annoying the hell out of me. I give him a shove, sighing deeply. "Can you turn that down?"

"What?" He yells.

"Turn it down!"

"Why?"

"I'm trying to watch the game and it's distracting." I continue to watch Ashton, admiring the way his arms flex with each move they make.

"The game? They're literally just shooting hoops."

Then, all of a sudden, Ashton stops moving and his arms move to the bottom of his shirt and he pulls it slowly off, hanging his shirt off the waistband of his shorts.

"I mean, what is there to watch? There's just-"