Brooklyn vs. Manhattan *Spot Conlon Modern AU*

31. this is me trying

"I've been having a hard time adjusting"

***April's POV***

Two Weeks Until Brooklyn vs. Manhattan Game

I haven't seen Spot all week. Basketball has been wearing both of us out the closer we get to the big game, and there's no time in between practice times and dinner and homework for us to see each other.

And for some reason, I haven't missed him much. Half the time I barely realize he's not here. Instead of Spot being around for dinner and homework, I'm with my friends. Sydney keeps me distracted at basketball, which means I only think about Spot when we're texting or when I dream about him. I thought I would have a hard time adjusting to us not seeing each other but I'm not.

It scares me. I have a lot of regrets, and I don't want Spot to be one of them. I don't want this whole basketball game to be a regret either. I thought it would be easy, since I went through this with football, but basketball's so much harder because the last time Manhattan and Brooklyn played each other was in the last districts game where Brooklyn pushed Manhattan out of districts and went on to win the state championship. Manhattan hasn't won a state championship in ten years, and last year was the closest we got to getting another one.

     Me: hey how was your day
     Spot<3: good how was yours
     Me: fine. i had a big math test coming up and i've been stressing about it all week but i finally took it today and i feel good about it
     Spot<3: that's good. listen, i'm about to eat dinner with ace so i'll text you after i'm done
     Me: okay bye love you

He doesn't respond. I throw my phone down on my bed and groan. Maybe I don't know what to say in our conversations anymore but at least I'm trying. Spot's growing more and more distant with every passing day and I'm starting to worry those underground bets may be proven true. The strain is getting to be much for both of us apparently.

"April, your girls are here!" Crutchy yells from downstairs. I forgot that I made plans with the girls to go roller skating tonight. I asked Spot to hang out now since basketball practice was right after school and I didn't have much homework, but he said he had a lot of homework so he couldn't come over. When Sarah asked Izzy and I if we wanted to go roller skating, I said yes.

"Hold on!" I yell back, throwing on Spot's sweatshirt and my fuzzy boots before running down the stairs. I may not be able to talk to him, but at least his sweatshirt makes me feel close to Spot.

I greet the girls with hugs at the door and then we head to Sarah's car.

"Are you alright?" Izzy asks as we get in the car. Since Izzy's the youngest, we always make her sit in the back.

I nod, but I'm not even convincing myself. "Yeah, I'm great."

Sarah side-eyes me as she drives away from our street. "You sure?"

I sigh, knowing that I'll eventually tell them anyway so why not do it now. "No. I haven't seen Spot all week, and not that's a big deal, but you would think we'd at least be texting, but all our conversations are only four dry as hell text messages before one of has to go. We just keep drifting apart, and I'm starting to think it might have to do with the basketball game."

"Of course it's about the basketball game," Sarah says.

"Yeah, because he's still prioritizing sports over you," Izzy scoffs.