Thirteen Summers

twenty-four

J O S I E

"You have to actually get it through the hoop, you know." Kai commented, as we watched Nick retrieve the basketball that had rolled over somewhere far.

I looked at him in embarrassment at first before I covered it with a glare.

"Come on, Jo. I'll teach you how since Kai is failing."

"Not my fault she doesn't have an athletic bone in her body." Kai shrugged.

Nick and I shared an amused look, both of us staying quiet.

I was hanging out with Nick and Kai at a basketball court, against my will.

Madison had plans with a friend, Roman took Caleb to a dentist appointment and Cameron & Ella had some school business to discuss concerning me, I guess that made sense.

That meant I was stuck with these two and for some reason, we just couldn't stay at home.

What a shame, because I really wanted to be in my room right now.

"Okay, first of all you've got your stance all wrong." Nick pointed out, he started showing me the correct ways to stand. "This way you can move quicker and the idiot brother doesn't get to steal the ball."

"Ah, fuck you." We heard in the back.

"Hold it like this." Nick positioned my hands around the ball. "Okay, you're ready to go."

I nodded and made sure I was in the correct position in front of the hoop.

I tried and I missed it again. It didn't go too far this time and I went to go pick it up.

"Ah, better luck next time." Kai laughed at me. "This is what you get when you let a swimmer teach you how to play ball."

"Ignore him, just try again." Nick reassured me.

"Okay." I muttered, I tried to concentrate as I held the ball in my hands.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, opened my eyes and shot the ball towards the hop.

This time I didn't miss it.

"See? See!" Nick shook my shoulders excitedly, which shook my entire body actually.

A low whistle sounded. "Damn."

My brows raised in surprise, at the fact that my mean old brother was somewhat impressed that the ball had actually gone through.

However, the voice that followed was not his.

"Oh, I know Kai didn't teach her that." A slightly familiar voice spoke.

I turned towards it, squinting as the sun shone down on me. I recognised him as one of the cousins from Caleb and I's birthday party, though I could not recall his name.

"Fuck are you doing here?" Kai retorted, his arms crossed.

"Hey, Gabe." Nick greeted him, giving him that guy handshake.

Now I remember him, Gabriel.

"Hey, bro." Gabriel returned, then he looked at me and smiled. "Hi, Josie."

"Hi." I replied quietly, giving him a brief smile before I turned back to the basket and tried to get the ball in again.

I accidentally threw it over the basket so I ran off to go grab it from where it ended up.

"We're gonna grab some food." Nick told me when I got back to them.

Good timing because I was hungry.