Challenging the Boys

Chapter 9

Dedicated to sorridianimavuota who is always there for me and always ready to help me out even at the weirdest times of the day. Love you!

I wake up to the ringing of my cellphone's alarm clock.

Today was the day!

It was Monday.
Which meant tryouts.
Which meant finally knowing what my future would reserve for me.

I didn't know if I was really ready to play with the guys. I mean the ball was heavier, the players were taller and the workout was way harder.

But they could bet all their money I would try my best.

I was still really nervous, what happens if coach doesn't pick me? Will I have to stop playing?

God, it feels like this is all I've been thinking of for the past few weeks.

Getting to school had become easier, in the last few days we had managed not to get too lost and actually get to school on time.

I went to my locker, not bothering to be  quick in getting my stuff because for once I wasn't late to class, and as I opened it a small piece of paper fell to the ground.

Curious I kneeled down to pick it up and read it.

Inside, typed in black font, it read:

If I were you I wouldn't play...or else.

What the hell was this?!

Was this a threat? Who would even want to threaten me?

I didn't think I had made enemies in the few weeks I had been living here.

This had to be a joke, right?
I hoped it was, what else could it be?

It was probably just a stupid joke.

I tried not to think about the note all day, but trying not to think about the note meant it was the only thing I actually thought about all day. ALL DAY.

I kept saying to my self what if it's important? And what if it's just some kind of prank?

I even wrote down a list of pros and cons of me not doing tryouts on a notebook during English period.

My grades were probably already falling behind, considering that between this stupid note and the basketball team, I had hardly even tried following the lessons.

In reality though I really didn't have much time to think about it, because by the time 8th period came around I was getting hyped and my heart was racing at the idea that in just an hour all the hard work I had put my body through was going to tell me if I was worthy enough for the boy's team.

***

Only five minutes were remaining until the end of the lesson and I couldn't stop my hand from anxiously tap my pencil on my desk, while waiting for the bell to ring.

What was I going to do? This could mean the start of my career or the end of it if I didn't show up.

This day hadn't been that good, with the stupid thing and the constant anxiety for tryouts. Yet I had to be able to put everything behind me and menage to concentrate while playing my game.