It All Started With A Basketball

Chapter 3 - The Bet

"Wake...up...wake...up!" Laura was repeatedly jumping on my bed, trying to wake me up. I wouldn't budge. She yanked the blanket off of me. I shivered, feeling the gust of cold air on my bare legs. I curled up into a ball.
"Let me sleep." I mumbled.
"So I guess that means you're not going to go to the game?"
My eyes popped open.
"Oh my gosh! I forgot about it!" I turn my head to the right, glancing at the alarm clock.

11:45 AM

"What time did you wake up?" I say while rubbing my eyes.
I notice her hesitation. "8:30" She says with a sheepish smile.
"8:30?! WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP SOONER?!" I shout.
"Well, I wanted to finish the movie... So I did, and then my brother called saying that mom would be home soon and that she would ground me for life if I hadn't finished my chores... So I raced over to my household, did the chores, came back and saw that you were still sleeping." She says, wiping a drop of my spit off her face.

Serves you right for not waking me up earlier.

I got out of bed, plucking a piece of popcorn out of my hair.

Oh yeah. The popcorn fight.

Flashback to last night
I yawned. I was getting pretty tired. Either that or I was just bored of the movie.
I was about to pop a piece of popcorn into my mouth when I thought against it and nonchalantly tossed it at Laura. She flinched and looked over to me, who was staring at the movie screen pretending like nothing happened.
She turned her attention back to the movie. I tossed two pieces of popcorn at her. One hit her forehead while the other dropped into her shirt. I tried hard to stifle back a laugh. She glared at me, then got out of her seat and grabbed two giant fistfuls of popcorn. In a matter of seconds, I was showered with the buttery snack. I looked back at the screen, pretending as if it didn't affect me. She sat back down with a smirk. When she was distracted with the movie, I seized the opportunity and dumped the entire bag on her. She started to laugh and removed the popcorn from the couch to toss it to me, who was attempting to catch it with an open mouth. I successfully caught seven in my mouth out of the forty she tossed.
#popcorncatchingskills.

End flashback

"Laura you do not know how bad this is!" I groan at her, running my fingers through my hair. I look at her and see that she's sadly smiling at me. "I'm sorry Lindsay but you should've been more responsible for this bet. Especially when you planned it." She walks out of my room, leaving me to change and figure out my life.

I just decided for clothes that I would wear a pair of sweats and a cropped tank top. Just because I'm about to play a game of basketball doesn't mean I can't be stylish right?
Okay well everything was going well until I looked at my bedside clock and it read

11:49 AM

This is when I panic. The game was at noon!

I tied my hair up in a pony tail and grabbed my duffel bag. I packed a bottle of water and my basketball.

Wait, please don't tell me that those guys popped my NBA SIGNED basketball. Lord give me strength because if they did, people will be knocked out for days.

I walked to the corner of my room where the popped ball was and yes...

It was my signed ball.

I kicked it in frustration as I didn't have a basketball. So I ran downstairs and grabbed a spare one. Laura stopped me. "Lindsay where are your shoes?" I look down to see that my Air Jordan's weren't on my feet where they should be.

UGH! THEY THREW THEM OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN AND TOOK THEM DIDN'T THEY?

"Laura they took them!" I yelled at her and I literally felt like crying.
"Go find more shoes!" She calmly, but seriously tells me.
I ran upstairs and looked around trying on any shoes I saw.
My boots aren't ideal, neither are my flip flops since it's basketball. My brain thought of another option.

Do I have to? I asked myself.
Yes, you do.
But I don't want to... It's embarrassing. I want my Jordan's back!
That's why they left them there. To embarrass you, duh!

I sighed. My only option was the ballet shoes they left for me.

Isn't that great? Life is freaking amazing for me right now.

I slipped them on and ran out the door, probably leaving my best friend in my house.

---//---

"Oh look who's finally here boys!" I hear Brandon say as I open the park gate. His little henchmen turn around to face me as they stupidly smile.
Brandon looks remarkable good.

Okay seriously, it's like my hormones just got activated.

He was wearing basketball shorts and a white tank top. I saw him check me out which made me want to gag.

I walked closer to him as he looks down at my shoes. He laughs as he says "It looks like you've finally found your true calling." I roll my eyes as the guys laugh along with him.
"Yeah well, it's kinda hard to find shoes when you threw my Jordan's out into the pouring rain; ruining them and then taking them." I cross my arms against my chest to seem intimidating.
"Oh! Speaking of..." He took something out of his bag and tossed them in front of me. "There ya go, cupcake."
I watched my now soaked Air Jordan's plop to the ground.
"That's not helpful." I mumble, stuffing them into my duffel bag.

I look at the court and see that a small puddle had formed under the net. He followed my gaze as I said "Aw damn, look there's a puddle under the net." I pout as I set my stuff down on a nearby bench.
The next thing I knew, I turn around to see him shirtless holding a wet shirt in his hands, which I'm guessing was from cleaning the puddle.
"Why did you do that?" I said. There was another net across the court.
"I just thought you would like the view better." He winks at me.
I fix my ponytail as I look down. My face turns into a frown as I realize again that I'm wearing ballet shoes.

No Lindsay, stop thinking about your shoes! What matters is that you try your best to beat this guy.

I grab the ball out of my bag and walk back to Brandon.
"Aww what happened to your old ball?" He snickers at me.
"Some guy popped it yesterday." I look at one of his friends with a glare knowing that one of them did it. They all do that cliche whistle and look away type of cover up.

"You could always go back to Walmart and get another one." He chuckles.
"Yeah, well try saying that to Michael Jordan when he signed it." I sadly say.
I was still so upset from that. I got that ball signed almost three years ago.

His face goes from laughing to a confused grin.
"Wait..." He turns around to his friends. "You popped her autographed ball!" They all back away as he grits his teeth in annoyance.
"Look I'm sorry about that cupcake, but I didn't do it."
I huff at him. "Yeah right. I think all of you did that because you're scared of me being as good if not better than you."

He leans closer to me with a small, but evil grin.
"Oh cupcake, isn't that cute! You actually think you could beat me."

"Listen, I'm dying to play, so what are the rules?"

He takes the ball from under my arm and stands away from me.
"Okay so this bet is just a normal one on one match."
I nod in agreement. I interrupt him. "And if I win, you have to leave me alone and never set foot on this court again."
"Deal!" He proudly smiles.

I look away and glance at the court patiently waiting for him to say his end of the bargain.
I feel breathing on my neck as he speaks. He whispered the bet to me. I stood in shock, confused as to why he wanted that if he won.
"Agreed."
"Okay then, let's do this!" He says, dribbling the ball towards the court.

His words still echoed in my ear. Now I really have to win this.

"If I win, you have to let me help you for your basketball tryouts."

A/N Hey guys! So now there's a bit of competition playing in, eh? Who do you think is going to win?
We hope you loved this chapter as much as we did!😘💖