Becoming a Nashville Predator

Chapter 13

Viktor's POV
"Rachael, pass me the ball!" I shout to Rachael. She throws the ball to me and I make a pass to Paul who dunks on top of Ellis.
"Why do you guys have me covering the tallest guy on the court?" Ryan protests
"Hey, I got Pekks and he's the same height as Paul!" Bourque adds
"Oh, stop your whining" Shea laughs back. "This is all in fun. Hey, by the way Rachael, you're really good at basketball." Shea points to me
"Thanks." Rachael says to Shea
"You're a little too good. I'm gonna cover you the rest of the game." Shea says with a grin on his face
"Oh no, I liked it better when Filip was trying to guard me." Rachael laughs
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Filip says
"Nothing Fil, come on. Let's keep the game going." I say, wanting to keep playing
"What's the score again?" Mattias asks
"42-30 and we're winning." I say grinning
"Man, you guys suck." Mattias says
"Actually we don't, because we're beating you guys." Rachael says back
"Rachael, throw it in." I say handing the ball to her
"Pekks!" Rachael yells, then she fakes her pass throwing the ball to me and making Shea spin around.
"Nice fake." I say to Rachael after passing the ball to Paul.
"Thanks." Rachael says with a smile on her face. Ever since Rachael and Filip moved here, I feel like the team is complete. I kind of like Rachael, she is so pretty. I don't know if I should tell her though. I mean, there is a six year age gap between the two of us. But it's not like we would do anything illegal if something were to happen between us. Just then I feel a sharp pain in my chest and I snapped back into reality. The ball was in my hands and when I realized what was going on, I started dribbling it down the court with the ball. I made a layup and scored.
"That's how it's done!" Yells Johansen as he pays me on the back congratulating me
"Thanks man." I say to Ryan with a smile on my face. We play for about a half an hour more, then everyone sits down trying to catch their breath.
"Good game everyone." Hutton says
"Hey, I'm gonna go make us all a drink." Rachael says with a smile
"Thanks Rachael." Everyone says
"Hey, I'll help you out with them." I say to Rachael. Maybe this will be my chance to make a move or tell her that I like her.
"What do you think everyone will want to drink?" Rachel asks me
"I don't know, do you want me to ask?" I reply
"Sure." Rachael says
"Okay." I say. I go into the backyard and ask what everyone wants to drink, then I go back inside with Rachael.
"What do they want?" Rachael asks me while getting out 26 glasses for all of us
"10 waters, 15 Gatorade's, and then whatever you want." I say with a smile
"Okay." Rachael smiles back at me
"You know, you have a really pretty smile." I tell her
"Awe, thanks Viktor. You have a really nice smile too!" She says blushing
"Thank you." I say laughing and smiling. I start getting the gatorades out of the fridge and she gets out two gallon jugs of water and a lot of ice. When she puts the ice down I hesitate.
"Hey, I'm sorry for doing this. I feel like I kind of have to." I say hoping that she turns around
"Sorry for doing what? I swear if you're gonna pour water on me or somethi-" She says as she turns around and I plant my lips on hers. I kiss her, and then she started kissing me back. I didn't think that she would, but she did. I put my hands on her cheeks and she kissed me a little more and then pulled away fast.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." She says to me and turns around making drinks again.
"No, it's alright. I liked it." I say back. I can tell she is blushing when she pulls her hair behind her ear. She doesn't say anything but I start helping her pour drinks.
"So, did you like it?" I ask Rachael trying to fill the awkward void
"Yes." She says blushing again
In my head I'm high-fiving myself but I keep cool in front of her.
"Did you feel a connection?" She asks me
"Yes, did you?" I ask her back
"Maybe, I don't really know what that feels like." She says back to me
"Are we all done with the drinks?" I ask her
"Yep, just let me finish pouring this last glass of water." Rachael says with a smile on her face
"Okay." I say to her. I grab out two really big trays and we put all of the glasses on them and walk outside to where the guys are.
"Hey, what took you guys so long?" Roman asked
"Hey, you try making 26 drinks and you only have one other person helping you." Rachael laughs
"Fair point, fair point." Roman says laughing back
"Hey, we should have a relay race!" Rachael says excited
"Okay!" Calle says excited
"Okay, I'll be one team captain. Who wants to be the other?" Rachael asks
"I will." I say looking towards her
"Okay. I pick Filip" Rachael says
" I want Shea." I say. We go back and forth until we have our final teams. Rachael has Filip, Calle, Mattias, Johansen, Roman, Peter, Miikka, Craig, Colin, Anthony, and Carter. I have Gabriel, Fisher, Paul, James, Eric, Riberio, Austin, Ellis, Barrett, Shea, and Pekka. I'm going against Rachael first, and I am not going to go easy on her.
"On your mark, get set, go!" Shea says. Rachael and I are running to the cones that we put in the backyard, and as I am turning around the cone I slip and fall. Rachael doesn't even notice, she keeps on running back until she gets back to her line and turns around.
"Oh my gosh, Viktor! Are you okay?!" Rachael asks as she runs up to me
"Yeah, I'm good. I just scraped my knee, I just need to clean it up." I say reassuringly
"Okay, I'm gonna help." Rachael says to me with a smile
"Okay, thanks." I smile back
"Hey, you guys keep the race going. We will be back in a few. And nobody cheat, I'm talking to you Bitteto." Rachael laughs. Bitteto looks around like he doesn't know what she is talking about and starts to laugh too. Rachael puts my arm over her shoulder and helps me inside, I hop onto the counter and she comes back from my bathroom with a bottle of peroxide, and a bandaid.
"Thanks again for helping me." I say
"No problem, it's the least I could do since I was the one who suggested the race in the first place." She says sincerely while putting peroxide on my knee. Once she gets done putting the bandaid on, I get off of the counter. She hadn't had a chance to move yet, so we were basically right on top of each other. I look at her and our eyes meet. We both lean in and our lips touch. Her lips are so soft, I put my hands around her waist and pull her in tighter as we kiss. Then Rachael pulls away abruptly
"What's wrong?" I ask concerned
"We shouldn't be doing this." Rachael says
"You're Filip's friend. Let alone, I'm 16 and you're about to turn 23" Rachael adds
"Yeah, I know." I say sadly
"I think we should just stick to being friends. For the sake of the team and our relationship with everyone on it." Rachael says
"Okay, if that is what you think is best." I say
"Thank you for understanding Viktor." Rachael says to me. Man, I love the way she says my name.
"It's no problem." I say
"We walk back outside and they are in the last round of the relay, it's Pekka against Carter and Carter wins.
"So, I'm guessing we won?" Rachael says happily
"You bet we did sis!" Filip says giving a big high-five to Rachel
"Well, Rachel and I have to get home." Filip says
"Why do we have to leave so early?" Rachael asked
"I'll tell you in the car." Filip said back to Rachael
"Okay then. Bye you guys!" Rachael says giving each of us a big hug
"Later you guys." Filip said to all of us
"Bye." Everyone said simultaneously. And with that, they left.