He's Giving Me a Reason, an Emblem3 Fan Fic (Sequel to Riptide)

Chapter 3

I didn't want to make eye contact with Wes, but I could feel him staring at me. I tried to walk quicker. but got caught behind the other fans trying to filter into the stands. Out of boredom, I accidentally glanced over at Wes.

He and Drew were gawking at me and Adrianna. When we made eye contact, Wesley didn't even try to hide the smirk creeping onto his lips. I gave him a steely glare and he started laughing. He checked the ball to Drew and jogged over to me.

"Is it a little too hot in here or something?" Wes asked the playful sarcasm in his voice evident. "I can ask coach to turn up the AC." He said pointing to my lack of clothing. He tried to keep a straight face, but I could tell he wasn't going to be able to hold it in any longer.

"Don't. Even." I said monotonously. 

"Hey, If I miss any of my shots tonight because I'm too busy staring, I'm blaming you." He said as he tickled my bare stomach. I giggled, and then went back to being serious.

"Don't blame me, blame Lindsey." I said rolling my eyes. He laughed.

"Of course she was the one to organize this." Wes smiled. "Not that I'm complaining or anything." I looked down and laughed at how ridiculous I actually looked. 

"Oh but that's not even the worst part." I said turning around so he could see the back of my outfit. 'Let's Go Oilers' was written in tiny orange block letters on the back of my sports bra, and the letters HBHS were written on my spandex. After a few seconds I turned back around.

"Hey, uh do you mind turning around again?" Wes grinned, wiggling his eyebrows at me. I opened my mouth and hit him on the arm. I tried to look offended, but I ended up laughing instead. I saw that the scoreboard clock was about to buzz, so I wrapped my arms around Wesley's neck and just stood there.

"Good luck." I told him smiling.

"What, no kiss? How am I supposed to play with out my good luck kiss?" He was about to keep talking when I cut him off by placing my lips on his.

"Ow Ow! Get it Stromberg!" I heard a guy call from the other side of the court. I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"Drew?" I asked.

Drew nodded, "Yep. on it." he said bouncing the basketball of the kids head lightly. The expression on this kid's face was absolutely hilarious. 

"Thank you!" I called still laughing. I watched out of the corner of my eye as the kid rubbed the back of his head and came at Drew jokingly. The two laugh-wrestled for a while until their coach blew the whistle to huddle up. "Good luckkkkk." I sang again as Wesley started walking backwards so he could keep looking at me.

"Thanks babe." He winked at me. He turned around and started jogging over to where the team was gathering.

"AVERY!!!! We need you over here!" Said an overly peppy voice. I whirled around to see Lindsey in the stands waving her arms for me to come over. I looked over Lindsey's shoulder and saw Adrianna in the middle row of the pack. There was an open space next to her, so I weasled past Brianna and Kristen.

Up until half-time, all we had done was cheer and clap and scream. Cheerleaders are not given enough credit for being peppy all the time. It was hard work. 

When there was only 15 seconds left on the timer I was completely exhausted. The score was tied at 85-85. We had the ball, but the Westminster defense was pretty good. I didn't know if we could get this last point. A tall guy on the other team checked the ball to Wes, and the clock started ticking.

14, 13, 12,11...

Wes passed the ball to Bryan who tried to make his way to the basket but was blocked from taking a shot. At that moment, Jason broke away from his guard and was open.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6...

Bryan chucked the ball at him and Jason dribbled to line up for a shot. There were too many people so he tried to make his way around, but he was almost out of time.

5, 4, 3...

With about two seconds left I saw Jason inhale deeply and take a shot from just in front of the half court line.

2, 1... swoosh. My mouth fell open as the ball passed through the cotton netting. 

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! 

The game was over, we won! The crowd cheered and the boys jumped on top of Jason, celebrating. The other girls were cheering hysterically too. I don't think I've seen Wes happier than he was in this moment... and that made me so proud.

I rushed onto the court at the same time everyone else did. I was lost in a sea of people that were jumping and hugging and cheering. It was hard to see where I was, there were so many bodies smashed against me. Finally I felt a hand grab my wrist. They gave it a little tug and I pushed through the crowd to see who it was.

When I was on the other side the hand pulled me closer and I crashed into a strong, familiar chest. I grinned as I saw Wesley smiling. He looked so happy, he lit up the entire room. I was about to say something but before I could he lifted me off the ground so I was hauled over his shoulder. He spun me around playfully until he finally put me down. 

I laughed and moved in to hug him. He placed his arm between us and hels his jersey away from his chest.

"You sure?" haha, referring to the fact that he was completely drenched in sweat.

"Absolutely." I said. He smiled and pulled me into him. He did in fact smell horrible, but I didn't care. "Congratulations." I punched him on the arm. Wes looked back back at me in disbelief.

"Wow, I still can't believe that we did it! I mean, we actually won." He totally deserved this, the entire team did. They've worked so hard the entire season. And it all paid off.

"Hey guys!" I felt an arm drape over my shoulder.

"Jase!" I hugged the life out of him. "You were amazing!" He smiled and ran a hand through his hair. 

"Nahhh. It was nothing." He shrugged his shoulders. But I could tell he was ridiculously proud. I slapped him lightly.

"Shut up! It was amazing." I said. He just shrugged again.

"Dude, you made a half court shot in the last to seconds." Wes stated. At that moment a full grin broke out on Jason's face.

"Okay yeah, it was pretty cool." He admitted. We all laughed. Jason was so modest, it was absolutely adorable. 

JASON! JASON! JASON! I heard the crowd chanting his name and smiled. Wes clapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey man," he pointed to the stands. "Duty calls." Jason grinned and ran off to go accept congratulations and compliments from his family and friends. 

"See you at the party!" He called back to us.

"You ready to go?" Wes asked, "Or are you going in that?" Wes winked.

"Hahaha, no. I brought extra clothes." I said holding up his jersey. I slipped it on right over my sports bra. "There. Done."

"You are keeping the spandex though, right?" He smirked at me again. I rolled my eyes but I answered anyway.

"Yes. But hands off my letters." I said, patting the HBHS written on my butt. He laughed and we walked out together hand in hand.

Hey guys! Sorry for the short chapter, it's kind of a placeholder to set the story for the next chapter :) Hope you liked it though!! 35 votes for the next one? :D