Love Hurdles

4. Natalie

I gulp down my ice cold water in four seconds, flat. Out of the corner of my eye I see Fiona and Luke chatting. Jealousy spreads through me and I don't know why, because I'm not usually the jealous type. But, Luke doesn't look too interested in Fiona, his gray eyes keep darting around looking for someone, but she doesn't seem to notice. Seeing her trying to flirt with Luke does amuses me and the jealousy wears off.

Every since we started high school three years ago, my friendship with Fiona went down the drain. She just hated my guts. We actually used to be friends in way back when in middle school, but something changed and now she is always out to get me. In middle school, she always got what I wanted. The boys I had a crush on, always liked her. The clothes I wanted, she got. It wasn't until I we got to high school, then she hated me.

I jog of to where they are standing, interrupting their conversation.

"Oh, it's just Natalie," Fiona says with a roll of her eyes.

"Hey Luke, how was practice." I say, completely ignoring Fiona.

"Good," he replies running a hand through his messy brown hair.

"I saw him running alone, so I joined him," Fiona goes on about what a great runner Luke is. Luke's eyes meet mine and we both roll our eyes. I have to stifle my giggles under my hand. Too soon (note the sarcasm) Fiona has to leave, leaving Luke and I alone.

"Well, you've made quite the impression on her," I say as we head to grab our bag.

Luke laughs and I join in. "She's interesting," he says once the laugh attack is over.

When we get back to the group Kris, Laila, and Sam are also done with practice. Kris wiggles her eyebrows at the sight of Luke and I walking alone and Laila is rubbing the back of her head while Sam apoligizes over and over again.

"Hey guys," Kris starts. "I was just talking about all of us hanging out at my place."

"Sounds fun!" Cam exclaims as he strolls up to the group.

"Oh, I just remembered. Kayla is here for the weekend," Kris glumly says.

Kayla is Kris's twin sister. She used to be one of our best friends in elementary school, but in sixth grade she got excepted into a school for gifted children. We haven't seen her in years, but when we do she acts like a snob and uses vocabulary words no one understands, just because she knows she can out-smart any of us.

"No, problem," Laila says. "And if she gets too annoying we will just kick her out." We all nod in agreement.

"Okie dokie, see you then," Kris says as she skips towards the locker room.

"You going?" I ask Luke.

"Should I?" He asks. " I don't know all these people."

"Dude! Of course you should go!" Cameron slaps him on the back.

"Alright, alright," Luke lifts his hands in defeat.

A playful smile curves on his lips, "See you there," he says to me as he walks with Cameron to the locker room.

Heat rushes to my face, my cheeks turn an ugly shade between fire truck red and pink.

"Nat, are you blushing?" Laila exclaims.

"No; NO!"

"Yes you are! Does someone have a crush on Luke?" She curiously asks.

"No I don't, he's just a friend!"

"That's exactly what you said about Cameron a few years ago," she says in a sing-song voice. Alright, I'll admit, I did have a minor crush on Cam in ninth grade, but I got over it pretty fast because we are practically brother and sister.

"Come on," I change the subject. "Lets go change."

Back in the locker room, Kris, Laila and I quickly shove our clothes in our bags and leave. We pile into Laila's car, and head to Kris's house.

"Wait, can we drop off Kris then stop by my house?" I ask.

"Girl," Kris says. "You need to get a car!"

"I know, I know. I just want to change," I say.

"Fine," Laila drops of Kris then we go to my house.

As fast as possible, I sprint into the house. Throw on leggings and a loose, grey shirt. I slip into my maroon Chuck Taylor's, grab my charging phone, and let my mom know I'm going to Kris's. She is totally fine with it, of course, because between Laila, Kris, and I, we practically live at each others' houses. I hop into Laila's car and we hit the road.

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