Love and Basketball

Chapter 2

*Beep* *Beep* *Be-*

I seriously hate that sound. You know what sound I hate the most? Cleo's voice yelling at me to hurry or we'll miss our flight. Well in that case, I'll take my jolly old time so I can just stay here.

"Angela you're always trying to ruin things that will help our family. Why can't you just let everything go smoothly for once?"

Me? Ruin everything? Look in the mirror Cleo. We're not a family.

"Yes Cleo, I know I'm a disappointment to you. What you think about me doesn't affect me though. Our feelings towards each other are completely mutual, trust me."

"I hope you know I do love you. You can just be a spoiled brat and get in the way sometimes. You and you're father are the most important people in my life!"

Hmmm.. I think she means my dad's money is the most important thing in her life. If she really 'loved' me, she would leave and let me stay here.

Either way, I pack my bags and head to the airport. I really am going to miss this place. Basketball here was perfect. My team and I were so in sync. We had each other's backs on and off the court no matter what. I'll never forget the game that I punched a redhead in the face because she told our starting forward her game was a joke. Good times!

As soon as we get on the plane, I immediately get sick. There's two things in this world that make me wanna puke more than anything. Cleo and heights.

Only four more hours of this..

We landed in Pittsburgh which was only about thirty minutes from where our new house was. There are no beaches in sight which kind of bums me out. I practically had a beach in my backyard at my old house.

Neither my dad or Cleo has spoken to me since this morning which is kind of a good thing. Cleo wants to take me shopping tomorrow for new clothes since I start school in two days. I told her I wasn't going. Oh, and I'm definitely not wearing what she picks out either. She'll turn me into a preppy know-it-all knowing her.

"We're finally here. Our new home." My dad states with clear disappointment that we had to move. Cleo seems happy though. I can practically see her razor sharp teeth through her wicked grin.

"Well Angela, what do you think?"

Well Cleo, I think that you should go back to hell where you belong.

"It's nice."

She's lucky I'm keeping my cool for my dad's sake. It's already night when we get unpacked and I'm hoping this is all a dream. I crash on the couch staring at the ceiling hoping that when I wake up I'll be back in Cali in my real mom's arms listening to my dad's corny jokes. I'd give anything to have that back.

I open my eyes, drool on my pillow, in my new room. Wait? How did I get up here and why don't I remember coming up?

I check my phone.

2:30 PM

Why didn't anyone wake me up? What's going on? This is actually worrying me now.

"Dad! Cleo! Hello?!"

No answer.

"Is anyone home?!"

I race downstairs to see what's happening and I find Cleo and my dad cuddled up on the couch sleeping. Add that to the list of things that makes me wanna hurl.

"Why didn't you have the decency to wake me up."

They both jump up, startled.

"We're sorry hunny. I carried you upstairs last night after you crashed on the couch. Cleo went shopping early so you could sleep in and she just got home not too long ago. She bought you all new clothes for school tomorrow and she even hung them up. What do you say to her for being so helpful?"

You can be even more helpful by moving to Alaska and taking your prissy clothes with you?

"Thanks Cleo." I've never said anything more bluntly in my life.

"You're very welcome sweetie! I'm always here to help."

Wow. I think I set a new record for tuning her out as soon as her mouth started to move.

"I'm going upstairs to decorate my room."

I headed up the stairs hoping it would give me time away from them.

Seven hours passed and I was finally done. My walls were painted blue, my basketball posters and paintings were hung up, and I still haven't taken one look at the new clothes in my closet. Sneakers, skinny jeans, and my Van Halen t-shirt tomorrow it is.