What Now ⇔ Muke ✓

[5] It's not safe over here

LUKE

At school the next day, I barely focus on my assignments. My mind whirled every way during the whole day and I think one of my teachers threatened to call my parents, but I didn't even really listen to her either. It's not as though Ms. Irwin would have cared anyways. Instead, I searched the hallways and classrooms for that boy, Michael, but I didn't see him anywhere. I definitely would have noticed him too, with his hair. Michael isn't exactly someone you can easily miss, it seems. It made me wonder if he dropped out of school. He's definitely not out of college or anything, since he only looked to be my age, if not younger. But when I asked Ashton if he knew anyone named Michael, he said no. Ashton knows everybody in this town, so it really confuses me as to why Michael seems to be invisible here. I try not to dwell on the situation and forget about him, but it's tough.

Tryouts for the basketball team are today, so the second the bell rings I spring out of the classroom I'm in and grab my backpack from my locker. Ashton shows up beside me as I shut my locker and he gives me a huge, cheeky smile. Dimples show on his cheeks.

"Good luck, Luke!" Ashton cheers, slinging his own backpack over his shoulder. "Meet me back at the house when you're done, okay? The results should be up by the time you get home." He looks genuinely excited for me, but I'm so worried I can hardly return the favor.

"Thanks, Ash." I say, giving him a small smile. Ashton does a thumbs up and begins to turn away, so I throw my heavy backpack on my shoulder and begin making my way to the gym.

"Wait, Luke!" Ashton suddenly calls. I turn back around, my heart pumping with anxiety. I'm so nervous about these tryouts. I'm naturally good at sports, but last night was the first time I played in years. What if I embarrass myself or if the guys make fun of me if I don't make it?

"Calum is trying out as well. I think you met him on your first day here, yeah?" Ashton says, and I give him a small nod before rushing through the hallway and down the narrow corridor to the gym. I feel bad for kind of ignoring Ashton but I can't stand to stay still any longer.

The second I open the gym doors, the strong smell of sweat and nerves all combined comes rushing at me. I hurry in and drop my backpack with the others, a few guys walking in behind me and doing the same. I look up from the polished ground and see an assortment of tall boys warming up, obviously trying to impress the coach, who sits quietly in the corner, watching intensely. I shakily walk towards a basketball rack and grab a good looking ball and dribble it out to the court. I step into line with the other guys to shoot a layup.

"Hey, Luke, yeah?" a voice happily chirps in my ear. I look up to see Calum. His dark hair is plastered to his forehead with sweat and he is breathing deeply, but a huge smile is on his face all the while.

"Yeah, it's Luke." I mumble awkwardly. I don't really know the kid very well, but he's really popular and he and Ashton seem to be good friends.

"I'm so glad you decided to try out!" Calum pats me on the shoulder and eyes the coach. "He'll put special attention to you, so make sure you don't mess around or anything. Shoot only when you really think you will make it."

"Why special attention towards me?" I ask, still dribbling the ball. Boys move all around me, shooting around and I pray I don't get hit in the head with one.

"Because you're new here. He hasn't made any assumptions about you yet. And, you're like, really tall." Calum looks up at me and chuckles a little before whirling around and making a layup, the ball swishing straight through the net. The coach watches him approvingly and then turns his beady eyes to me.

I take a deep breath. Here I go.

~*~

Although I hid it very well, that was possibly one of the most stressful and terrifying thing I have ever had to endure. The coach has his bird-like eyes on me nearly the entire time, and I was all sweaty and shaky. I made a couple of really good shots, but I mostly just did a ton of layups.