KYLIE'S ZEAL(REWRITING)

CHAPTER 1

"You guys are so lucky!"

"not everyone gets a chance to compete at the USHS basketball competition for females while in high school. But remember, with a great opportunity comes a great price.

"you might have to train your asses out to get a shot at qualifying for the competition, good luck guys." Coach Lance ended his speech leaving us on the school's basketball court after a twelve minutes brief. Almost immediately, we started withdrawing from the court and left for our classes.

Coach Lance had mentioned how the competition only comes up once in every 5 years, leaving a few lucky girls to partake in the competition while in high school. He stressed how our school had only been able to qualify for the competition one time, which was the inaugural edition of the competition; just two years after the school was founded. 

The 8th edition of the competition signaling its 40 years of existence is set to commence 3 months from now.  It is super sad to hear that our school had not been able to make it outside the qualifiers for over 35 years.

Tell me something gross than that.

**********

Balang! Balang!! Balang!!! 

That was my cue to leave GHS(Greenleaf High School)for my parents house, actually moms or maybe technically. 

Soon as the bell-ringer drops his tool, I immediately realised how not so fun the entire school day has been; always one boring class after another. Coach Lance's brief did sound like a motivation earlier in the day, now that I think about it, everything about sucks.... 

Maybe I just gotta prove myself and help the school at least qualify. A weird thing to think, I know, I know... 

One thing that's not weird is walking down the bus station to catch my ride home, it is a rite.

I'm not like the regular American teen girl that moves with a lot of friends in high school. I'm much of a loner (or not), no permanent friends nor permanent enemies, I like your energy and we just connect (doesn't always work out like this, but at least you get me). 

Living 40km away from GHS, my mom drops me at school every (not so every) morning on her way to work while I make my way home through a bus after school. It's usually boring at home, my parents parted ways since when I was barely 5,and I have lived with my mom since then.

Mom said dad is still alive (he bought the house we live in). so many questions regarding why he left me and mum, I don't really have an idea of what having a dad feels like. Mom works 3 times more than she should, I don't know why she works so hard though, she remarried but didn't have any other child aside me. I think we have enough money to go on for years, but yet, she works every minute she gets the opportunity; that explains her rapid promotion at her workplace. My step dad runs a club (he says it's a pub) and doesn't return home until the middle of the night everyday. Such a boring home right?

I wish the bus stops right in front of my house. But nahh, I've to do  seven minutes walk home to cover the remaining miles to my place. Can I not just do this today? 

"who's there, who the fuck entered my house without knocking?"

"no one should be home at this hour," I hope you didn't catch my shaky voice....

 I think it's best that I run out of the house and put a call through the police. Yes, that's it. There's an intruder. 

Somehow, my step dad came running to the door, that's a relief. This is not the first time he's doing it, he did intrude into my life all the years my dad has been gone for. 

"oh sweet. It's you, I didn't know it was time for you to be back home"

That's right, you shouldn't bother about meagre things like that, I thought in my head. He's never been a proper sub for a dad. Yet, he's the only father figure that came through since recently. There's a possibility that he meant something, maybe I just couldn't see it.

"yeah..I know right, I wasn't expecting to see you either." I had to reply anyway.

"I needed to grab something quickly, I was about leaving when you came in" he said, making his way out of the house. What was so important to have brought him back home? I kept thinking, it's not like I have other things to do with my head. But all these 2 years that he has been married to my mom, how come I never ran into him during the day, the more I think about it, the creepier it gets. I finally gave up thinking.

"what did mom see in him?" I ask myself loudly. Well, it's up to her!

I made my way through the kitchen, prepared me a meal, read a couple of comic books and laid on the bed.