BLUE

22. Try-out

When lunch time arrived, I was a little calmer. I walked through the hallway and looked around for Becca, but her blue hair was nowhere to be seen. I had to tell her about the try-out and hopefully she wouldn't want to cancel our plans later.

I went to look for her at the cafeteria, but she wasn't there either. I decided to stand in line for food anyway. I was really starving, probably because I didn't have breakfast this morning. I couldn't get out of my house fast enough. I did not feel like confronting my parents today, after everything that had happened.

Sam and the other guys walked in and found their usual table. They greeted me on their way, and Sam came over and stood next to me in line. The people behind us gave a few pissed off glares because he skipped the line like that, but he was the most popular guy at this school, so he could do anything he wanted... Or so were the rules apparently.

Sam started talking about basketball, but I stopped listening when I suddenly saw Becca walking past the line, with her eyes focused on the end of the room. I quickly grabbed her arm and stopped her. She turned around with a surprised look but smiled when she saw it was me.

"Oh hey, what's up?" she said, with her adorable smile.

"Hey, uh, I need to talk to you about something" I said, my heart beating to the extreme.

"You sound so serious" she frowned.

"It's just that, I found out I'm in the finals for the basketball try-outs, but the game is today after school... and I know we have our study plans and I didn't want to disappoint you but-"

"Hey, hey. Blake, it's okay" she said with a laugh. Man, I was just rambling on to everyone today. I took a deep breath as she chuckled at me.

"When is the try-out done?" she asked.

"I don't know. It's probably going to last like an hour, maybe more" I said.

"If you don't want to wait that long, we can just find another day?" I asked her, even though I did not want to wait to be with her again.

"Or maybe I can come watch? If I'm allowed, that is" she said with a smile. A feeling of excitement, or anxiety bubbled up inside me.

"Yeah, yeah. I think you can do that. Not that it doesn't put even more pressure on me" I teased.

"Come on, if you can't play in front of me how do you expect to do it in front of the whole school" she said and crossed her arms.

"Yeah, you're right" I shook my head at myself. She smiled.

Before any of us could say more, Sam came up behind me and asked if I was joining them at their table. I looked over at Becca and asked her if she wanted to join us too.

"Oh no, that's okay. I'm not that hungry, and I still have some homework I got to finish before the next class" she said and fumbled with her fingernails.

"But I'll see you after school" she said with a smile and with that she was gone. I looked over at Sam who gave me a weird look.

"Dude, why did you ask her to join us?" he asked, like I had done a terrible thing.

"Because she's my friend" I answered him as we walked to the usual table.

"I don't get why you want to hang out with her, she's so...weird" he said as we sat down. I felt the anger build up inside of me. Why did he always say bad things about Becca? He didn't even know her at all. I decided to let it slide, I didn't want to argue with Sam about Becca. I knew she was amazing, I didn't care about what he had to say.

I greeted the rest of the guys at the table who I felt like I hadn't really got to know at all. I haven't talked to them that much. The only ones I had really talked to in the group was Sam, Troye and Alex. To be honest those were the only ones who seemed like nice guys. Max, Pete and Daniel seemed like the type of guys who didn't care about anything else other than sleeping with cheerleaders.

We all ended up talking about the basketball try-out, which I was still really nervous about. I wanted to be on the team badly. I just couldn't mess up, but I was afraid that I was going to. Troye and Alex assured me that everything was going to be fine and that I was going to do great. Their kind words helped a little, but it wasn't going to take my anxiety away completely.

***

When the moment I had feared all day, was finally here, my heart and stomach felt like they were going to explode from anxiety. The coach walked in the changing room and reminded us that there was five minutes left until the game. I felt like I was going to throw up.

Last time I played I hadn't been this nervous, maybe because I didn't think I was actually going to end up with a chance of joining the team. I hated doing things I hadn't had time to prepare for. I wish I've had the weekend to practice, but there was no turning back time now.

We all went out of the changing room and into the gym hall. I was glad I was playing with Sam, Troye and Alex on the team. I felt like I could lean on them a little. I searched through the few people who were here to watch the game, and when I saw Becca's face my whole body was filled with happiness. She sat on the front row at the bleachers and gave me wave. I went over and greeted her.

"I'm glad you're here" I said.

"Me too, I'm excited. Are you nervous?" she asked and looked up at me. I gulped.

"Yeah a bit" I said, trying to shallow my anxiety, but I felt like she could sense it anyway.

"Don't be. I haven't seen you play before but I'm pretty sure they didn't pick you to be in finals if you sucked" Becca said and touched my arm lightly. I laughed at her words. I knew deep down somewhere that she was right.

"Thanks" I said and smiled. The coach yelled out that it was time to play and I breathed in slowly to calm myself.

"I'll be here to hug you after, no matter what happens" Becca said and gave me a sweet smile. I smiled back at her and ran out on the field with a better feeling in my stomach.

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Thank you so much for reading todays chapter! If you liked it don't forget to vote and leave a comment :)

Hope you're having a nice friday!

Yours, Ani.