Playing Hearts

CHAPTER 1~I Really Need To Pay Attention.  

"Ouch!" I cry "Don't hit me with that!" The basketball had hit me really hard. "Sorry, but you need to pay attention," Ella called from the other side of the court. I felt so stupid I'd never been distracted by a boy especially during basketball practice! I shook the feeling off, 'Back to practice Britt. Keep your focus.' I thought to myself.  

"Hey, it's Britt right?" I hear it just before I catch the ball.  

I turn my head, oh my gosh it's him! I want to go hide but I keep my composure.  

"Yea," I say "How do you know that?" 

"Well, my mom is the coach of the basketball team and it's on the back of your jersey,".  

Oh my gosh I feel so stupid I am seriously tempted to run and hide in the locker rooms this time. "Oh...um..yea I forgot" I mumble. 

"Bryan! We have to go now!" His mom yells.  

"Oh well see you later. Britt I hope we'll see each other at school tomorrow.  

I hoped so too. 

The next day I woke up thinking,'Oh yea! I get to sleep in its Saturday!'. Then I remembered it was my big basketball game day! I jumped up scaring the day lights out of rose my two year old cocker spaniel. I practically leaped to my closet and grabbed my uniform. I hummed our team chant to my self as I got ready,"We are the Titans tall and strong building up all of our victories!" The chant had no obvious rhythm or meaning but it was our team's trade mark so we put up with it.  

I skipped every other step as I sprinted down stairs. I could hear my mom in the kitchen fixing my usual game day breakfast. It consisted of a  

grape fruit which my mother said,"help me become less likely to become sick." As I grabbed my duffel bag my mother walked over and placed something in my hand, it was small, thought not small enough to slip out of my palm. It felt slick and wet as it slid onto my hand. I glanced down and saw what it was, the locket shined as the early morning sun glinted off of it. It was made out of some sort of exotic metal and carved into a strange sort of shape, it was a normal locket but on it was a shape that looked like a tiny circle containing a heart inside. I tried to open the locket so I could see if I could put pictures in it but the lock wouldn't budge!  

"Oh! I'm so sorry dear it must be rusted together Robysian does that easily," Mom says.  

I tilt my head slightly, "What's Robysian?" I ask.  

"It's a metal specifically found in volcanos," she replies.  

"Oh, cool," I says not interested in the least bit,"Well I have to go to my game so I guess I'll see you later." 

"I thought you wanted me to take you?" My mom says obviously hurt.  

"Well I think I should walk there to kinda warm up and get my heart rate going," I reply just trying to think if any possible excuse. Ok I'll tell you the truth, I really just wanted to be able to see Bryan because he lives a block away and he comes to every game. Knowing Coach Micanigan (his mom) they would probably be driving by me when I'm walking to the game. 

The crisp morning air cut into the sides of my cheeks. I happily danced down the street. Humming to myself I thought about the game that I was about to play. I knew that I had play well with or without Bryan there.  

Suddenly I heard a car coming down the street towards me. It stopped beside me. 'Uh oh!' I thought, 'Stranger danger! Stranger danger!'  

"Britt get in the car," a rough gravely voice commands. The voice is pleading an desperate but I don't risk it. My mother always told me to run if someone told me to get in their car, so that's exactly what I did.  

I don't even bother to turn around, I run as fast as I can down the street. As I turn the corner I see another dark van I am about ready to run into a person's yard and completely forget about the game when I hear Coach Micanigan's voice, "Britt dear, why are you running? You need to save your energy for the game!" 

Leave it to Coach to worry about energy and not that some crazy people were chasing me!  

I....people...chasing...me!" I pant.  

Coach looks at me definitely doubting my story. "Okay dear, but you still shouldn't run before a game. How about you ride with us?" She suggests. 

"Thanks," I say still panting.