The Immigrant Who Played Basketball

Chapter 3- The Basketball Game Challenge

Chapter Three

The Basketball Game Challenge

The next day, tired from a sleepless night(I couldn't sleep after my unusual dream), I lazily get dressed into a teal cropped hoodie, a pair of Adidas stripped leggings and my white FILA trainers. I cornrow part of my hair and put it into two space buns, with little curls hanging out and my baby hair's gelled.

After not talking to Chloe and Maria, I've tried to persuade my mum to let me travel to school by myself. Unfortunately, she is stubborn and said:

"Staying in the same car as Maria can be the perfect chance to patch things up."

I sometimes wonder where I get my negativity from because my mother has always been optimistic, so I possibly got it from my father who I don't know. The dreaded familiar hoot of Maria's car rings in my ears and I drag my feet to her car after saying my goodbye to my mother.

"Hi, Luna," Maria's mum greets me as I put my seat belt on before starting the engine.

"Hi," I quietly respond back.

In the corner of my eye, I see Maria smiling at me, pleading forgiveness but I just ignore her and stare out of the window. An awkward silence fills the car with only the low murmuring of the radio breaking in. As soon as Maria's mum stops outside the school, I grab my rucksack and hastily say goodbye before coming out. My pace picks up, deliberately trying to walk faster than Maria so she can't catch up to talk to me. However, one of her personality traits is resilience. Practically running, she catches up with me.

"Got my texts?"

"No. My phone is broken."

"Oh but how come when I tried calling you it was ringing?"

Maria raised her eyebrows, eyes scrutinising me, clearly knowing she had won.

"I was busy doing my homework. I didn't have time to text or call anyone."

"So does that mean you didn't have time to tell me that I am forgiven?"

I sigh with exasperation. If only she wasn't so clever.

"Fine," and as I say this she pulls me into a hug.

We walk into the student's entrance and I tell Maria I'm going to put something in my locker and we agree to meet up by the hall with Chloe. I open my locker and put my books in my locker and when I look up, I realise Logan, Maria's twin brother is approaching me.

"Hey, Luna."

"Hi."

"Let's play a basketball game me verses you, tomorrow after school in the gym."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Tough luck. No."

"Come on. I've heard you're a good player. Well obviously not better than the captain."

"And where have you heard this from?"

"Um..."

"Spit out."

"Maria."

"You should mind your own business."

Before he could say anything else, I shut my locker and walked off and I hear Logan saying that he won't take no for an answer. Anger rose into me. How could she? I walk over by the hall, where Maria and Chloe are waiting for me. Chloe looks like she's about to say hi to me but I open my mouth before she does.

"Why can't you learn to mind your own damn business?"

Maria shoots me an innocent and I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about look while Chloe has confusion written all over her face.

"Your brother challenged me to a one on one basketball game. Care to explain."

"Luna, I had no clue of him planning that."

"So that means you are saying that you told him about convincing me to join the basketball club."

My question is answered when Maria lowers her head, staring at the ground.

Chloe looks she's about to intervene but I keep her mouth shut by saying:

"Chloe, don't intervene otherwise you're just as bad as Maria."

A flash of hurt and anger flash across Chloe's face. I walk away. The second argument of the academic year. Who knows how many I'll have by the end of it?