The Immigrant Who Played Basketball

Chapter Twenty Eight- The Second Round

"WE'VE QUALIFIED!!!"

That's what Logan shouts as we walk the streets, which brings eyes full of curiosity staring at us.

"Logan! Quiet!" Lara hisses, turning a shade of crimson whenever her cousin yells," They're probably thinking you're a lunatic, which you are!"

"I honestly don't care, cuz. HEAR THAT? I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK I'M A LUNATIC!" Logan roars even louder, cupping his hands around his mouth.

Lara winces.

"Luna and I will be lucky if we don't return home, deaf!" Lara comments.

"Stop being so moody! You do know there's something called a smile," Logan scolds her, thankfully at his normal volume.

"How can I smile when my cousin is shouting in the streets, embarrassing me?" Lara asks.

"By telling yourself: it's ok! Let me be a nice cousin and let him enjoy!"

"I'm too nice with you! Any other cousin would physically forced you to stop yelling."

"You wouldn't even hurt a fly!"

Lara elbows him sharply.

"Wow! What a hypocrite!" Logan remarks.

Lara looks like she's about to open her mouth.

"Lara, no!" I warn her.

Obediently, she closes it.

"Yeah, Lara!" Logan provokes her.

I throw him daggers.

"Ha!" Lara whispers but Logan doesn't hear her.

After being in the middle of a heated argument, it's relaxing to hear the tap, tap of our footsteps.

"Let's celebrate!" Logan exclaims.

It's clear that he's one of those people who can't stay silent for long.

"And that's my cue to go! Watching a basketball game is even more boring than playing one," Lara comments.

"I wasn't planning to play basketball, unless you want to. I was thinking of getting pizza or something," Logan suggests," I texted my parents; they said yes and will tell your mom, Lara. Luna can text hers right now, right?"

"Ok," I agree, pulling out my phone. I tap on Mamma's name and I'm about to text her when I realise that we haven't talked to each since the argument. I pretend to text her.

"She said yes!" I lie.

"Perfect!" Logan exclaims, walking ahead of Lara and I.

Unfortunately, Lara isn't as gullible as her cousin.

"She didn't actually say yes, did she?" Lara asks, her tone showing that she knows the answer.

I sigh heavily.

"I didn't text her, ok?" I reply.

"But she'll be worried about you. She's probably waiting for you to tell her if you've qualified."

"She should have thought of that before deciding not to come to the game today," I snap back at her.

"Come on, you two," Logan calls.

"Please keep this between us," I whisper urgently.

Now, it's Lara's turn to sigh," Fine. We're coming, Logan!"
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"I'm picking pineapple and ham pizza," Logan says, scanning the menu.

What!?

I cringe.

"Don't make that face, Luna. Have you even tried it?" Logan asks.

"No! Who puts pineapple on pizza?" I remark, disgusted.

"Hawaiins," Logan answers.

"Then, Hawaiins should never go to Italy."

Lara giggles.

"Yeah. I've watched so many videos of Italians' reaction to pineapple and ham pizza. Most hilarious thing ever. They get so angry!"

"Of course they should! It's a disgrace! You're a disgrace" I insult.

"You're a disgrace, calling pineapple and ham pizza a disgrace!" Logan insults back.

"Well, Logan, no offence but you were already a disgrace," Lara agrees with me.

I high-five her.

"I'm your cousin, Lara! You're supposed to be on my side!" Logan whines.

"Us girls have to stick together!" Lara argues, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

We both smile at him and he mutters," Meanies."

However, all is forgotten when our pizzas are placed in front of us and hunger takes over.
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A few weeks later

"Tell me why I'm here again," I anxiously order.

"Because the team has made into the second round, silly," Lara reminds me, tidying up my hair that I've been nervously ruffling," But if we were in a hairstyle competition, you would have lost already.

"Thanks," I sarcastically thank her.

"Any time!" Lara replies, smirking.

"Luna! Hurry up!"

It's Logan calling, standing in the corridor.

"Can I hide in the locker?" I ask, doubtful.

"Well, that would be useless because I would tell them where you are and you'll have no choice but to get out," Lara explains.

"You're a really nice friend."

"I already know that. Come on, Luna! You only have to go out there and play basketball. You're acting as if it's the end of the world!"

"You can't speak! You'll be comfy in the crowd, watching."

Luna stops fiddling with my hair. She clears her throat.

"Um...is your mom coming to watch today?" Lara questions, awkwardness highlighted in her tone.

I shake my head.

"Have you two been talking since the argument?" Lara asks.

"I think I broke her heart."

Tears are forming in my eyes. I try to blink them away but it only makes them roll down.

"Hey! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cry," Lara comforts me," When you go out there, you remember that she's going to be proud of you."