" I think they are serious " I said to Jenny.
" Oh please... he's always like that...lying to girls and after he dumps them " Jenny said in anger . I was surprised by what she had heard .
" Wow... I didn't know he's like that " I said in surprise.
" You know nothing about him... I've studied and lived with him for a long time " she exclaimed .
It was evening time me and Jenny were heading to the Basketball court where they'd called us. We bumped into Tess on our way there, Jenny gingerly excused herself and I remained alone with Tess. I was angry at her but as soon as I laid my eyes on that gorgeous face, it all faded away.
" Hey Troy " she said and I'd thought it was the only thing she was going to say to me and she would go on wherever she was going.
But she adjusted to my speed and walked along side me, I would have said something but I was shit nervous.
" Heading to the basketball court " she broke the silence.
" Yeah "
" I saw your name there, you were selected " so she checked my for my name. I liked her more.
" I'm not that good, it was just luck " I said.
" Are you kidding me, I saw you at practice you were good, if they didn't select you then I would have concluded that they are a bunch of walking asses " I smiled at this.
Jenny said I wasn't any good, Tess said I was good. I decided to believe Tess.
" Sorry don't mind my language " she said and smiled too.
Why would she want Ralph ? I don't know him but one look at him and you can know his just a proud jerk.
" It's fine " I looked at her again, a second longer.
" About what happened at the supermarket. . . " she said and my heart almost bust.
She looked at me.
" Your a good kisser " she said.
Boom !
Fireworks went off.
I could touch the sky.
" Don't tell anyone though " she added.
" Yeah, totally, ofcourse " I smiled foolishly, she made my day.
" Thanks Troy " she said, we had reached the entrance of the court, telling from the silence there was definitely someone there, maybe the coach or a teacher.
She looked at me smiled and picked up my sweaty hand.
I flinched.
" It's okay " she said and intertwined it with hers.
I melted.
We entered the Basketball court, around thirty people there in that large court, all gathered in one place man, meaning all eyes were on us, and the hand in hand thing drew a lot of unwanted attention, I'd never been the centre of attention till then but it felt good in a scary way.
For the first time I looked straight at Ralph, his sharp jaw line had tightened and he had this what-the-fuck-is-happening look in his eyes.
I was shit scared but then realised I was holding something soft in my right hand.
" Thanks Troy " Tess whispered to me as she let go of my hand and head to where Ralph was.
Thanks you for what ?
The kiss.
Holding your hand.
I wanted to ask but she'd already gone.
It took me ten seconds to realize I was now standing alone all eyes on me.
I spotted were Jenny was and went there. She was the only friend I had so far, and she wasn't even my friend.
" Your so screwed " she whispered to me and shook her head in disbelief.
" What ? " I said but she didn't hear me or pretended she didn't.
The guy infront of us called for our attention again.
Beside him I spotted the formal team captain two years ago, apparently he'd become a coach here. And then a woman in her mid forties, maybe her frowned face over aged her. I figured she was the coach for the girls.
This school took the cheerleaders act a little too far, I remember thinking.
The former school captain stepped forward.
" For those who don't know us. . . " he was saying but the coach said something to him and he stopped. He talked to him animatedly and then said.
" Alright cheerleaders to the other half of the court and Levi's this side " he said and the ten cheerleaders stood up and followed their coach who looked a little too vicious for a lady.
Jenny smiled at me and walked to the other half of the court. I looked around, I saw a few guys who looked like they were fourteen or something, was I over grown ? I compared the whole team and it seemed we were a mixture of fourteen to nineteen or maybe to twenty year olds.
" The Junior team. . . go with coach Mathew to your usual court " the other guy said, he looked more vicious than the female cheerleaders coach.
Ten fourteen to sixteen years olds stood up and followed the former team captain who I now knew was Mathew.
" And all of you what are doing wearing these. . . " he pulled loosely at some guys school shirt " . . . go change, ten minutes " he looked disgusted.
The guys stood up and ran to locker room which was just next to the court. I followed, all this was new to me, they switched to the training attire for the official senior school team big difference with what we wore at first not sweat keepers, fresh if I'm not wrong new, maybe to me.
Sydney smiled at me " First time, eh "
" Yeah " the guys looked at us as if we were aliens.
Ralph looked at me a second longer.
We were back at the court, cheerleaders had also switched , Tess looked wow and Jenny looked amazing in that costume but whatever, she's just a witch.
The coach had made us stand in one straight line facing him, I stood near Sydney, mostly to feel comfortable, atleast I knew him.
" So you are the two who qualified for the team " the coach said breaking my inspection of Jenny's legs, No. I mean Tess, Tess' legs.
I turned my gaze to where the deep terrifying voice was.
He looked more terrifying from up close, he switched his gaze from Sydney to me.
I wanted to look away but his gaze told me I dared not.
" I'm coach James Kato. . . welcome to the team " he smiled. What the fuck ?
" We usually don't host tryouts in the last term but lucky you, we are doing it this year because some fools wouldn't follow the rules " he's aura changed to the previous one, the terrifying one.
He paused for dramatic effect, I learned he did this most of the time and somewhere it became funny but not then, I would give him all my money if he asked me to.
" My policy since I started coaching this school team hasn't changed. . . " he paused.
" Of course, you two don't know it yet "
He walked and stood infront of Ralph.
" Captain tell them my policy " he walked aimlessly and stood at a distance as if to admire his creation.
" Newbies are not benched until they prove they are Levi's material " Ralph shouted.
" Again " the coach commands.
What's this, the military ? I wondered.
" Newbies are not benched until they prove they are Levi's material " he shouted this time with more vigor.
" Good " the coach said and came and patted Ralph on the shoulder. Is it always going to be like this ? I wondered and a sense of fear gripped me.
" Now prove to me that these guys didn't make a mistake choosing you, if you're beyond good then you'll replace some trash members on the team like Mr. Kule here " he points at some fat guy whom I hadn't noticed.
He turns and I notice the guys smiling stupidly.
He picked up the ball and turned at once as if to bust the guys smiling.
" The official step forward " he commanded . Five players stepped forward including Ralph.
" Mago, Kizito you're are out. . . " he paused then turned to us. He looked like he'd through the basketball at me.
" You two are in " he said in a commanding voice. Me and Sydney stepped forward immediately .
" You will be playing centre " he pointed at me.
" And for you. . . play power guard " he looked at Sydney .
****to be continued....