Chapter 3:
Cathy was lost in thought, staring at her computer screen as she replayed past events in her head. She had been beaten by Oliver twice already, and the pressure was mounting for her to outdo him and earn the coveted spot of class Valedictorian.
The sudden sound of the basketball hitting the ground outside snapped her back to reality. She got up from her desk and walked towards the window, gazing at the basketball team's new coach practicing with his team.
"Cathy, what are you doing?" Jamie asked, noticing her distraction.
"Nothing," Cathy replied sheepishly, turning back to her computer screen.
Jamie gave her a knowing smile. "Still thinking about Oliver, huh?"
Cathy rolled her eyes. "No, I was just...nevermind."
"He's not worth stressing over, Cathy. Maybe it's time for you to focus on something other than just your studies," Jamie suggested.
Cathy couldn't help but feel a little offended. "What are you trying to say, Jamie? That I don't have a life outside of school?"
Jamie laughed. "No, of course not! I just mean, maybe you should try going out and having some fun for once."
"I don't have time for fun," Cathy retorted.
"Come on, Cathy. You're young and brilliant. There's no harm in taking a break every once in a while," Jamie persuaded.
Cathy thought about it. Maybe Jamie was right. She did deserve to have some fun. And the new basketball coach did have a certain charm about him.
Before she could contemplate it any further, the bell rang, signaling the start of their next class. She grabbed her bag and headed out the door, feeling a little more open to the idea of having some fun.
During their next class, Cathy found herself unable to concentrate. All she could think about was Oliver and his secret lover. She tried to brush the thoughts aside and focus on the lecture, but her mind kept drifting.
When class ended, Cathy made an excuse to Jamie about having something else to do and quickly made her way towards the basketball court. As she got there, she saw the coach packing his things, getting ready to leave.
"Excuse me," Cathy called out, getting the coach's attention. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
The coach turned to her with a friendly smile. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
Cathy hesitated before speaking. "I'm sorry if this is inappropriate, but...are you seeing anyone?"
The coach raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
Cathy felt her face turning red. "I'm sorry, it's just...I heard something earlier and I thought...never mind. It's not important."
The coach eyed her curiously. "Are you okay? Do you need to talk about something?"
Cathy shook her head. "No, it's fine. I shouldn't have bothered you. Have a good day."
As she walked away, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed. She had made a fool of herself in front of the new coach. But as she thought about it more, she realized that maybe Jamie was right. Maybe she needed to step out of her comfort zone and take a chance on romance.
As the day drew to a close, Cathy found herself still thinking about the coach. She decided to take a chance and write him a note, expressing her interest in getting to know him better. It was a scary thought, but also exhilarating.
As she handed him the note after practice, the coach smiled and thanked her for the kind words. Cathy felt her heart flutter as she walked away, wondering what could come from this newfound potential romance.
Meanwhile, Oliver was still unaware of the chaos his love life had caused. Cathy had bigger things to worry about now, like whether she would have a chance with the coach or not.
As she went to bed that night, Cathy couldn't help but feel excited for what the future held. Even if it didn't work out, it was time for her to take a chance and see where it led her.