Bad is an Understatement | ?

Chapter 13

"Okay, Riley your team's up." Mrs. Larsen says. I nod walking over to the people keeping score and the people on my shift follow. I see Heath doing the same with his team members. When we make eye contact he grins and I glare. I look at the scoreboard zero against zero.

Kirsten's team starts walking off court and we all run in. The ball went out of bounds by the boy's last shift so the ball is ours to pass in. Roxy runs out of bounds and gets the ball. I pick a dark haired guy who looked asian as my check, because he was almost as tall as me maybe a little taller. "Move it she's mine." Heath says to the guy and he stands in front of me blocking my view.

"Ever heard of pick on someone your own size?" I ask.

"Who said your not my size? I bet I could fit in there." He says and I shake my head at his dirty come back.

"Oh so you're saying your small?." His cheeks go a little rosy. The referee's whistle blows indicating the shift's starting. Roxy hits the ball and we all spread out trying to get off our checks. Roxy looks around and passes the ball to Harleen who had no check on her. Harleen dribbles the ball, but stops when someone blocks her. I run around to get closer to her, but Heath's in front of me the whole time.

I stop in one place getting annoyed by Heath's good defensive skills. I still can't see anything until Heath and everyone else start running down the court. "No!" I run behind Heath. I try to out sprint in front of Heath, but the ball gets passed down to him and he does an easy left handed lay up. I here the boys team cheer as the ball goes in.

I put my hands on my knees and breathe heavily. " Come on Princess where'd the skills go? Did someone have a little too much to drink last night?" He says grinning. Oh my god. That's why he brought me to the party?! So I'd be hung over during the game. Ugh! Imma kill him. I think as my head still hurts.

I run out of bound to the referee; he passes me the ball. The whistle blows. I bounce it inside of the court and catch it myself. I dribble up to the half court line where Heath stood awaiting. I look at the board two minutes and thirty seconds left for this period.

I look around at the possibilities in the court. The team's defence was beyond good everyone was completely cut off from the ball. I notice they were all outside the three point line as well. Okay Riley dribble left handed, bounce pass under Heath's legs, catch it then shoot. I think to myself. I pass the ball to my left hand. My heart rate beyond countable. I run up pass it under Heath's legs and catch it. I bounce it once before I look up and shoot. The buzzer goes off after I let go of the ball and I watch it fly into the hoop," Yes!" I yell. I look at the referee whose hand had three fingers up.

I hear the whole team cheering," WHOW! RILEY! RILEY! RILEY!" I laugh walking towards the bench. I got a three point buzzer beater!

****

It's the last round of the last period and we're winning by one. The scores twenty one to twenty, and my team's on. Three minutes left for the whole game.

The ball was down court with my girls who were trying to get in a shot. I decided to stay down low just incase the boys get a break out. I scan the audience spotting Luke. I smile at him and he smiles back. It made me happy that he was here despite Heath. Luke's left cheek was badly bruised along with a busted lip. It made me feel bad because I can't help, but think I was the reason Heath burst out on Luke like the way he did.

I focus back on the game. I notice Mark running down for a lay up right where I was. Oh shoot. I stand there trying to look intimidating, but Mark runs right through me elbowing me sqaure in the chest.

I'm forced back and I let out a huge breath as the air from my lungs is pulled right out. My eyes tear up immediately after the impact and I can't hear anything either. I try to breathe, but my lungs feel too compressed. I fall down on my knees," Riley?" I hear distantly," Riley? Do you have your inhaler?" I hear, but I was too out of breath to point out to my duffle bag.

I cough and cough until I see blood coming out of my mouth. I see a inhaler held out in front of my eyes. I take it inserting it in my mouth. I squeeze it and instantly feel my lungs open. I regain my breathing and vision. I look around me where Heath, Jen, the referee and coach Larsen were. Heath lets out a hand and I take it pulling myself up. "Hey, princess you should really let people know you have asthma." He whispers into my ear as I stood beside him wiping blood off my mouth.

"How'd you know?"

"The party last night. You were having a hard time breathing." So he's an observer.

"Well thanks." I could tell that he was the one who handed me the inhaler. He smirks in response.

"John it was clear he did that on purpose. This cannot go unnoticed." Coach Larsen says.

"The game has ended, but if you insist because I do believe it was done intentionally Mark is suspended from the first three games of the season."

"But he's the best forward we have!" Heath complains.

"Well he should've thought about the team before he went after Riley." Before Heath could say anything else," Don't you dare defend him." John, the referee says.

"Fine." Heath groans. "At least we won the game."

"You what?!" I look at the scoreboard. Twenty two against twenty one. I lost the game.

"We won princess." He says again, and I glare at him.

"I can see that. Too bad you had to almost get me killed to win." I don't even know Mark. He didn't even come to apologize. Why would he do that? I could've died no doubt.

"If I wanted you dead I wouldn't have handed you the inhaler." He points out.

"Either way I could've still died." I say," But you know what it was a good game." I walk past him brushing our shoulders. I'm not a sore loser, but it was unfair that the shot counted. I didn't even hear the buzzer go off. "Ugh!" I try to get my shoes off.

"Hey." I hear a voice say and I look up to find Luke.

"Luke?" I smile beams on my lips.

"Sorry about the game. How are you feeling?"

"I'm good. Almost died, but good. It's just a game anyways." I slip on adidas sandals.

"Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?" Luke asks as I get up holding my duffle bag.

"Yes, please. I'm starving! I'm also sorry for the way Heath burst out on you. It was my fault."

"Don't apologize. If not for your tears Heath would've found another reason to beat me." He simply states," Pick you up around eight?"

"Yeah just message me when you're here."

He scratches the back of his head," I don't have your number." He says feeling a little shy.

"Oh, well give me your phone." He hands it to me. I put in my number and save it as Rile's #1. Seems a little self conceited, but ya know. Whatever. "Now you can message me whenever you want." I hand his phone back o him. He chuckles at how I saved it.

"Okay I'll see you soon." He says leaving.

"Hey, Kat?" I ask walking over to her.

"Oh hey, how are you?" She asks.

"I'm better." I smile," Why were you late?" She showed up during third period.

"Uh, my car broke down." She says.

"Oh, well I haven't seen you in a while are you busy tomorrow?" I ask.

"Nope." She says.

"Great. Then come to my dorm and we can hangout. Room two twelve." I say walking away before she could protest. She's definitely hiding something. I think to myself walking out the gym. I knew the coach needed more time to decide who becomes captain, and I wanted to give it to her.

A/N:

Do you think it was Riley's fault the girls lost? Why did Mark almost kill Riley? Did he even do it on purpose?

Love you guys! Keep reading it keeps me motivated to write more! I really hope you're enjoying and show me by voting!<3

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