The boy walks
quietly
down the hallway
5:07 PM
says his watch.
The school is empty
as it should be at 5:07 on a Friday.
His hand fidgets with the key
on the key ring
in his right hand.
Coach gave it to him
so he could get some extra practice
be by himself for a little while
just to play the game
not have to worry
about the score
about the clock
about the team
just to play the game
The boy pauses, his hand on the bar of the gym door. He can hear something from inside. Light footsteps. A ball swishing through the net. Who else did Coach give a key to? Nobody else... in the boys locker room. He unconsciously holds his breath as he opens the door, hoping and knowing.
It's her. He sees her at the far side of the gym, her back to him. She spins the ball in her hands, then shoots. The ball swishes through the net, and she catches it before it hits the ground. Then shoots again. A perfect rhythm, nearly soundless. He watches her play for a few heartbeats, before quietly closing the door behind him. The girl glances back, sees him and nods. No words are exchanged. None need to be.
***************************************************************
She sees him
standing
ball in hand
shoes neatly laced
shirt straight
perfect as ever.
One thing different though
his face
is a little less guarded
a little less closed
a little more open
a little more free.
The girl nods to him and continues
to play
he joins in
right next to her
their basketballs moving practically in sync
The girl sneaks a glance at him out of the corner of her eye. His brow furrowed in concentration, the muscles visible under his shirt flexing as they move. A tiny blush comes to her cheeks as she watches him, and she hopes it is explained by exertion. Because there is no way he could like her like that, she tells herself. No way at all. So she returns her attention to her shot. And misses his glance.
The boy watches her. How she bit her lip as she lined up her arm, how the tip of her tongue protruded as she released. He doesn't get distracted when he plays. That's part of what makes him so good. But he is getting distracted now, seeing her so comfortable, so at home. So perfect. But there is no way she could like him like that. No way at all. So he continues practicing. And loses his chance.
***************************************************************
Much later
they leave
no words have been spoken
no sounds
other than the occasional
thump
of a loose ball.
The boy holds the door open for her
and she turns, gives him a smile
a smile he'd do anything to see again
and then the girl is gone.
YOU ARE READING
Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better
FanfictionATTENTION: THIS IS A VERY STEROTYPICAL "NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS" STORY, I APOLOGIZE, I WAS YOUNG AND MY ONLY INTERACTION WITH GIRLS WAS WITH BRATS, BUT I'M NOT TAKING THIS DOWN BECAUSE OTHERWISE I LOVE IT SO Y'ALL DEAL WITH IT tl;dr: There's a new girl...
