Mrs. Russ gave us a five-minute water break, and almost all of the girls left the gym to go fill up their water bottles. Gina and I knew that this would happen, so we brought a second water bottle with us before tryouts even started. That way we wouldn't be lining up by the water fountain, and wasting our time.

Some of the girls were complaining already that they felt tired, and that Mrs. Russ was being too harsh on us. Gina and I rolled our eyes, knowing that this was only the easy part of the tryouts. What they don't know yet is that Mrs. Russ would split all the girls into groups of five to form a team, then scrimmage with other teams. After that, Mrs. Russ and the other coaches would determine which girls made it to the official team, and which didn't.

While I was trying to stretch out my calves, I watched as Mrs. Russ approached Dani. I wasn't surpised if she was already complimenting Dani for her outstanding skills earlier, and soon enough, both of them turned their heads to stare at me.

I sighed, knowing that our coach had told Dani about my achievements with the team. I mean, I should be proud that I became the MVP last year, but I don't feel like I've done enough. It feels like I haven't reached my full potential yet, and I'm hoping for more improvement. I guess that's why they call me an over-achiever.

I don't really know how to react with winning an award. Maybe a smile, or so, but meh. My parents weren't complaining though.

Their talk ended, and Dani immediately came rushing after me. I sighed and continued to stretch my calves.

"You're full of surprises." Dani said, grinning. I smiled at her sheepishly and took hold of her shoulder for support as I stretch.

"Just being humble." I replied.

"That's admirable." Dani looked like she was going to say something else, but decided against it. Then, she opened her mouth, but closed them quickly.

"Oh my god Dani, spit it out." Gina said from behind me, and throwing a towel at Dani's sweaty face. I laughed and stepped closer to her, as I wiped her forehead, and the side of her face with the towel. Gina looked at us weird and went inside the change room to get her headband.

Gina's unexpected look kind of took me by surprise, and it was almost as if I was caught on doing something wrong. I immediately dropped my arms at my sides, and smiled at Dani sheepishly.

"It's just that... I didn't expect-" Dani blurted. "I thought that you would suck at sports."

"I think you're being too cocky." I told her, as I took a step back. Is it just me, or did the air became heavier?

"What? How?" Dani asked.

I made an attempt to copy her lop-sided smirk that annoyed me during our pylon drill. Dani snickered.

"What the hell was that?" She asked, laughing now. "You look like you've just dumped a load of shit and felt satisfied."

"That's what you looked like!" I accused. "You literally made that face earlier!"

"Nuh-uh. I did not." Said Dani, who was now grinning widely. "But, seriously though. You're better than I expected you to be."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, really now? What did you expect of me?" I asked, curious of what she would say about me.

"I thought that you were kidding about joining the basketball team, and I also thought that you were lying about previously being on the team before."

I blinked. I didn't know if I should be offended or not.

"Excuse me?" I asked, "Why would you even think that I was lying? What made it look like that I was?"

"Well, I just didn't think you'd be an athlete... Because, uh, you looked- I don't know? Dorky?" Dani couldn't meet my eyes this time. She was playing with her bottle and tracing a pattern on it.

"So you based my interests on how I looked?" I asked seriously. I felt irritated. I felt like I'm losing my temper again, and that I'm getting offended really easily. Dani was getting on my nerves. I don't get it. I'm not usually this hard-headed before. I'm pretty sure that it's about which one of us was better... and honestly, that invisible competition was too much for me.

Maybe I'm taking this way too seriously.

"What exactly do I look like to you?" I asked.

"Pretty." Said Dani.

I did not expected that answer, so I just kind of gaped at her in disbelief.

"You're also tougher than you look, so I don't really know what to say to that. What I think about you is not important, because somehow you're just a combination of unexpected things."

"What?" I asked dumbfounded.

"I don't get you." Dani said, smiling at me. "Sometimes, I'll feel like I can read you but then you'd do something that won't make any sense and I'm just-... Nevermind." Dani looked away, and sighed. Mrs. Russ blew the whistle for everyone to gather around her. Dani was about to walk away, but I grabbed her arm.

"No, wait." I said. "Tell me."

Her face looked redder than usual, as she stared back at me. Then, she shook her head slowly, as if to snap herself back to reality.

"Nah, I think it's better if I keep my mouth shut." Dani said.

I watched her walked away, and for a second I felt something deep in my gut that felt strange to me.

Gina intercepted the ball, and went for a layup. The ball bounced off the ring, and missed the basket. Dani squared up, then jumped for the ball, while I immediately sprinted back to the other side of the court, ready to defend our basket. I called out to my teammates,

"No fouls! No fouls!" Because there is no way in hell that I would let the other team get free throws when we have three minutes left of the scrimage. Being the point guard on the team, I stepped up to engage with Dani, while Gina yelled out to the two forwards to not let the other girls on the key.

Dani smirked as she dribbled the ball in front of me. She dribbled in between her legs, on her side, then unexpectedly faked, but I was having none of it. One arm out front, one arm stretched out, I maintained my stance as I switched them back and forth prior to Dani's movements.

Unfortunately, one of our forwards let a girl slip by her defense, and the girl made a cut in the middle of the key, which made Dani pass the ball to her. But before that pass, my hand went up to intercept the ball mid-air, and I landed on my two feet.

When I pivoted the other way, Dani was in my personal space and tried to snatch the ball from my hands. I pulled back on the ball, but Dani did too. I pulled harder, using my shoulder to push down for her to let go, then Dani did it too. Harder.

Next thing I know, my body shook sideways, and I fell on the ground with a loud thud.

Dani had successfully snatched the ball from me.

I didn't have time to stand up to defend our basket. Gina was too far away, and our forwards were stupidly hanging out by the front, and just staring at me stupidly.

"Shit!" Gina exclaimed, as she tried to stop Dani's layup. But it was too late.

The ball went it, and that ended our scrimmage.

Dani offered her hand to let me up, and I stared at her for a second, in total awe.

"You okay? I didn't hurt you didn't I?" Dani asked, breathing hard.

I took hold of her hand and pulled myself up.

"That never happened to me before." I said. "I'm usually the one snatching the ball..."

Mrs. Russ blew her whistle and told everyone to gather around her again. Dani just grinned at me and patted ny back in a comforting way. We listened to Mrs. Russ explain that a sheet would be posted at the board of the gym tomorrow morning. Names of girls who made the team would be listed, while names who got cut, won't.

Mrs. Russ further explained that just because some girls didn't made the team doesn't mean that they should feel down. She expressed how proud she was to witness talented athletes, and that each and everyone of us should be proud. Soon enough, we were dismissed.

The change room became full of girls, and there wasn't enought room for me to change, or to put my duffel bag down without someone stepping on it. I walked out of the change room, and exited the gym towards the girl's washroom near the connecting hallway.

I didn't even went inside a stall before I pulled my jersey off my shoulder, knowing that I would be the only one here anyways. I pulled off my shorts too, and put on comfy sweatpants.

"Oh..." Said someone behind me. I turned, and saw Dani standing there. Her face red, from running, probably.

"Hi Dani." I greeted nonchalantly as I look for a bunnyhug in my bag while standing there without a shirt on. I untied my hair, and ran my hand through them to loosen. Still, no sign of bunnyhug in my bag. "Awe, shoot. Where is it?" I mumbled to myself.

Dani stood there awkwardly.

"Um, what's wrong?" She asked.

"I think I lost my bunnyhug- No nevermind, I lend it to Dennis last time... Dang it, I don't have an extra shirt."

"I might have an extra one." Dani blurted. "You can borrow it if you want?"

I approached her and nodded.

Dani fumbled in her duffel bag, and pulled out a purple shirt.

"Purple pen, and now purple shirt." I stated.

"I like purple." She said, not looking up from her bag. "Put some clothes on." She added quickly when she handed me the shirt. "Please."

"Do I make you feel uncomfortable?" I asked jokingly. Dani finally looked up to meet my eyes, glanced lower, but then looked down again at her bag.

"Just put the s-shirt on." Dani said again, her face flustered. I burst out laughing.

"Oh my god, you're totally blushing!" I teased as I poked her cheek. Dani didn't even say anything. She just quickly went inside a stall and locked it. "Well, someone's shy." I said, while putting the shirt on.

"Shut up."

"Awe."

"Shut up, Mave."

"Rude." I said, and washed my hands from the sink. "You'll get used to it. Almost everyone on the team would literally strip infront of you."

"I don't like that." Dani's voice was almost a whisper. "It's weird."

"How is it weird?" I asked.

"I don't feel comfortable changing infront of... girls."

"Oh, you really are shy huh?"

"That's not really the case." I heard her say.

I didn't say anything more. It was personal, and I didn't really want to push it.

My phone vibrated, and it scared the shit out of me. When I looked at the caller, it showed Natasha's name.

I immediately answered.

"Hi bae." I greeted.

"Mave." She greeted, sighing. "Mave, I need to talk to you."

"Um, aren't we talking right now?"

"No, I really need to talk to you." She said.

"But I'm talking to you."

"Stop that! I mean, I need to talk to you in person."

"I'm still in school." I said.

"Can we meet at your house?" She asked, her voice sounded urgent. "I need you."

My heart sank.

"I'll be home in a few." I told her, sighing.

I quickly put on my winter boots, and winter jacket before pressing the command start for my Civic. I should probably stop by Safeway to grab chocolates, and probably potato wedges. Natasha loved those, and I knew that those things would probably make her feel a little better.

Dani exited the stall, and came out fully dressed in her winter jacket also, and I stared at her, while gesturing at my phone.

"That was Natasha... I think she knows about Thomas, and Dennis."

A/N:

Friend: We need to find you a girlfriend.

Me: Uh, goodluck with that.

Friend 2: I'm down. We need to find Jean, her bae. She deserves one.

Friend 3: If I was gay, I would date you... But I'm not, so-

Jean: WOW.

Friend 3 laughed while Friend 1 and 2 seriously plans about their mission on finding me a girlfriend. They were seriously planning it.

Jean: YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. I CAN DO IT BY MYSELF. THEY SAID THAT THERE ARE MANY FISHES IN THE SEA. WELL, LOOK.

*eats a bunch of rainbow goldfishes*

Unedited.