Chapter Twenty-Five:

You're Perfect

"Shot!" Gina called out as soon as Dani shot the ball from the outside key.

"Rebounds! Square up!" I instructed, as I squared up myself, and shoving Dani out of the way. I did it so agressively that she wasn't prepared from the impact, so she made a oof sound as if I had taken the air out of her. With that, I had taken the ball mid-air and pivoted the other way.

Like always, Dani was in my personal space as soon as I got the ball, so while I dodge her swatting hands by pivoting, I decided to dribble the ball, and get the hell away from her.

"I'm open!" Called Gina as she cut the key from the other side. But unfortunately, Meg, a girl on Dani's team covered her. "Nevermind! Don't pass it."

Dani wasn't giving up of course. She wanted the ball, and she wanted the ball badly. I'm using my handling skills carefully around her, because as much as I hate to admit it- She's very good at both offensive and defensive playing. We made eye contact while she was spread out defending their basket. One arm forward, palm pointed at the ball, another arm stretched outwards, ready to deflect.

I bit my lip in concentration, and looked at my options. I wanted to pass the ball and cut the key myself, but damn it my teammates are all covered. They attempted to make a screen for me, but the other team were on man-to-man defense and wouldn't dare let my teammates through. Glancing at the shot clock, I didn't have that much time left either, and here I was, sweating profusely.

10

9

8

7

With quick movements, I dribbled towards the key, but crossed dribbled, which made Dani follow the ball to the right. Grinning, because I knew I got her, I dribbled from the back and was finally free from her defense, which I took the opportunity to perform a successful layup.

Then the scrimmage was over.

"Team 2 won, which means Team 1 should put away the pyllons, and stack up the basketballs." Mrs. Russ called out as soon as the buzzer went off. "Great practice you guys, now hit the change rooms."

My hands were both on my hips while I tried to catch my breath. Gina jogged up beside me and patted my back.

"Great job out there." She said, then drank from her water bottle. "That was kind of intense, but very fun to watch because Dani was all over you."

I chuckled and shook my head as my brain thought it was funny because Dani was definitely not all over me, if you know what I mean.

"You two are scary on the court."

"Well, good." I said. "That means were really into the game. And damn-"

I said in between breaths, "I got to work on my cardio, too. I'll try to talk to Mrs. Russ if she could squeeze in some cardio excersices for us for tomorrow's practice."

Gina nodded in agreement. Then, Dani approached us with her gym bag, and a blank expression on her face.

"Hey, can we talk?" She said softly, so only I could hear.

Sighing, I nodded my head.

I've been ignoring her in the hallways during the day, and it was obvious that she felt annoyed. If she's annoyed by me defending my best friend, then let her be annoyed. Dani should understand that I'm very protective over my friends, and talking shit behind Natasha's back wasn't cool.

I let Dani follow me as I tried to gather my stuff, and together we went to the washroom in the hallway to change because the change rooms were full of sweaty girls. I personally think it smells like stinky body odour in there. Ew people.

"I'm sorry about what I said at lunch today." Dani said, while she changed in the stall. I was already changing, and I faced the mirror, staring at myself as a frown came up. "I was being a dick, I'm really sorry."

"You know that Natasha is my friend too right?" I asked, while putting on some comfy sweatpants.

"Yeah, I know."

"I don't like you talking badly about her. I know she's not perfect, but I know her better than you so you don't have a say on who she is, okay?"

"But-" Dani started, but caught herself and stopped.

"We've discussed this before. What she said to you was not right. But can you give her another chance? I promise you, she didn't know what she was saying."

Then Dani was silent. I expected her to say something more, but I guess she kmew now that I was right. Shrugging, I ran the tap and washed my hands while Dani opened the stall. She was already dressed up in her winter jacket, a sad look on her face while I stared at her on the mirror.

"Will you forgive me, and get this fight- thing- or whatever we have over with?" She asked. Then, I caught her staring at my breasts, and I raised an eyebrow. "And put a shirt on..."

I couldn't help but burst out laughing. I totally forgot about Dani being uncomfortable with girls changing. Her face was turning beet red, and I was enjoying it. With a grin, I finally put on a bunnyhug and held up a hand for her to shake.

"Fine, I forgive you. Are we cool?" I asked, my face blushing.

"We're cool." She said smiling at me.

"So."

"So."

"You got a date tonight?" It came out in a bitchy tone, and I immediately shook my head saying, "Sorry, I mean- yeah, you got a date tonight?" Only me would make this situation more awkward than before. Good job Maverick.

Dani nodded and gave me a tight-lipped smile.

"Yeah, her name's Margo- and I don't know. She asked me to hang out with her, apparently she's singing in an open mic event at that café we went to at lunch."

"Oh, that sounds nice." I said, nodding my head.

"Yeah..." Dani fidgeted on her spot. "Listen, she didn't tell me that I should go alone, so... would you mind- um, would you mind coming with me to watch her sing?"

I watched her carefully, and smiled at her politely.

"Dani, trust me. That girl's expecting you to come alone. I won't go with you, because if I did, that means I'm intruding. So no."

"Oh."

"Besides, I'm on a mission to look for Natasha, and Dennis is coming with me."

"Well, okay." Dani said, scratching the back of her neck in uncertainty. "Um, Mave?"

"Yeah?"

"Last night-" She said, but stopped mid-sentence and took a step forward towards me. "You said something last night, do you remember what you said?"

Okay hold up. Is she really bringing this up right now? Because she's making me feel anxious, and pressured, and now my palms are sweaty. I knew what I said last night, and I'm not sure if I'm ready to admit that I like-like her while fully awake. So I stood there, staring at her with a blank face, even though I'm dying inside.

Dani took another step, and I gripped the marble sink behind me nervously.

"Well, I remember hugging?" I said, not able to look her in her eyes. Dani chuckled, and I looked up and saw her blushing. I knew I was blushing as well, and I awkwardly stood there laughing lightly.

"Nothing. Nevermind." Dani said, shaking her head quickly and gathering her stuff as she started to walk away.

"Well, uh, have fun? I guess..."

Dani shrugged her shoulders and stared at me.

"I'll try."

Then I was left alone in the washroom.

***

"She won't pick up my phone calls." I complained to Dennis while we sat in his car, and eating Don's fries.

"Who are we talking about? Dani?" He asked in confusion, while opening his twenty pack of nuggets.

"No. Natasha." I said, shaking my head. "I'm getting really worried Dennis, has she talked to you? Does she hate me? And Dani and I are cool. She's in a date right now, remember?"

"Oh ya! You guys made up then?"

"Yeah." I replied, while I sent a text to Natasha, asking where she is... Again.

"Can I use your phone? Maybe she'll answer if I she sees that you're calling."

"But she hates me."

I rolled my eyes and snatched his phone anyways.

"Now, if you see porn popping out just exit through it."

"Dennis, gross!" I exclaimed when I saw multiple tabs of pornography.

"Don't judge me. I'm allowed to look at porn."

Ignoring him, I quickly dialed Nat's number by heart and waited. I thought it would reach voicemail, but she actually picked up at the last ring.

"What do you want?" Came in Nat's voice, sounding slurred and angry.

"Nat, it's me." I said, relieved.

Loud music were in the background and someone was yelling on the top of their lungs.

"Mave. Hey."

"Where are you? Why won't you answer my calls?" I asked, now worried.

"Because I thought you would be mad at me. You yell when you're angry so I didn't wanna answer. I don't know if anyone told you before, but you're really scary, okay? I'm sorry." Natasha blabbered on, her voice cracking as if she was about to cry. I knew then that she was under the influence.

"Where are you?" I asked again.

"At James'." She replied.

"James? Why the hell are you there?" I asked, tapping Dennis' arm agressively to get his attention.

"I don't know. He asked me out, and I said ya- oh god- I'm so sorry! I know that you like him and here I am at his party and... doing stuff."

She sounded like she was freaking out, and then she started to cry.

"I'm so sorry, Mave. I love you, I don't want you to hate me. Please, please, James is nothing. We shouldn't let him come in between us-"

"Natasha." I called out her name sternly. "Natasha calm down, I'm going to get you." Dennis was starting to worry, and so was I. Go to James' house. I mouthed to him quickly. He seemed confused, but understood me so he started to drive.

"Natasha, just stay there, don't move, I'm coming for you." I said again, more softly this time.

"Okay." She said, sobbing. "Okay. I'm so sorry Mave." She said again.

"It's okay. We'll be fine. Just don't hang up."

"I'm sorry about everything."

"Stop apologizing."

"But I mean it. I'm sorry about Dennis, Thomas, and Dani... I'm such a horrible person."

"No you're not. You're not horrible. Nobody's perfect, Nat." I said.

"But you are." She said, which made me smile.

"No, Nat. I'm not perfect."

"You're a kind, kind person. What did I do to deserve you? You're too good for me." She slurred. "You're honestly the best thing that came into my life."

"Natasha, you're drunk."

"Yes." She said. "Very. My head is spinning, and I don't know where I am. At James' house for sure, but I don't know where." Then I hear her sip something.

"That better be water that you're drinking."

"Oh. Crap. I just finished the tiny bit left of beer in my cup."

"Oh my god, just don't drink any more alcohol, please. You're gonna get sick."

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Nat said, and I heard her chuckle. "Geez, you're always the concerned one."

"I'm your friend. I care about you, that's what I do." I said.

"But lately you've been caring about Dani more." She said. "She's stealing you away from me, Mave, I can feel it."

"Don't be ridiculous." I told her, now laughing. "No one is stealing anyone-"

I earned a look from Dennis, and he just rolled his eyes.

"Not true. Thomas stole me from Dennis. Dennis stole Thomas from me, and now Dani is stealing you as well. I'm left with no one."

"Natasha, stop it. I'll always be there for you."

"We're here." Dennis announced as he pulled over and parked the car behind multiple cars that was parked on the side of James' house. "Damn, that's a big party in there."

"Okay, Nat, we're here."

"Don't let Dennis come, please Mave? I'm already so embarassed."

"Well, you're gonna have to see him because we drove here using his car." Dennis and I got out and followed a bunch of drunk people inside the house.

"Just let him stay in the car. You come get me."

"Why-"

"Please."

Sighing, I grabbed Dennis' arm and told him to stay by the car. He frowned, but nodded his head.

James' house was packed with students from our school, and almost everyone of them was holding a red solo cup. People were hanging out, making out, dancing, and smoking cigarettes. I can smell a hint of weed in the air, and I shook my head disaprovingly.

I searched for Natasha on couches, in the bathroom, in every room and corner in James' house.

"Nat, where are you?" I asked my best friend again. "I literally looked everywhere and you're not in here."

"Soft..." She murmurred, then silence. Nat must've passed out. I tried waking her up by calling out her name, but it was no use. She won't wake up.

I groaned in complaint and continued to search.

I heard Gina, I literally heard her, and I recognized her because of her loud laughter.

I immediately approached Gina, and tapped her arm to get her attention.

"Maverick!" She seemed surprised to see me. "You're at a party!"

"Uh, yeah... I guess I am. But look, I'm not staying long, I'm just looking for Nat. Have you seen her?"

Gina laughed like what I said was the funniest thing.

"Oh dude, she's so wasted! Last time I saw her, she was making out with James."

I cringed at the image and frowned.

"I looked everywhere in here, already! Every room."

"What about the backyard?" Gina asked, sipping her drink. "Let's go, I'll come with you."

Gina and I went further into James' house, and followed other teenagers towards the open French door that leads outside to a backyard.

There we saw more people, hanging out, and James himself was also there, grinding up on some girl while they danced. I hid behind Gina, which wasn't much because she was so short, but I'd do anything just so James won't see me here at all.

"There she is." Gina pointed.

I saw Natasha Foundland curled up on the wooden ground deck, passed out, her head on a German Shepherd dog's back. She was snoring, and the dog doesn't look too happy either.

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing at the scene before me. I even took a picture because I thought she looked cute curled up like that beside an adorable dog.

"Nat? Nat, wake up." I said, shaking Natasha's shoulders gently.

She groaned in her sleep, and rolled over, freeing the dog. The dog simply walked away and I swear we heard it breathe out an annoyed sigh.

"You gotta carry her, Mave." Gina said. "I would help, but I'm afraid Nat would crush me."

"It's okay, I got her."

I squatted down, and pulled Nat's arms so I place them on my shoulders, then I leaned her towards me, while I scooped my other hand behind her knees. Then, I carried her, while Gina looked at me in awe.

"What the hell, you're stronger than you look."

I rolled my eyes, and adjusted Nat so I have a better grip on her.

"Mave." She whispered.

"Shh. I'm here, we're going home."

"You smell like laundry detergent." She slurred. "You smell clean."

I snorted a laugh, and said excuses to people on our way out. Dennis was leaning on his car, and immediately ran up to me and offered to carry Nat, but I shook my head and said,

"It's okay, just open the door for me please."

He did, and I carefully placed down Nat on the seat. I sat beside her, and tried to put on her seat belt, but she fell sideways and I caught her just in time before her head hits the window.

"Drop us off at my house, her mom is going to kill her if she saw Nat like this."

When we got home, Dennis carried Nat in my house, and my mom and dad gave me questioning looks.

"I'll explain tomorrow." I said, and continued our way to my room. Dennis set down Nat on my bed, and stared at her worriedly.

"This is so... Nat was never like this before. Sure we partied before, but she was never this wasted." Dennis said.

"I know." I said, as I sat down on my bed and taking off Nat's shoes.

"Got her?" Dennis asked, smiling at me lightly.

"I got her." I smiled at him, and went over to hug him.

"Well, I'm heading home okay? Call me, or text me if you need anything at all."

"Thanks Dennis."

"No problem." He hugged back and we embrace for a few seconds before he finally pulled back and took his exit.

Staring at Nat, she seemed to be peacefully sleeping, but I knew she wasn't comfortable in her outfit that consists of very tight jeans, and a fur-lined coat. So, I changed her out of her clothes, and changed her into a pair of my pajamas, and a loose t-shirt for her to wear so she could sleep comfortably.

Then, I got a hot damp towel, and wiped her face with it to take off her make up. Nat stirred, when I got in bed with her, now also in my pj's.

"Mavey." She said.

"Yes?"

She snuggled up close and laid her head on my shoulder.

"Thank you." She whispered, her voice hoarse.

"Just go to sleep." I said and pulled her in by her waist.

"Goodnight, Mavey." She kissed my cheek.

"G'night Nat." I kissed her forehead.

***

Saskatchewan, and

Unedited