"Hi there, captain." Dani greeted, as she set her gym bag down. She was already dressed in her black adidas track pants, and in her royal blue training jersey. Then, she took out her basketball shoes and started to tie them up beside me on the bench.

I looked at her, surprised at how early she arrived. She must've read my mind because Dani rolled her eyes at me, flipped her blonde hair back, and quickly gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"As if I'd miss out on seeing you early." She said, and giving me the look of amusement. The way she said it was really genuine, which then made me blush and look at her in bafflement.

I was already dressed up myself, in my athletic Nike shorts, and the same royal blue training jersey. I didn't wear my glasses today, and got contacts instead because I didn't want to break them during practice. Then, I adjusted my basketball socks and I was so glad that I got new ones because my old ones sags down on my ankle. The new ones I have now hugged my calves, and I can't help but feel satisfied.

"I'm not gonna be easy on you guys during this practice." I told Dani while tying my hair up into a ponytail.

She stared at me.

"And I'm gonna know who's been slacking." I said, and can't help but feel quite excited to play the sport "We'll be doing a lot of cardio training today, so expect a whole lot of running."

Dani doesn't seem like she was paying attention at all. I waved a hand at her face to get her attention, and she blinked as if she snapped awake. Then, she simply tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear and said,

"I swear to god, you are so cute when you talk about something you're so obviously passionate about."

And I stared at her, did a double take, and realized...

Oh wait. We're dating.

The whole thing just made me laugh, because... It's really interesting. I've never thought that I could have someone like me like Dani does. Honestly, when I was still trying to desperately understand what I feel towards people, and why does it seem like I don't want a boyfriend made me genuinely think that there was something wrong with me.

Am I capable to be close to someone? To feel what others seems to feel? For so long I watched from afar wondering what it was like, and I swore to myself that I'll wait for my moment, but it never happened. I was so insecure and worried that I might have trust issues, an honest to god I hate it.

But then Dani became my friend, and suddenly I started to develop feelings for her. So then I realized, wait a second- There's nothing wrong with me. I'm just hella gay.

Hella gay for Dani, and hella gay overall.

I guess my mom was right when she said I needed to get out more. My dad was also right when he said that it'll create more opportunities. I guess they're right, but I wouldn't be able to express my feelings if it wasn't for Dani.

What if we never knew each other? What if she was escorted by another student, instead of me? But I don't want to think about that. I'm just grateful that she waltz in my life, and I couldn't feel more comforted by her.

I cannot express how happy I am right now, and so I nudged Dani with my shoulder and let out a giggle that I did not know could come out of me. But I was too happy and carefree to care.

The two of us are in the local field gym, at indoor track field, and waiting for the rest of our teammates to arrive. Our coach Mrs. Russ is already here, busying herself with her clipboard, and probably organizing some of our plays. As the basketball team captain, I organized our team to go to the gym so all of us can continue our training even if it's winter break. So far, everyone is participating.

Gina arrived next, and she greeted us with a hug. Then, she quickly changed in the change room, and came back with the same royal blue training jersey, and a pair of athletic shorts.

"Hey look, we're twinning." Gina said, standing beside me, and hooked her arm with mine. I rolled my eyes, but chuckled nonetheless.

Then, Gina's phone rang and she excused herself saying that it was her mom. It was obvious that Gina was in a heated argument because she was yelling profanities at her phone before she hung up. I took a mental note to talk to her about it later.

The rest of our teammates started to arrive, and I quickly instructed them to change. After that, I lead them to start stretching. It's just tradition for everyone to chat up a bit while doing so, and the subject turned to the upcoming tournament we have after winter break. I'm glad that all of us are excited about it, and that everyone seems to be willing to improve and work on our plays.

It's nice to know that everyone in our team will do their best, even if we lose. And it's heartwarming to think that almost all of us are being modest about the whole thing. I couldn't have asked for a more better team than we have right now.

After stretching, I instructed them to go for a twelve-minute run around the track for warm up. I lead the group to start jogging, and went ahead of them to control our pace. I'm pretty proud that my teammates are actually listening to me. But then Dani jogged beside me and gestured for me to pick up the pace.

I frowned at her, wondering if this was one of her challenges against me. Then, she gave a smirk and jogged ahead of me. I looked behind to see our teammates shrugging their shoulders. I rolled my eyes at Dani, and eventually picked up the pace.

But Dani wasn't letting me match her pace. She was going faster and faster every time I come up to her. She flashed me a smug look before striding forward and went ahead of me again.

"Oh my god, Dani this is not a race!" I yelled out, and everyone laughed.

"It's not?" She called back.

She's going to regret it. I could see how tired she was already, and how out of breath she is. If she's going to race me, then there's no way in hell that she's going to win.

Somehow, the thought made me smile.

"Thirty seconds left! Sprint!" I yelled out.

Then everyone sprinted, and suddenly it was almost like a track and field event. Everyone raced everyone, and ahead of all of us was Dani, who was panting so hard she was starting to slow down. She dashed in panic and I heard her gave a nervous laugh. I wasn't going to let her beat me, and so I sprinted as hard and fast as I can and eventually caught up with her.

The surprised look she gave me, made me guffaw out loud as I passed ahead of her. Then, she yelled out a devastating,

"Nooooooo!"

Which made me grin, and feel smug. Everyone was laughing hysterically at the end of the track, and some were on the ground still laughing like hyenas.

"Damn." Dani said in between breaths, and placing a hand on her chest.

"This is why you need to pace yourself." I scolded her, but grinning nonetheless. "Showing off will do you no good."

Dani took my hand and placed it on her chest. I narrowed my eyes and felt even more flustered at what she was doing but then she said,

"Feel that? It's beating so fast." She looked at me with utter excitement in her eyes. She had on a big smile, and she looked happy for which I can't help but feel the same. I could feel it. I could feel how fast her heartbeat was going, and I could feel that mine was beating fast as well.

Before I took her hand to make her feel my heartbeat, Mrs. Rudd called out,

"Alright, everyone go for a water break, then we'll head to the basketball court in five minutes."

Everyone murmured their agreement and they scattered. But Dani had something else on her mind. Dani gasped, and pointed far away.

Of course, I looked. I fucking looked for nothing. I couldn't believe she got me that easy, and when I turned to look back at her, her lips were against my cheek. I rolled my eyes right there and then, and thought how cheesy she is. It's lame, but I like it.

"Ha." She said, then chuckled as she walked away.

I knew that I was blushing. Nobody else saw that, and I looked around anxiously. Then I remembered that I shouldn't care what other people think. But I kind of do, and it lingers in my mind ever so often.

But then, I saw Gina with narrowed eyes from the the bench, and gawking at me.

She saw. She fucking saw. My brain said, over and over. I could imagine all the bad scenarios in my mind. Gina looking at me with disgust. Gina spreading rumours. Gina won't be friends with me anymore.

I was frozen in my spot in the track, and I could feel my palms sweat. I tried to act nonchalantly, as if I have no idea what she was thinking.

I can feel the blood draining from my face as I panicked a little inside. I bit my bottom lip anxiously while standing there, staring at Gina with a horrified expression. I can't help it. I'm never good at these kind of situations.

Then Gina mouthed the words, What the hell? Towards me. Then she raised both her arms out, and she started clapping her hands loudly. She was clapping and giving me a standing ovation.

Okay. What the hell?

*

"Okay slow down, you're gonna choke to death!" Dani said, while I shoved a bunch of McDonald's fries in my mouth. There was ketchup on my face, and Dani giggled at the sight. She took a napkin and wiped it. I muttered my thanks, and started to build houses with the rest of my fries.

"It's so not right to play with your food." Dani said.

"It's not, but I'm doing it anyways." I replied.

"How rebellious of you." She said, snickering. "Your name suits you very well."

"My name means a lot of things." I told her, nibbling a fry.

Dani took out her phone and said,

"I googled the definition of 'Maverick' and it says, an unorthodox or independent-minded person. If that doesn't define you, then-"

I leaned over and pointed a pinky on her screen while holding a fry.

"It also says I'm an enfant terrible, and that I'm a bad boy." I said, laughing. "I know what a bad boy means, but what the hell- I think google spelled infant wrong."

"Nope." Dani snickered. "It's a French expression. I hear my grandma say it all the time when I was younger. Vous terrible enfant, Dani! So basically it means you're a terrible child."

There was just something about foreign languages that attracts me. Maybe it's the accent, or maybe it's the person bearing the knowledge of it that gets to me. It's like they know another world, and I don't. And somehow, the way Dani said infant as uhn-font, and the way her lips moved gave me an overwhelming urge to kiss her.

But I didn't, because Gina was with us.

Gina was sitting there beside me, sipping her drink and staring at me and Dani with total amusement.

"This is so great." Gina gushed, and can't seem to stop herself from smiling. "Oh my god this is so freaking great!" She said again.

Dani and I looked at each other.

"I've never met a lesbian before." Gina said, staring at Dani.

"Well, hi." Dani said, grinning.

"Oh my god," Gina said, gesturing to the two of us. "I just love this so much! Diversity~" She added in a sing-song voice.

"Christ, you're not gonna treat us differently, are you?" I asked Gina.

She scoffed and waved a hand and continued to sip on her drink.

"Naw, I'm just really surprised that's all!"

"Well, um. So basically only a few people know, and um... if it's okay with you-" I started, but Gina knew what I was talking about.

"Oh babe, it's okay. I'm not gonna out you. It's none of my business."

"Thanks Gina." I muttered.

I thought I saw Dani frown at me, but it was quickly gone as soon as I saw it.

***

A/N: Heyyyyy! It's been a while! Hahaha thanks for waiting on me you guys. I've been playing Assassin's Creed IV, and currently dealing with some girl who thinks of me as more than a friend- and I'm fucking conflicted because my schedule is always busy with work and school and overall WHY. I mean- Okay, I guess I'm awesome but,

What the hell did I do to make them like me? Like, holy shit this is bizarre.