Love Novel 27

The gym is packed when we get there, buzzing with excitement.
Nikki looks over at me, her mouth wide. “I have never seen so many people at a game!”
We make our way through the crowd, both of us wearing the jerseys. People look our way, and when they see what we’re wearing, they cheer in our faces. The energy is wild and I find myself smiling with them, fist bumping those who reach
out to me.
We find a spot on the home side, surrounded by cheering fans with painted faces and handmade signs.
“Wow, they really go all out,” I chuckle.
Nikki nods, “They do, I think we should paint our faces for the next game.”
I can’t help but laugh, “Alright, let’s do it.”
A song begins to play off the speakers, a steady bass, deep and loud. The people go crazy and they stomp on the
bleachers, they shake beneath us. Nikki takes my hand and jumps, forcing me to join her.
“They’re coming!”
I look to where the locker room doors are and sure enough, Melview’s varsity basketball team comes spilling out of the
doors. They’re wearing their blue home uniform, and they jump, looking to the bleachers with raised arms.
They drink in the attention, like our cheers are physical things they can catch.
Parker spots Nikki and blows her a kiss, Nikki returns it and squeals, jumping up and down.
I look through the team and spot Aiden, my stomach immediately coming alive with butterflies. He winks to me across
the court and I inhale, waving at him nervously.
I’ve never been much of a sports fan, let alone a basketball fan. Still, as soon as the whistle goes off, signaling the star of
the game, I’m bouncing on my toes. The people in the bleachers don’t sit, so it forces Nikki and I to stay on our feet,
occasionally lifting ourselves to the tips of our toes.
The ref blows their whistle.
I frown. “What is that for?”
“A foul,” Nikki tries to look around the person in front of her.
“For what?”
She shrugs. “I have no idea.”
I try to refrain from asking her anymore questions throughout the game because I learn all too quickly that she probably
knows less than I do. It’s kind of funny, actually.
For most of the game, the teams are neck and neck, trading points easily. The cheering is equal on both sides of the
court and the coaches are yelling their heads off as fouls are called left and right.
Turns out, as we figured out from a conversation we overheard, this early season game would determine who had the
upper hand when it came down to state.
The intensity is palpable, the plowers growing agitated with every passing minute. I look down, spotting the scouts that
Aiden had told me about. They watch every move with keenly observing eyes. Clipboards in their hands for quick notes
and polos with their schools’ logo and colors.
They look intimidating and I can understand why Aiden was feeling as nervous as he was this morning. The point at
players, whispering to each other, nodding and frowning. Not once do I see them crack smiles and it makes me
unexplainably nervous.
I return my attention to the game, finding Aiden as he runs the ball across the court. I really hope they see how good
Aiden is tonight.
The first half of the game is brutal, and thankfully over. A few players from both teams ended up getting kicked out, but
Aiden and Parker were still in when the whistle blew.
The other team was getting frustrated. They were expecting this to be an easy win but our team was holding out, playing
better in some cases, from what little I understood about the game.
Aiden looks to me in the stands as the team heads to the lockers, he doesn’t do anything, just looks to me. I press my
hand to my chest, where I can feel my heart beating against it. He turns from me, following his team.
I don’t realize how much tension I hold on my body until I exhale and look at Nikki. She’s smiling at me, her gaze
knowing.
“Damn, Aiden looks at you like he wants to eat you.”
I snort. “Yeah. Hey, imma go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, I’ll go after you, I’m afraid if we both go, someone will take our seats.”
I sidestep in front of her and jog to the bathroom and do my business. It is not until I’m heading back to the gym that I
run into a problem.
*Jake*.
He’s in the hallway, waiting in line at the concession stand. The moment we make eye contact, I freeze.
He very obviously stills, his eyes taking in the jersey I’m wearing. His nostrils flare, but even as my lungs ache like all
oxygen has left them, I keep my head high and walk past him.
No. I am not going to let Jake ruin tonight.
*Cheimaphobia: Fear of cold*.
*Heliophobia: Fear of sunlight*.
*Blennophobia: Fear of slime*.
*Alektorophobia: Fear of chickens*.
I walk fast, knowing the quicker I get to the gym, the easier it will be to focus on something else.
I give Nikki the chance to to go to the bathroom. The entire time she’s gone, I keep my neck stone still, not giving myself
the chance to look around the gym.
Knowing me, I would look for him.
*Catoptrophobia: Fear of mirrors*.
The second half begins, and Nikki and I go crazy. Aiden and Parker are playing like they are a single person. They play off
each other as if they could read each other’s mind. They dominate the court and the other team misses every
opportunity they get. I glance at the scouts, who are clearly taking notice, jotting down notes as they watch.
The clock winds down, the tension now unbearable. It doesn’t take long for there to only be single digit seconds
displayed on the scoreboard. The scores are still close and every possession feels like it could change the course of the
game.
As the time comes to an end, it’s Aiden that is in possession of the ball.
He weaves through the defenders, Parker right beside him. He takes the last shot just as the buzzer sounds.
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Everyone is quiet and I can feel my heart in my throat.
The ball sails the air andSwish.
The balls goes in.
The gym erupts into complete chaos.
I jump, hugging Nikki as we both scream and join everyone else in the celebration. Air horns go off, silly string flies in the
air and the bleachers shake beneath us from all the jumping.
Nikki takes my hand, pulling me with her down the bleachers and onto the court. I can’t see much because of the crowd
around me but Aide finds me quick.
Before I know it, his arms around my waist and his lips against mine.
His sweat drips down onto me, but I don’t care. His hands dig into my waist and he kisses me like it’s all he’s ever wanted to do.
We pull away and I can’t help but laugh from pure joy at the look on his face. “You did it!”
He shakes his head, lifting me in the air to spin me around. “You’re my lucky charm.”
He kisses me again and for a moment everything around us disappears, it’s just us. Just us.
Until I’m bumped closer to him. The team swarms us, celebrating as they hoot loudly. Aiden gives me and apologetic
look but all I can do is shrug. I can’t blame them.
Aiden keeps his hold on me, but joins in on the celebrations.
I can’t stop looking at him. There’s something so alluring about him, so refreshing. When he smiles down at me, my
heart hammers in my chest.
Even with knowing him for such a short amount of time, I know one thing for sure.
Aiden’s the kind to love with all his