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okay guys, after a very very very very long time... chapter 2 is up... sorry if this didn't come up a little earlier... Title: Choices Author: Unveil the Soulbound Disclaimer: Pretty much all the characters are from me and my wild imagination… Any character resembling anyone from real life is unintentional… I’m also making most of the places like shops, etc, original so don’t try looking for them coz they most likely DON’T exist… Leagues are also mostly original…mostly…because they may be a little bit similar to real leagues… The neighborhood is also from my crazed mind… Summary: Nobody’s perfect. Not even Kyle. Athletic – Girl’s Basketball Team Captain, Softball Team Ace Player, Track and Field Varsity; Intelligent – always at the upper 5% of her class; Leadership qualities – Student Body Vice president. But through the years, she’s learned to keep her feelings from other people. Will somebody finally make her realize that all Kyle needs to do is open the door for love? It all depends on her choices… Rating: PG 13 – R Author’s note: I just started this story and I would really love to share it to you… so please… feedback would be GREATLY APPRECIATED… just don’t murder me too much… thoughts are in italic WatchingYes, watching. That’s what I’m here to do. To watch. And be bored.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy watching basketball games, but being here right now is not what I was really planning on doing. I wanted to actually hang out with my friends, do a little shopping, girl bonding, those stuffs. I mean, we’ve had this amazing plan for a long time to go out and have fun today but everything has got to be ruined by that unexpected call last night.
That unexpected call by my boyfriend to go watch an unofficial game of basketball.
And it didn’t even help that he had to persuade MY friends to let me be with him and cancel our fun day. I mean, he didn’t even consider the fact that I might decline his offer. He just assumed that I’d say yes and go with him. He called my friends over to ask for their permission, without even thinking about my reaction in the whole thing.
If it weren’t for my friends convincing me that I should go with him, I wouldn’t be here in the first place. He’s so lucky I have really, really great and understanding friends for that matter.
And now, I’m being bored to death.
*********************************
Steve had been watching his girlfriend, mesmerized by her beauty and the way her eyes darted around the crowded gymnasium. He felt, at that moment, like he was one of the luckiest guys in the world to have such a gorgeous girl to his side. Dating the campus heartthrob and being the school’s football team quarterback player, he had nothing else to ask for. Any guy would surely kill just to be him.
He smiled inwardly to himself. Any guy would DEFINITELY kill to be me.
And at that moment, he saw Leah sigh and take in a deep breath.
“Anything wrong babe?” he asked while gently caressing her girlfriend’s hand. He made soothing touches on the back of her palm and afterwards, squeezed Leah’s hand softly. She slowly turned to look at him.
“I wonder where my friends are right now? I mean, they should be having fun…”
“Aren’t you having fun with me here right now, babe?”
“To tell you honestly Steve, sitting here doing nothing isn’t exactly the kind of fun I was thinking of,” she blatantly told him.
“Oh…” Steve hadn’t expected this from her girlfriend.
At that point, Leah saw the hurt in Steve’s face and she inwardly kicked herself for being so insensitive. I shouldn’t have said that. But Leah couldn’t shrug the fact that looking at him right at that moment made her so annoyed.
“I’m really sorry, Steve. It’s just…” she sighed again, “I was really looking forward to hanging out with my friends today. I haven’t bonded with them ever since we started going out.”
“I’m sorry too. I just assumed you’d be happy to –”
“That’s the point, Steve. You assumed. You never even considered if I actually wanted to go out with you today,” she crossed her arms to her chest and visibly showed her boyfriend that she was pissed. “All the while, you knew I had plans to go out with my friends and yet you insisted. And you know what the worst part is?”
At this point, she had already raised the tone of her voice slightly higher than normal.
“You called my friends over for their permission without even consulting me. Without even approaching me first.”
Leah turned her back against her boyfriend and simply observed the crowd. She knew it wouldn’t be good to make a scene at that moment. But she just can’t look at him right now. Her insides were fuming and if she continued looking at the guy beside her, she might just not be able to control her outrage.
Steve knew he had definitely pissed Leah off. He seriously didn’t anticipate for this reaction from her. In all honesty, he still can’t understand what the whole fuss was about. It’s just a little shopping with her friends. They can still have fun some other time. But he knew he had to comfort his girlfriend. It won’t be good if she broke up with me now.
“Hey, Leah, look. I’m really sorry, okay? I didn’t think you’d be mad or anything,” with that, he reached for her hand once more and caressed it. “I’ll make it up to you some other time, alright? But right now, let’s just wait for the game to start and enjoy it.”
Leah rolled her eyes, unnoticed by her boyfriend, and took her hand back. Whatever. She had thought Steve was sweet and very much romantic. He’s no different than all the other guys.
*************************
Kyle had just finished changing into her jersey and was now arranging some of her toiletries and a few clothes inside her locker when she felt a faint tap on her right shoulder. Looking at the person to her right, her eyes widened in shock and complete surprise. Never, in her whole life, had she imagined seeing such a view. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating…but, what the??!!
“Oh My God!” was all Kyle could muster as she stood there, mouth wide open and eyes staring largely at the girl she was now visibly gaping at. She then pointed at the hair of the now snickering girl to her front and said out loud, “You…you…”
“I cut my hair!” the other girl with chin-length, jet-black hair squealed. If that wasn’t enough, she even pushed her hair back with her fingers. After doing so, the stands of her somewhat shiny black hair went back down to their original position, as if never being disturbed.
At this time, Kyle had already regained her senses and was beginning to register the fact that Jen, one of her closest friends and another promising basketball player in their school, had just cut her long flowing black hair.
“I kindah noticed that…”
“So, you like?” Jen looked at Kyle with anticipation. Anticipation might just have been one of the biggest understatements of the year, since Jen wore a look of absolute hilarity – her eyebrows raised as high as they can get, her bottom lip being bitten furiously , and her nose scrunched up.
Kyle just had to keep herself from falling to the ground and laughing. However, she wasn’t able to control the slight chuckle that escaped.
“Jen, cut the face out! You look silly!” Kyle playfully pushed the other girl away.
“So? You like?”
“I like what?” Kyle felt the urge to tease her bestfriend.
“My hair… you like?”
“Hmmmm…”
“Hmmmm…?”
“Hmmmm…”
“KYLE!!!”
Kyle gave out a hearty laugh and later on, Jen joined her. After a while, the two girls ended the induced togetherness and regained their composure.
“You weren’t joking when you told me you were gonna do something crazy, huh?”
“Well, technically this isn’t as crazy as what my first plan was,” the black-haired girl pointed to her short hair, “I wanted to dye it green.”
“You did not?!”
Jen shrugged. “Pops talked me out of it though. He gave me a choice.”
“What choice?” Kyle asked curiously.
“Either green hair or my birthday bash.”
Kyle grinned and gave her friend a mock sympathetic look. “Aaaaw…”
“Well, I’m definitely not gonna pass up my bash for nothing!” Jen shot the brunette an indignant look. “But I loved the look he got when he saw what I’ve done to my hair. Kindah similar to yours.” The stern look had instantly turned into a full-blown smile.
“You know what, Jen? You are so mean!” Kyle had started tickling her friend, when a substitute player in the team that Kyle didn’t recognize – Probably new or something – called them over saying the coach had asked for them.
Heading for the door out of the shower room, Jen turned to her closest friend and asked, “So, you coming at the party tonight?”
“Definitely!”
“Good. ‘Coz you are going to meet my hunk of a date.”
“Oh really?”
Jen smiled, “Yeah. Plus, I might just have a neat surprise for you.” And waggled her eyebrows.
Now, Kyle was curious. And intrigued. “Is this one of those double date ideas of yours again? I have been telling you for the nth time Jen, I don’t need a girlfriend.”
“You’ll see,” the other winked while heading for the door.
After a few moments – and after they both had exited the room – Kyle called her friend over.
“What?” Jen asked, both curious and excited, partly because the opposing team had already arrived and entered the gymnasium, and that the crowd was getting quite noisy.
“Happy birthday,” Kyle enveloped her friend in a sincere and tight but not too body-squashing hug. “And don’t worry about your gift. You’ll get it tonight.” Though I think I should be the one worried about this surprise of yours, miss Crazybirthdaygirl.
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“They’re here…”
Her internal rumblings and grumbles about her thoughtless boyfriend were put to a halt as she heard the crowd become a little bit raucous and a LOT noisier. She watched as a group of girls in light blue jerseys came through the large door of the inward basketball court. Most of them were chatting with each other. A few, quietly walking, not minding the commotion inside the court. Along with them was a tall, athletic, dark-skinned man, around his late thirties that seemed to possess a very confident aura around him. He walked in proud, moderate strides as if there was no one else in the room but him and his team.
At the back of those that most likely composed the girls basketball team of Martin High were several students their age. And to her surprise – and amusement – most of them held what she can perceive as banners that most probably will be used to cheer their team during the game. She chuckled at the thought. An unofficial game and yet, the spirit of competition still taints the air.
Steve smiled as he heard Leah’s almost silent laughter. At least she’s not in a bad mood anymore.
“What’s funny, babe?” he asked nonchalantly while putting his arm around Leah.
Oh, and when you’re suddenly having fun, he’s there to ruin it…again. She groaned inwardly. “Nothing.”
“Aw, c’mon Leah. Don’t tell me your still mad?”
“No, I am not mad.” She turned to face the – to her – now uninteresting spike-haired blonde. “I am pissed off.”
“Leah, look, I’m really sorry, okay? What do you want me to do?” He paused as if to think, “If you really want to hang out with your friends, how about I let you be with them later, at the party? I promise I won’t be a bother.” He raised his hand up in sincere gesture, and Leah remembered the way he did the same antic earlier with Kyle.
All she did was raise her brow.
“Promise.” The athlete announced with more conviction.
“Okay, I’ll hold you to that Steve,” she finally said, her wary tone not lost to the young man.
Steve smiled, showing almost all the sets of his pearly white teeth. Leah Kyrr sighed inwardly.
*************************
He walked confidently through the large door and was not even the slightest bit surprised with the large crowd that was gathered inside the court. As a matter of fact, he was even pleased with the mob. Just goes to show Southdale needs the support. He smirked at such a thought. We’re not going to lose to them again this year.
He had carefully and selectively handpicked every single member of his team. He had been training them for the past months since their loss the previous year around. He had strictly given them strenuous exercises and taught them various techniques. In the past months, he had seen the improvement of Martin High Girls Basketball team, in both defense and offensive play. There can’t possibly be any mistake now, can it?
Last year though was a definite mistake. He wasn’t prepared. His team wasn’t prepared. No one had expected that the team of Southdale High had something up its sleeve. Someone.
Katrina Yase Hanson. Or Kyle as most people would point out.
She was still a junior then. No one thought such a junior could be that good. Even he had no idea.
Kyle was placed as shooting guard. And what a shooting guard she was.
He remembered the way the brunette did those effortless three-point shots. He remembered the first time she played the trick on his team. No one expected her to make it. Heck, no one even thought she’d do it. And yet, she placed the shot straight for the basket. Straight for the basket.
“She was just lucky,” he remembered telling his team during a time-out. And yet, as he watched Hanson do it over and over again, he wanted to spit those same words out. It wasn’t just luck. It was pure raw skill.
And if that wasn’t enough, Kyle Hanson was also one of the quickest players he’d ever seen. She knew where to run when she was being double-teamed. She knew where to go to when the game was getting rough. She knew how to screen her opponent so that her teammate can drive the ball to the basket. She knew how to handle the ball straight for her shot. And she definitely knew how to steal it from her opponent. It was as if she and the ball had been the best of friends since birth.
It was amazing to watch her from the sidelines. It was amazing to watch such wonderful play behold your eyes.
And he hated it. Because as much as it amazed the audience, it made him anxious. For his team.
Still, he can’t help but be stunned. She was the kind of player he had been looking for, for so long. And yet now that he found her, she was in an opposing team. And she had been the reason why they lost the league championship that Martin High had been cradling for the past decade.
Martin High Girls Basketball team had been the best team in the league for the past ten years. The other teams either feared them, or were contented with just second.
However, when Katrina Yase Hanson entered the picture, he wasn’t so sure anymore.
But this year is going to be different.
He didn’t care whether Kyle Hanson was the best guard he’d ever seen. He didn’t care if Kyle Hanson was even the best woman basketball player he’d ever seen. He didn’t care whether she led Southdale through the championship the previous year. He didn’t care whether she was named MVP, even though she had been just a junior. He didn’t care whether she was one of the chosen players for the team that represented the Southern Pacific District in an amateur national league that same year too. And he definitely didn’t care that she led that said team to the championship, even though the team eventually lost and placed second.
He didn’t care whether Kyle Hanson was so popular that sports magazines, as well as teen magazines had already featured her.
He didn’t care whether she was now already a senior, and obviously would be better than she was before.
He didn’t care that it was just an unofficial game his team was going to face against Hanson’s.
This year is going to be different.
And at the end of this league, Martin High will get what’s rightfully theirs.
*************************
She came through the door with the rest of the team, oblivious to the increase of noise among the crowd of people that surrounded the sidelines of the court. Probably because of the blaring noise from her headphones. Or maybe she just didn’t mind.
But when she felt the slightly more than gentle tap on her shoulder, she came back from her world of drums and electric guitars, to the real world. Looking up, she saw the meekly disappointed look of her coach and immediately stopped her cd player to give him her full attention. Apparently, she was fully aware of his short-tempered nature.
“Finally you stopped that damn thing.”
“Sorry coach. What’s the prob?”
He nodded towards the group of girls in gray jerseys that was obviously warming up for the game. A girl that sported her dark brown hair in a ponytail, continuously gave her teammates a few pep talks during the exercises.
“Seems like Hanson’s leading the pack now,” he said unimpressed.
“Okay…?” she replied, not sure what he was hinting at.
“I want you to take her on.”
“Huh?”
“Be in constant alert. See to it she doesn’t get the chance to score.”
Regina bit her lower lip in contemplation. “That’ll be hard, coach.”
Coach Arnold Reichter looked his trusted player in the eye. “Are you saying, you can’t do it?”
She raised her hands as if to block the elder man’s outburst. “No, no. Definitely not coach. I’m just saying it’s gonna be tough job.”
“You were with Hanson in the Southern Pacific team, Hill. You, of all people, should know how she plays. It wouldn’t be as tough as you think it is,” he reassured.
Oh, it will be tough. Regina groaned under her breath just so the elder wouldn’t notice. Apparently, she was mistaken.
“What’s that about, Hill?” he asked, now a bit impatient with her.
“Umm…nothing.” She quickly said with eyes wide like a deer caught in the headlights. “I’m just…ummm… going there…” pointed towards the opposing team, “to…ummm… you know… say ‘hi’ before the game and all…” And she was off before he was even able to say another word.
*************************
“Here comes your admirer, Kyle,” Jen said with a snicker, nodding towards the fast approaching redhead behind her friend.
“What?” Kyle asked, clearly not knowing what Jen was talking about.
“Regina Hill.”
“Huh?”
The other girls in the team giggled as Kyle looked to her back and saw a smiling girl advancing towards them.
“Regina is totally into Kyle,” Jen said to the rest of the team, which spurred another round of giggles.
Kyle shrugged, “Whatever.”
“Hey guys! Hey Kyle,” Regina said as she neared the group.
“Told you,” Jen pointed out to the rest of the team.
Another round of giggles.
“Oh, and by the way, happy birthday Jen,” the redhead said with a smile. “Nice hair.”
“Thank you.”
“So you guys warming up?”
“Yeah.” It was Kyle that answered. Calling over the other girls’ attention, she made the proper introductions. “Team, this is Regina Hill of Martin High.”
“Hey,” she waved her hand towards the other girls, who waved their hands and gave their ‘hi’ in return.
“You know, Jen,” Kyle pointed to her dark-haired friend as Regina nodded. “These are Chenille, Dinah, and Kristy,” she said introducing the other key members of the team. Afterwards, Kyle continued introducing the other bench players and substitutes.
When introductions were over, Regina asked Kyle who had returned to warming up. “So, you ready for the game?”
“To tell you honestly, a while ago, no. But now that I think of it, I think I am.”
“Great. Good luck.”
“Yeah, you’re team too.”
Jen snickered which caused Kyle to look at her. The earlier shrugged while the rest of the team giggled. Seeing as she might have already extended her greetings, Regina turned to leave with a “Bye guys. Good luck.”
When the redhead had already reached her own team, Kristy, center player and tallest of the girls in the team turned towards Kyle, “What is wrong with you, girl?”
Kyle sighed, “What now?”
“She’s pretty and very much into you.”
“So?”
Jen, Kristy, and Chenille gasped all at the same time.
“Can we please stop talking about my non-existent lovelife – mind you, I intend it to remain that way – and please go back to warming up? We have a game coming up in a few minutes and even though it’s just unofficial, it’s still a game.”
Kristy whispered to Jen, “What is wrong with her?”
Jen shrugged. Let’s see about that attitude of yours tonight, Kyle.
***Cail***
To Love is to receive a glimpse of Heaven-- Karen Sunde Love isn't a decision. It's a feeling. If we could decide who we loved, it would be much simpler...But much less magical... -- Trey Parker and Matt Stone
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