LITMIR.BIZ

       six

      Lauren and I decided to go to the boy’s basketball game at school the following Friday. I didn’t care so much about the game as I did about watching Jeremy play. We had just sat down on the bleachers with popcorn and bottled water. Our school was playing our rival team, which meant that the die-hard basketball fans at my school came out in strong numbers to show their support.

      My school’s team had just come out of the locker room to warm up. The pings of multiple basketballs being dribbled wafted through the air. I spotted Jeremy with a red, white and blue basketball. He dribbled like a professional NBA player and made handling the basketball look effortless. He dribbled toward the basket, did a spin move and then a smooth finger-roll layup.

      “He is so cute,” I said to Lauren.

      “And from what I can tell, he looks like a pretty good ball player, too.”

      “He loves the game. He’s been playing it since he was a little boy.” I had recalled a conversation we had once a few years back about how much he loved the sport.

      “Look. There goes Allison with her camera.” Lauren directed my attention to the left edge of the bleachers.

      “What do you think about her doing all of the videotaping she does?” I asked.

      “I think what she’s doing is cool,” Lauren said, shrugging her shoulders.

      “She looks just like her mom. Have you ever watched her mom on TV?”

      “A few times. I’ve seen her mom interview professional athletes and celebrities. I think that is really cool,” Lauren said.

      “I imagine that it must be exciting to have a mom who has those types of connections,” I admitted and then turned my attention back to the basketball floor. The cheerleaders from our rival school came out and did a few cheers for those who had come in support of their student athletes. Once they’d finished, the Thornwood High cheerleading squad stepped out on the floor, wearing our colors of blue and gold. They fired up the crowd with cheers and acrobatics. There were constant screams of support from the bleachers for the cheerleaders. Once they were done, the starting lineups of the visiting team and my school were announced. When I heard Jeremy’s name called, I shouted at the top of my voice.

      “Dang, girl! Do you think you screamed his name loud enough?” Lauren had placed her hands over her ears.

      “Maybe,” I said, hearing how my voice had gone gravelly.

      “Yeah, you definitely did,” she disagreed with me.

      “Let’s go, Jeremy!” I shouted out again just before the referee blew his whistle and started the game. On the very first play Jeremy stole the ball, pushed it up the court and did a windmill dunk that drove the crowd into a frenzy.

      “Yeah! Jeremy!” I rose to my feet and shouted at the top of my voice.

      My school ended up winning the game. Jeremy scored twenty-three of the sixty-three points that our team put up. After the game I said goodbye to Lauren and waited for Jeremy. When he came out of the locker room, I gave him a big hug and told him how awesome I thought he was.

      “Thanks for coming to watch me play,” he said. He looped his arms through the straps of his backpack and moved toward the exit.

      “Where’s Lauren?” he asked.

      “Her mom came just before the game ended. As soon as it was over they left.”

      “Do you have a ride?” he asked.

      “No,” I said.

      “Why didn’t you get a ride with Lauren?”

      “Because I wanted to see you. Duh.” I punched his shoulder as punishment for not realizing why I had waited on him.

      Jeremy smiled at me. “I’ll walk you home.” We exited the school and walked in the direction of my house. The night air was cool and I could see white smoke puffing up as my warm breath hit the cold air.

      “Are you cold?” he asked.

      “A little,” I admitted. Jeremy then reached out and pulled me closer to him. I liked being in his arms. I felt safe and cared for.

      “Do you know what you want for Christmas?” he asked. I wanted to say I’d love for you to be my boyfriend, but I didn’t.

      “No. Do you?” I asked.

      “I don’t know. I can’t think of anything I really want this year,” he said.

      “Are you sure you have everything you want?” I said and hoped he’d think about his romantic life or lack of it.

      “Yeah. I’m sure,” he said. I was disappointed with his answer.

      “I see,” I said drily.

      “Are you going to the holiday dance?” he asked. His question caught me off guard, and I immediately perked up.

      “I’m just waiting for the right guy to ask me,” I said and bumped my hip against his. He stumbled.

      “What was that for?” he asked, smiling at me.

      “Because I felt like it,” I said sweetly.

      “What do you think about us going together?” he asked. I pulled away from him and stopped walking. I positioned myself directly in front of him so that I could see his face and look into his deep brown eyes. I studied every feature of his face. His brown skin, his lips and his expression. I wanted to make sure that I would remember every detail of the moment.

      “Really?” I asked cautiously and hoped that the tone of my voice didn’t come across as a rejection.

      “Never mind. It was a dumb idea.” He believed my comment was unfavorable.

      “No. I don’t mean it like that. I would really like to go with you.” I hurried up and told him what I was trying to say so that he would not misunderstand me.

      “Cool,” he said and looked at me. He looked into my eyes deeper than he ever had in the past. Then slowly I watched a smile form on his face just for me. I loved his smile because the joy extended past his lips and into his eyes. And his dimples only encourage me to kiss his cheeks.

      “Can I ask you a question?”

      “Yeah,” he said. He didn’t take his eyes off me. The way he looked at me made me feel special. I tilted my head slightly and took his hand into my own.

      “Are

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