"You're KIDDING!" I exclaimed. "What do you mean you've NEVER played basketball before?!"

The young prince blushed and scratched his cheek "Uh... I mean I've never played basketball before." He said.

I sighed. "Wow, you're telling me you've travelled the world and saved an entire country, but you've NEVER played basketball." I said. "Honestly, Larsa, what am I going to do with you?" I asked.

"Pass me the ball." He said.

I passed the ball, and he tried to catch it in one hand, causing it to ricochet off his hand and onto his left foot. He immediately cried out and began hopping on one foot.

"Oh, man, we've got work to do." I said, picking the ball up while still watching Larsa hop around in a hysterical dance. "Larsa!" I called.

He limped over to me, a pathetic look on his face.

"Oh, please, you are SO acting." I said.

Larsa chuckled. "You noticed?"

"You're a horrible liar, Larsa." I said.

"Not as bad as you are." He tried to defend himself.

"Larsa..." I said " I'm pregnant."

He screamed, and I howled with laughter.

"Okay, you win THAT one." He said.

"Alright, let's start with dribbling. Push the ball down with the palms of your fingers." I said, handing him the ball. He began to slap it like heck. "No, not the palm of your hand, your fingers!" I said. "Like this..." I took the ball from him and began to dribble in an almost professional kind of way. "See?"

I handed him the ball back, and he began to dribble, slowly at first, then speeding up gradually. "I've got it!" He yelled happily. He then proceeded to try to run around the gym while dribbling, and tripped over the ball.

"Larsa!" I yelled, rushing over to him. "Are you okay?"

He sat up slowly, rubbing his cheek, which he had landed on. "Ouch..." He said. "I guess, to put it in your terms, I "face faulted," huh?" He said, slightly muffled from his already swollen cheek.

I looked at him in pure bewilderment for a moment, then burst into laughter. Then, I practically tackled him in a flying hug. "You goof!" I said.

After about half an hour, we began to scrimmage. And he was beating me. Badly.

"Y'know, you're pretty good for a beginner." I said, catching the ball as it fell through the hoop from Larsa's 10th shot in eight minutes.

"Thanks." He smiled.

There was a loud clunk, and a ball bounced off the back of Larsa's head, causing him to fall forward...

All I knew was that my lips were warm. Very, very warm.

Larsa pulled away, his face like a beet. "I-I'm sorry!"

I was zoned out for a few minutes after that, then I quickly glared. "Who threw that?!" I yelled.

I looked to the corner of the court, and there were Vaan and Penelo, sniggering away.

"VAAN!" I howled. His head snapped up, and he grabbed Penelo and raced away from the courts.

"Atele... I'm sorry... about that." Larsa stuttered.

"It wasn't your fault, Larsa." I smiled. "And besides... I kinda liked it..." I said, blushing and grinning.

"Wha?!" He exclaimed.

"Forget it. Let's just play." I said.

But for the rest of the game, I could feel his eyes on me.