Michael let out a long drawn out moan, as he stretched out his arms, standing in the middle of the basketball court at PCA. Logan took the opportunity to smack him in the stomach while he was vulnerable, as Michael snapped his arms down to his stomach and stared at Logan.
"How can you be annoying in the freaking morning? Aren't you tired?" Michael asked.
Logan shrugged his shoulders as he grabbed a basketball and took a shot, as it hit the rim and bounced away to someone else on the court.
"I'm tired, but I'm still the same Logan Reese everybody loves." He replied.
"And the same one that can't make three pointers too." Added Chase, as he dribbled a ball at his side, looking pretty tired himself.
None of them ever got why the coach always made the trials at the beginning of a new year, this early in the morning. Hell, they hadn't even started school yet, it was their moving in week, and he was making them wake up at 9am. He said it let him know who would be committed or some rubbish like that. But during the rest of the year, training was always at lunch or after school, as were games. Who knew how many good players just missed trials cause it was early.
"Hey, there's Zoey and Dana." Pointed out Michael as the two girls jogged out onto the court! Chase immediately felt the same feeling he always felt when he saw Zoey. When Zoey wasn't around, as long as she wasn't brought up by Michael or Logan, he was fine. As soon as Zoey was around though, he felt butterflies in his stomach. Sometimes they would eventually go away, as Zoey and Chase were good friends, and he'd just relax around her. Over times, he would just be a mess for the entire time. Fortunately Zoey had never mentioned it, so he was hoping she didn't notice. The two girls run up to the boys, both dressed in sports tops, showing off their midriff's and shorts that showed off their legs. Chase tried not to think about things he knew Logan was thinking about.
"Looking fine ladies, how about after the game we……………"
"How about you shut up Logan." Dana said, interrupting him and giving him her famous glare.
"We're just here to get on the team, and for me to take your place in the first team, like last year." Added Zoey, with a little smirk.
"That was just affirmative action, I'll have my place back." Replied Logan.
Chase looked round the group and was still surprised how much the guys had changed over the summer. Well, Logan hadn't really changed, just grown taller and more obnoxious. But Michael came back with a more sporting physique and an air of confidence that he didn't have before. Everyone remembered his episode with Lisa, but he had come back slightly different. Lisa and Michael had broken up after three months, and after that Michael couldn't talk to Lisa. But now he was back, Michael talked to Lisa like they were good mates and he wasn't bothered about their break up. It was definitely weird when your friend changed over the summer.
As for Dana and Zoey, they were still the same people, just in different bodies. They had both matured over Summer quite a bit, and Chase had noticed, especially in Zoey. Her legs were longer and her breasts were bigger. It's like Zoey's sister had come to replace Zoey in the school. And with all this change, he still felt exactly the same. Frizzy hair, baby faced Chase. And that sucked big time.
"STOP CHATTING AND GET IN HERE!"
A loud voice grabbed everyone's attention as they turned to see their Basketball Coach, Mr. Carter. Carter was a bit of a slave driver, a bit bossy, but overall a nice guy. The guys ran over to the coach, and surrounded him in a semi-circle.
"Welcome to the PCA Basketball trials. Now before we begin, I just want to point out that, I your not willing to turn up for every practise you can and go to every game you can, then you might as well leave now, because I only want committed players. Some of you guys are trying out to keep your place on the team. Don't think your spot is safe because I was your coach last year. I'm going to pick the best and hardest working team I can. Last year we just missed out on the Regional finals, and missed out on going nationals to our biggest Rivals, Eastside High. But this year I plan to win PCA's first Regional championships, so I'm looking for the best team, not necessarily the best players. We're going to start off with some drills and warm ups, before getting into five on five games. We'll rotate the players in these games so I get a good look at everyone and …………………….. Why are you late?"
Everybody turned to see a tall dark male, dressed in a Atlanta basketball top and black shorts and basketball trainers, running up to them all. The coach moved past some people and stood right in front of the late arrival.
"Don't make me repeat myself boy!" the coach proclaimed.
"Well, I don't look that late, your guys aren't exactly playing." The new arrival replied. Some of the guys cringed, knowing it's best not to back chat the coach when you've only just met him.
"Don't back chat me boy, you're late, because you weren't here when I arrived. So why were you late?"
"I was helping someone with something."
"What?"
"No offence coach, that's isn't any of your business."
The new guy didn't seem phased by the coach at all, as he simply stood their and took the shouting from the coach as if it meant nothing.
"Err………coach! He's my cousin, he isn't usually late." Added Michael, as the rest of the guys turned to him. Michael had never told them about his cousin coming to PCA.
"He better not be, I'll let it slide this once." The coach said before going back to his sorting out the warm ups. Michael brought his cousin over to the group.
"Guys, this is my cousin, AJ!"
"Alright guys. Let me just take a stab at this, your Zoey, Dana, Chase and Logan."
"How'd you know that?" asked Zoey.
"Well, to be honest, Michael said their was one blonde who played basketball, and one brunette, and his roommates were one guy with frizzy hair and one guy that will be checking out a girl of some sort."
Logan snapped his neck away from where he had been looking and tried to give an innocent face, all though he realized he'd been caught out looking at Zoey and Dana.
"Keep your eyes to yourself Reese!" demanded Dana.
"Are you guys gonna chat or play some ball!" shouted the coach.
"Why are we here," yawned Lola, as she half heartedly watched the basketball game before her.
"We're supporting Dana and Zoey. And checking out hot guys!" replied Nicole enthusiastically.
"One, it's too early. Two, we don't like basketball and three, we got all year to check out hot guys."
"But I got to get the early scoop on the guys, so I get a head start on all the other girls. I'm so going to get a boyfriend this year. Can you imagine me and Todd or me and Steve. I'll have my own man to parade in front of PCA." Continued Nicole as Lola stopped listening for a few seconds and decided to watch the game. It was easier than trying to keep up with Nicole once she got going.
The guys were playing five on five now. Zoey, Chase and Logan were on one side, whilst Michael and Dana were on the other. She watched a tall and dark looking guy catch a rebound and snap it out to Michael, as Michael took the ball down the court. He then watched him pass the ball to Dana, who took it past Chase, then bounced it to Michael who went for a long shot, just for the tall dark guy to jump up and dunk the ball. Michael's team looked happy, but Lola didn't get why.
"That was actually a pass." A voice said, interrupting Lola's thoughts.
Lola turned to see Quinn sit down next to her.
"I saw the look on your face. I believe Michael and that other guy meant to do it."
"How do you know?"
"Well, while doing some experiments on athletes, I've picked up a few things. So what are you guys doing up so early." Quinn asked.
"Nicole wanted to check out hot guys."
"And that guy is quiet cute." Added Nicole, as she pointed out the guy that had just dunked Michael's pass. "He's new isn't he?"
"I think so!" replied Lola.
"He's new. He's AJ Barrett, Michael's cousin from Atlanta."
"Michael never told us his cousin was coming here." Said Lola.
Quinn shrugged, "Maybe it was a last minute thing."
"Well he's cute!" finished off Nicole as she went back to staring at guys. Lola looked at AJ, who happened to be rather dominant on the court, clearly very comfortable playing basketball, probably as comfortable as she was on stage. She had to admit that he was cute, well she wouldn't say it was cute, but she'd say he was hot. But Lola had learnt from last year that there was more to guys than the way they just looked. Lola had dated a guy last year, who was hot, but was probably more of a jerk than Logan. Not that she wanted to remember last year's problems. The less she bumped into and remember about Wesley, the better.
"Okay guys! Bring it in that will do for trials. You all played really hard, and remember, if you haven't made the list of twelve that are on the team, we will be holding trials every two months, so don't give up if your name isn't on the list when I put it up on the boards tomorrow. So hit the locker room guys, and I'll see twelve of you for practise on Monday after school." The coach finished the trials and walked back to his office.
"God I'm tired!" explained Zoey as she put her hands on her knees, bending over slightly as she caught her breath.
"You're telling me," added Chase, his hands above his head as he sucked in air.
"I'm just hungry. It's eleven and I haven't eaten yet. Who wants an early lunch?" put in Michael.
"Sounds cool to me, but what about your cousin." Replied Chase.
The group turned around to see AJ still shooting baskets as Michael called out to him.
"Yo Cuz, you want to come grab a bite to eat."
AJ grabbed the basketball and started to dribble it towards them.
"Sure, might as well see what the foods like in this place."
"Well we got to go get Nicole and Lola. I don't know where they disappeared to." Said Zoey.
"Do you mean that really talkative girl, that was talking about boys?" asked AJ.
"That's her" the group replied.
"She headed that way, apparently Tyler was going that way or something."
"Well let's stop standing around and go already." Demanded Logan as he started to walk off the court and the others followed.
The group of eight were sitting around a table outside, as Pacific Coast Academy still had some great weather for early September. The guys and girls that had played basketball were all knackered and replenishing themselves. Naturally it was Nicole who was making the most noise.
"Have you guys seen Tyler. Oh My God!" Nicole proclaimed.
AJ looked at Nicole and then at Lola, raising a quick eyebrown in Lola's direction without anyone noticing, and a warm smile, before returning to his food. Lola smiled back whilst feeling a shiver run down her spine. She however quickly shook that feeling off.
You've sworn off guys remember. They just distract you from your work and make you miserable. You don't even know this guy, your not Nicole. Get a grip.
"I thought you liked Todd." Asked Zoey.
"I thought it was Steve," added Dana as Nicole just smiled and kind of looked up to the sky.
"Well I like them all really. But right now I so like Tyler it's unreal."
"Only you could start crushing on boys as soon as we're back." Zoey popped an olive into her mouth as she then kicked Lola as she saw Jimmy, Lola's ex start walking over, with a group of friends, including his new girlfriend. Lola turned and then turned back to the table, sighing.
"Why me?"
The group walked over to the table as all the guys looked towards the new group, apart from AJ, who seemed content to keep eating.
"Hi Lola, how's single life treating you?" asked Jimmy with a note of sarcasm, with his arm around his girl.
"Better than life with you Jimmy" snapped back Lola. Lola hated the way that Jimmy couldn't seem to let her be, even though it was him that cheated on her, and him that broke up their relationship. However he still felt it necessary to torment her.
"Please, I was the best thing that happened to you. Bet you missed the nights we spent together. Those long nights," he trailed off deliberately.
"What long nights are you talking about?" asked Lola. "I think your delusional."
"Oh, you begged for it, you wanted me whenever you could get me. And then you broke up with me and realized the mistake when I got with Michelle. Who's twice the woman you are."
"Oh, I doubt that."
The whole table turned to look at AJ, who was still eating, and had just spoken through a mouthful of his food. Jimmy looked him over with a mean looking glare.
"And who the hell are you?"
"Names AJ, should be easy enough for your small mind to remember." Replied AJ, still not even looking up at Jimmy!
"First off, this is none of your business, and second, I don't think you realize exactly what I could do to you punk. Why do new kids always step out of line?"
AJ laughed slightly as he sat up straight and looked at Jimmy, before putting his fork down on his plate and finishing his mouthful.
"If it's none of my business, then why are you airing your dirty laundry In public, with a tragic attempt at getting some attention. Were you neglected as a child?"
A few laughs went around the table, as Jimmy could clearly be seen getting more and more annoyed.
"And no, you're probably right. I don't know what you could do to me! But if your stupid enough to mess up a good thing like having a relationship with Lola, then I doubt I've got much to worry about." Finished AJ, as he calmly looked at Jimmy, who stared back at him.
"Do you want to take this outside?"
"We are outside!"
"That's it, you and me, on the field at 5pm. I'll show you up in front of the entire school."
"Why not do it right now?"
"I want to ruin your one year at PCA. That will teach you to back chat to me."
AJ simply shrugged his shoulders, still sitting at the table as Jimmy stomped off.
"You know he's serious AJ!" Michael told his cousin, nudging him after Jimmy was far enough away to not hear.
"So?"
"So what you going to do?" asked Chase.
"If I don't have anything better to do, I'll show up."
"But you can't fight him, you might get expelled." Lectured Zoey. Michael told him she was like the mother of the group.
"Yeah, please don't fight him just because of me, he's not worth it." Pleaded Lola.
"Who said I was going to fight him?"
