ahhhhhh, finally ! new chapter. basketball things below, im the biggest basketball junkie. anyways, here's the awaited second chapter:))

I'm breathing heavily as I run up to the school, my book in my left hand as I go to Goode High School's entrance, running my student ID badge along the scanner. I was two minutes late, and I was mentally cursing my way in. I run to my locker at top speed, ignoring the glances from the stoners who always ditched class and smoked weed in the bathrooms.

I shove my books into my bag, and run to my class. I hate long-sleeve shirts, so I automatically always wear sweatshirts and bandages to cover my cuts. Today I'm wearing my white Champion sweatshirt and a pair of really cute high-rise denim shorts from Urban Outfitters I bought after my shift there, which I have every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday at this huge mall.

As I run to my first class, gym, I'm already sweating beneath my sweatshirt, which is enhanced when I worry about what Coach Hedge would say. He is one strict gym teacher, and most of the time nobody dares to arrive late to his class, or take a long time changing either. He will scream at you in front of the whole class and that's really embarrassing.

When I get there, I almost combust when I see the whole class staring at me when I explode into the gym. Everybody's already changed into our gym clothes when I see Hedge ready to give his usual screaming.

"WHY ARE YOU SO LATE, CHASE?"

I cringe, and try to ignore the class staring at me. "I was busy, um, uh…"

"Save it for when I really care, cupcake. Get changed and come join us for some basketball, huh, cupcake?" Coach says, giving me a wave of his hand like he was shooing away an unimportant matter, but I don't really notice at the moment as my day already gets better. Basketball isn't just a silly sport I used to play when I didn't have anything to do after school, no, basketball was the thing I strived for. In middle school, I was known as the one who you couldn't chase. I've hear that so many times it makes me want to puke, but I kind of liked it. It gave me a repetition that made me work harder and harder. Before my parents divorced, I would go to the gym everyday with my dad, just do drill after drill, free throw after free throw, practice so much that soon after I was either the player who every coach wanted or a player who was warned about. I played three teams at once, recreational, school, and travel. I often filled in for countless amount of teams if they didn't have enough players and I lived for that. The leather of the ball, the squeaking of our feet, the silence during a foul shot, I even lived for the horrible refs. That's how much I loved the sport. I was the golden girl.

Then all the bullshit happened with Helen and I haven't been on a team for a few years.

Happily never ever, as I always put it.

I swear, everybody can see me beam like somebody just told me Helen just disappeared, but I couldn't hide it. Surely, my skills couldn't have rusted these past few years without any actual training from a school coach or anything.

I change as quick as I can. Our gym uniforms are short-sleeved, so I always bring a dry sleeve and I tug both on and the shorts as I race outside, tugging my hair into a very messy ponytail.

I see my classmates picking teams. That's when my mood starts to sink, but I remind myself, if I'm the last to get picked, I'll just prove how wrong they were.

As if i'm a psychic, I'm last. And of course, I had to be on my crush's team.

Luke Castellan. Golden hair, golden repetition. Every other girl's crush. What I wouldn't give for those icy eyes. He's one out of the two poster boys in our school. The other is his rival.

Percy Jackson.

Bad boy, black hair. And those eyes, like the waters of the Bermuda Triangle. Arrogant, egotistical, player. Cute, but I wouldn't admit that, like, ever. Also the dreams of most of the girls at Goode, and the star player of the boy's basketball team. Like, he has colleges lining up, right at his doorstep, for his basketball player.

Coach blows the whistle while Luke walks up to me.

"Hey, Annabeth, right?"

I almost melt. Right there. "R-right. Yes, that-t's me!" I say in a high pitched voice. Fuck.

"Right," Luke chuckles, "Are you okay with this? You can sit out for this quarter if you want to…"

My eyes widen, then set determined as I glare at him. Woah, bad introductions is really liking me today.

"Nah, I'm okay. I swear. And I'll be point guard, thank you very much." I say, as I walk past him. Even when it comes to my crush, I get really defensive and stubborn, and I take my position on the line of the circle half-court. Percy already is there in the middle, as Hedge has the ball in his hand. Luke comes after a moment, and glances me a both confused and disbelieving look on him as he gives me a glance before smirking at Percy. I don't know why, but they have the biggest rivalry two people can have. They give each other silent words, that I can read off as Your ass is going to get beat today.

Then the whistle is hear, the ball is thrown, and Luke tips it over his shoulder to this boy, Jason. Jason snatches it, dribbles, and without hesitation, drives straight to the basketball, when Percy blocks it. Not out of rivalry though, Percy and Jason are the duo of our school.

Percy passes it to this girl, Reyna, after he snatches it mid-air and in-between a layup.

I have always been a strategizer, and I already knew Reyna was going to pass it to Leo. I block him, and snatch the ball, driving up the court. When I get a few feet before the three-point line, and I do a crossover dribble right before I do a dribble behind my back, then do an in-and-out dribble. Now I'm at the three-point line, and I've broken my defenders ankles so bad that they're just sitting on the floor. I look at him, smirk, and shoot. I hear that swish from the net that I will never get tired of hearing as the gym is silent. Even Coach Hedge, and that's the weird part.

I glide my eyes around everyone, as they all look at me. I've always been that nobody, part time nerd and just the garbage nobody talks about in our school. This will definitely get them talking. Then, for some reason, my eye catches Percy Jacksons. He's looking at me, his mouth kind of open, before closing, opening again, and shutting. Then he gives me the smallest smile, giving silent chuckles before giving me a thumbs-up. For once, I give a real smile.

hoped you guys liked ! i know i havent really gone into depth about percy yet, but you'll get to know more about him later on;) anyways, hoped you guys enjoyed:)

- abbychase 3