Again, disclaimer in first chapter...

Isabella was in the gym, waiting for people to start coming in and, more importantly, for the game to start. She took one of the warm-up basketballs and started shooting. Then, someone walked in. She turned around upon hearing the door close.

"Oh, I thought that I was late for warm-ups." The guy said, walking towards her. "I'm glad it's only you in here. I'm Jake Jaglieski. Pleasure to meet you." He held out a hand to her.

This time, she took the hand, and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you too. I'm Isabella Montoya. I'm new to town."

"I figured as much."

"Oh, really? Why?"

"This is such a small town that a new person here doesn't go unnoticed, especially one as pretty as you or a good shooter either." Jake explained with a smile.

"Oh, nice answer."

"Um, thanks?" Jake said uncertainly.

"Oh, it was just a previous encounter." Seeing the look on his face, she elaborated. "This guy, he was really cocky, and just… plain weird. You might know him, Nathan Scott? Sorry to confuse you."

"Now, that would make sense and it's okay. So, I'll see you later. I have to go change and warm up. I will see you, right?"

She nodded. "Oh yeah, definitely. Later."

"Okay, see you later." Jake gave a little wave to her and she returned it as he walked out of the gym to the locker room.

Whitey walked in right after Jake left. "You're distracting all of my players, aren't you?"

"Maybe. But it's not my fault. They talk to me first."

"But you responded."

"So it's okay that they talk to me first, but it's not okay that I reply? Sure, because that makes perfect sense, Grandpa." Isabella said.

"Oh Bella, I'm just kidding."

"Right, Grandpa."

"So, you're still on that kick that you should play for me, aren't you?" Isabella didn't reply, but just shot the ball from behind the three-point line. It went in with a swish and she turned to face him. "Well now, I guess I got my answer."

"You think?" She inquired.

"Now, don't be like that."

"How should I be, Grandpa?" He was silent. "Your players are coming in now. I guess I should go sit down, since I'm not one of them."

Whitey frowned as she walked away to the bleachers. Jake was first to walk in. He got a ball and started shooting. He was followed by the rest of the team, including Nathan and Tim.

Jake saw Isabella by herself in the second row behind the Ravens bench and went over to her. "Hey, you okay?"

"Oh hey Jake. Yeah, I'm fine."

"Really?" He asked, doubtfully.

"Am I that transparent right now?" He said yes and she laughed. "Well, I just had a fight with my grandpa."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is he in here?" She nodded. "Really? Who?" Jake questioned her curiously.

"Don't tell anyone, but it's your coach."

Jake's eyes widened. "Coach, as in Coach Whitey Durham?"

"Yeah." She answered hesitantly.

"Wow, does he even have children?"

"No, he's not my grandfather by blood. More like he's my great uncle-in-law, but he's like a grandfather to me."

"Oh, that makes sense. So, why did you fight? You don't have to tell me, but-"

Isabella interrupted him. "No, it's fine, Jake. Its that I want to play on the team with you guys." He chuckled, and she smacked him playfully. "Hey, what's so funny about that?"

"It's not that it's funny. You could probably be good on our team. I saw you shoot earlier. It's just that I was imagining some of the guys' reaction. I can understand why Coach won't let you play."

"I can too, but I know that I can handle it."

He nodded understandingly. "He probably knows that, but these guys will go too far and he doesn't want them to do that to you. They'll haze you, Isabella."

"I know that."

"The school will freak. Some people will hate you. I'm serious, someone will go far, whether they're on the team or not."

"Thanks Jake, but I know that too. I've been thinking about this and I want to play. Can you imagine being on a team in one town, and then you have to move to another town where you can't play because they don't even have a team?"

"Yeah, that… would suck."

"Correction, it does suck."

"Well, I can talk to your grandpa for you. You know, give you some support."

"Really? I'd like that, but won't you get in trouble?"

"No, he likes me, and besides, I'm friends with his granddaughter."

She laughed as he went back onto the court. Whitey had seen them, but didn't say anything when he saw Isabella laughing. Nathan noticed too, and grilled Jake when he walked back. "Hey Jake, shouldn't you be warming up with the rest of us, instead of having tea-time with that girl over there?"

Jake chuckled. "You know what, Nathan?"

"What?"

"Green's not your color." He went over to the other side of the court and left Nathan standing there speechless.