"Calvin dribbles the ball, he takes it to the net, he jumps, and he…"

"Epic miss," Sarah called out as the basketball bounced off the rim and missed the net. Calvin landed and turned to Sarah with a frown.

"Maybe I planned that," he said.

"That's not what it sounded like," she teased him. "Where's Hayley?"

"Her parents are out of town so she needed to get home to check up on Kody," Calvin walked to the bench to pick up his water bottle. He knew it was a little unusual to be found in the school gym after all. Of all places, he knew he was most likely to be found in shop class, but he did occasionally like to play sports, especially when he ran into some engine trouble he couldn't figure out. Being active helped to clear his head. "Where's Kelly?"

"She had to get home," Sarah said. She sat down on the bench with Calvin. "Have you heard from the others?"

"Preston's at home for his mother's birthday and I think Levi took Brody to try some paintball. Brody's never been before."

"Sweet."

"Looks like it's just us," Calvin said and took a swig of his water. He offered some to Sarah, who turned it down.

"I guess training is off for tonight, then."

"Awe, and I was looking forward to seeing how you planned on leading the team," Calvin said. Sarah smirked.

"Oh, I had something planned," she assured him. "You weren't going to like it."

"Oh yeah? Have you not seen me on the court? I'm pretty athletic."

"You know, you're right," Sarah chuckled. "If I had been your opponent, I would have really felt nervous watching you miss the net."

"You came in at a bad time."

"You just suck," Sarah teased. Calvin picked up the basketball and put it in her hands.

"Alright, pinky, you think you're so tough, why don't we have a game of one on one?"

"That depends. Your male ego doesn't bruise too easily, does it?"

"Doesn't matter," Calvin said. Sarah stepped onto the court and took a shot from the center line. It hit the rim, but fell into the net. Calvin turned to her, his eyes wide. "Okay, okay, lucky shot."

"Luck, skill, doesn't matter how I beat you, I just know I will," Sarah said. Calvin picked up the ball and passed it to Sarah.

"Save the trash talking for once you actually beat me," he told her. Sarah started to dribble the ball and moved in towards Calvin.

Their game went back and forth, with each scoring some points, each pulling ahead, and then each falling behind. It wasn't until the custodian came into the gym to clean up and made a comment that they decided to end the game.

"You were a worthy opponent, Calvin Maxwell," Sarah said and shook his hand once they were outside. "Celebratory ice-cream."

"You know, you eat ice-cream a lot," Calvin pointed out.

"So? I work out a lot too, what's your point?"

"That's the secret," Calvin chuckled. They took his truck and drove to the ice-cream shop. Once they arrived and sat down with their ice-cream, Calvin looked to Sarah.

"Hey, you think guys and girls can just be friends?" he asked. Sarah gestured to them.

"Nice to meet you."

"Seriously," he said. Sarah sighed.

"You're not thinking about what the custodian said, are you?"

"A little."

"Calvin, anyone with eyes can see you and Hayley are meant to be," Sarah said. "He's the night custodian. He's only in school once everyone leaves. He doesn't know what's going on."

"Yeah, but…"

"We're just friends, Calvin."

"I know, I know."

"Besides, if guys and girls can't be friends, then I'm totally screwed."

"Because you have so many guy friends?"

"Because I like guys and girls," Sarah reminded him. "So if it's true that romantic feelings trump friendship feelings all the time then I guess I don't have any friends."

"Yeah, but it's not like you want to be in a relationship with everyone, right?"

"Exactly. That's the difference. You want to be with Hayley and I want to kick your butt in basketball."

"We agreed it was a tie."

"My shot from center court should count."

"That was lucky."

Sarah shook head teasingly, then offered Calvin the rest of her ice-cream. He took it.

"Hey, so, at any point, did you have a crush on any of us?" he asked Sarah. "Just, out of curiosity. I mean, we're a pretty big group."

Sarah shook her head.

"Come on, not even Hayley?" Calvin asked her with a grin. "I won't be mad, you know."

"Hayley is attractive," Sarah said. "But… nope. There was never a crush."

"Preston?"

"Too squishy."

"Brody?"

"Nope."

"Levi?"

"Maybe a fan-crush," Sarah said. "But I think I like us better as friends."

"Kelly?" Calvin asked, figuring he might as well take a shot. He knew he had hit something though when he saw Sarah blush. He smirked, "Oh, have I struck gold?"

"Shh…"

"That's why you've been hanging out with her so much," Calvin smiled. "You have a thing for her."

"She's hot, okay," Sarah nodded her head. "But so are a lot of people. That doesn't mean anything will happen. Or that I want anything to happen."

"Do you think anything could happen?" Calvin asked. "Hypothetically, of course."

"I… I don't know," Sarah shrugged. "I mean, there are a few factors to consider. The obvious one, of course."

"Of course," Calvin nodded. "You have to make sure she's single." He chuckled when Sarah reached across the table and lightly punched him.

"How did you know when Hayley liked you?"

"She said yes when I asked her out."

"You didn't know before that?"

"I thought she was hot," Calvin answered. "I thought I'd take a shot. The worst she could do was say no."

"That's not exactly the worst she could do with me."

"What do you mean?"

"She could tell the school," Sarah said. "I'm proud of who I am, don't get me wrong, but I just don't want people who I don't know… talking. It's not their business."

"But you're okay with them talking if she says yes?"

"If she says yes, we can keep it under wraps."

"Why?" Calvin asked. "I mean one of my favourite things is showing everyone how much Hayley means to me."

"Yeah, I got that," Sarah teased. "I've just… I've only ever told people who I'm close to. People I know aren't going to talk about me behind my back. I don't know how the school will take it."

"You're Sarah freaking Thompson," Calvin said. "You're the pink Ranger. You built your own hoverboard. You escaped kidnapping twice. Who cares what the school will say?"

"I am pretty badass."

"Besides, you know I'm cool with it," Calvin said. "Hayley's cool too. Brody didn't even know it was an issue, Preston's one of the sweetest guys I've ever met and Levi's good."

"Mick didn't even understand why it was an issue when he found out," Sarah nodded. "And RedBot still's learning about Earth…"

"And Jenny?" Calvin asked.

"She knows. She helped me tell dad."

"So your bases are covered. The people who matter don't care and the people who care don't matter. If you have a crush on Kelly and think you might want to ask her on a date, go for it."

"You really think I should do this?"

"Sarah, your dad's presumed dead and you were kidnapped twice by your whore mother and her pimp," Calvin said. "If you have a shot at something good happening, you might as well take it."

"Tell you what," Calvin continued as he balled up the napkins on the table and then pointed to the trash bin in the corner, "I make this shot, you ask her out. I'll even be wingman if you want."

"I'll take that bet," Sarah said.

Calvin threw the napkin. At first, Sarah was sure he was going to miss, but then Hayley walked by, caught the napkin in mid air and placed it in the garbage.

"Ha!" Calvin said and turned to Sarah, "I made it."

"You did not! Hayley put it in."

"What are we doing?" Hayley asked as she sat down.

"Calvin and I made a bet," Sarah said. "And he lost."

"What's the bet?" Hayley looked to her boyfriend.

"Sarah's got to ask out Kelly."

"The new girl?" Hayley turned to Sarah, "She's cute."

"But Calvin didn't get the shot in the basket so…"

"My girlfriend counts," Calvin argued. "You're just scared."

"Scared? Me?" Sarah asked and Calvin started to cluck. She grinned as she shook her head, "Alright, Maxwell, I'm about to prove you wrong. Tomorrow, at lunch, I'll ask Kelly if she wants to meet me for dinner."

"Bet you won't."

"Bet I will," Sarah said. She picked up her bag and her hoverboard and walked out, looking determined. Calvin smiled happily as he turned to Hayley. She grabbed his face gently with her hand and squeezed it.

"You're too cute, Cal."

"Just trying to help," Calvin smiled.

Hayley then slapped him lightly on the cheek, "Now you just have to pray that this doesn't blow up in your face. Or hers, for that matter."

"Hey, if Calvin Maxwell can get a girl like Hayley Foster, then Sarah Thompson is sure to score a girl like Kelly… New Girl."

"Uh huh," Hayley nodded. "Have you ordered yet?"

"Uh…" Calvin looked to the two empty bowls of ice-cream. One was his, the other was Sarah's, and he had eaten half of it. "No?"

"You're gonna get fat," Hayley teased as she got up to place her order and get a third ice-cream for Calvin.

"You'll love me still!"