Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight!

I have to thank every one who reviewed the last chapter! I got so many responses! It makes me happy as an author to read what everyone thinks of this little fic of mine, which is quite different from the others. This is my…hm, how to put it, "relaxation" fic. Lol. It's incredibly fun to write and something that I love. And everyone's kind words helps that so much more!

Without further wait, here's chapter four!

Love and Basketball
Chapter Four: She's Only a Girl, Supposedly

Jasper.

If I were to say that I wasn't distracted the whole practice by the very presence of Miss Bella Swan, I'd be lying.

Lying through my teeth, to put a colloquialism onto it.

Every time I'd run down the court, I found myself looking at her through the corner of my eyes, trying to gauge a reaction from those pretty brown eyes of hers. She was smiling at something the guy she was with kept saying. He looked awfully chummy with her, with his arm around the back of her chair, constantly whispering things into her ear.

Maybe that was her boyfriend. I found myself thinking solemnly to myself as I sprinted down the court, dribbling the ball I had just stolen from Jacob, and dunking it with a flourish.

Okay, I might have been showing off just a tad, but seriously, isn't that what guys do anyway?

Though she looked confused - from what I saw of her, I had to keep my mind on my job after all, unless I wanted to give her even more of a brain injury than I already had - I thought she enjoyed watching us practice, but maybe I was just stepping out on a limb there. Or hoping too much. I was prone to do that.

I inhaled deeply as I jogged back to the locker room after Coach Van Gundy dismissed us. The runner's high was coursing through my veins. I felt lithe, limber, every nerve ending in my body, though tired, was thriving. I loved to run, it was one of my favorite things to do. Maybe that's why I got along so well with the good old sport I've invested my life in. But, no, even if I hated running, I'd love basketball. Everything about it - the strategy, the fluidity, the athleticism, the pureness of the sport that I'd enjoyed as a kid.

I turned and gave Bella a grin as I trotted back to the locker room. The air that whirred around me cooled the sweat on my body, cooling my body down in the process. She gave me a shy smile back as Edward whispered something in her ear and she turned the color of a Houston Rockets uniform.

I felt a smile curve my lips as I entered the locker room on the heels of Emmett, who immediately turned and gave me a wolfish grin.

"So, that was the strangest way to pick up a girl I've ever seen."

I only stared at the curly haired man with a look that could be described as blank.

"I wasn't picking her up."

"Nope," Jacob passed me, taking a towel off the rack and wiping the back of his neck, "you were knocking her down."

There were several chuckles of laughter that resounded from the locker room - from the deep booming echoes of Emmett and Dwight to the quiet snickers of Garrett, Vince, and JJ. I just sighed as I removed my practice jersey and tossed it into the space designated as my locker.

"I resent your remarks." I told them, and cringed at the outright hick sound to my voice.

They laughed at this, and Dwight gave me his huge smile and patted my back with his more than huge hand, "It's alright, Jazzy. Even though I do believe Matt over there slipped on your drool from when you first saw her."

Matt flipped him the bird, and I sighed.

"It's not that big of a deal." I insisted, rubbing the back of my sweat-coated hair and groaning.

"Oh, yes," Emmett spoke up, grinning so hard that his dimples looked like they were caves in the side of his face, "I believe it is a humongous deal when Jazzy has a brain fart that bad."

Garrett high-fived Emmett and I just stared, not comprehending what was going on. Brain fart? Well, there's a first time for everything, I suppose.

"It was almost like he'd forgotten how to pass a basketball!" Jacob howled, his white teeth gleaming at me. I glared at him like he had said something particularly nasty. I hated when I didn't do the best I could. No, I wasn't a perfectionist, I just…was determined. Yeah, that sounds about right.

"Jazz, you know we just messin' with you." Emmett said, as if that would make my mortification any less severe.

"Sure, sure," I adopted Jacob's usual phrase and sighed, sitting down on the bench that was positioned in front of the locker that I called my own. I leaned back into the recesses of the locker, and the leg of my jeans graced my shoulder. They had been folded up and hung in the top part of the cubby hole and were lingering in a downward direction. I wish I could hide my face in them.

"I got dibs on shower first!" Emmett shouted, his enthusiastic voice booming as he rushed toward the showers.

"Man, there's a whole line of shower stalls." Dwight said as he grinned and ran after him anyway, his actions contradicting his words.

I maneuvered myself to a bundled over position, my elbows resting on my knees and my head hanging in the space provided. I heard the guys file out into the showers, a few at a time. The practice gym didn't have the accommodations that regular gym, located in the heart of Orlando, had, so we had to take turns.

I thought about a lot of things while I heard the running water and laughter coming from the showers.

Mostly, my thoughts revolved around a certain brunette that I had the pleasure to meet.

Soon, the showers had cleared out, leaving me alone, unmoving. I sighed and looked around when I heard my name called, "Yes, Em?"

"Dude, everyone's showered already." The curly haired man smiled down at me, "You need to get yours. I can smell you from here."

"Well, duh, you're in my face," I told him, rising and crossing my arms. Emmett threw his towel at me - the one that was wrapped around his waist - and I screamed and ducked. "Not cool!" I shouted, face red with embarrassment as I grabbed my own towel and soap from my things.

Emmett grinned at me as he walked over to his things and started to get dressed. He looked like he was about to berate me some more, so I just headed straight to the showers.

After I stripped and put my clothes on the bench adjacent to the row of shower stalls, I walked forward and turned on the water. The hot spray was a welcoming gesture, and I felt my suddenly tense muscles relax beneath the pressure of it. Sighing, I washed myself thoroughly. I felt no need to hurry. They didn't close up the gym for a while. Reporters lingered and interviewed us after practice and whatnot. So I took my time underneath the shower spray, just thinking about everything that has gone down in just a matter of hours.

Bella.

Her name hits me out of no where. How could one girl have me so…enamored just by a first meeting? It was almost ridiculous. It has only happened to me one time before…

Before I could get onto that train of painful thoughts and memories, I shook my head, sending water flying everywhere, and leaving me dizzy from the steaming water that pelted me. I reached out and turned off the water, moving to grab my towel to wrap around my waist.

As soon as I had my lower half covered, I heard voices.

Voices of people who were not my teammates…

I crept out of the showering room and was met face-to-face with a pair of chocolate brown eyes, the same that I had been so enamored with before.

"B-Bella?" I croaked out, subconsciously tightening my hold on the terry cloth towel that was now protecting my modesty.

Her face was as red as a tomato as she looked at me. Her bronze haired friend looked just as shocked as I did, but I had a feeling that he wasn't her boyfriend, since he looked at me with just much subdued wonder as Bella did.

"Your friend said…that the locker room was empty." Bella stuttered, looking so embarrassed that I wondered if she had ever seen a guy shirtless before. I didn't know which was cuter, actually.

"Friend?" I asked, looking at her with incredulity, but in the back of my mind, I knew who she was talking about.

"The big guy. Muscles. Dark, curly hair." Her friend said, pointing to his own mass of bronze locks.

I slapped my head with the hand that wasn't holding up the towel. "Damn Emmett…"

"Emmett?" The guy friend said, his brows quirking in interest as he pondered my best friend's name.

Definitely not Bella's boyfriend.

Bella's sharp elbow struck out, hitting the bronze haired youth in his side. He winced, grasping his ribs and looking at her with his intense green eyes. "Ouch, what the hell!"

"Don't you remember from the file?" Bella told him. As she did so, however, I noticed how her eyes kept moving from the guy's face to my abs and back.

Hm, so maybe the attraction wasn't one-sided and shot to hell after all.

"What?"

"Emmett McCarty's married." Bella jabbed her shaky thumb in my direction, "To his sister."

I smiled nervously when the guy gave me a slight glare, as if I were the one who had made Emmett and Rosalie fall in love.

"Typical." He said, though neither I nor Bella knew what he was talking about.

I blinked and cleared my throat. The little conversation had distracted them from noticing my state of undress. Bella looked at me, meeting my eyes with a look that reminded me purely of Bambi, it was so innocent and endearing, as well as captivating, despite the utter horror and shock of her embarrassment playing on her face.

"Oh," She croaked out, moving her eyes from my half-nude form back to the other guy whose name I have yet to discover, "Come on, Edward. Let's go talk to some of his teammates…maybe they'll contribute."

"Yeah, maybe." The Edward guy said with a crooked grin in my direction.

Suddenly, there was a stealthy movement of his hand, and a flash. My shocked expression just gazed at him with disbelief, shock, and bafflement. For a few seconds, I struggled to find words to voice what the bronze haired guy had just done, but I finally managed to stumble out, "Did you just take a picture of me?"

"Edward!" Bella scolded, after she got over the shock as well, I supposed.

"Why, I guess I did." Edward looked over to Bella, his green eyes playful and coy as he scanned her flustered appearance, "Oops. Clumsy me."

Before I could ask him what taking a rather scandalous picture of me had to do with being clumsy - besides, the look in his eyes said he took the picture on purpose, of course - he put his slender hand on the small of Bella's back and led her to the door of the locker room.

As he left, I could faintly hear Bella's protests, but then Edward's voice rang loud and clear, playful and lilting, "What? Don't give me that! You know you wanted a personal memento of that dish."

There was a loud screeching sound that came from Bella's mouth, and then I laughed when I realized I was slightly mortified as well.

Oh well, let her have her kicks. I thought, as arrogant as that sounded.

I went over to the locker that was designated as mine and started to get dressed in the pair of shorts and t-shirt bearing the Magic emblem that I had worn over here. Sighing as I pulled the baggy clothes over my body, I looked to the door. Faintly, I could hear the chatter of the other players.

I scoffed to myself, stuffing my dirty things in my royal blue gym bag and walking out the door.

Only to be met with Emmett's grinning, dimpled face.

Again.

"Did ya have a steamy shower encounter?" He asked, his face alight with some kind of perverted amusement.

I felt my cheeks heat up slightly in remembrance of the gazes that Bella had inadvertently directed toward my person. "No, Em. But I applaud you trying."

"She saw you naked, didn't she?"

"Half."

"Top half or bottom half?"

"Top!"

Emmett grinned like the Cheshire cat, and I questioned my sister's sanity for marrying him. "Ah, great. Now she'll be thinking about those abs all night long!"

"Are you really complementing my abs, Em?"

There was a pause, and then…

"Maybe."

I slapped my forehead for what seemed like the thousandth time that day. "Oh, and not to mention the fact that her little photographer friend got a picture of me."

"Shirtless?"

"Yes, with my marvelous abs exposed." I grinned cheekily at him.

"Don't get cocky now, Jazz."

"You mentioned it first."

Emmett grinned at our light-hearted banter and wrapped a bulking arm around my shoulders. The very feel of it was something that reminded me that, while all jokes and friendly grins off court, he was a beast in the paint. He was one of our teams leading rebounders. Being the backup center for Dwight Howard was a big seat to fill, and Emmett always did an excellent job.

"Ready for the game tomorrow?"

"Nice subject change, big guy."

"Eh, I try." Emmet said, grinning yet again. I swear there was rarely a moment - other when in the heat of a losing game - that he was not happy. "Just like you need to try not to get mauled by your little fan club when you step out of here."

"Fan club?"

"Don't play dumb." The curly haired man stuck his pink tongue out at me and I sighed.

I knew what he was talking about all too well.

Since my draft into the NBA, I have had the occasional letter of admiration from the housewife of a rabid NBA fan. Or from a teen girl who loves the sport. Even a guy or two. To say the least, that was all nice and good - in mild doses.

Then, I think of all the girls who have actually formed a group, taking my name and twisting it into some horrible chant of affection. It's enough to drive one mad. I don't have to deal with them too much. They're a rather small group. But I guess that'll change once the article is published. I guess it could be worse. Of all the players in the NBA, I can only think of three that have it worse with the whole fangirling situation: Steve Nash, Lebron James, and Sasha Vujacic. Funny how they're on completely different levels of skill on the court and yet stalking women put them as equals in the same category.

To put it shortly, I have a bunch of not-so-sane people following me around sometimes.

I sighed and looked up at Emmett. "Thanks for the reminder."

"That's what I do!"

"That's something I know all too well." I told him with a roll of my eyes.

As we walked out of the vicinity of all the reporters and whatnot, I lock my gaze on Bella, who is busy asking Coach Van Gundy some questions. I quirk a brow, and then realize that it's probably for something on my article. Her chocolate brown eyes briefly glance my way, before returning to focus on my coach's tired face, scribbling down some notes on her paper, while Edward lingered behind her, hand poised on his camera as if it were a valuable weapon.

I guess since he took that picture of me, it could be considered as dangerous as a black mamba.

I laughed at the sudden, unintentional use of Kobe Bryant's nickname and continued walking.

I strode to my car after Emmett gave me a pat on the back, smiling and chuckling as he unlocked his large, pimped out Jeep with the huge tires and the mud flaps and the fact that it guzzles gas more than anything I'd ever seen. I'm sure the economy is thrilled.

I sighed and waved goodbye to Emmett. He cranked his car - it sounded something like two large lions if they had an argument on Jerry Springer - and wheeled off.

And I was left to my own devices.

I unlocked my own car and turned on the radio. It was already set on the sports station, and I heard the announcer say something vaguely like, "Don't forget to tune in to our live broadcast of your Orlando Magic's game against the formidable Boston Celtics tomorrow! It's sure to be a great game, since both teams are fighting to move up in the playoff rankings! Dwight Howard vs. Kevin Garnett, a match-up that has always been interesting! And, something I'm sure we're all excited to get to see again this season, the battle of the point guards! Our own Jasper Hale going against Boston's Rajon Rondo. Be sure to tune in for that one! Now, on to other basketball news…"

The sound of the broadcaster's voice drifted off into my ears. I didn't know why, but I was suddenly off in my own world. Before I knew it, I had pulled up into my driveway. I pressed the button that opened the garage, and the door was lifted so I could drive my car into it. The whole trip was a blur. Like I was on autopilot the entire time.

Thankfully, I made it without problems. I opened the door that led from the garage to the first story of my house. It was where I slept - I still wasn't sure why I had such a large house, but it was nice to know that I had one. Almost like a physical note of my success. Sounds conceited, yet again, but I love knowing that I paid this off in full and I would have money for everything I needed. It was something my parents had wanted for me. To be successful and to make them proud, and already, I know I've done at least that much.

It was dark in the house. Practice had run later than usual and it was nighttime already. I turned on the light in the kitchen, then made my way over to the spacious living room that I had been sleeping in as of late. The living room took up most of the third floor, with snug, shaggy, crème colored carpet and various light colored pieces throughout the room.

You never would've known that it was one of the nicest rooms in the house because of the random bowls and pillows and blankets spattered throughout the place. Leftover pizza boxes and takeout Chinese food were the norm among the random cereal bowls and whatnot.

I sighed and kicked away a random paper cup out of the way as I made my way to my bedroom, where I quickly changed into a pair of my old basketball shorts, forgoing a shirt, and made my way back to the living room.

Plopping myself on the couch, I leaned back and gathered the comforter from my bed in the other room around me, snuggling into it as I felt the sheets that were wrapped on the couch bunch underneath me at my movement.

I don't know why that this is the only room in this large house that I'd ever felt comfortable in.

The bedroom was nice, of course, but there was something about the den that made me relax more.

I sank into the couch, not even bothering to fold it out into a bed, and turned on the television. Large, flat screened, and high definition, this television was one of my other indulgences besides the house itself. I flipped it to SportsCenter and watched as most the stories were about basketball and what teams were major threats and which teams were just awful. It was amusing, of course, but for some reason, I felt my eyes grow heavier and heavier as my mind distracted itself with the image of eyes the color of milk chocolate and hair like dark mahogany.

That night, I admit without embarrassment, was the first night I dreamt of Bella Swan.

End Chapter Four.

Well, there ya go! That took longer than I thought it would. I loved writing this chapter and I just hope that everyone reacts to it like they did the last one. I was thrilled to get so many reviews for the last chapter! It made me think that this fic is really picking up in popularity! And, being something that I find so enjoyable to write, it makes it that much more fun for me to update! And the NBA playoffs start this week! I'm so excited! I can't wait!

Thanks so much for reading! Y'all have no idea how much this means!