(Thank you ShastamaeFirepool, Jayleaf1, Winter Ride333, Moss, DawnflowerMoonshinestarchase, and Featherleap for commenting! Sorry I haven't written lately. I've been doing the summer work that I should have probably done in the beginning of the summer… but what fun would that be? Tennis practice is canceled today because THERE'S A HUGE FUDGING RAINSTORM THAT WOKE ME UP WHEN I WAS TRYING TO SLEEP! Maybe the prophecy is coming true… But now I have time to write!)

…Warriors…

"Come on! I know you can shoot better than that!" teases Jack as he passes the basketball to me.

I look around the empty school yard. After school the place really clears out. The only people here are Jack, Eric, Jared, and I. I asked if Angie wanted to come, but she said she had to study.

I lift the ball and shoot. I miss the basket about a foot and hit the outside frame of the board.

"I don't think this is my game," I say. The ball bounces in between Eric and Jared. Jared naturally long arms grab the ball before Eric has a chance.

"It's alright," says Jared. "Neither is it Eric's." He shoots the ball and it hits the rim, but catapults in the opposite direction.

"Look who's talking!" retorts Eric. Just as he's about to shoot a loud beeping sound comes from his pocket. He puts the ball under his arm and digs into his pocket. "Weird, I don't know this number. 973-289-6-"

"That's Angie!" I say and run over to him.

He makes a grossed out face and hands me the phone, "Here, take it. I'm not talking to her."

I press talk. "Hey Angie, it's Amberst- Amber. Why are you calling Eric?"

"My mom wants to know if you're coming to dinner and it's not like you have a phone. So can you come to dinner or not?"

"How did you even get Eric's number?"

"Never mind that. Are you coming or not?"

I look over at Jack and the guys. Jack's staring at me while Eric's curled around the ball as Jared tries to pry it from him.

"I don't think I'm coming, see you later!" I say with a smile. It's good to finally have some friends and somewhere where I can actually pretend to be normal.

She sighs, "Alright, bye."

She hangs up the phone and I hand it to Eric.

He throws the ball and Jared runs after it. "Gross, now I have to disinfect it."

"What? My hands aren't that dirty!" I exclaim.

"Not from you, stupid. From her!"

Jared shoot the ball and misses. I catch the rebound. I frown, "Why do you day that?"

"She killed yo- her best friend! At least, she was the prime suspect."

"Just because of that doesn't mean I- she's dead!"

"Why do you think she sits alone all the time? Why do you think her friends left her?"

"Because of a bad breakup! That doesn't make her a murderer!

"Or did he break up with her because of the murder? Who knows."

I do, I think. I wish I could clear her name by telling everyone who I am. But that stories more insane than the murder one!

"So who wants to learn a layup?" asks Jack as he tries to change the subject.

We play for another half hour before the sun starts to set and Eric and Jared's parents called them.

"We have to go," says Jared. "Let's play again tomorrow. You can watch as I kick Eric's butt!"

"I can't believe those guys are actually excited about sports!" says Jack as we watch them leave. "Honestly, those guys never come outside and now they're excited about it!"

"Well, see what you can accomplish in good company." I say.

We watch until their silhouettes completely disappear from sight.

"So, Amber," he says quietly. I look up at him as he rubs the back of his neck. "Every year in celebration for spring there's a carnival in town." I remember that, I think. My parents never let me go in the roller-coaster! They said they were too dangerous and all I really did was get cotton candy. The line was always too long to go on the Farris Wheel. "I was, um, wondering if you would want to go. With me!" he adds hastily.

"Yes," I say excitedly. "It sounds really fun!"

A huge smile stretches across his face, "Great! Want to go Saturday?"

"Yeah, I can't wait!"

"Ok, oh, I need to get home. I still haven't done the Bio assignment."

"Ah, foxdung! I forgot about that!"

"Foxdung?" he says quizzically.

"I mean crap! Ok got to go. Bye!" I say and start walking away quickly. You're a human mousebrain!

…Warriors…

(Thanks for reading! Remember to R&R! And while I was writing this chapter I was listening to Pandora and it played the perfect songs for every part! Like, the part where Jack asks Amberstar to the carnival it was playing Only Exception by Paramore!)