CH.10: Meetings in the park

Maddie and Liv wound up going to the park with a basketball as they were looking to bond and put the incident that had divided them behind them. Maddie dribbled the ball some and even allowed it to pass between her legs and lifting one leg up allowing the ball to pass. "Still think you can beat me?"

"Looks like your game has gotten better. Hear anything from Diggie?" Maddie shook her head as she rolled past her sister and keeping the ball going she jumped up allowing the ball to pass from her hand and swishing through the net.

"Nope, my coming out to him didn't exactly go as smoothly as I thought it would. I really did feel like that moment was the best moment to tell him. Somehow the fact his dream date with me kind of got taken from him and me doing that to him made everything he went through all the more…demeaning."

"He'll come around…he has to. I mean he can't keep avoiding you." Liv had the ball and bounced it a few times though Maddie was quick as she saw a chance and took the ball from her.

"Well…he has certainly done a good job of it ghosting me in the halls and he hasn't responded to any of my texts. Diggie has been a friend of mine for so long…and…I likely did lead him on but that was back when I felt things for him. I can't be blamed for how I feel now. This isn't some phase…though to be honest he had questioned or brought that up during the dance."

"Ouch." Liv chased after her but Maddie made sure to keep the ball going. Pulling away from her sister she lined up another shot but this one bounced off the rim. Liv got the ball and was going the opposite way to her side of the court. Maddie gave chase pumping her legs and feeling the sun beating down on her.

"Hey…don't choke!" She watches as Liv appears to center herself at the half-court shot and as she goes to shoot she fires away just as Maddie catches her. The ball sails through the air but she might have shot a bit hard as it went off to the side. Maddie watches as someone was walking to the court and wham!

"Oh no, oh no no!" Liv was managing and Maddie was just as panicked as they both exchanged glances before hurrying over to where the person had fallen. Turns out it was Malcolm who lay there unmoving. The ball at this point had rolled away like it wasn't its fault.

"This is bad Liv, really bad. You overshot the shot and wound up hitting that guy you like on the noggin. By the way…you two still friends?" Maddie looked at Liv who shot her an irritated look. "Too soon?"

"He is not…and…even then I don't think it was that hard. What do we do Maddie? I've never done something like this. Have you?"

Maddie gave her sister a look. "I'd rather not talk about it, either way, we should call his parents and let me them know about this. The only problem is…we have no way of reaching them. You would think after-."

"If you two are quite finished…may I have a word?" Maddie and Liv both jumped back as Malcolm went to sit up.

"A-Are you ok? Wait, were you faking the entire time?" Maddie attempted to stifle a laugh noting how her sister was flustering.

"I wasn't faking, I did in fact get hit by your misplaced basketball, but apart from that I just allowed gravity to take over. I might sit here a bit till the throbbing goes down some. By the way did you catch the culprit who hit my head?"

Maddie bit her bottom lip once again trying not to laugh. "I believe the culprit is lying around somewhere. Liv did you want to fetch it or shall I for questioning?"

"Ha ha…you two are so funny. You had me worried jerk!" Liv hits his arm and Maddie notices how Malcolm pretends to be hurt.

"Ouch…is that anyway to treat someone who just got hit by a rogue basketball?" He was quite fun and she can see why Liv was so smitten by him. She decided to snatch up the basketball some.

"I'm going to shoot some hoops so if you want you can help Malcolm to a bench so he can rest some. Don't worry about me I got a big game coming up so got to practice."

Liv appeared reluctant to leave her but she eventually opted to helping up Malcolm and the two of them walked off. Maddie wore a soft smile glad to see those two working through things. They were still caught between friends and admitting how they felt about one another. She was hoping it worked out but for now she had to focus on her game.

Liv found a bench a bit away from where Maddie was practicing and she slowly set Malcolm down as she took a seat herself. Malcolm wore a black tank over some running shorts and some white sneakers. His hair was perfect as usual though a bump had formed on his head.

"What brings you to the park today?" Liv studied him as he held his head. "Also no offense but are you stalking me?"

"If I were to stalk you, well, I would first need to know you were coming here. As it is I had no idea you would be here today. I just happened to be jogging and more or less happened upon the court. I am part of the track team so I have to keep in shape and that means putting in some running now and then to make sure my legs don't turn to jelly."

"Right." Liv never knew he was in track though when they hung out it was often just small talk or perhaps something school oriented. Malcolm also appeared to have some pretty rough classes so it added to the amount of work he usually had to keep up with.

"I suppose you hear a lot about sports from your sister alone huh?" He appears to say with a lopsided grin.

"Hmm, well, Maddie is the sports star in the family. My father being the Coach kind of adds the level of enthusiasm in the family household. Sundays aside from church are often regulated around Doritos and watching some team on the television. One of the few times mom and I would have to talk or do something girl like."

She smiled at those memories. Course that had not changed much since coming back as they had been jumping back into that; Liv still couldn't stand it. Sports were fine and all and she wasn't knocking it but at the same time a little levity now and then didn't hurt.

"Well perhaps I can come around at that time and help break up the monotony of it all. Don't get me wrong I do enjoy a good sports game but I also can offer board games or maybe take you on a walk…er…I mean invite you to go on a walk with me…"

Liv blushes some as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'd like that. Walking is more or less my speed given I already have a sister who runs about. You are sweet you know that?"

Malcolm rubs the back of his head and she just can't help it. She was falling hard for him. They had been taking it slow not wanting to rush into this. Texting and the occasional call or even just them chatting inbetween classes is what they had to work with.

Liv was about to lean in and kiss him when she thought of something. "Um, Malcolm, about this female friend of yours-?"

"She is just a friend Liv, nothing more, nothing less. We've been friends for long as I can remember. You wouldn't be the first person to hear my story and figure something is there. Still, I am sure you remember my story regarding Holden right?"

Liv nods her head as she pulls back some as Malcolm looks off attempting to gather his thoughts. She hated ruining the moment but part of her was curious about her. If Malcolm in anyway was irked by her bringing this up he clearly did not show.

"The reason that she wasn't into Holden is because…she doesn't date guys." Liv now felt bad for pressing.

"I'm sorry I brought it up…I know it wasn't for you to tell me that part of the story. Though I suppose in retrospect I could've read between the lines. I'm sorry all the same. I guess some part of me was just jealous and all."

Malcolm shakes his head as he reaches out turning her head to face him. "You don' have to worry about any girl Liv…cause there is only one girl I want to be with."

Liv was flustered and in that moment they shared their first kiss. It was sweet and gentle and Liv felt like screaming buts he kept it together. Once the kiss ended she was speechless and she saw his smile and she just rested her head against his shoulder.

"So what is her name by the way?" In all this time she never even knew her name. He just laughed and she let her thoughts go to her sister.

Maddie was still at the court but even with how far away her sister had gone she figured that she was finally having that alone time with Malcolm. Bouncing the ball a few more times she lines up the shot and pushes off with her hand watching the ball sail up and once more going into the net.

"Nice shot." She half spun around as she saw the female from before, her foot coming up to stop the ball from rolling away.

"Oh hi…um…didn't think I would see you again." Maddie blushes some as the girl manages to get the ball into the air and she catches it with her hand.

"Well seeing how you haven't been looking for me figured I would go ahead and find you. Truth is it wasn't that hard given you are on the basketball team and naturally the park does have some of the better hoops around."

"Yeah, but, how would you know I would be here today?" Maddie pushes her glasses up as she watches her dribble the ball a bit. The girl wore a white tank top over blue holed jeans.

"I just happened to be here with my friend as we sometimes come here and skate a bit. So, how about we make this challenging? You beat me in one on one and I tell you my name." She spun the ball on her finger and Maddie felt intrigued.

"Alright…so if I lose?" Maddie looked at her as she got pumped. Still the fact she was going up against her already seeing some of her moves she got nervous; no, she can't afford to be nervous.

"If you lose…you will have to walk backwards through the entire park without looking back and you have to sing Bohemian Rhapsody, oh and without stopping." Maddie felt her jaw drop at that.

"Riight…well then I don't intend to lose." Maddie braced herself for an intense match. Sure enough this girl was on point as she managed to slip past her and get in the first point. Getting the ball she bounces and she attempts to get past her but she is with her ever step.

Maddie though tricks her into going one way so she gets in the next point. The two of them are in step with one another; each shot was more or less answered in kind. Maddie thankfully had been training hard so the level of endurance and stamina allowed her to keep from exhausting early.

Maddie had never faced someone like her. There was skill, there was precision, she wasn't just wasting her shots. It all came down to this though…if she lost she'd be walking through the park and no doubt straining her vocals on a song without catching a break.

"Give up?" The girl was wearing a confident smile and Maddie had to focus or she'd be lost on that smile.

"Giving up, please, watch this!" Maddie dribbled the ball down the court and as the girl attempts to block her she fakes a left then spins around her. She is chasing after her and Maddie lines up a half-court shot watching as the ball sails through the air.

It would be close and even now as it circled along the hoop the both of them stood there transfixed. Maddie willed the ball to fall and sure enough it does…right into the net.

"Phew, I mean, I knew it would go in. So…how about that name?" Maddie was drenched in sweat and the girl shrugs.

"I'm Kelly Marks," she placed a hand on her hip and gestured with a hand. "You play a great game and if you aren't doing anything tomorrow how about we hang out? We can meet up here and take things from there."

"Sure it is a date, I mean it isn't a date…just…friends?" Maddie watches her laugh a bit before she walks off. Maddie watches her leave and she finally lays out on the ground.

Authors note: In the next chapter Maddie and Kelly get to know one another.