Here's ch. 8. Thanks for reviewing, I can handle helpful criticism ^ ^" so
feel free to say what you don't like about it, too. –marg.
~~
Haley had found out who the rest of the guys were and was laughing at Jared and Lucas bickering over who was a better basketball player. They were sizing each other up, and giving each other the "evil eye," which managed to crack all the guys up.
"I'm better than you are," argued Jared triumphantly. "Nope, I don't think so. I balled you up last time, remember? 3-20. So now who's the master?" asked Lucas.
"Neither one of you. You guys know Nathan is much better both of you combined," praised Josh. Receiving a nod from the rest of the guys, Josh wondered, "Are we gonna go back and play or what?"
"Excuse our impatient friend," said Fare, shoving Josh aside. "He just wants to show off his non-existent skills."
Patting Josh in a mocking way, Fare suggested that the rest of the guys start playing so that he and Jared could hang out with Gretchen and Sheri afterwards.
Understanding, the guys headed back towards the courts, but not before Lucas called out, "Haley, tell me who's better ok? Jared or me. Pay close attention." Waving her hand, Haley started heading back towards Gina and the rest of the girls.
She had yet to take 10 steps when she heard a person clearing his throat. Surprised that anyone was still there, Haley turned around and looked up towards Nathan's expecting face. "What are you waiting for? Go play with your friends. Looks like they're expecting you." Nathan saw that she was right, all the guys were staring in their direction wondering why their star player wasn't coming unto the courts.
"Well, they can wait."
"Uh, okay. I'd love to stay and hear what "his highness" has to say, but can this wait? I want to get back to my friends."
"No."
Annoyed, Haley waited for him to say more, but hearing nothing, she talked first. "What do you need? You know, I'm not a servant that you could command to 'come' or 'go.'" Receiving a blank stare, she went on, "If you don't need anything then I'm heading over there."
Not waiting for an answer, Haley walked towards a smiling group of girls, who were either staring in her direction or in the direction of the courts.
When Haley had reached them, Gina asked, too casually, "SO, what did you and Nathan talk about, all alone? Anything interesting?"
"No. He was just being his condescending self. Nothing to worry about."
Gina opened her mouth to ask another question to quench her curiosity, but Sheri beat her to it. "How'd you like the guys? See any you like?"
Grinning, Haley answered, "Yea. Lucas seems nice. So does Josh. Too bad Fare and Jared are taken."
Rolling her eyes, Gretchen said, "Yeah. Too bad for you huh? Haha, they're the best. Sorry for snatching them away." Laughing Haley told them about the bickering between Jared and Lucas, which had all the girls turning towards the courts, also being watched by Brooke and Peyton.
"So who do you think will win, Haley? I think Gretch's man would."
"Of course he will. My sweetie is the best. Okay, not as good as Nathan, but still"
That was when Haley snapped. "Why does everyone praise him like he's king or a god?! He's so aggravating! I don't see anything great about him! What do you guys see so maybe I'll look out for those too."
Smirking, Naomi answered, "Well, he is hot and built. He's the best player around. Just watch him."
And with that, the rest of the girls fell silent, watching the game, cheering when someone scored. In the end, Nathan's team won, thanks to Nathan, which happened to have Lucas on it.
Gretchen, who had wanted Jared to win, pouted and headed over to her now sweating boyfriend/fiancé. Sheri, applauding Fare's efforts to keep the ball away from Nathan, ran to him, and despite all the sweat, hugged him proudly.
Spotting Lucas, Grace nudged Haley. Haley had admitted that she had thought Lucas the cutest out of all of the guys, with the exceptions of Jared and Fare, just to appease her friends.
Haley walked towards Lucas, who was conversing with Nathan, Peyton, and Brooke. Not wanting to turn around, since she had walked all the way over there, Haley walked up to Lucas and congratulated him.
"Nice game. You played really well out there." Smiling, Lucas asked, "Thanks. But who'd you think was better? Me, huh?"
Laughing, Haley nodded her head. "Hey, Jared!" bringing Jared out of his heavy lip lock with Gretchen. Shaking his head, Lucas yelled, "Haley thinks I'm better than you! So there!"
Shaking his head, Jared turned back towards Gretchen who, bringing his gaze unto her, whispered, "Don't worry. You're still my basketball superstar." Jared's heart burst with joy, and started kissing her.
Turning their heads away to give them privacy, Lucas asked, "What are you doing afterwards? Want to join us?"
"No she doesn't." came Nathan's harsh reply. The rest of them had been standing there watching the whole interaction between Lucas and Haley. "She has somewhere else to be."
"And how would you know that?" asked Peyton, curious.
"I don't. But seeing that Gina, Grace, and Naomi are staring this way, I could only reach this conclusion."
"Maybe." Came Haley's reply. "But he's right. I should get going." "Yes! Finally!" yelled Brooke, finally happy. Shooting her the iciest glare, Haley gave them a wave and walked off.
"Man, she's cute. What do you think, Nathan?" asked Lucas, staring at Haley's retreating form.
"What Nathan thinks about Haley is nothing. He shouldn't be thinking anything about Haley, when Peyton is standing here right next to him." Said Brooke, getting Peyton's eye roll, Nathan's shake, and Lucas's annoyed glance.
"Whatever. So are we going or what? I'm hungry." Demanded Nathan, patting his stomach.
Laughing, Peyton smacked his arm. "You're always hungry, but yea, we should get going too." Then the four of them turned towards Nathan's car, and walked off.
~~ hope you liked! –marg.
~~
Haley had found out who the rest of the guys were and was laughing at Jared and Lucas bickering over who was a better basketball player. They were sizing each other up, and giving each other the "evil eye," which managed to crack all the guys up.
"I'm better than you are," argued Jared triumphantly. "Nope, I don't think so. I balled you up last time, remember? 3-20. So now who's the master?" asked Lucas.
"Neither one of you. You guys know Nathan is much better both of you combined," praised Josh. Receiving a nod from the rest of the guys, Josh wondered, "Are we gonna go back and play or what?"
"Excuse our impatient friend," said Fare, shoving Josh aside. "He just wants to show off his non-existent skills."
Patting Josh in a mocking way, Fare suggested that the rest of the guys start playing so that he and Jared could hang out with Gretchen and Sheri afterwards.
Understanding, the guys headed back towards the courts, but not before Lucas called out, "Haley, tell me who's better ok? Jared or me. Pay close attention." Waving her hand, Haley started heading back towards Gina and the rest of the girls.
She had yet to take 10 steps when she heard a person clearing his throat. Surprised that anyone was still there, Haley turned around and looked up towards Nathan's expecting face. "What are you waiting for? Go play with your friends. Looks like they're expecting you." Nathan saw that she was right, all the guys were staring in their direction wondering why their star player wasn't coming unto the courts.
"Well, they can wait."
"Uh, okay. I'd love to stay and hear what "his highness" has to say, but can this wait? I want to get back to my friends."
"No."
Annoyed, Haley waited for him to say more, but hearing nothing, she talked first. "What do you need? You know, I'm not a servant that you could command to 'come' or 'go.'" Receiving a blank stare, she went on, "If you don't need anything then I'm heading over there."
Not waiting for an answer, Haley walked towards a smiling group of girls, who were either staring in her direction or in the direction of the courts.
When Haley had reached them, Gina asked, too casually, "SO, what did you and Nathan talk about, all alone? Anything interesting?"
"No. He was just being his condescending self. Nothing to worry about."
Gina opened her mouth to ask another question to quench her curiosity, but Sheri beat her to it. "How'd you like the guys? See any you like?"
Grinning, Haley answered, "Yea. Lucas seems nice. So does Josh. Too bad Fare and Jared are taken."
Rolling her eyes, Gretchen said, "Yeah. Too bad for you huh? Haha, they're the best. Sorry for snatching them away." Laughing Haley told them about the bickering between Jared and Lucas, which had all the girls turning towards the courts, also being watched by Brooke and Peyton.
"So who do you think will win, Haley? I think Gretch's man would."
"Of course he will. My sweetie is the best. Okay, not as good as Nathan, but still"
That was when Haley snapped. "Why does everyone praise him like he's king or a god?! He's so aggravating! I don't see anything great about him! What do you guys see so maybe I'll look out for those too."
Smirking, Naomi answered, "Well, he is hot and built. He's the best player around. Just watch him."
And with that, the rest of the girls fell silent, watching the game, cheering when someone scored. In the end, Nathan's team won, thanks to Nathan, which happened to have Lucas on it.
Gretchen, who had wanted Jared to win, pouted and headed over to her now sweating boyfriend/fiancé. Sheri, applauding Fare's efforts to keep the ball away from Nathan, ran to him, and despite all the sweat, hugged him proudly.
Spotting Lucas, Grace nudged Haley. Haley had admitted that she had thought Lucas the cutest out of all of the guys, with the exceptions of Jared and Fare, just to appease her friends.
Haley walked towards Lucas, who was conversing with Nathan, Peyton, and Brooke. Not wanting to turn around, since she had walked all the way over there, Haley walked up to Lucas and congratulated him.
"Nice game. You played really well out there." Smiling, Lucas asked, "Thanks. But who'd you think was better? Me, huh?"
Laughing, Haley nodded her head. "Hey, Jared!" bringing Jared out of his heavy lip lock with Gretchen. Shaking his head, Lucas yelled, "Haley thinks I'm better than you! So there!"
Shaking his head, Jared turned back towards Gretchen who, bringing his gaze unto her, whispered, "Don't worry. You're still my basketball superstar." Jared's heart burst with joy, and started kissing her.
Turning their heads away to give them privacy, Lucas asked, "What are you doing afterwards? Want to join us?"
"No she doesn't." came Nathan's harsh reply. The rest of them had been standing there watching the whole interaction between Lucas and Haley. "She has somewhere else to be."
"And how would you know that?" asked Peyton, curious.
"I don't. But seeing that Gina, Grace, and Naomi are staring this way, I could only reach this conclusion."
"Maybe." Came Haley's reply. "But he's right. I should get going." "Yes! Finally!" yelled Brooke, finally happy. Shooting her the iciest glare, Haley gave them a wave and walked off.
"Man, she's cute. What do you think, Nathan?" asked Lucas, staring at Haley's retreating form.
"What Nathan thinks about Haley is nothing. He shouldn't be thinking anything about Haley, when Peyton is standing here right next to him." Said Brooke, getting Peyton's eye roll, Nathan's shake, and Lucas's annoyed glance.
"Whatever. So are we going or what? I'm hungry." Demanded Nathan, patting his stomach.
Laughing, Peyton smacked his arm. "You're always hungry, but yea, we should get going too." Then the four of them turned towards Nathan's car, and walked off.
~~ hope you liked! –marg.