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Chapter 3

Mack walked down to her and Calum's place in the park where they were going to watch the New Years fireworks. They always did and this year would be no different. She sat down next to him, remembering what her mother had said earlier in the vacation about Calum.

She decided that she'd move closer to him. He didn't decline, so she leaned on him. There was a breeze and it made her shiver.

"Are you cold," he asked taking off his jacket. She had on her pajamas; a tank top and shorts. He shook his head. "Of course you're cold. Look at what you have on."

Calum slipped the coat on her and hugged her tight. He was happy that she wasn't looking at his face because he was sure there was a dreamy expression on it.

"I'm happy were best friends," he said secretly wanting more.

"Yeah," she said, disappointed. "Me too."

They watched the fireworks and Calum would look at her. 'Should I kiss her,' he thought. 'What if she doesn't like me back?'

'Is he going to kiss me,' Mack thought as she felt Calum's eyes land on her for what seemed like the millionth time that night. 'No, he just said that he's happy that we're best friends.'

"I better get going," Mack said standing up after the fireworks had ended. She went to take off the jacket.

"No, keep it. I'll get it later."

She looked down at the grass and put her arm back in the sleeve. Nodding, she turned around and started walking. Calum ran after her and and grabbed her arm. "Do you need me to walk you home?"

"No," she said. "But if you'd like to walk me home, I could use the company."

He smiled and stood. She jumped on his back so he could give her a piggy back ride. She laid her head on his shoulder and smelled his hair. Well, if he didn't like her like she liked him, she'd just have to admire him from afar.

When he dropped her off at her house, she hugged him. "I'm glad we're best friends too," she whispered in his ear. He frowned for a split second before smiling and looking up at her.

"Good night Mack," he said.

"Good night Calum."

Mack watched him walk down the street before she walked in the house. She heard Troy in the living room, watching something. She walked casually in and sat in the armchair, farthest away from the couch Troy was sitting in.

I'm happy we're best friends.

Silent tears ran down her face as she thought back to what had just happened. She had ruined any chance she had with Calum, he was forever her best friend.

"Mack," Troy asked looking over. "Are you okay?"

She looked up, tears spilling out of her eyes as if they were faucets. He patted the couch next to him, telling her to come over. She moved from the armchair to the couch before her body started to shake with sobs.

"I lost him Troy. I really did."

He hugged her, trying to get her to calm down, but she kept crying. She climbed into his lap and cried into his chest, making his shirt soaked. "Shh," he said. "You didn't lose anyone. We're all right here."

hsmhsmhsmhsmhsm

On the first day back, Mack and Calum were the center of attention. Adam and Teagan ran over to where Calum and Mack were talking to people.

"Happy New Year," Calum said.

"How about Happy Wildcat New Year," Adam said. "You two are going to rock in these games coming up."

"No autographs, please," Mack joked. The group of kids around her laughed and followed the four inside where they were met by Bailey and Keisha.

"Oh. My. God. Mack, you will never imagine the hottie I saw in Colorado," Keisha said pulling a picture out of her backpack. "I mean, look at him."

"What's his name," Mack asked.

"Luka, short for Lukas, isn't he adorable!"

Calum couldn't help but feel jealous when Mack looked at the picture. 'Hold it Boucher, you're jealous of a picture. A picture who Mack has never met.'

"He's okay," Mack said. Calum smiled, something Bailey and Adam both caught. "His nose is a little big."

Bailey grabbed the picture out of Mack's hand to examine it as Keisha shrugged. "Everyone has one flaw," she said.

"Let's head to homeroom," Keisha said. The group started to follow, when Adam grabbed Bailey.

"Did you see that," he asked.

"Yes I did. I guess you were right on the phone last night."

"Well, what are we going to do about it," Adam asked.

"Um...give me some time to think. I'll probably have a plan by...tomorrow after your game. Is it before or after Mack's?"

"Girls play second game, first for Championships."

She nodded grabbing his hand and running through the hall. "Why are we running," he asked.

"We have one minute before the bell rings and I am not going to be late."

hsmhsmhsmhsmhsm

It was halfway through the second half of the girls game. The boys had won 65-62 after being dead even with the West High Knights for most of the game. It was Calum's buzzer three-pointer that saved them from overtime.

The girls were ahead by ten. Mack and another girl Lena who was the other star (although not as good), had done most of the impressive stuff. The boys basketball teams from both East and West were cheering on their girls. Calum, Adam, Teagan and the rest of the team had quickly painted their faces red and white after their game.

At the moment there was a time out and Calum was looking at Mack. All he could see was the back of her uniform: Bolton with a 5 underneath. She had told him once that the reason that she chose five as her number was because it was one and four added together. Calum hadn't got it at first, until he remembered Troy's number was fourteen.

Soon, the game had begun again, with Mack stealing the inbounds pass and making an easy lay up. The only chance of the Knights coming back to win this would be if Mack got into foul trouble. The only problem with that was Mack played a very clean game, something rarely seen in the world of high school basketball with these two rivals.

It happened quickly. As Mack went up for a lay up, the Knight's center jumped to block the shot, her knee colliding with Mack's. The ball shot up as Mack landed on the floor with a loud crash. The crowd went silent and Mack wasn't moving. The audience froze, remembering what had happened three years earlier to her brother, hoping the outcome was not the same.

Her coach, Jack and the athletic trainer ran out on the court. Calum ran out too. He walked up to her, tears were staining her skin as the athletic trainer touched her knee, poking and prodding it. Calum was almost going to say, 'can't you see it's hurting her,' until he remembered that the trainer was just trying to figure out what was wrong.

He sat down and put her head in his lap, holding her hand as they tried to straighten her leg. "It's pretty swollen Jack," the trainer said. "I can't straighten it. I'd say take her to the hospital for x-rays."

Jack nodded and picked up his daughter, carrying her off the court to the sound of applause. "Daddy, I want to watch the rest of the game," she said, wiping the tears off her face. Jack looked at the clock, there was ten minutes left.

"What do you think Calum," he asked. "Should I let her stay?"

"Please," Mack begged.

"Let her stay, then rush her out when it's over," Calum said.

Jack placed her on the bench with her team and sat down in a chair. Calum sat down next to Mack helping her sit up, even though she really didn't need it. The buzzer sounded and the Wildcats won 59-45. Calum lifted Mack up off the bench and carried her out to Jack's car. He sat in the back with her, telling her she'd be okay all the way to the hospital.

Oh...poor Mack! And Calum was so kind!

So, here are the schools you can choose from for who they play next:

Thomas Jefferson Mustangs

Blue Mountain Eagles

Myers Park Mustangs

Florencio Flamingos

Cousino Patriots

Skyline Spartans

Highland Rams

Granite Farmers

Middleton Bulldogs

Prairie High Prairie Dogs

These were all thought up by fellow readers so be nice and pick the one you like the best, the one with the most votes will win.

Tell me what you think!

Review!