Chapter 4- It's in the game

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Cassie's POV

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We walked down the steep hill towards games cages for our double period of PE, with most of the girls complaining, once again, about the gym skirts and knickers. Which were very uncomfortable? Belle was keeping quiet about her night with Henry and Matilda, well, Matilda was just keeping quiet. I stopped as I saw Miss James boys phys.ed class come towards the cages.

"Hey, aren't we in the cages today?" Belle asked as we saw Luke, Henry and Ric opening the gate and sauntering in. She began walking quickly down the hill towards Mr. Holden with me and Mattie following.

"Hey Mr.H" I said as I managed to get ahead of Belle "I thought we were in the cages?" I quizzed him

"We are girls, but as a special end of term treat I've challenged Miss James to a boy on girl netball match. Make me proud eh?" He said nudging Matilda, who laughed with him as he walked away then, turned to us.

"What are we going to do?" she said through gritted teeth

"I'm going to go to PE. But you can do what you want." Belle laughed then she looked at Matilda and mine faces "Or do you not want to go, because there some one that you like there?" she giggled

I looked at Mattie who had gone pale as soon as Belle mentioned as I turned to her, my mouth gaping open.

"Let's go!" she sighed storming off.

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Lucas's POV

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I watched carefully as I saw Matilda, Belle and Cassie talking to dad and then as he walked away a slight look of dismay swept across Matilda's face, a few laughs later Matilda stormed ahead of Belle and Cassie.

They were last to enter the cage and Cassie slowly closed the door behind her as she looked up I caught her eye and she quickly looked down at the ground as Dad began to speak.

"Okay so we're going to play girls on boys' netball for your last period of phys.ed this term" that received some cheers from Dad's class as he shook his head and laughed "Nice to know I'm loved. So em….. Get into teams of 7 then we'll play leagues of 10 minute games, till we get a winning boys and girls team then during the 2nd period we'll have the final. Sound cool?" He asked which many people nodded.

I looked over at Cassie who was trying to ploy Matilda out of her strop; she whispered something in her ear they both began to laugh. Then Cassie looked at me, not a normal look, a look that searched my soul and when she looked away I knew she had found something.

I watched as she pulled away by Belle and Mattie towards their game.

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Henry's POV

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4 games later and we all made our way to the main court where we were playing Matilda's team. I heard Ric groan inwardly as I looked up. Realising I was against Belle I ran ahead.

"Come one guys! Have a bit of team spirit" I shouted

"I can imagine a kind of spirit that doesn't stat with a v" I heard Luke mumble as he began to jog behind me.

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Belle's POV

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I stood at the edge of the circle in my centre position waiting for my opponent to appear. I looked at my muddy trainers and my bare legs that the pleasures of wearing a netball skirt bring. I looked up to find my opponent was no other than Henry; I bit my lip as he looked me straight in the eye.

"I have to tell you, I may need to have contact with you" he laughed as we put our hands behind our back for the toss up.

"I tend to keep my bedroom and sport antics separate, Thank you" I snided back, I looked at Matilda who was behind Ric as he blocked her and she gave me her knowing smile.

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Ric's POV

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I stood slightly in front of Matilda trying to block her from the ball. It seemed weird as she wasn't fighting to get in front of me. We had barely said two words to each other since that morning and when I did try and have a conversation with her she would make an excuse to not talk to me. I watched as Mr.Holden made his way towards the centre player, Henry and Belle. He looked from side to side and said:

"I want a good clean game. Netball players, please, be nice" He laughed as he looked at Matilda and Cassie.

I looked over at Luke who looked as worried as I felt. It would be incredibly embarrassing if we were beat by girls, but then again the Summer Bay High netball team were unbeatable and I had heard through the grape vine that Matilda, Cassie and Belle were, well, incredible in the position they were in today. I sighed heavily as Mr.Holden blew his whistle and threw the ball in the air, which Belle snatched quickly sticking her tongue out at Henry. I looked over at Lucas and Cassie who were playfully trying to dodge each other then out of the corner of my eye to Mattie. She was still standing quietly behind me. The whistle was soon blown and before I knew it Mattie ran straight passed me and caught the ball from Belle, she quickly pivoted and threw it to Cassie, who had now managed to lose Lucas. When Cas scored the goal we all made our way back to our position and Matilda bent down ready to run.

"You picked the wrong positions boys!" Mr. Holden and Miss James laughed as the whistle was blown once more and Matilda sped ahead of me.

I couldn't help wondering if it was always going to be like this, me chasing her while she kept on running.

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Matilda's POV

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We were winning 5-2 when the half time whistle was blown. I slowly walked away from Ric towards Cassie; we exchanged looks before we made our way over to the side of the fence, where Belle was already being felt up by my brother. I began tying my hair up tighter as Cassie took a swig from her water bottle she looked me straight in the eye.

"Do you think Luke is hot?" she asked as she saw my surprised face she went into a full blown explanation "I mean in a geeky, Adam Brody way?"

I raised my eyebrows and gave her a curious look "I…..I think you watch too much of The OC" I laughed

She stuck her tongue out at me "So what's going on with you and Ric?" she mocked

"What do you mean?"

"If you were any colder, we'd be in Alaska. What happened that night? On the beach?"

"We kissed. But he's my brother's best mate; I'm not going to do that to Henry."

"Henry's doing it to you." She said looking over at Belle and Henry, who were sneaking kisses every time the teachers' backs were turned "You have to stop thinking about other people's feelings and start thinking about your own." She finished as she began walking back to her position.

I sighed as I stood beside Ric, we hadn't said a word to each other the whole game. We were both waiting patiently for the other to break the silence that had been held since Saturday morning. Finally he spoke.

"You're a really good player. Very…..fast" he nodded

"Thanks, you too but may be if you try and keep up next time you'd be better." I smirked

"Mattie, you're the fastest runner in our year. How am I supposed to keep up with you?" he answered back quickly,I took him in as I wasn't sure if I had to take that as a compliment.

"Maybe I should give you lesson" I bit my lip as he nodded in reply, we both stepped behind the line as Mr.Holden put his mouth to the whistle I whispered "Try to keep up this time." And I sped off.

Five minutes of play and we were already two up and steaming ahead. I eyeballed Cas to be ready as Belle took her throw. Most of the Summer Bay High netball team had managed to stay in the same team with out anyone noticing and I had to say that Mr.Holden had taught us well. We used most of our normal tactics that we would use in a regional or championship. And we were using his saying 'Where ever the ball goes run'. We used the basic tactic on this throw: Belle to Sarah, Sarah to Jess, Jess to Iris, Iris to Matilda, Matilda to Belle, Belle to Cas and with me quickly moving into the shooting D to help Cas if and when she needed it.

It was a good and fast way of getting the ball toward the shooter but this time it went to plan until we got to the shooting part. As the ball hit the rim I jumped up to catch it but when I landed I felt a sharp pain in my ankle as I fell to the ground. I could have screamed but the fact that I had just fallen was embarrassing enough. Mr.Holden made his way towards me and I gripped my ankle as Cas, Belle, Henry, Ric and Lucas came down beside me.

"Where does it hurt?" Mr.Holden asked as he took of my shoe I inhaled as he touch my extremely swollen ankle "Ah, it could be broken. We need to get you to sick bay." He said as he and Ric attempted to pull me up I put my arms around both their necks.

"I can take her Mr.H" Ric said innocently "You can help me carry her up the stairs and then I'll take her from there" he continued. But right now I didn't really care who took me just as long as the pain that was now spreading up my leg would stop. I saw Mr.Holden nod in approval as I slowly hopped towards the stairs Ric coiled his hand around my back; I let out as sigh as I lift my leg and began hopping up the stairs.

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Ric's POV

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Mr.Holden had left us about five minutes after and Matilda was still breathlessly hopping towards the school doors. We finally got inside the school and I let her rest against the wall, leaning slightly against the wall opposite. I was just as tired as her, not from helping her walk across the school ground but from chasing after her for the past 35 minutes, I exhaled heavily as she looked up at me.

"Now I realise how big the distance between the playing fields and the school is" she scoffed as I laughed along with her.

"We should get going, I don't want your ankle to blow up any bigger" I said as I gently lifted her arm round my neck she turned her face to look at me.

"I don't know if I have said sorry about the whole morning after thing." She stated "But I don't want to…." She trailed off as she looked me in the eye.

"I think I'm falling in love with you" I blurted out, I didn't know what reaction I was expected from then but I was surprised when she looked up at me knowingly.

"Me too" she whispered

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