Romeo On and Off the Court

Author's Note: Hello readers. Thanks for reading. I have gotten a comment about Coach Grouch and his name. Is it the team's nickname for him? Is it his real name? I thought I would share with all of you how the name came about. First off, no it's not a nickname. His full name is Oscar Daniel Grouch (aka Oscar D Grouch). When I started planning and writing the first chapter, I asked my husband who his favorite Sesame Street character is. If you know Sesame Street, you know where I am going… Oscar the Grouch.

Thanks for reading. ~Swervin35

Chapter 10: Getting the Ball Rolling

You can't roll a strike in bowling or putt in golf without getting started.

Bella

When I reached the elevator, I turned back. Edward was walking away. It was then I realized I didn't tell him I had a good time. I would give him time to get back to his room before I texted him. He hadn't mention if he had a curfew or not, though I had a feeling he did.

"Okay, girl, spill. How did you get Edward Cullen to go out with you?" a girl I didn't know asked me.

I didn't owe her anything. "I didn't have to do anything. He asked me out and I said yes." It was the truth, just not the full truth. No one needed to know how I made him work for a date.

Her jaw dropped. "He asked. You didn't throw yourself at him."

I shook my head and tried to get around her.

"I don't believe you," she said, stepping into my path. "How'd you do it?"

Shrugging, I tried again to get to the elevator.

She again stepped into my path. "How'd you do it?" she demanded, gripping my upper arms and shaking me.

The elevator opened and my RA stepped off. "Sarah, my fellow student will not let me by. She's demanding answers to how I scored a date with the point guard of the Huskies. I told her and still she won't let me go to bed."

I knew Sarah would help me out. She was a basketball fan and we watched NBA games together every so often. Hopefully, she knew enough about the Huskies to know who I was referring to.

"Tonya, your question was answered. If you don't like it, tough. Let her by or I'll write you up, again."

Tonya turned to face Sarah. "For what?"

"Harassment," Sarah said. She turned to me, "Go on up to your room."

I smiled gratefully in thanks. Glad she hadn't used my name.

~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~

Jessica and Angela were both waiting for me.

"How was it?" Jessica asked.

I set my purse on my desk before shrugging out of the borrowed coat and hanging it on a hook next Jessica's bunk bed. "Why didn't I want to go out with Edward again?"

They both squealed, in that high-pitched way only girls could manage. "You had fun. I knew you would," Angela said.

"I did. We are meeting for lunch tomorrow." I turned, facing them. "And thanks for telling me he was your cousin, Ang."

She smiled. "Would you have said yes sooner had I told you?"

Angela had me there. "No."

"Better to find out from him then. So, where did he take you? He wouldn't tell me when he called me a few minutes after you called for help."

"What did he tell you?"

She grimaced as Jessica leaned forward waiting for her answer. "That you finally said yes, and that jeans was unacceptable for where he was taking you. So…"

I sat between my sisters on Jessica's futon. "Edward was a perfect gentleman all night. Kissed me."

They squealed again.

"And it was sweet. He kept it innocent as if our parents were with us. In a strange way, it was perfect."

My hand moved to my lips. His brief kiss awoken something in me, something I didn't know I was missing. It was a giddiness that bubbled up in me. It made me feel desirable. And yet, it was something I couldn't name but wanted to experience again.

"So, where did he take you?" Angela asked again.

For a brief moment, I thought about not telling them, but I wanted to share. Wanted them to share in my joy. "The Pink Door."

~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~

It was a quarter to eleven when Angela left. She and Jessica had listening to me describe the restaurant as they helped me pick out an outfit to wear. I had no clue why. I thought I dressed okay.

After washing my face and changing into pajamas, I picked up my phone and saw I had a text message from Edward. It surprised me. Opening it, I saw he sent it an hour ago, not long after he dropped me off. "Good night, Isabella. Sweet dreams. See you tomorrow for lunch."

Edward

I was the lucky recipient of the random coach's call. They didn't call every night, however, you never knew when a curfew call would come. And it was a good thing I decided not to break it tonight, and I was definitely tempted. As I was settled into bed, my phone hooted twice signaling I had a text message from Bella. With a smile on my face, I reached over and plucked it off the nightstand.

"Thank you for dinner, Edward. I had fun, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Good night."

~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~

I was on fire during practice. Shots I normally missed near the baseline, I was sinking. No one could defend me when we scrimmaged. I pivoted and put the defender at my back, away from the ball all while directing the team around the court.

It felt good being my old self on the hardwood again. During games, I was hyper-focused on the game. No thoughts other than the game intruded. Practices were a different beast, my mind wondered as I ran through the drills or lifted weights.

"Cullen, get over here," Coach Grouch yelled after dismissing the team.

"Yes, Coach."

He looked me up and down. "Your best practice in a while."

My hand moved up and rubbed the back of my neck. There wasn't anything I could say.

"I expect to see it in the game Thursday."

"You will, Coach."

He turned to walk away. "Coach, is it possible for me to get a ticket or two for the game?"

He spun to face me again. "You want tickets!"

I knew I could get up to four tickets for each home game. To date, I'd never asked for any. My parents had purchased season tickets when I committed. "Yes, Coach. Is it a problem?"

"No. I'm just surprised. You've never asked before. Get with the athletic director."

"Thanks, Coach."

~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~

I cut out of the arena and booked it to the HUB lawn, I go back for my bookbag before my two o'clock class. Talking with the coach and the athletic director had me running later than I wished. I had wanted to be there before Bella arrived, waiting for her. Instead she was left waiting for me.

I found her sitting on a bench close to the lawn with her nose buried in a book. Her coat looked worn and wasn't the one she had on last night.

"Isabella," I called as I moved closer. When she looked up, I smiled and continued. "Sorry, I'm late. Coach wanted to talk to me after practice, and then I had to get with the athletic director."

She lifted her left hand and looked at her wrist as she stood. There was no watch, but I got her message. She hadn't noticed.

"My class was canceled."

"You could have sent me a text and waited for me inside. You have got to be freezing." I shrugged out of my coat and wrapped it around her shoulders despite her protests that she was fine.

I grinned down at her as she begrudgingly said thanks. Wrapping an arm around her, I guided her through the HUB doors.

"Let's get a table and then get our lunches," I suggested.

Bella sat her bag down on a free table, spun, and walked off into the food court. Man, she was fast. I rushed to catch up.

"Bella, wait up," I called out.

She glanced over her shoulder. When I was at her side again, she said, "You're not buying me lunch, Edward. My dad checks my account and adds money from time to time. He'll worry if he sees no charges for today."

Well, that was some argument. "Okay. Why can't I?"

She sighed. "I slept late and didn't have time for breakfast due to all the girls coming up to me trying find out how I scored a date with you. I made stuff up to get them to leave me alone. Not that they believed me."

"I'm sorry about the girls, Bella. Thank you for telling me." I beamed over at her. "Did I keep you out too late?"

"No. Angela and my roommate, Jessica, were waiting up for me. They wanted the 411 on our date."

That explained the text I got from Angela this morning about where I took Bella and doing a good job. I shook my head. Emmett and Jasper had cornered me after I arrived at practice wanting to know how things went. As much as I wanted to ignore them, I gave them a little. "And what did you tell them?"

"Where we went and that we were meeting for lunch."

That wasn't bad. "And the kiss?"

Her blush was answer enough. She told them.

We continued walking around the food court, refamiliarizing ourselves on what was offered.

"You should know, I was going for your cheek."

She glanced over at me with a shy smile. "I know. When I saw you leaning toward me, your eyes didn't move to my lips but my cheek."

My step faltered. Bella… she… kissed me. I wasn't sure what to say to that. Her deepening blush told me she hadn't meant to tell me.

I decided not react or comment. "I'm going to get a salad."

Bella nodded and headed over to DUB Street Burgers. A burger sounded great, and if it wasn't basketball season, I would have joined her. Knowing Angela was free now too, I pulled out my phone and called her. I need a little advice from someone who knew Bella, really knew her.

"Hey, Edward."

"I need a little insight."

"What about your lunch date with Bella?"

I got a tray and a bowl, sliding it down the bar. "She off getting her lunch. Didn't want me paying. Does her dad really check her Husky account?"

Angela sighed. "Not all of us are as lucky as you, Edward. So, yes her dad and my parents help her out. Put money in her account."

I looked up and over at the burger place. Bella was still in line.

"Thanks. I don't want to push to hard with her."

"And your not."

I swiped a hand down my face. "Good to know. So, what does it mean if a girl kisses a guy?"

"You were going for Bella's cheek, weren't you?"

"Yes."

Angela laughed. "Sorry, not laughing at you. For Bella, it was a huge step. She must really like you."

"I find that surprising. I would of expected to her she had guys lining up to go out with her."

"You're fishing, Edward. I'm not telling you anything more."

I picked up my tray one-handed and moved to register. "I don't expect you to. And I owe you dinner."

She laughed again. "No, you don't. Just treat Bella well and that will be payment enough."

"See you around, then." I hung up.

Bella was at the table reading and closed the book when I sat my tray down. I glanced at the title – Fool Me Once. "It is good?"

"I haven't decided. Just started it today."

~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~

Lunch was fun. We chit-chatted about the classes we were taking and classes we were looking at for the Fall semester. Bella was going to be able to focus on her both her majors for the next two years, and I was jealous. I had to take a couple of online courses during the summer in order to do that.

We were standing outside the HUB, Bella was wearing my coat again, when I got up the courage to give her the game tickets for Thursday.

I took a deep breath and released it. "Your admission about not being able to afford game tickets was hard to hear, Bella."

She lifted her left shoulder in a shrug. "It's not a big deal."

Not a big deal. "Maybe it seems that way to you but I think it is. I would like you to accept these," I held out the tickets. "As a player, I can get four tickets for each home game. My parents bought seasoning tickets, so they all go unused. Would you please come Thursday?"

Her eyes lit up as she looked up at me. "You want me to come and watch you play."

I nodded. "Only if you want to, bring your roommate or Angela. I got you two."

She caught me by surprise when she threw her arms around me and hugged me. "I would like that and will be there. Thank you."

Wrapping one arm around her and using the other to lift her face, I gave her a little peck on the lips. "So would I. You better get to class. I'll call you tonight."

"Talk to you then," she said, taking the tickets and slipping them into her bag.

I watched as she walked off. I pulled out my phone and sent Emmett and Jasper a text. "I accomplished the impossible. Bella's coming to the final game of the season."