Chapter One: The End of Summer

It was the last day of summer. The heat was slowly lowering, and the lush green landscape was also slowly dulling into a darker shade of green, before it would eventually fade away into various shades of yellow, orange and brown. The end of summer also meant that school was just around the corner, tomorrow, in fact, for the East High Wildcats. None of them were quite looking for it, but then again, welcomed it, because it would mean that they would be taken out of the monotonous routine they had to go through ever since they stopped their summer jobs at Lava Springs Country Club.

"So tomorrow, our senior year starts, guys. Can you believe it?" Troy asked.

"Yeah, it's pretty unbelievable. Remember our first day at East High?" Zeke said, passing the ball to Jason, who aimed and shot a perfect basket.

"Remember it? How could I forget it!" Chad declared.

"Yeah, especially since you got detention with Darbus on the very first day of class," the Wildcats captain and star player reminded, a smirk on his face. He shot the ball, and it swished through the hoop.

They laughed as Chad just rolled his eyes. The four best friends, all born within three months of each other, continued running drills, ones they've had memorised ever since they made junior varsity, and later on, to the varsity team, eventually making the starting line-up, with Jack Bolton as their coach. Being childhood best friends with the coach's son sometimes entitled them to extra practices whenever they came over, but the three didn't mind much, especially if it meant they could get better. Basketball was as much a passion for them as it was for the Boltons, although the younger Bolton's passion for basketball was now shared with his singing.

Zeke was their oldest, born in the last week of October. Chad and Troy followed in November, with Jason, their youngest, was born on the first of December. They had known each other since pre-school, ever since Troy accidentally spilled paint on Chad's hair, which had still been short and tame then. Chad, however, seeing only Jason close by, thought it was him, and so, had poured paint on him, who, shocked, somehow managed to fling his paintbrush away, hitting Zeke in the face and getting Troy in the process. Their bond had started then, after much screaming and yelling and protests of 'but he started it', pointing at each other with accusatory glares on their faces. It was during time-out did they start laughing, pointing at each other once more, but this time with smiles and toothy grins. Somehow they just clicked then, and they had been best friends ever since.

"Forget about the first day at East High. Remember preschool?"

That started a chain of "Remember…" moments as they shot basket after basket after basket. Jason smiled as he relived the memories, suddenly remembering things he had forgotten. He could hardly believe all the things they had gone through together. It seemed almost impossible for all of that to happen in the thirteen years that they had been friends. It was crazy.

"Time out guys," Jason suddenly groaned, a hand going to his side. "I'm beat."

"Yeah, I think we should stop now," Troy said, looking up towards the sky, squinting, as the bright rays of light coming from the sun invaded his vision. "Besides, lunch will be soon."

They sat down in a circle in the middle of the court, except for Chad who promptly laid down on the ground. For a moment, it was just silent between them, which was unusual for them, as they always seemed to have a story they wanted to share. Taylor had commented once that they acted like girls whenever they had something new or exciting to tell each other. Chad, incidentally, was the worst out of them all.

"You haven't said much all morning, J," Chad said. "Everything alright, man?"

Jason's face flushed when their attention focused on him. He wasn't used to being the centre of attention, even if it was just the four of them. Troy was the star, Chad was the one who got into trouble, Zeke was the sweet one that every girl wanted in a boyfriend, and Jason was the shy, quiet, funny one. Or at least, that's what the cheerleaders classified them as.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm just – nervous about tomorrow," he confessed.

"Jase, it's alright to be nervous," Zeke said.

"Although, I don't really understand why. Starting tomorrow, we're seniors!" Chad said excitedly, letting out a whoop of joy.

"Boys, time for lunch!" Mrs Bolton called out from the door.

"Coming, Mrs Bolton!" they all said in unison, including Troy, which just caused the other three to roll their eyes. It was a habit of all of theirs anyway, referring to their mothers by their last name whenever they hung out at any one of their houses.

As Troy and Chad raced each other to get to the door first, Zeke waited and helped Jason up, who winced slightly.

"You going to be okay?" Zeke asked.

"Yeah, yeah," Jason said, repeating his earlier answer. "I'm fine. I'll be fine."

Zeke, Jason knew, wasn't entirely convinced of his answer, but accepted it anyway, as they made their way into the Bolton household, Troy and Chad already arguing about one thing or another. Jason smiled, as he took his usual seat across from Troy. With friends like these, he didn't have to worry.

Despite the morning workout, Jason still went for his afternoon jog around the park. He would set off from his house at a quarter past five, dressed in sweatpants and either a plain shirt or a hoodie, equipped with a bottle of water and his iPod, and would walk to one end of the park, before starting his jog from there. Usually he would do two rounds, but on lazy days like today, he would do only one.

He used to do this with his older brother and sister, Jonas and Jen, but since they had left for college, he had been doing it alone. He would have invited Troy or Chad or Zeke, but it was a family thing, and it didn't feel right to him to replace Jen and Jonas's place, even if the replacements were his best friends.

Jason stopped to rest on a bench he used frequently whenever he used this route. He tilted his back and closed his eyes, letting the music take over him, with his hand deep in his pockets, stretching out his long legs onto the path. It was getting late, the sun already starting to set, and as such, no other joggers were usually out then, most going home to prepare for dinner. Others just didn't want to risk being out so late, even though the crime rate in Albuquerque was relatively low (or at least, not as high as compared to other cities around the States). He was one of the crazy few who risked it, wanting to soak in the last of the day's sunlight and the late afternoon wind.

His peace, however, was interrupted when someone tripped over his legs. There was a thud and an "Ouch!" just as he pulled the earphones out of his ears, bringing his legs in to stand up and to help the fallen person.

"I am so sorry," Jason said, feeling his neck heat up as he offered a hand. The person, a girl, judging by the long braids, still had her back to him. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, dusting her hands off her pants.

'That voice sounds familiar,' he thought as she took his hand. When she finally turned to face him, he looked at her in shock. "Kelsi! Hey – oh my god, I am so sorry," he repeated, sounding sorrier this time when he realized just who he had managed to trip with his long legs. The heat rose in his cheek as she just smiled at him.

"It's fine, really," she said. She suddenly realized that she still had her hand in his and hastily took it away, which went behind her neck, looking away shyly before looking back at him. "So, what are you doing out here so late?"

"Jogging," he answered, picking up his water bottle. "It's just… something I do, to – you know – keep myself in shape."

"The others not with you?" she asked. She grimaced, smiling embarrassedly at him. "Of course they're not. They're not here."

"Yeah, this – uh – it's a family thing, really, but – um – since my sister and brother are at college and everything, so – um – yeah," he finished lamely. "What were you doing on this trail? I've never seen you on it before."

"I was running errands for my dad, and this is kind of like a short cut. My house isn't far from here. Well, from the end of the park anyway," she explained.

He nodded, and the pair lapsed into silence. It was slightly awkward, each trying to avoid the other's eyes. Despite the fact that they had hung out a couple of times over the summer and, of course, when they worked together at Lava Springs, they still haven't quite managed to move past the awkward stage if they were suddenly thrown together. If they had made plans to meet, then it wouldn't be as awkward.

There was also that little fact that he, Jason Cross, had a bit of a crush on her.

"So, I better get going," Kelsi said. "I'll see you at school tomorrow?"

"Um yeah, yeah," he said, nodding.

"Okay. Bye, Jason," she said, giving him a small smile, turning around and started to walk off.

"Bye," he started, "Kelsi," he continued, much quieter this time. "I'm really sorry about tripping you!" he yelled after her.

She turned, laughing. "I told you: it's fine." She gave him one last wave and walked away.

Jason let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding, just nodding to himself. He smiled, feeling his heart slow down to its normal rate. He hadn't realized until then that it had been racing until Kelsi was gone. His hand still tingled, as he made his way home.

A/N: Well, that's the first chapter. It's kind of boring. But just review anyway. It would really help if you did. Thanks to those who reviewed the trailer and to those who alerted me!