So it's time for game day! I'm thinking about having the game part in this chapter, and then some character interaction, or just write the main juicy stuff in the next chapter, i still haven't decided yet.
What do you think?
ENJOY AND REVIEW
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Kyle woke up bright and early. Actually he didn't even wake up, he's been awake for the past three hours. It was really a mix of nerves and Brooke. Lately he always found himself blaming things on Brooke. He could bet she was also.
The most irritating part of game days were the shirt and tie policy. What was the point? YOu were gonna dress out of them as soon as school ended. Kyle picked khaki pants with a blue button down shirt along with a white hat. He thought that he could add it in order to wear the school colors.
He ran down the stairs and almost had a heart attack when he saw his father sitting at the table, reading the paper and drinking coffee. It was surreal, strange, weird. The last time Kyle had seen this picture, he was twelve.
His dad looked up from his paper, "Hey good morning son."
"Umm, what are you doing here?" KYle asked curiously.
"You're big game's tonight. I didn't wanna miss it."
"Since when? You weren't even there when i won the North-eastern championship in Virginia. Why now?"
"Because, being at your grandfather's funeral, it made me realize what's important. It was wrong of me to keep you away from your family, but i just wanted to protect you. What i didn't know was that i wasn't protecting you by leaving you to raise yourself. I just didn't think i could raise you on my own, without your mother," his dad said solemnly.
"Looks like you don't have to. I did it on me own, and somehow i think that it's made me stronger. I appreciate that you wanna make an effort, i just wish you did it sooner. I am going to college in this year."
"That's right, and i'm happy for you. Which is why i'm gonna take off work until then, so we can hang out, like old times," his dad said hopefully.
Kyle thought for a moment. His dad was taking off work for nearly 6 months, he must've been serious this time. He really wanted to hang out with his dad again, but what if something came up, and he had to leave?
"Yeaa, i would like that. But you're not gonna leave are you?"
"Nope, i'm gonna be here for awhile."
"So in other words, i'm stuck with you?" Kyle joked.
HIs dad threw an apple at him, which Kyle quickly caught, "Looks like it. I feel bad for you."
"I feel bad for myself," KYle laughed as he sat down.
"So, you nervous?" his dad asked.
"Hmm a little, it's a pretty big thing here in Tree Hill, i don't wanna disappoint the guys."
"Just play your best, and play because you love it Kyle. That was something that you always had, not the desire to win and be the best, but to win and still appreciate the game."
"That's what everyone keeps telling me. It's gonna be hard to give up when college ends."
"Who says it has to end? You don't have to do this thing Kyle." his dad said seriously.
"I know i don't have to. BUt if i don't, i'll feel like i'm letting grandfather down, and the rest of our family."
"They'll love you no matter what Kyle."
"I know," Kyle said yawning.
"Doesn't surprise me, i heard you all night watching tv and playing video games," his dad said, eyebrows.
"Sorry, i haven't been getting much sleep lately," Kyle dismissed.
"Really? I wonder who's causing that," he said absentmindly.
"Who says it's someone that's causing it?"
"This is a real small town, think about it. And the fact that Nathan called the house phone last night and left a message. He basically explained to me the whole story without him even knowing," his dad smirked.
"Great, i'm gonna kill him later. So, how much did you find out?" Kyle asked cautiously.
"Pretty much all of it. I'm guessing Brooke's the reason for your can't eat, can't sleep?"
"I don't know Dad. I just felt like a was pulling for something that wouldn't happen." Kyle said hopelessly.
"It takes alot to do what you did, and i'm proud. Just hold that piece of hope with you."
"What's the point in that? Nothing's ever gonna happen with me and BRooke, and that's that," KYle said.
"If you say so. YOu better get going."
"Yeaa, so you're coming to the game?" KYle asked as he made his way to the door.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
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Posters, everywhere. Blue and white. Everywhere. Ravens, everywhere.
Everyone was excited nad hyped for the game. The teachers were just as excited, they even cancelled lessons for the rest of the day and just let the kids hang out.
It was a relief for alot of people, but especially for Brooke. It gave her time to reflect on her latest actions which she had no time to do, due to Lucas always being at her house.
It wasn't that she was mad because he was, it was just a bad time, when she needed space to think. She was glad that he was being a good boyfriend, and always telling her his problems. But it made it harder to decide which guy she wanted to be with, though her chances with Kyle now were probably slim.
Brooke would be the first to admit that she's an impulsive talker, shopper, everything. She's impulsive, and she doesn't think or mean half the things she says. The main reason she does it is to piss people off, or when she's so mad she can't think straight. So obviously Kyle had did that to her, and she wanted to make him mad. Brooke felt bad, she wanted to apologize, but with what she said to him yesterday, she doubted that he would call a truce, or whatever.
Everything had suddenly changed in the span of a month. She went to being Kyle's best friend to being in love with him, hating Lucas to dating him again, and hating Peyton to getting back on track. All in one month.
She missed KYle so much. More than she ever thought she could miss anyone. He was her rock, her strength. Just a little words of wisdom from him and she would transform into this confident girl that he knew she was. Too bad she screwed things up yet again. Sometimes she wished she hadn't have kissed him, maybe things wouldn't be so hard. But she would immediately regret it. She absolutely loved their kiss. It was so real, so strong, like years and years of love and chemistry had been released. It was refreshing, and Brooke wished she could do it again.
If her and Kyle were still friends, she would probably be consoling him right now. As much as he admitted it, he was nervous as hell. He just didn't want his teammates to know, cause of they did, it would rub off on them. To say that everyone was excited would be a huge understatement. The campus was wild. People had shown up to school with black and white painted on their faces, everyone was wearing the school colors. It was funny how a small town basketball team could possibly be the best basketball team in the east. But she knew no one deserved it more than the Ravens.
Kyle looked so good when she saw him this morning. She was just about to walk up to him when she realized they weren't friends anymore. It put a real damper on her morning, not being there for him on probably one of the biggest games of his life. Which was why she was in the library, sulking. Usually that was LUcas's job, but today Brooke found herself in that mood.
She was super surprised when she saw Kyle walk into the library, with his shirt and loose tie. He wandered the book aisles, obviously looking for something. HIs eye brows were creased and his eyes were squinting, and he was pouting. Before Brooke knew it, her feet were up and carrying her to the aisle Kyle was on. Her brain told her to stop it, but her feet just kept on moving. SHe stood in front of him, he was looking at her from the corner of his eye, but quickly went back to what he was looking for.
"WHatcha doing?" Brooke whispered.
"Looking for a book," he whispered back.
"Duh, but why aren't you in weightraining?"
"Coach doesn't want us too overworked, so we got a free period."
"That's good."
"Brooke, what do you want? Why are you even talking to me?" Kyle asked, hurt.
Brooke looked around the library for a minute, trying to figure out what to say.
"Meet me in the far back corner, in the cooking section. Wait 2 minutes before leaving," she whispered and left, making her way towards the other side of the library.
Kyle sighed and leaned against the bookshelf. His first instinct had been to just leave her, but he found himself counting until two minutes. He couldn't tell you why, but maybe he could get some answered to her sudden snappy attitude. He smirked, remembering where she wanted to meet him. The cooking section. No one ever went there. Seriously, what teenagers knew how to cook proper meals? That section was usually used for make out sessions only.
After two minutes Kyle casually left the aisle and made his way towards the far back corner of the library. Brooke was there, leaning against a shelf, thumbing through a Rachel Ray cookbook. He took in her appearance before she noticed him. Her sneakers were clean white, her ankle socks barely showing. Her smooth tan legs were perfect. Her skirt reacher just on her mid thigh, leaving alot of leg exposure. The top was tight and fit in alll the right places. Her make up was perfect, with her hair in loose curls. And lastly, her signature "R" tatooed onto her cheekbone.
Her head looked up in his direction, and she quickly snapped the book shut and stuck it in one of the shelves.
"About time you got here, i actually had to read some of this," Brooke whispered, gesturing to the shelves of books.
"Sorry. So why am i here?" KYle asked, getting to the point.
Brooke squated and sat down on the carpet, stretching her legs out, "I wanted to talk to you."
Kyle followed her, and sat down next to her, his arms linked over his knees, "ABout what?"
She quirked her eyebrow, "I think you know what."
"Brooke, there's nothing i can say. I'm sorry if what i said hurt you, but i can't be friends with you, not with the way i feel," Kyle said, staring into her eyes.
"When did you realize how you felt?"
"I don't know, ever since i got here i guess. Nate called me, and my first instinct was to come back and help you. I didn't think much of it at the time, but it really got me thinking. Then Nathan and Peyt told me their little theories, they made it so obvious and so, ridiculus, that i just couldn't believe it. Then when i was in Virginia, i really had time to think, no Nate or Peyton on my shoulders, telling me how i feel. And that's when i finally admitted it to myself. BUt i think i've felt this way for a long time, i just never admitted it."
"Kyle i don't know if what i feel for you is love, but it's something strong, more deep than a friendship. When people used to ask me if me and you were dating, i always said no, but when i really thought about it, i could see why. BUt i told myself i could never have something for you, we were friends. Then when you left, and i found out that your grandfather died, it was like i felt your pain, even thought we were fighting, i just wanted to be there for you, i didn't care about what happened. Nate and Haley were dropping hints to me for the past two weeks, and then Nathan really got me thinking. Reevaluating what i had with you. Then Rachel spoke up, and, everything made sense. My dreams, fantasies."
"Brooke i can't eat or sleep. All i do is think about you, more now that we don't talk. Just seeing Lucas gets me mad, and i automatically wanna kill him. Whenever i see you, all i wanna do it pull you into a janitor's closet and kiss you. You're getting under my skin. Whne you laugh i get chills and i sense when you're near. It makes me completely irriated that i can be so crazy about someone, it makes me mad. BUt even though there's all these annoying things, i like it," Kyle explained.
Brooke would've kissed him, if she knew it wasn't gonna end badly. IF she kissed him now, then she would've kissed him twice, while she was still with Lucas, and that wasn't good.
"If you feel this way, then why aren't you fighting?"
"Because i have no energy to compete for you. Lucas already has you, he doesn't even know about this thing. He's gonna be hurt, and as much as i don't like him, i can't let that happen. You had so much going for you. I can't mess it up by enforcing my feelings."
"So you're gonna give up?" Brooke asked.
"I don't know what to do? I can't even think about it cause you're clouding my brain!" Kyle hissed.
"Kyle, i feel something for you, and i'm pretty sure it's love, but i need you to give me time to figure that out."
Before Kyle could answer the bell rang. He sprang up from the floor.
"I don't know. Maybe." he said before walking away. Brooke ran up to him and jerked his shoulder, turning him to face her. She planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Good Luck," and she walked past him.
He had no idea what had just happened. One minute she was on the verge of yelling at him again, and the next she was kissing him on the cheek like nothing had happened.
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"There's alot of people out there," Nathan muttered as the team was changing.
KYle as usual wasn't payiing attention. Instead he was listening to his ipod, once again. He didn't pay attention to anything around him, he focused on his gym bag in front of him. Mental preperation you could call it. Despite the banging of the speakers into his ear, the sound of the crowd and cheers outed it.
Giving up, he put his ipod away and starting putting on his sweatbands.
"Nervous?"
"I'm trying not to be," KYle answered.
"Same here, but it ain't working for me. I mean, this is it you know?"
"Yeaa i know what you're saying. Let's just go out there and play, because we love it."
"I wish i could, but i really wanna win this thing."
"I know you do Nate, and we will. Just breathe," KYle joked.
"I'm trying, but the game starts in two minutes," Nathan sighed.
"Just think about Haley and the baby, win this for them," Kyle said.
"You're right. Okay let's stop before we start hugging or something."
Kyle laughed, "Alright, we'll stop."
"So, i'm trying to take my mind off of this, so how are things with you and Brooke?"
"Believe it or not, i ran into her in the library. I told her how i was feeling, she told me what she was feeling. She asked me to give her time to figure out what she wants."
"And, are you?"
"I don't know. I want to, but what if it's not me?"
"She wouldn't have asked you if it wasn't gonna be," Nathan said.
"I don't know anything anymore Nate. All i know is that this is our time, and we're gonna win," KYle said.
A referee entered the locker room, "It's time guys."
Nathan took a deep breath, "So this is it."
The team lined up. Guys ran out by twos. Each time a pair ran out of the locker room, cheers erupted from the stands, with the occasional boos.
"Looks like it,"
"I guess it's about time," Nathan said as they were the last pair standing.
"You ready for this?" KYle asked.
"Yeaa, i'm ready," Nathan said as they both ran out of the locker room and into the dark stadium.
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So far so good. The Ravens were up by 3, but they had to pick up and pace and build a brick wall on defense. Kyle had been guarding Aaron all night. Aaron got in his occasional lay ups, but as soon as he would go for a dunk, Kyle was right on his tail and blocked it.
Nathan on the other hand was having a harder time. He was guarding John, and even Kyle admitted that he wasn't an easy guy to guard. He was pretty tall, but he was light on his feet. And with Nathan juggling the ball and then guarding John, it took most of his energy.
Kyle could see that AJ was slacking, which made it all the more easier to wanna beat them. He was still missing those three pointers, and guarding Kyle like crazy whenever he had the ball. The game was starting to get brutal, there was no time to pay attention to the crowd. He had no time to look at Brooke, or look for his dad.
AJ had shoved Nathan into the ground, which set him up for 2 free throws. AJ could never control his temper, no matter what the situation. Of course, Nathan made both of the free throws, which left them ahead by five.
All the guys were playing really good tonight. They were all doing what they were supposed to do, holding up defense than they ever did at a game. Everyone was making up for their mistakes in the last game. The whole time, Kyle could barely hear the chants and screams of the crowd. They were just drowned noise he faintly heard.
"He's killing me," Nathan gasped as he sat down at the end of the third quarter.
"I know man. Just hold on for one more quarter, then we'll be champs again," Kyle encouraged.
"KYle you don't understand. That guy is taking everything out of me." Nathan said as he chugged some water.
"Then i'll guard him," Kyle said.
"No you can't. What about Aaron?"
"He's not at his best tonight. I'll get John."
"BUt arne' you guys friends?"
"We're not anything Nate. Just stay on Aaron," Kyle said as the buzzer rang for the fourth quarter.
"You sure you got this?"
"Yeaa i'm sure. I'll keep up with him."
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123-125.
123-125.
123-125.
Kyle had never been on a team that racked up that many points before. HE admitted that it was harder to guard John than he thought, but he held his own. Every once in awihle John would apologize, but Kyle wouldn't even pay attention. HIs focuse was making sure John didn't touch the ball.
They were trailing the Kodiaks by 2, which was a pretty good thing, if it wasn't for the championship.
Nathan rebounded the ball and threw it all the way towards halfcourt where KYle caught it and ran towards the three pointer line.
Kyle knew John was gonna come up behind him from his left, so he moved the ball to his left hand. John ran right past him, thinking he had the ball.
He turned around and faked left and shot the ball up in a fade away. He held his breath as the ball soared through the air, heading towards the hoop.
Kyle had never seen time go by so slow. He heard the crowd holding their breath, one half wishing for it to go on, the other half wishing it would bounce off. Too bad for those people.
Because the ball swished through the hoop as soon as the buzzer sounded.
Kyle swore he was deaf from all the noise. He felt Nathan lift him up and people hitting him across the back. Balloons bounced on his head, confetti everywhere, you could barely see. In the midst of all the excitement, he felt a tug on his arm and before he knew it he was in the boy's locker room. Then a flash of brown hair in his face. He had his arms around Brooke and she was kissing him with eveyrthing she had.
Despite his recent conversation with her, he kissed her back. Yes, it was wrong, but Kyle could do with something something bad for a minute.
"Kyle that was amazing!!" Brooke said proudly, the screams heard.
"The kiss or the game?" Kyle asked, confused.
"Both. Kyle, i love you." Brooke said, tears showing.
"Wait what?" KYle asked.
"When i saw you on the court. I felt what you were feeling. The nervousness, the frustrration from when you were guarding your friend. Not knowing if the ball would make it through the hoop. I felt connected to you. You've been here this whole time. Right under my nose. Lucas wasn't my first love, it was you. I just never realized it."
"What are you saying?" Kyle asked. This was too good to be true.
"It means that i love you. And i wanna be with you," Brooke said as she captured Kyle's lips again. After a few second, they pulled away.
"So, are you gonna break up with Lucas?" Kyle asked with his arms stil laround Brooke.
"Yeaa, i was thinking of doing it either tonight or tomorrow."
"Don't do it tonight. We don't need any negative energy tonight," KYle said.
"Okay, tomorrow then."
"We better go. Everyone's probably wondering where we are," Kyle said as he let go of Brooke.
"Everyone's going to this restaurant. Turner reserved it for all the cheerleaders and players. Then there's a party after," Brooke explained.
"So i'll see you there?" Kyle asked. Brooke stood on her tip toes and kissed him again.
"Yup," she said and slipped out.
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The locker room was full of laughs and smiles. Sure, Kyle was ecstatic that they won, but having Brooke outweighed everything. He finally got what he had been wanting for so long. The only bad part that came out of it was that Lucas would get his heart broken. Kyle felt bad, he really did, but Brooke came to him on her own, he wouldn't feel guilty about that.
"Kyle, are you coming?" Nathan asked. The team was all leaving to go to the restaurant.
"Yeaa, you guys just go ahead. I'm gonna finish getting my stuff together and i'll be there."
"Trying to make an entrance i see?" Nathan joked.
"Yea, that's what i'm trying to do," Kyle said sarcastically.
"See ya man," Nathan said before leaving.
Ten minutes later Kyle left hte stadium. He had just thrown on his shirt and pants, not bothering to put his tie back on. He put his helmet on and started up his bike. After driving for a bit, he realized that there was this black car behind him almost the entire time.
At first he didn't think much of it, but now it was gettin creepy. There was a black car following him? That couldn't be good.
Kyle turned into the restairant parking lot. He already saw tons of cars parked along with a bus.
He saw the black car again. This time it was coming at him instead of behind him. Before he could think he felt this huge pain throughout his left side. He flew from his bike, landing a couple of feet away. He felt a huge pain in his left arm and his head was throbbing. He heard the screeching of wheels and screaming. He couldn't see anything since he had his helmet on, but he heard Nathan's voice, yelling for somebody to call the ambulance.
"Kyle, can you hear me? Just hang in there man." He faintly heard Nathan say. Somewher behind him he heard crying, and then Brooke's voice come out.
That was all he heard before his eyes closed and he blacked out.