Chapter 7: Basketball

19th January 2015, Monday

The alarm clock screamed awaking Marceline from her deep slumber. Marceline squeezed her eyes shut and groaned in distress, it couldn't be time to get up already could it? She stretched like a cat and glanced out the huge window covering her wall, through the curtains weak beams of sunlight were shining through, onto the polished wooden floorboards. Yep. Time for school. To her surprise this didn't disgust her as much as it usually did in her previous years, but that was to be expected because this time she actually had friends. Heaving herself to her en suite bathroom Marceline rubbed her eyes sleepily. Man, I didn't got enough sleep yesterday. She paused, remembering why, reliving yesterday's memories. Simon… Her face contorted in sadness. She told herself to not dwell on it, it wasn't good to think about things too much, she would deal with it later, she had learnt that over the years.

Looking into her mirror she huffed with disgust when she saw that her silky black hair was in a terrible state. "Bedhead." She groaned. Grabbing her black hairbrush she started to tackle her impossible hair. Seriously, sometimes she wondered who had worse mood swings, herself or her hair.

Marceline parked her motorbike at the school's carpark, today, unlike her last week at school was very sunny. The harsh, glaring sunlight burned Marceline's eyes and skin. Marceline cursed.

"Shit, bloody sunny today, I'd better head to shade before I get burnt." She then headed straight to the meeting point, which was, conveniently hidden from the sun. She was later than she usually was, compared to last week, so she figured the rest (excluding the fashionably late LSP) would already be there.

"I'M NOT OVER EXAGGERATING." Marceline heard Finn half-shout in exasperation. She stifled a laugh and hid behind the wall so she could hear what Finn had to say, knowing he was talking about her.

"She was as fast as a hare and probably as good as basketball as Jake and I combined, and you know that Jake and I as a team are unstoppable. Marceline heard Finn relayed in a non-boastful voice, and noises of agreement were heard as well. It seemed Jake, Finn, Gilroy, Bonnie and Lady were there.

"It was awesome. We were playing first to score three goals, and all of them were dunks." Gasps of astonishment were heard. "She's an incredible player, I'll be surprised if she isn't made captain of the 19 and under girls team even if she is only 17 and a new student."
Marceline thought this was a good time to show herself. Adjusting her skinny jeans before throwing her hands into her letterman jacket she sauntered from the corner, making herself visible to the group.

"Who's incredible?" She smirked, knowing full well whom he was talking about.

"Err, you basketball playing." Finn flushed. Marceline laughed and Bonnibel scowled.

"Stop teasing him Marceline!" She demanded

"Hello to you too, princess." Marceline grinned, flashing perfect white teeth as Bonnibel rolled her eyes

"So Finn, you're my henchman for the day huh?" She addressed Finn

"Yeah. I am Marceline milady." Finn sighed in resignation. "I promised and it would go against my code of honour to break a promise."

"Man, you're too good to process sometimes." He said in his deep voice.

Marceline thought back, recounting the events that took place on that fine Tuesday afternoon.

6 days earlier, Tuesday 13th January

3:30pm

"Alright you pathetic bunch of sobs. Every year a bunch of girls try out for the basketball team. Our basketball time is the best team and pride of the school. It's top-notch; we compete against other schools in nearby states and every single year. And we win. If you think you have the potential to do that you're in the right place. But if you don't then get out, I'm telling you now that training with the team will be no piece of cake. It's hard-core. That is, even if you get in. Only four of you girls will be accepted into the basketball 19 and under girls team, replacing the students that have left." The sharp-eyed, blonde coach boomed, analysing the group of twenty girls that stood before her. Two of these girls, younger ones, didn't like what the coach was saying and backed away slowly, walking out of the sports hall. Seemingly, too wimp to try out. Marceline sneered at them as they walked by, they shouldn't have came here if a coach scared them. The coach had the same line of thought and said, annoyed "Well hurry up and get a move on then, no need to back away like I'm a rabid animal. Marceline liked this coach almost immediately. She didn't ramble or soften anything like the usual coaches, but got straight to the point.

"You will get into teams of six and I will take a evaluate at your playing skills to see if yours good enough for the team." The coach said with tone of finality. Nobody dared to oppose her or talk whilst she was talking.

Marceline got into a group, her team was playing first. Marceline, in her opinion, played fantastically, she was scoring, every two or three minutes and whenever the other team got the ball she would get it back into their possession. At the end of the session the coach praised Marceline heavily, more so than the other girls by lots. She was the only seventeen year old to be chosen for the team, the other four girls were eighteen or nineteen according to the coach. She took all their sizes for their uniforms and were told to meet in the sports hall on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays for training, as the remaining fifteen girls stared at them sourly.

After the coach had briefed them, Marceline spotted a lock of golden hair poking out of a white, bear hat. Finn, she said mentally. She jogged over to him.

"Oi Finn, what are you doing here." Finn spun around quickly; he was wearing white and blue basketball gear with the name Finn Mertins stamped on.

"Oh hey Marceline, I thought you were boasting the other day," Finn rubbed the back of his neck as he talked sheepishly, "so I came to watch your try-outs, but Jake held me up so I only arrived just now" Marceline nodded, a fine eyebrow raised.

"So… why are you geared up to play?" she questioned

"I was wondering if you could play me, one-one, first one to three goals." He said brightly, "the courts are free, nobody will bother us cause they know I'm captain and stuff."

Marceline grinned widely, greatly resembling a Cheshire cat, as her eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Okay Finn," she smiled "you sure about this?"

"You're not the type to boast Marceline and I know the coach who was just worshipping you with praise is one of the hardest coaches to please but what harm can a game do right? It'll be a good challenge."

"Sure," Marceline hesitated "But lets have a dare to make it fun." Finn narrowed his eyes suspiciously, knowing after only two days of knowing Marceline that she was up to something.

"Oh c'mon!" Marceline begged as Finn nodded, "Right, whoever loses has to be the other's henchmen for a day."

The game had been playing for 10 minutes, to Marceline's surprise; Finn was actually a really good player. Almost as good as she, but naturally she would never admit it. She has executed two slam-dunks, and Finn also had scored twice. Marceline had the ball now and was sprinting towards the hoop, dribbling the ball with expertise. Finn came out of nowhere and blocked her when she was only a few paces from the hoop.

ARGHH Marceline cursed under her breath. She wouldn't get past him. She knew he was a capable defender, and would get possession of the ball if she tried to get past. Like hell she was going to let him win though. Marceline held her breath, taking several steps backwards. Finn grinned, thinking she was resigning, but oh was he wrong. She ran forward and jumped over Finn, and threw the ball into the hoop perfectly, performing a windmill dunk. Inwardly, Marceline gasped in surprise. In her all 17 years she had never done something like that. Ever. If the sports hall weren't empty everyone would have probably be cheering loudly. Outwardly she played it cool though.

"Heh. I win." Marceline gasped, between panting breaths

"Marceline that was so epic!" Finn's eyes were wide with excitement. His hat was drenched in sweat that was also dripping down his body. To be fair to him though, she probably looked just as dishevelled.

"You are gong to wash that right? Henchman." Marceline smirked

"Oh. Yeah I guess," Finn laughed "milady. We have to play again! Next time it should be 2 verses 2, Jake and I play well together. But who would you play with?" he questioned

"I have someone in mind." Marceline said mysteriously.

"Marceline." Bonnibel said, snapping Marceline out of her daze, "It's time to go to class."

Groaning Marceline replied, standing "Yes princess." Bonnie narrowed her sea blue eyes.

"Marceline, I have a student council meeting at lunch time, will you be okay with the group?" Bonnibel inquired, kind eyes looking at Marceline. She was carrying so many thick textbooks; Marceline could only wonder how she could walk. Must be those swimming muscles of hers, Marceline mused.

"Oh." Marceline tried not to look too crestfallen. "I'll be alright."

"If you say so vamp." Bonnibel laughed

AU

Hi guys! Hope you like the chapter, thanks so much for the follows and favourites. Don't forget to review for suggestions, comments or really anything.

I've started adding in dates so the whole thing will make more sense, ect. So here are the chapters and the days:

Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4 - 12th January, Monday, 2015

Chapter 5- 13th January, Tuesday, 2015

Chapter 6-18th January, Sunday 2015