After the movie was over, Isabelle stood, stretching her arms and legs. "That movie was pretty boring."

"Yeah," Anen replied.

Isabelle smacked her arm. "Don't pretend you even watched it. I thought you were going to hyperventilate half of the time."

Anen rolled her eyes, even though the statement was true. Something about being that close to Ben made her lungs not want to work properly.

"Anyway," Isabelle said as she looped her arm through Anen's, "it's almost time for the sports to start. Are you ready to see whose team you're on?"

"Not really," she replied.

"It's going to be fine, Anen."

She highly doubted that, but she still allowed her friend to lead her over to the sheets to learn her fate.

Anen scanned the teams with a growing sense of trepidation. She found Ben's name, and she wasn't on the same team as him. Or even the same team as Isabelle. But the name right under hers read: Mia Pierce. Anen's heart sank into her stomach. Mia was on her team?

"I thought you said Mia didn't sign up."

Isabelle glanced at the list. "She wasn't earlier. She must have changed her mind."

There was a sinking feeling in her gut, and she turned to glare at Isabelle. "This was a terrible idea."

Her friend gave a shrug of her shoulders. "I'm sure it'll work out just fine."

Anne doubted it would be fine, but there wasn't much to do now. Maybe she could fake an injury and get out of this whole thing. Or more likely, she would get injured. Then she could just sit on the sidelines and watch Ben.

Basketball would be right here in the gym, so Anen stood on the sidelines with Isabelle while the rest of the students filed out of the gym, off to play board games and watch more movies. Anen wished she was going with them.

Board games would be much more fun than this.

But Coach Walters was already stepping out of his office with the large box of colored jerseys. Anen took a green one, which smelled of old sweat and cheap laundry soap, and begrudgingly put it on.

Isabelle wore a yellow one, which hung off her slight frame comically. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I wish they would get rid of these disgusting things."

Anen wrinkled her nose. "I agree. We've only been using these same ones since elementary." Some of them were torn, hanging on by a few threads. And yet, the school kept them, never bothering to buy new ones.

Coach blew his whistle, making Anen jump.

"Alright, up first, we have the blue team versus the yellow team! Green team and red team, off to the side."

"Good luck," Anen told Isabelle before retreating to the sideline of the court, while Isabelle's team headed off to face Ben's blue team. Mia was wearing the same green jersey as Anen was, though hers seemed to be in better condition.

Anen kept a way off from the rest of her team, which had crowded around Mia. She pretended to watch the game in front of her, but her eyes mostly just switched from watching Isabelle to watching Ben.

Ben was good at playing basketball. He was on the varsity team and it showed in the way his teammates passed him the ball whenever they could. He scored a lot of points for his team.

On the opposing side, Isabelle wasn't much help to her teammates, though she made a basket once after she slipped past the giant girl guarding her. Anen clapped for her friend and Isabelle beamed at her from the court.

The game ended all too soon, with Ben's team winning by a landslide. Isabelle jogged over, her breaths coming in pants and sweat gleaming on her forehead.

"That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," Isabelle told her. "I actually kinda had fun."

"I'm not sure I'll have any fun with Mia being on my team," Anen grumbled.

Isabelle glanced over Anen's shoulder, to where Mia must have been. Anen glanced back to see her congratulating Ben on his team's win. Her hand was on his arm.

"Alright, green versus red!" Coach called.

"I don't think I can do this."

Isabelle crossed her arms. "Too late. Good luck."

Anen's nerves were frayed as she stepped onto the court. Anxiety churned like a hurricane in her stomach. When she glanced back, Isabelle gave her a thumbs-up from her spot on the sidelines. Anen returned the gesture with a smile, though it wasn't genuine.

The game started and Anen's team had the ball, which was brought down the court by a short boy who was on the basketball team. He held the ball just past the half-court line, as if waiting for the rest of the team to make a move.

Anen wasn't sure of where to go, so she hung around the edges, not trying to get in anyone's way. A large boy was next to her, though he paid her no mind.

Mia was quick to make sure they tossed the ball to her, and she took a shot as soon as the ball was in her hands. It swirled around the edges of the rim for a moment before going in.

Cheers came from the sideline, but Anen saw Isabelle cross her arms over her chest. Sighing, Anen swore to herself that she would do better.

The game continued. Anen didn't touch the ball once, though it wasn't from lack of trying. They did not guard her very much, since most people didn't think she was a threat.

But even when she was open for a pass, the ball never once came her way. The short boy, Evan, didn't even glance her way. He was too busy keeping his eyes on Mia, who took the ball every chance she got. The more points she scored, the deeper Anen's hatred went.

Why did that stupid girl have to be good at whatever she did?

The game ended with Anen's team winning, though she felt rather deflated.

Isabelle patted her on the back and gave her a look of sympathy. "As bad as that was for you," she said, "it could have been so much worse."

Anen shot her best friend a glare. "Gee, thanks."

"I'm sorry. They should have passed you the ball at least once. Too bad Creepy Evan can't keep his eyes off Mia."

She murmured her agreement with Isabelle's statement.

"Alright, yellow team versus red team!"

Isabelle gave a smile as she headed back onto the court. Anen tried to keep her focus on the game, but it was hard since Mia and Ben were standing on the sidelines, looking super friendly.

Anen leaned back on the bleachers, trying to put her focus on the bright gym lights above her head. Losing her eyesight to the lights would be better than having to see Mia and Ben together again.

I heard the buzzer go off, signaling the end of the game. Isabelle's team had won, earning them third place.

"Blue versus green for first and second place!" Coach called out.

Anen sat up and Isabelle was already in front of her.

"Go kill it, girl," Isabelle told her.

"Yeah, sure."

Ben's team started with the ball and he was the one to dribble down the court, moving slowly to give his team time to get into better positions. Mia was waiting to meet him, already in a defensive position, a smile on her face.

Pressing down on the anger that rose in her, Anen did her best to prevent the other team from making a basket. But the boy she was guarding was nearly a head taller than her.

He got the ball and shot right over her head, giving her an apologetic look as he did.

As they ran back down the court, Mia shot her an angry look. "What the hell was that, Carver?"

Anen felt the blush as it spread across her cheeks. She didn't answer Mia, just took her position on the court. As usual, Evan paid her no attention, instead focusing on Mia as she moved around her guard.

But Mia couldn't get around Ben. At first, Mia had a flirty look in her eyes as they danced around, but the longer it went on, the realization dawned on her that Ben wouldn't let her pass him.

Anen stepped away from her guard, who didn't pay her any attention. She stepped out to the side, past Mia and Ben, and waved to Evan.

Evan tossed her the ball, which she caught awkwardly.

Mia's face lit up with rage as Anen dribbled the ball towards the basket, where her guard was waiting for her. But they were too far away to prevent her from shooting.

Not wanting to miss her chance, Anen stared at the basket and went to shoot, only to have a hand shoot out from next to her, slamming the ball right down into her face.

Pain blossomed across her face and tears instantly welled in her eyes.

Anen lost her balance, slamming hard into the hardwood below her. She could vaguely hear the blast of Coach's whistle, though it sounded hazy.

"Pierce! On the sideline!"

Pierce? Had Mia blocked her shot? Weren't they on the same team?

Blood gushed over Anen's face, warm and sticky. Her nose was bleeding. Stars danced in front of her vision as she tried to think of what to do.

"Here," someone's voice said. They pressed something soft into her hands and helped her press her hands to her face, to staunch the flow of blood.

"Rivers, take her to the nurse."

There was a murmur of agreement before she was being helped up by muscular arms. When she was finally on her feet again and the initial pain was ebbing away a little, Anen could see that Ben was walking her to the nurse.

"Are you okay?" He asked her as they headed out of the gym and into the warm spring air.

"I don't know," Anen answered. Her head still ached badly, and she was sure she'd have some major bruises tomorrow. It hurt way too much to not bruise.

"I can't believe she did that," Ben said.

She pressed the cloth harder against her face, though it did little for the taste of blood in her mouth. "I can."

"I knew she could be bitchy, but this was a whole new level. I've been tired of her attitude all day."

Hope soared in Anen's chest. Ben was tired of Mia? That was the greatest news she'd heard all day.

The nurse's office came into sight far too quickly. Ben walked her in and when the nurse saw the blood, she shook her head. "Not a single field day goes by where someone doesn't come in here bleeding."

Anen wanted to hang her head in shame that it was her this year, but this hadn't been her fault. She just hoped Mia got in trouble for this.

As if on cue, the principal walked in, his expression irritated. His eyebrows rose when he took in the sight of Anen, covered in her own blood.

"Mia has been sent home and she'll be suspended for the first week of the new school year," he told her. "Her actions were out of control. Her parents, as well as yours, have been notified."

The nurse walked over with a fresh rag for Anen's nose and Ben took a step back, no longer needed.

"I'll see you around, Anen," Ben told her, before he disappeared out of the office door.

Anen watched him leave, that little bubble of hope still swelling in her chest.