The last bell of the day rang at 3:10 which meant that I still had two hours before the game started. My anxiety fluttered in the pit of my stomach. 

Deep breaths... In and out... I thought, attempting to calm myself down. 

"Yo Connor!" I heard a yell and turned around to face Seth. 

"What's up, man?" I replied, forcing a smile to my face. 

"Nothing much. I just wanted to know if you were going home or planning on waiting here until the game starts," Seth told me. 

"I was planning on staying here. Maybe get some last minute practice in," I said. "Might even work on a few class assignments."

Seth smiled. "Good. I won't be alone." 

I let out a chuckle. 

"Wanna snag a basketball from Mr. Embersling then?" I asked. 

"Sure," he smiled and we headed towards Mr. Embersling's office. 

After getting a basketball, we walked to the basketball court by the cafeteria and began to play. An hour later, we were both sitting on the nearby bleachers, sweaty and laughing. 

"Wanna play again?" Seth asked. 

"We have a game in an hour and you want to play again?" I asked rhetorically. 

"Good point," Seth said and leaned back again. 

I laughed and stared up at the sky. The sky was gray and the clouds were dark. It looked as if it were about to rain. 

For the next hour, Seth and I sat on the bleachers and talked. The weather, our grades, his girlfriend, everything. It felt nice to talk to Seth. It was easy as hardly anything was in my life. 

"Holy shit! We gotta get to the gym!" Seth exclaimed, looking down at his watch. "There's only ten minutes until the game starts!" 

"Shit!" I yelled, jumping up and grabbing the basketball. 

The two of us ran across the school campus to the gym, skidding into the locker room, and changing into our jerseys in record time. 

"Where were you two?" Mr. Embersling asked as soon as we stepped foot in the gym. 

"Kissing behind the bleachers," I heard Christopher mutter, sending most of the team into a fit of laughter. 

"We were getting last minute practice out on the outdoor court and lost track of time," I answered, ignoring Christopher. 

Mr. Embersling gave me a look that said he was irritated, but not mad and sent Seth, Jason, Jonah, Daniel, and I out onto the court. 

Two minutes until the game started and my anxiety was reaching it's highest point. 

It's okay Connor... Deep breaths... In and out... I thought before plastering a smile on my face. 

"Let's crush them!" I said to my team as the buzzer went off and we ran onto the court. 

I quickly scanned the crowds to find Grandma and see if Angelina had managed to make it. There they were, sitting side by side, talking like old friends. I smiled at the thought and refocused on the game that was soon to start.

~ooo~

The game was over, we had won. Again. Our team was cheering and yelling in celebration. I watched as families rushed down from the bleachers to congratulate the team members. At the very back of all the other families, I could see Grandma and Angelina. 

"You did amazing out there Connor!" Angelina shouted. 

"That's my boy!" Grandma said, grabbing me wrap me in a hug.

I chuckled and hugged her back. When she let go of me, I moved around her to hug Angelina as well. I figured she would pull away from the inevitable sweat coating my body. Instead, she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. 

"That really was a great game," she said to me. 

"Thanks," I replied. 

"Well! Who wants pizza?" a woman asked, coming up behind Angelina once we had let go of each other. 

"Connor, this is my mom. Mom, this is Connor," Angelina introduced us. 

I smiled and gave a small wave. 

"Oh Jenny, you don't have to do that!" Grandma exclaimed. 

"I insist Patty! And Connor, if there's anyone you'd like to bring along, you're more than welcome to!" 

I looked over at Grandma who nodded to let me know that it was okay for me to get my friends. 

"Seth, Max, Matt!" I called out to them when I reached the locker room. "You guys want to get pizza with me and Angelina?" 

"Hell yeah!" the three shouted in unison. 

I laughed before changing out of my jersey and into my regular clothes. When the four of us were done changing, we walked back out to the court. From there Angelina, her mom, Grandma, Max, Matt, Seth, and I piled into one car and drove off to get pizza.