MATT

Yeah, Matt had begun to realise that his plan was stupid. Technically, Hannah's plan was stupid.

He couldn't play with someone's emotions like that. What was he even thinking?

But what if she rejected him. All the basketball practices would be so awkward then. And the chance for friendship would go down the drain as well.

What if he just became friends with her and then tried to get closer over time?

But they had one flipping year of school left before going their separate ways damnit.

Emma had told him to meet her near the parking lot, probably to tell him how stupid he was. It was well deserved.

And then Emma walked in, as if on cue, and said the total opposite, "I'm in."

He just stared, and then uttered the coolest, most intelligent phrase his mouth could utter, on the lines of, "Huh?"

She just looked at him as if she was already regretting her decision. Again, he wouldn't blame her.

"Let's the do the whole fake-relationship cliche thing you were planning. If we don't get a reaction, then friendship it is," she said, looking at him hopefully, "and hopefully we'll become friends in the process as well. What's there to lose anyway, am I right?"

A smile creeped onto his face, "Are you sure you want to do this? I don't wanna sound obnoxious and all but you'll be getting all sorts of attention. I'm kinda popular."

Emma laughed, "Eh well, I had been expecting to have a very uneventful year. Maybe it was about time to spice things up."

He grinned and snaked an arm around her shoulder, "Okay then, what is our first order of business, girlfriend."

PENNY

'Basketball won't get you anywhere

Swish. The ball went through clean, nothing but net.

Don't you want a future? Study.

Swish. The second basket was also nothing but net. Penny moved backward to the free throw line.

Who do you think will run the business after you?

Swish. The third consecutive basket went in, in a clean single motion. Nothing but net yet again. She moved to the three pointer.

Get your head out of your childish NBA dreams. Get real.

Swish. That was the fourth consecutive basket. She moved to the half line.

Remember. Basketball is just a sport with boys running around in baggy shorts. You'll never fit in.

Swish. The fifth consecutive basket. Penny dribbled the ball, letting all of her mothers 'taunts' flood her pain, dismissing them with each basket she made, which assured her that she did have a chance of having a future in basketball. She was took another shot, and this one went in as well, and she sighed with momentary satisfaction.

Then she heard clapping from behind her. She turned around and saw Matt, leaning on the pole of the opposite basket.

"You really are the best shooting guard in the business", he said with smile. She felt her cheeks heat up with the compliment. Her captain thought she was the best!

"I would be nothing if the best point guard wouldn't get me the ball", she said, passing the ball to Matt, who caught it and ran with it, then took a layup and dunked in the basket.

"Its true", he said with a smile, "Your praising skills have improved."

And she felt her cheeks heat up again, "Your humbleness has not", she said and he laughed. And she blushed even more. What was wrong with her? He was just bloody laughing. But...there was non denying how hot he was. And how much hotter he looked when he smiled. He had the prettiest green eyes, and was a bloody skyscraper.

More than that, he made it very hard to concentrate when he took his t-shirt off during practice. People could judge all they wanted, but Penny was a girl after all.He got asked out every single day, by the prettiest girls in the school, and he rejected every single one of them. What was he waiting for?

Penny shook her head and aimed for another basket. She didn't have to care how hot he looked. When she shot, she missed very badly.

Matt looked at her worriedly , "Did my praise make you self-conscious?"

His phone buzzed. He picked it up, then looked at Penny while he was talking on the phone, which did make very awkward. Penny never knew what to do when the person she was hanging out with began talking on the phone.

So she turned around, walked to the three-pointer from the half-court line, and began shooting again, her baskets going in easily.

A few minutes later, she felt a tap on the shoulder, and she felt that particular spot burning as she turned around and was face to face with Matt. 

They were a bit too close, their noses were inches apart. Her eyes unconsciously travelled to his lips, and she began to think what it would be like to kiss them. 

Then she mentally slapped herself for thinking like that.

He's your captain. 

Matt sucked in a breath and took a step back, "Um, I gotta go. But still, your shooting skills are amazing", and with that, he walked away, leaving Penny in her big puddle of confused emotions.