So as my social studies class began, I heard my classmates gossiping about the new guy. One of them looked at me for a second and turned back to gossip. Look, I know I'm not the person most people wanna invite to a conversation but at the very least if you're gonna gossip about me, let me in! Ah screw it, I got up and started heading over there when he suddenly bursted in. Apparently he's in our homeroom too, and two periods later, turns out he's got the same schedule as me, yay...ugh.

So, gym finally pulls up, my favorite class of course, and we're playing line basketball. Look, like the guys back in middle school who thought they could be the next Lebron but fail, I can't play the sport to save my life. But to race to at least get a basket in, now that I can do. The coach called up my name and two others, Sydney and Abigail. Finally, I could keep my mind off of things. Then he called up Siyron's name, another guy named Evan, and Mr. Vampire himself. Found out his name is Jace but man does this suck.

The one person I wanna spend more time with is the person I have only two periods with, and the one person I actually want to stay from has all my classes. And they're both on the same team?! I facepalmed so hard I made the room shake, and Sydney and Abigail tried to calm me down by just reminding me that it's just a game and that I shouldn't be worried if we lose. That wasn't exactly what I needed, but you know what? I'll take it.

Jace tried to give me a smirk, and I was more agitated from their excited screams than the fact they were aimed at him. Yet he seemed less uncomfortable, maybe because the lights in the gym wasn't as bright, or I'm overthinking that he might be a vampire

"Siya, you alright?"

I shook off my thoughts to see Siyron's face. His dreadlocks kinda made the room feel a little brighter, and he had on those glasses the cool mathletes wore, but his brown skin, chubby chest, and the fact he actually treated me like I existed kinda eased my mood. But my mind was going halves

"Si, um hey." His voice felt smooth, rather warm. "Yeah yeah I'm fine." I saw the coach about to call the whistle. "Can we eat later", I rapidly asked.

He was able to say something when the whistle rang and both teams had to go, but smiled. I hope that meant a yes as I rushed with my team to beat the guys.

So Abigail and Sydney have to shoot first, then I go last. Now technically as a team the goal is to finish before the other teams, and make sure we're all on the same side of the court when it happens but we since we get points depending on where we shoot, I starting convincing them to aim to just get it in, since the guys would be obsessed with getting high scores. A layup was 2 points, the three point line was 3...I think, the free throw being 5, and the near ultra impossible midcourt line 7. And since the few times we have free play end up with the guys taking up the whole gym to just free throw and force the girls to either join or sit on the bleachers, you'd think I'd be judging too far. Then as Abigail started shooting from the three point line, Evan immediately was showing off trying to aim a basket from the halfway point, with his male cheerleaders stroking all his attempts with that bullcrap hype. But the girls actually agreed with me, perfect!

And I secretly wanted to score the final basket like a boss to impress Siyron and show my classmates I mean business, but now I can teach Mr. Vampire not to screw with me. I hope.

Abigail ended up eventually scoring 3 points, and as Sydney grabbed the next balls, we raced to the other side. As we reached the other side with the guys Sydney tried to score, but for some reason Evan was trying to shoot backwards! He launches it in the Air just as Sydney fires her own attempt, but both their balls collide, and our ball gets knocked aside, as theirs makes it in. I'm sorry, what?! The guys sitting down and even some of the girls hype up this half jock with their cheers like he planned it. Look, miracles are awesome, but they will cheer over everything at this point whether it was earned or not. The trio rushed to get their second basket in, but Sydney was furious, and started trying to aim at the five point line instead. And now she keeps trying to shoot it that far while it falls only a few feet away from us every single time. Then I heard a loud thud. When I turned too, Jace was chucking the ball between the 5 and 7 point line more like a football. He was doing leagues better than Sydney ...only by virtue of actually hitting the rim and the backboard. My eyes followed Siyron walking up to him, trying to tell him something but as I heard some people laughing at his attempts on the side, he quickly grew belligerent and it looked like he was about to hit him. I was about to jump in and do something, when suddenly I got knocked in the head and fell to the floor. The ensuing laughter hit worse than the ball, and Sydney showed me two rare sights: compassion, and concerning, helping me up and apologizing. Honestly, I wasn't going to hold it against her but then I heard cheering as the three of them, barring Jace, raced to our side of the court while he just stood there as if he was waiting for me. We were going to lose.

Something just triggered inside of me. It's just this feeling. Months of feeling like an outcast, being humiliated in a class I shouldn't feel stupid in, having some bloodsucker act like he can own me, and screwing up the one chance I had to impress myself. I snapped.

"Syd, just do a lay up!"

"Like Siya, there's like no chance."

"Just do it! Stop acting scared, you're better than you think so just do it, make the shot!"

My adrenaline was through the roof but I couldn't take it anymore. Somehow I scared her enough for it to actually work.

"Come on!" The guys reached right in front of us as I leaped to below the rim, grabbing the bell as I passed Siyron, who stopped at the free throw line. I told the girls to go ahead.

"Wait you're going to shoot from that far ahead", Sydney asks.

"You're not going to make it" Abigail yelled.

Jace's condescending smile plus their insistence on telling I couldn't do it just pushed me further. Knowing Siyron was about to shoot, but seeing Jace in my way I jumped into the air and landed on his foot.