"Selena!"

I stop from my tracks and turn around to see my hot ice cream, I mean Finn, jogging towards my direction, holding his backpack. His gold hoop earring on the left catches the autumn sun making him sparkle, in turn, our surroundings move in slow motion. I remove my earphones and slide my phone in the side pocket of my backpack.

"Hi Finn." I give him my most charming smile as my heart starts beating faster again when he stands in front of me and my eyes immediately focus on his chest and abs underneath his polo shirt. The memories from last weekend in his shop makes me feel like it's summer — hot.

"Walk with me?" He pants as he wears his backpack, giving me a lopsided smile.

"Sure. Where is your cousin, Harrison?"

We walk side by side and although my heart is thumping so loud, surprisingly, I feel very comfortable with him by my side. We've known each other since we're seven but we are never friends, though we see each other everyday. He was just someone I knew until two days ago.

"He went to school earlier. Also, I want to walk with you." Harrison lives a bit far from us so he drives to school and most of the time, he will pick-up his cousin on the way.

I glance up and our eyes meet.

"I-Is there any reason why you suddenly want to go together?"

He scratches the back of his neck and his body looks tense as if he's nervous. "Watch our game this Wednesday. You always watch football and soccer, how about giving basketball a chance?"

"Sure. I'll be there. Can I bring Archer and Eloise?"

He releases a hefty sigh. "Of course but wait for me after the game."

I nod, causing a wide grin to appear on his face and his eyes twinkle, making me gawk at him longer than necessary. In bewilderment, I don't notice the open green bin on the sidewalk until I plough into it.

"Ouch!"

"Fuck!"

Finn pulls me towards him and his eyes are full of worry while scanning my appearance. I'm pretty sure my face is as red as a tomato right now.

"Are you hurt somewhere? Sorry, I wasn't fast enough to —"

I hold his left hand. "No, I'm fine. Don't be sorry, it was my fault. Oh my God, this is so embarrassing."

We stare at each other and moments later, laugh at my lack of awareness of my surroundings. Blame it on the guy in front of me who hypnotized my eyes after a decade. Does he like me too? Did I just imagine the affection I saw in his eyes?

I'm smart but I can't decipher his feelings. Damn! I acted like a creep, clumsy and now, dumb. This. Is. Not. Good. My reputation is at risk.

"It isn't embarrassing, it's lit to see the smart girl looking —"

"Dumb?"

"Normal," he says, tucking my hair behind my ears again with the familiar look I've known since last weekend.

I clear my throat and after retreating his hand, he scratches the back of his head, making his brown curls look messier. Damn! I want to furl my fingers into his curls.

"Did you just say, I'm abnormal?"

"No! Of course, not. Just that your brain is unbelievable, amaz—"

I blush at his remarks. "Fine. I get it."

We walk and talk about everything else like basketball, homeworks, ice cream and hobbies. Apart from basketball and working in their ice cream shops ...

"You do what? Mixed martial arts?" He nods and gives me a smug smile. "Cool! Is that where you got that scar on your left eyebrow?"

"Yup."

"I haven't seen you fighting with someone." How come I didn't know it before?

"Miss Savvy, did you hear yourself? Self-defense is not about starting a fight with a random dude." My brain is failing me but he isn't laughing, he's more amused.

"I know, Mr. Hot Ice Cream."

"Hot Ice Cream?! You think I'm hot and creamy?" His laughter roars on the street, making the other students and passersby glance at us.

Oh no! I didn't just say that. Heat creeps from my neck to my head and I look down to hide my face.

"Selena!"

I snap my head up to see Eloise standing in front of the gate and waving at us. I have never been thankful for Eloise for cutting my conversation with someone until now.

"I have to go Finn. Bye!" I quickly jog towards Eloise while he is still laughing.

"I love it, Miss Savvy!" I hear him say it but I do not bother to look back.

"So, you and Finn? Since when?" Eloise links her arm to mine while studying my expression.

"There's no us."

"Oh come on. I know what I saw. Something is there." I don't know what's with her but I cannot hide anything from her — as if she can read my thoughts.

"Really, there's no us. But you're right. I feel something for him." I start to retell what happened last Saturday and on the way here. What I like the most with Eloise is her being a good listener. "And he invited us to watch their game on Wednesday after school. Can you and Archer make it?"

"Of course!" We are startled when Archer speaks behind us.

"Are you eavesdropping on our conversation?" asks Eloise.

"Oh no! No! But I can say, Finn is a nice guy," says Archer and my hand instantly covers his mouth.

"Don't you dare speak about it anywhere and to anyone. Understood?"

"Hmmmmm," He licks my hand and I quickly remove it from his mouth.

"Archer!!! Eww!!"

Archer runs away before I can hit him. "Bye girls! See you in our Chemistry class."

🍦🍦🍦

Unknown Number: Are u here?

Me: hu r u?

Unknown Number: hot ice cream

Me: Finn? Stop saying that! Not yet. Still waiting for Archer.

I added his number to my contact list as Finn. But he's really my hot-ice-cream, therefore I change it to 'Hot IC'.

Hot IC: c u, wait for me later

Me: k. Wait, where did u get my number?

Hot IC: I don't know. I always have ur number.

I'm speechless. I type and erase my message multiple times. How should I respond to that?

"Who's Hot IC?"

I jump when Archer's face appears beside me. "Jesus Arch! Can you stop appearing like a ghost?"

"Hot Ice Cream," says Eloise.

"Hot ice cream? What is that? Smokin' ice cream?"

"100%." Eloise winks at me and I grab both of them to start walking to the parking lot.

"Shotgun!" I run towards Archer's black VW as soon as I see it and smirk when Eloise curses.

After a good 10-minute ride, we reach the basketball court and find vacant seats on the benches. The game has already started and we watch in silence for a few minutes.

"Do you know the rules?" Eloise whispers, being careful not to disturb the other spectators.

"No." I scan the court to look for Finn but I can't find him. "Do you see him?" Eloise shakes her head.

I spot Finn sitting on the bench, hidden behind their coach. I wave once but his eyes are glued to his teammates on the court. I focus on the game instead and before the first quarter ends, I have a clear understanding of the rules in playing basketball.

Finn seems to be the best shooter. He always scores three points and steals the ball. During substitution, I watch him drink and wipe his sweat, wishing I will be the one doing it instead. Shit! There goes my fantasies again. I swallow my saliva to wet my dry throat. His eyes are fixed on the game, never glancing at the audience. Daicos and number 8 are written on the back of his jersey.

Compared to soccer and football, I can breathe more in basketball games because they can score quicker than the other two sports. Watching soccer and football makes me dizzy. When the event reaches the fourth quarter, my hands are damp due to nervousness as the two teams are playing so well that their scores are neck to neck.

"I can't breathe," says Eloise.

"Fucking good game," says Archer.

I keep squirming in my seat. At one minute before the game ends, the opposing team is ahead by 2 points and Finn is able to steal the ball and rtry to make a long range 3-point shot that could make them win this game.

Without thinking, I stand and shout at the top of my lungs. "Gooo Finn!"

To my horror, Finn's stance falters and the ball doesn't make it into the basket.

"No. No. No." I whisper, my knees become weak that I slump on the seat, hurting my bum in the process. "What have I done?" I look at Eloise with glassy eyes.

"It's not your fault." Eloise pulls me into a hug and I cry on her shoulder.

"I caused our team to lose. How will I face them? Finn might hate me." I wipe my snot using the back of my hand, unable to look at Finn and the team.

"You just acted like a normal fan," says Archer while rubbing my back.

"Arch and I need to go. Our parents are waiting for us."

"Will you be fine here, alone? You know you can cancel and go with us instead." Archer starts to pick up his bag and Eloise's.

"I'm fine. I made a promise that I will wait for him after the game. Let's go."

We walk towards the exit and I wait for Finn outside the changing room while I watch Eloise and Archer walk away.

I keep wiping my hands on my skirt, too nervous and paranoid about the players' reaction, specifically Finn. Am I throwing myself in the lion's den? Goosebumps rise on my arms and I shiver.

I open my phone to send a message to Finn.

Sorry can't c u tonight. Sorry for distracting u in the court just wanna cheer u

As soon as I send the message, I hear footsteps and chatters, making me nervous as hell.

"Hi Selena." That's Finn's voice. I look up and I've never felt so small in my life until now that I am surrounded by freshly showered 6+ footers.

"Hi Fi—"

"So this is the bitch who caused our team to lose." I snap towards the big bulky guy who is taller than Finn. If looks are bullets, his body is the clip and I am the target with lots of holes like a grater.

"What the fuck, James!" Finn's voice roars with anger. "Don't call her bitch!"

"What? That motherfucker distracted you in the court!" He shouts while pointing his finger at me.

"I'm sorry." I look down and quickly run away, feeling hurt and remorseful as tears start to cloud my vision. I hear someone hit something/someone. I freeze and turn around. I cover my mouth when I realize Finn punches his teammate.

"Don't you dare call her names again."

"Or what?"

"Stop! James. Finn. Inside. Now!" Their coach shouts and before they follow, James glares at me while Finn gives me an apologetic look. Tears are now flowing as I quickly walk away. I shouldn't have come here.

As requested, here is the continuation of Finn and Selena's story. What do you think dear readers?

Is the scene common in sports romance story? Let me know as I have not read a lot of sports romance. But in my opinion, being a distraction is not common. Am I right?

If you like this story, don't forget to vote and/or comment. Your constructive criticism is highly appreciated but not hate comments.

See you on the next part of Hot Ice Cream. I hope you enjoy this. Visit my Facebook and/or Instagram account if you want to see Finn Daicos. :-)