My Lucky Charm–1
The gym is packed when we get there, buzzing with excitement.
Nikki looks over at me, her mouth wide. “I have never seen so many people at a game!”
We make our way through the crowd, both of us wearing the jerseys. People look our way, and when they see what we’re wearing, they cheer in our faces. The energy is wild and I find myself smiling with them, fist bumping those who reach out to me.
We find a spot on the home side, surrounded by cheering fans with painted faces and
handmade signs.
“Wow, they really go all out,” I chuckle.
Nikki nods, “They do, I think we should paint our faces for the next game.”
I can’t help but laugh, “Alright, let’s do it.”
A song begins to play off the speakers, a steady bass, deep and loud. The people go crazy and they stomp on the bleachers, they shake beneath us. Nikki takes my hand and jumps, forcing me to join her.
“They’re coming!”
I look to where the locker room doors are and sure enough, Melview’s varsity basketball team comes spilling out of the doors. They’re wearing their blue home uniform, and they jump, looking to the bleachers with raised arms.
They drink in the attention, like our cheers are physical things they can catch.
Parker spots Nikki and blows her a kiss, Nikki returns it and squeals, jumping up and
down.
I look through the team and spot Aiden, my stomach immediately coming alive with butterflies. He winks to me across the court and I inhale, waving at him nervously.
I’ve never been much of a sports fan, let alone a basketball fan. Still, as soon as the whistle goes off, signaling the star of the game, I’m bouncing on my toes. The people in the bleachers don’t sit, so it forces Nikki and I to stay on our feet, occasionally lifting
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My Lucky Charm–1
ourselves to the tips of our toes.
The ref blows their whistle.
I frown. “What is that for?”
“A foul,” Nikki tries to look around the person in front of her.
“For what?”
She shrugs. “I have no idea.”
I try to refrain from asking her anymore questions throughout the game because I learn all too quickly that she probably knows less than I do. It’s kind of funny, actually.
For most of the game, the teams are neck and neck, trading points easily. The cheering is equal on both sides of the court and the coaches are yelling their heads off as fouls are
called left and right.
Turns out, as we figured out from a conversation we overheard, this early season game
would determine who had the upper hand when it came down to state.
The intensity is palpable, the plowers growing agitated with every passing minute. I look
down, spotting the scouts that Aiden had told me about. They watch every move with keenly observing eyes. Clipboards in their hands for quick notes and polos with their schools‘ logo and colors.
They look intimidating and I can understand why Aiden was feeling as nervous as he was this morning. The point at players, whispering to each other, nodding and frowning. Not once do I see them crack smiles and it makes me unexplainably nervous.
I return my attention to the game, finding Aiden as he runs the ball across the court. I really hope they see how good Aiden is tonight.
The first half of the game is brutal, and thankfully over. A few players from both teams ended up getting kicked out, but Aiden and Parker were still in when the whistle blew.
The other team was getting frustrated. They were expecting this to be an easy win but our team was holding out, playing better in some cases, from what little I understood about the game.
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8:21 pm
My Lucky Charm–1
Aiden looks to me in the stands as the team heads to the lockers, he doesn’t do anything, just looks to me. I press my hand to my chest, where I can feel my heart beating against it. He turns from me, following his team.
