*If you haven't read the author's notes please go read it, it's deeply important as important info are there!!! Thank you.-Lauren*
Maverick's pov
Basketball, it's my life, it's what I like best. I always liked basketball ever since I was young. Maybe ever since I could walk and talk. I can't remember but it's been an awful long time.
I'm a part of my school's basketball team but there are plenty of guys that are a part of the team. I'm just one of them but actually, I'm not. I'm more than that. I'm not just a player. My name is known and everything but I'm sure you all still have no clue who I am.
Well, I'm Maverik Campbell, not just a 15-year-old teenage boy, no, I'm my school's basketball captain on the Spitfires of Rochester High.
Captain? At 15? Impressive no? I'm only 15 and a sophomore and I have already attained exceptional status. It's not my fault that I'm so good and that I'm the best leader.
Ok, I'm boasting off my ego. I didn't magically become the captain. I had to work hard all those years to attain it.
I think I have some explaining to do on how my team works. Rochester High might have some funding and glory but for some reason, it didn't translate into the Spitfires.
Why? Well, because there weren't enough players, they decided that all players, regardless that they were a freshman or seniors will be on the same team. Complicated and unfair right? Reason? Their basketball team was awful and the other teams of Rochester High were good.
Regardless, I ignored all of that and signed up for it. It was the best decision ever. Of course, they were bad but they quickly realized that I was good, like I had real talent, unlike the other guys.
Sure we haven't made the playoffs last year but I can't make miracles either.
Their captain was a senior last year and he graduated, so as they consider me, exceptional talent and wanted to make sure I would stay, they named me captain at the start of the year even though I was 14 at the time.
I might seem like perfection just like my looks suggest but I have a little issue that basically no one knows. It's not a big deal but I'm color blind. I've been so since I was young and never realized it. I got used to it but recently there was a colour-blind text online that got popular and I did it, that's how I knew I was colour-blind.
The colours I have trouble seeing are well, red and green, the most common type, so not shocking.
That fact is not a big deal but it's that. Yeah, I never got the test done because how could I? No one will believe me, Maverick Campbell is seen as perfection.
So, yeah, that's basically who I am.
Today, it's another morning in March and I have a game after school.
Before I get ready to head to school my brother draws me to school, by the way, I hate it but I can't do anything about it. I have to make myself look good. As much as I don't want to put some time into my looks, I'm still popular and I'm the face of the school. I've got no choice but to look my best.
And that starts with taking a shower. Well, I already did but that's beside the point, I get out of the shower with only a towel on. I check myself in the mirror and I decide to shave.
Sure, I don't have a full-on beard but who wants to see a beard on a teenage guy like me? Come on, even I don't want to see that.
That's the bad side of puberty and teenage years. At least, I don't have acne like a lot have. Even if it's that, it's still annoying that lately, I've been growing an unwanted moustache.
After I shave, I take care of my hair and my face. While I do so, I hear a knock on the door.
"Hey! What's taking so long over there?! Why is it taking as long as a girl?!" Ugh...my brother Thomas.
He annoys the sh*t of me and we don't really get along. I'm the youngest and he's in his senior, even worse. Even if I am the school's basketball captain, he still sees me as a loser. Why go huh?
"Yeah, yeah! I'm almost done!"
"You better make it fast 'cause I need to shower too! I can't afford to be late because you're a slow poke." I roll my eyes and get dressed immediately. Then, I get out.
"Finally! What took you so long?!"
"None of your business," I say annoyed and he just glares back at me.
"Yeah, go on like that." He rolls his eyes and I decide to leave.
Eh, it's not like my brother matters to me, he's not the one that's surrounded by popularity, so he might as well go f**k off because I bet he's just jealous.
Through it's not my brother the worse, it's my parents. My family seems like a cute family at the first end especially because they support me in basketball but we're not.
The thing is my parents are actually hypocrites that only care about themselves and their images. My brother isn't better, he's just a huge asshole.
For instance, this morning they only talked to me about my game tonight and my well-being, well being healthy enough to play.
They never care about how I'm doing other than basketball and never generate talks with me. So this morning wasn't a first. They only do so if it concerns them or makes them look better. If I didn't play basketball I would be nothing to them.
Even if it's that, I suck it up because besides there's worse than my parents and I'm lucky they still treat me that way despite my secret. They certainly wouldn't want to see me again. Yeah, they don't know but yeah, I have a secret. A huge nasty one and I wish to not mention it.
It's been hard coming to terms with it. So, I wish to forget that it exists...Yeah...I can't forget that.
Anyways, I dreadfully head into my brother's car. Yeah, my brother has a car. I can't wait till I can finally drive in peace.
My brother doesn't bring me to school because he wants to but more like he's forced to. Our mom wants us to look like the perfect brothers that get along, the thing is, we don't.
He would rather die than drive me to school and I would rather have one of my older teammates pick me up but hey what can I do? Can't go around my mom, can I?
"Come on, get in loser." See? I'm a loser to him.
"Yeah, yeah," I say annoyed as I open the passenger seat as get in.
He starts his car and we go to school.
————————
As soon as we arrive at school, I get away from my brother. He doesn't want to be seen with me neither do I.
I push the door open and as soon as I do everyone looks at me, especially girls. Of course, they do as I'm naturally handsome but they don't interest me.
Before the guys come to me, it's one girl in particular that comes to me, it's one of the cheerleaders. There's no doubt that's my girlfriend.
Hmm, despite my colour blindness, I can tell she has long honey blond hair with baby blue eyes, cute makeup on and a tight shirt with a shade of grey, skirt.
She's my girlfriend and as much as other guys look at her and then at me in jealousy, I don't feel as proud as I should. She's just my girlfriend that's it.
She kisses me quickly.
"Hey, Mav." She smiles brightly at me with her perfect white teeth. Can she get any more perfect than that?
"Hey, Makayla. You look stunning today."
"Thanks" She smiles softly.
"So, I bet today you will cheer for me again?"
"Yeah, I will. I have to anyways, it's the big game."
"You sure it's not because you want to cheer for me especially?"
"Well...you're part of it but no. I have to do my cheer routine with the entire group of girls. Trust me we do it for the basketball team."
I can't miss her huge smile that almost disappears for a melancholic one but I choose to not comment on it.
"Oh well, apparently my brother is coming to the game."
"He is? I thought he didn't like basketball?"
"Oh, dream on. He'll never like basketball."
"Then, why's he coming?"
"Because my mom and my dad want him to."
"Oh! I get it now. Why does it bother you that much?"
"You know how my parents are and you know how Thomas is."
"Yeah...but there's nothing wrong with your parents coming to watch you."
"Maybe not but you of all people should know why it bothers me." Her smile disappears.
As much as she likes to act like misses perfect and as if nothing is wrong with her. I know some parts of her family, the truth about them. They aren't any better than mine.
"Don't make me remember my b*tch of my step-sister Ella and my mom." I'm the only one that gets to hear this it seems like.
"Yeah, I know Ella is a real hoe and we are f**king lucky she's not in our school you told me that before."
"I'm really glad I don't have to see her every day or else I would break down. Seeing her and her mom whenever I go to Dad's sucks big time."
"At least my parents are still together."
"Lucky you." Yeah...lucky me...
"Let's move out of here."
"Yes, we should."
She interlocks her right hand on my left hand and I accept it hesitantly.
Why am I so hesitant? Well, she'll never know why and the others will never know why either.
———————-
After an entire day of school with boring school classes, it's finally time for our game, not the game. The one against the Snakes of Lewis High, the other high school in our town.
Usually, guys all change up in the changing room together but I don't. Sure we're all boys but I can't say why I can't stand changing there even if I'm the captain.
All I know is that I don't feel comfortable seeing naked teenage guys changing into basketball uniforms. So, I go change in the boys' washroom as ridiculous as it sounds.
As I get dressed up quickly and even if I can't see well due to my colour blindness, I put
on my favourite orange bandana, then head outside, I almost stumble upon a guy my age.
Normally, I don't have time to see who it is but I get mesmerized by his looks.
Hmm, light brown hair, heartwarming, ugh, I can't see the colour well but it must be a sort of green. He has a shy smile and a small frame. Gosh...he's so cute.
He notices me and we make eye contact. He blushes, cute. Through, he leaves all shyly before I can ask him his name. Dang it!
———————-
"Another three points for Rochester High!"
The game is close to finish and my team has an advance of 3 points from the Snakes of Lewis High. The score is currently 76 to 73 in our favour.
I continue to play my best and dribble the ball while everyone cheers.
My teammate makes a pass to me and there are only 10 seconds left. I dribble the ball to the other side and right before the time of the game ends, I throw the ball into the basket and it goes in.
Yeah! I make high fives with my teammates and others cheer loudly for me. The guys from
Lewis High glares at me.
"Another 2 points for Rochester High!"
The last few seconds go by and our team wins 78 to 73 against the Snakes of Lewis High.
I high-five my teammates and celebrate only sweaty from playing hard.
"And the Spitfires from Rochester High win!"
We go to the bench to the coach and he congratulates us.
The guys all sweat and so do I but some of them tries to get rid of their sweat with their jersey. So, it shows their glorious six-pack and girls go crazy.
Everyone expects me to do the same as I'm literally the captain but I don't. I don't feel comfortable doing that. It might be strange but I know why.
The guys go take their showers in the changing room but I don't join them. Again, I don't want to be near naked teenage boys.
So, I notice Makayla and her cheer squad but I don't join her. My parents notice me first and they gesture for me to come to them and there's my brother next to them. He doesn't seem that happy to be there. Am I surprised? No.
I go up to the stands and join my parents. My dad wants to hug me but he doesn't after all.
"Gosh, son you're so sweaty, go take your shower with the guys." My dad says disgusted and confused.
"Why didn't you go with them?" Thomas asks with his annoying tone of his.
"I prefer to wait out."
"Hmm...sure." F**k...my brother is suspicious of me.
"Seriously you're sweaty sweetie."
No, good game Maverick or something? That's what I mean by my parents.
"If you won't go take your shower, why don't you go see your girlfriend?" Thomas says annoyed and that pisses me.
"Is it that blond girl? What's her name again?" My mom says confused.
"Makayla," I answer.
"Yes, her! Go see that lovely girlfriend of yours! She must be dying to see you after your win." Finally, acknowledging that I won?
"Sure"
As close as she and I are, I don't want really want to go see her but I guess I have to. Before I head out of the stands, I notice a guy, wait...it's the same guy from earlier! The cute guy! He was at the game after all! I wonder, was he here for me? Who am I kidding probably not but maybe yes..?
"Hey, what are you doing waiting there like a lovesick puppy?" My brother asks me.
F**k...he didn't figure it out, did he?
Regardless, despite finding the brunette guy really cute, I have to go see my girlfriend of mine...
I get down the stairs of the stands and join my girlfriend, Makayla.
As soon as she sees me, still with her cheer outfit and poms, she kisses me and everyone looks at us.
Ugh...why do I feel the pressure to be with her coming from everyone?
"You were really good out there Mav!"
"Thanks." I smile lightly.
For some reason, it's awkward between us until I notice the guys out from the changing room.
"I'll go now."
"Yeah, go you're sweaty." She chuckles and I leave.
F**k...it's hard hiding my deepest secret.
————————
After being all clean, I'm surprised to see Makayla waiting for me all alone.
"What are you doing here?"
"I need to tell you something important." Huh?
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Let's go somewhere more private." Oh no...don't tell me she found out.
We go inside a classroom and she closes the door.
"I've been pretending that everything is ok but it's not."
"What do you mean?"
"Well...there's something huge that's preventing me from doing so."
"Ok?"
"Mav...I know you won't like it but...I trust you and I want you to know."
"You're scaring me May."
"Mav...I like girls." My eyes go wide with pure shock.
"What?! You like girls?!"
"Shhh!"
"Sorry..."
"I've been hating it for a long time...and I'm sick of hiding it."
"What does that mean now?"
"I was hoping to break up."
"What?!"
"Shhhh!"
"Sorry...why?"
"Well, we can break up but others can't know about it, we have to pretend nothing changed."
"What...?"
"I'm hoping to stay best friends Maverick. We're more like friends and..."
"I'm fine with that but gosh I'm shocked."
"What about you? What's your secret?"
"What secret...?" I say terrified.
"Oh, so you do have a secret?"
Should I tell her? Should I tell her my biggest secret? Well...She told me hers...Ok, here I go.
"Actually, I do have a secret."
"And that is?"
"I'm...gay too..." Her eyes widen out of shock.
"What..?"
"You heard me."
"OMG...I can't believe this..."
"Me neither..."
"Sh*t, we are both gay...Though we have to keep this a secret."
"Yes! Oops..."
"Yeah, who do you like?" Her smile comes back.
"Huh?"
Why is she acting as if it's not a big deal?
"Who's your crush?"
"What? No! I don't have any crush."
"Sure you do because I do."
"Who?"
"I won't tell you."
"Then, I won't tell you mine either."
"Fine, that's fair but I'll figure out who's your crush." She smirks.
"And I'll figure out yours," I smirk too.
"Best friends?"
"Best friends."
As crazy as this is, I already can't wait to find a way to talk to that cute guy.
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