It was two weeks later. The girl’s changing room for gym class was bustling with chatter. Teenager girl’s hormones running rampage. Of course, I just listen to it all.

“Are you really going out with him?!”

“Yup! Look, he gave me this bracelet.” She arrogantly flashed her tanned wrist.

“Omg. So pretty. I’m jealous.”

“I know. He’s great.” She smirked with her ego showing all over her face.

Our P.E. teacher shouted at us from the partly opened door to the gym hall.

“Let’s go ladies! This isn’t a dance party!”

She blew her whistle and clapped her hands - signalling for us to get out there already.

We all gathered in the gym and waited for her instructions. She stood there in her hooded sweat shirt and sweat pants, extremely confident.

“Alright! Today is basketball. 3 vs 3. If you’re done stretching, choose your teammates and line up at one of the hoops.”

The girls all made their teams slowly. It seemed like most of them knew each other well already. I looked to see if there was anyone left who I could join.

I don’t think I’ll find proper team mates. I’ll probably be alone or with a fellow outcast.

Suddenly a burst of light flashed from the right of my eyes followed by someone yelling, “Helena!”

I was surprised to see Ae-ra dashing towards me from the girls locker room. The same white, green and black gym shirt and shorts that everyone wore seemed to sparkle on her. I think I might have needed sunglasses if I kept seeing her like this.

“Oh? Ae-ra, I didn’t know you were in the same P.E. class.” She hopped on me, giving me a hug - w-what?! It was way more skin ship than I was comfortable with.

“I had a last minute transfer. Isn’t it great?!” She smiled. Her bubbliness was too bright.

“Do you have a team yet?”

“Oh no, I don’t. Do you -,” she interrupts me before I can continue.

“Want to team up?!” Ae-ra’s eyes seemed to sparkle.

“Heh..okay. We need one more person though.” I slightly pushed her off of me.

I tried surveying the girls that were left. Ae-ra suddenly points ahead.

“How about her? She’s standing alone.”

There was a very tall girl standing on the sideline. I thought I was tall, but she was an easy few inches taller. The girl was dark-skinned with a very smooth facial features. She wore a scarf on her head, long sweat pants instead of shorts and had a super intimidating look on her face. Maybe we shouldn’t approach her…

Of course Ae-ra ran up to her. She’s so outgoing.

“Hi! Do you have a team yet? We need a third member.”

The girl looked down at Ae-ra, staring at her. The height difference was comical. “No. I don’t have a team.”

She sounded cold and it felt like she was pressuring me with her aura alone. But obviously, Ae-ra had no idea what pressure was. It was as if she was blind to it.

“I’m Ae-ra and this is Helena! Let’s go!”

Ae-ra grabbed the new girl by the wrist, dragging her away. The new girl turned to look at me just as surprised. I just nodded a hello while shrugging my shoulders and followed them to our assigned basket.

“I’m Aaliyah. I only want to win.” She said with the most stern voice.

That surprised me. I wasn’t sure what to think of her anymore.

We stood face to face with the opposing team. It was supposed to be a friendly basketball match between girls in this P.E. class… So why did I feel so intimidated by the girls looking at us?

The three of them stood there looking prepared to take down prey. Or vultures looking at dead meat. A smirk was drawn over their faces.

Let’s get this over with.

Mrs. Schneider blew the whistle signalling the start of all the matches. The tallest among the opposing team, what was her name again…? I can’t recall.

“This will be over quick. Don’t worry.” She let out a laugh and dribbled the ball towards the basket.

Ae-ra ran from behind her trying to gain traction. She swung out her arm to steal the ball but that girl dodged to the left and made a fancy swirl getting even closer to the basket. I did my best to block this redhead next to me and Aaliyah was blocking the brown-haired white girl.

As she got closer to the basket, Ae-ra jumped for the ball again. But at that moment, the girl shoved her with one arm forcing Ae-ra to fall to the ground. Ae-ra fell with a loud thud. She cringed at the pain and looked up at the girl who just made a basket.

“Hah. Is that all you got?” She walked away with a nasty smile on her face.

Ae-ra got up and walked towards us. The other two girls went to stand with their friend.

“Better not cry. It’s not a good look,” the redhead said as she held one hand on her hip.

“Looks like we got a bunch of weaklings,” the brown-haired white girl said, forcing her opinion in, trying to look cool.

The three of us stood there trying to catch our breath. I whispered under my breath to Ae-ra.

“What the hell? It’s just a game for class.”

“I know right?! They're acting like it’s life or death.”

We both looked towards our third team mate who had yet to say anything. She stood there with her arms crossed and eyes blazing.

“I was just going easy on you.” Aaliyah cracked her knuckles with a smile.

Ae-ra and I looked at each other a little surprised. We shrugged our shoulders and went in for the second round.

Aaliyah had the ball this time and made a beeline for the basket. I ran for the brown-haired white girl and Ae-ra for the redhead. The tallest girl obviously had her sights on Aaliyah. Aaliyah was just as tall as her.

While I was distracted by Aaliyah’s dash, the brown-haired white girl kicked me in the shin, forcing me to fall to the ground. She stopped her run to look back at me.

Heh. It was all over her face.

As I stood up, we all watched Aaliyah make the most magnificent leap for the basket. She soared over the tall girl - her face ringing with surprise and anxiety.

Aaliyah, with a smile ripping one across her melanin-filled face, flew straight at the basket and let the ball in with a SLAM.

She landed on her feet and turned to look at her kingdom. No really...at that moment she was the queen.

“What the actual f… she’s not human!”

“Shit, we can’t get past her defense.”

“Mommy!” The redhead cried. Apparently Ae-ra had rammed her in the shoulder extra hard to block her - and also for some payback.

“Don’t you underestimate me,” Aaliyah stated boldly.

Within the short ten minutes left of the match, Aaliyah went on to score us another 5 baskets. When I say she was on fire, she was hot.

Mrs. Schnieder blew the whistle.

“Time's up! Everyone to the locker room and get out of here.”

We headed to the locker room - both Ae-ra and I clinging to Aaliyah like some half-rate minions.

“Wow! Aaliyah, you were amazing! I can’t believe you totally trashed them.” Ae-ra’s eyes lit up as she recalled the match.

“I agree. Their faces were priceless after that,” I added in agreement.

Aaliyah just nodded with a smirk and we laughed till we left class.