Page 17 of My High School Rebel Boyfriend
“I better let you get back to your training,” I mumbled, dashing to my bag for a packet of tissues. Everything had been pathetic, first a starry-eyed dream that I would get noticed by scouts, then lying to my mother, and now Mitchell stating the obvious. And to top it all off, about to blubber like a baby! I crouched over my bag, dabbed my eyes, sniffed and blew my nose.
I noticed there was no sound of balls bouncing.
“Hey,” Titan called, and he was standing shoulder to shoulder with Mitch. “We had a deal, Dent.”
“It’s okay,” I sniffed again. “I’ll talk to Ebony, I promise.” I picked up my jacket, trying to figure out how to put it on.
But Titan was tugging it out of my hands. “I said we had a deal,” he said emphatically, and he nodded back toward the court. I tucked my tissue under the top of my leggings and followed him, cursing my weak tear ducts. “Now, I know you laughed at my frog jumps,” he said with a wink, “but those things are going to help you.” He made me frog jump across the court and back.
Did I feel stupid? Yep, especially with Mitchell standing there watching. I wasn’t sure why he was, like shouldn’t he be practicing hoops or something?
“Do some knee tucks,” Mitchell said to Titan, when I made it back, trying to minimize my panting.
“Oh yeah, for height.” Titan demonstrated one, and indicated I should copy. I did a couple, and Titan nodded and said, “Let’s do 10.”
I was on my fifth one when Mitchell said, “That’s pathetic. Use your arms to drive more,” and he showed me. “Then bounce off of your toes for the next one, use fast feet,” he directed. “And pull your knees up higher. Really lift them.”
I put in my full concentration, and could feel myself going higher with each one.
“What’s next, Coach?” Titan laughed.
Mitchell suggested a few more variations of jumps, sideways, long, onto a box, always pushing for an extra one or two, to go harder, but he never addressed me directly, always speaking to Titan. I was huffing and puffing by the end of it, and when I swiped the back of my neck my hand was slippery with sweat. I immediately felt edgy, wondering if I was perspiring from heat or close to going hypo. Last thing I needed was to go dizzy in front of them.
“That’s probably all you need to do,” Mitchell said to Titan but finally looking at me. His bruise under his eye was a pale yellow now.
“Okay, thanks,” I said, going to get a much needed sip of water. I did have a Gatorade in my backpack, but they’d probably think I was pretentious drinking electrolytes this early in the morning. Though I desperately needed some sugar.
“See you at volleyball,” Titan called with a laugh, “And don’t forget to talk to Ebony.”
“Yeah, I will.” I waved and raced into the changing room. I sat down and by the time I’d taken off my t-shirt and replaced it with another one, I was shaking. That’s how quickly hypoglycemia could come on. I took a long drink of Gatorade and shoved some raisins into my mouth and sat there trying to compose myself. Impatient, I tested myself after a few minutes and knowing it was still a little low ate a sandwich. I stayed in there until the bell rang for firstperiod.
I caught up with the twins at lunch break, on their way to a meeting of some sort.
“Ebony?” My eyes flitted from the ponytail to the twisted bun, my initial thought being Ebony had the ponytail. I was wrong.
I hooked my arm in hers, stealing her away from Shavaun. “I have to ask you something,” I whispered. Knowing there was no time to dilly-dally, I came right out with it. “Do you like Titan Dell? Would you be interested in going out with him?”
“Whaaaat?” Ebony gasped, covering her hand over her mouth. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m asking you if you like Titan,” I said.
“Well, we only talked that one time, after training.” She giggled. “Why? Did he say something?”
“Yes, he likes you. A lot,” I said, “And he wants to ask you out.”
“I don’t know,” Ebony’s dark skin could not hide her blushing cheeks or the spark in her eye. “Really? He wants to go out?”
“Youdolike him!”
“He is kinda cute,” Ebony said, “but Harps, I haven’t...I haven’t dated before.”
“Don’t worry about that,” I said, like I was some dating guru. “Just be...open to talking to him, okay?”
“Okay,” Ebony said, all shy and giggly again. We parted ways and I headed to the bathroom to test myself. I hadn’t felt quite right since the morning and a tiredness was creeping in making me think I’d be lucky to make it through the rest of my classes, let alone volleyball training. Yet that was the most important thing. With the tournament only a week away I had to push on, I couldn’t afford to miss one practice.
Chapter 7
MITCHELL
