Under The Stars

Chapter 9

Keith’s POV

I peeped through the window of the locker rooms into the basketball court. It was filled to the brim with most of the people dressed in matching blue sports t-shirts. Finally it was the great tournament day.

My teammates and I had prepared long and hard for this match. Mr. Derrick, our coach had particularly ensured that we had enough practice. We were competing against the Red Sharks. They were one of the best teams in the region but so were we.

“Are you guys ready?” coach asked us.

“Yes coach.” We answered in unison like it was the norm.

“Okay, go out there and show them who the real stars are.” He added before we matched out into the court.

The spectators clapped as we entered, with the school cheerleaders’ squad chanting something like “Go Blue Whales”.

I looked through the crowds as the Red Sharks, our opponents walked in. Seated at the front was Nicole. I looked at her smiling but she didn’t even notice as she was busy staring at her phone. ‘So much for coming to support me.’

I continued looking through the crowds until my eyes landed on her. The girl I hadn’t been able to get off my mind the whole week since Monday. Zia Brown.

She was seated there smiling broadly holding a banner, written “Blue Whales forever.” I couldn’t help but admire how beautiful she was. Her hair was long and dark and she held it neatly in a bun. And her smile so infectious with her set of well-arranged teeth.

In a spur of a moment my mind drifted to the time when I gave her a ride to school.

**

She had been standing at the corner in the room looking worried. I had approached her and when she said she needed to get back to school, I immediately offered to give her a ride.

This was not something I usually did. In fact it was something I had never done.

Whenever I met a girl at a party my first ingenuity was to flirt until she fell for my charm and then she would end up in my bed.

This time round though, it was different.

I felt the need to help her out without any ulterior motive, and I did.

The drive to school had been quite. I couldn’t help myself but steal glances at her. Her face was beautiful. I know I thought many girls were hot, like Nicole for example but Zia was beautiful.

Her sapphire blue eyes glimmered in the dark despite an aura of worry that seemed to hover over her.

I had dropped her off in front of the halls of residence and watched her walk in. A part of me wanted to follow her and ask for her number but I couldn’t. I stood there wondering how the heck I, Keith Johnson couldn’t master the courage to do so.

I got into my car and drove off hoping that I would run into her again sometime, at least I knew her name.

**

The referee blew the whistle and the match was on. In as much as I had prepared long for this game, my mind seemed distracted. I kept on missing the shots and by half time, Red Sharks were ahead of us.

My teammates were pissed at me and the coach particularly was not pleased.

“Keith! What is going on?” Coach shouted at me when the halftime whistle was blown.

“Nothing coach” I murmured.

“Locker room now!” he bellowed and I knew that I had messed up.

I walked into the locker room and grabbed a bottle of water a few seconds before the coach and stormed in.

“Keith I need you to get your head in the game.”

“I am in the game.” I said knowing fully well that I wasn’t.

“Are you kidding me? You keep on missing the basket. What is going on?” he asked his voice getting lower and concerned.

“Nothing much coach. Iam going to play better.” I said.

“You need to do your best. Your teammates need you.” He said and I nodded my head in agreement.

“Whatever it is that is bothering you, you’ll take care of it after the game. For now put your mind into winning this game. Okay?”

“Okay coach.” I answered. I was sure going to take care of what was bothering me after the game.

The whistle blew again and the second half of the game kicked off. This time round, I placed all of my thoughts and energy into the game. By the time the referee blew the whistle, we had beaten the Red devils and emerged top.

The whole court was filled with cheers as my teammates and I celebrated the big win.

“Good job guys.” Our coach beamed happily as he joined in for a group hug.

“I will let you guys go ahead and celebrate. But do not overdo it.” He said as he headed to his office.

“Come on guys, it’s time to party.” Jason shouted as soon as the coach was out of range.

“Hell yeah!” the guys replied in unison as they dispatched into the crowds.

“Are you coming bro?” Jason asked when he noticed I had stayed back.

“Tonight no, but I’ll see you at the camp tomorrow.” I said back.

“Is everything okay?” he asked surprised that I had turned down a party.

“Yeah I just need to take care of something tonight.” I said reassuring him that I was fine.

“Well okay then, see you tomorrow.” He said and run off to catch up with the others.

I looked up to where she was seated and saw her still seated probably waiting for people to clear off before she could leave.

I wore my confident smile and walked briskly towards her.

“Hi Zia,” I said once I was close enough.

“Keith, hi” she answered startled to see me.

“Am glad to see you came to watch me play.” I said jokingly.

“Don’t be flattered. I was here to watch the school team play, I didn’t even realize you were in the team.” She answered smiling. I was impressed.

Immediately an idea crossed my mind.

“So my teammates and I are having this camp during the weekend. I would really like you to come with me.”

She looked at me seemingly shocked.

“What do you say?” I asked.

“Why would I trust you and go with you?” She asked folding her hands on her chest.

“Well if I recall, you trusted me enough to let me drive you to school that day. And oh, you asked if there was anything you could do to thank me. I guess this is it.”

She stared at me hard before saying, “Well okay. Tomorrow it is then.” And she strode off.

I smiled victoriously before realizing that she had left before I had asked for her number. How was I going to find her tomorrow? I realized she had done that intentionally. Quite a smart girl, I thought as I walked back to the locker room.