My Best Mate

Chapter 4: It Can't Be Helped.

Numerous she-wolves shrieked with excitement when our alpha, Chesmon, made a shot.

Our gym class has an ongoing mini basketball activity and the boys were up first.

The crowd was hyped because it was the first time our alpha and beta weren't on the same team and the audience split in half. Surely enough, I am choosing Kyle over the alpha.

My eyes keep on trailing the panting Kyle wearing a number six jersey.

It had already been a couple of minutes since they began playing and the alpha's team was still in the lead. I have my fingers crossed every time Kyle has the ball.

"Relax, Chole!" Sandy slammed her hands on my shoulders and I almost fell off the bleachers. Thank God, she grabbed my arm before it happened or else-

“Whoops, sorry..."

“If you weren't the alpha's mate and my friend, you would be in a headlock right now, Sand." I hissed.

She sat beside me and nudged me on the shoulder. "Hey, stop it."

“Stop what?"

She steadies my trembling knees and whispers “You look more nervous than the players."

“I can't help it. What if Kyle got injured or they got into a fight?" I bit my nail. Sandy then put her arm around me. “Chill. They won't go berserk because of a practice game."

Kyle and Chesmon haven't good terms lately. I don't know when it started but I got the feeling it was around the time our alpha broke up with Melissa to be with his mate, Sandy, the brunette who almost knocked me over just a few seconds ago.

Cheston, Melissa, and Kyle were part of the leading families in our pack. And with my family connection to the beta, I was childhood friends with them.

I once envied Melissa when we found out they were dating because she liked Chesmon for a long time. Now, I can only feel bad for her.

I wonder where she is?

I looked around for any chestnut-haired among the students but it was to no avail.

The audience cheered again snapping my attention back to the game. “They're tied?" As I glance at the scoring board.

“And less than twenty minutes at that!" Sandy shouts so that I can hear her among the noise everywhere.

You can do it, Kyle. You can do it.

I keep chanting in my head, with my attention still focused on him who now has the ball. My mouth hangs open as he passes three opponents effortlessly.

My palms start to sweat when I see the last player he is up against, the alpha.

Sandy squeezes my hand “Hold on Ches, less than 1 minute till overtime." She prayed.

“Who's being nervous now?" I grinned.

Kyle passes the ball to his teammate and then circles Chesmon. The alpha continues to block him while focusing on the person who got the ball.

Beta's teammate gave him an underhand pass and Kyle went for a layup. Chesmon swiftly jumps after him to block the shot.

The sound of the buzzer was heard, at the same time, his finger grazed the ball.

Though it wasn't enough to send it astray, it was enough to slightly bounce it off the backboard.

Everyone held their breaths as it bounced off again but this time, it circled the rim and finally onto the net.

“Yes!" I jumped to my feet and joined in the cheering.

My eyes were still on Kyle when his teammates were congratulating him.

His abs were in full view when he wiped his face with the inner collar of his jersey. If it wasn't for Sandy who dragged me, I would have just stood there, frozen.

“Come on, let's give them the towels." She throws one at me.

“Right."

Sandy went ahead to Chesmon who was just a meter beside Kyle. I can't help smiling from ear to ear as I ran up to Kyle.

We locked gaze and I almost felt butterflies in my stomach but then he cut off the eye contact just as immediately.

“Good game." Chesmon went for a handshake. Sandy, on the other hand, was wiping his sweat for him.

“Yeah." He replied dryly not caring to shake his hands.

“You were awesome there, alpha Ches." Trying to drown out the awkwardness. The alpha then smiled back at me.

“Ah right. Kyle, here." I hold the towel out for Kyle to use. He looked at it for a second then back to me then settled at something right at the corner of his eye.

I followed his vision and saw Melissa who stood stiff with a towel in her hand. She was watching the alpha who had his hands busy with his mate.

Kyle walked past me and grabbed the towel from Melissa landing her gaze straight on him and then at me.

I hid the towel at my back and smiled at her.

It can't be helped.

•••

“So...did you already have a dress for prom?" Sandy nudged me from the side. The class just ended and Kyle and Chesmon left early.

“Not yet. I'll just go pick whatever mom has in her closet."

She stopped in her tracks while I continued walking. She walked fast to catch up to me again. “What did you just say—"

“I said—" She put her finger above my lips. “Uh, uh. Don't say anymore. We need to go shopping!!!"

She pulled my arm and dragged me out of the school. We were striding quickly to the parking lot and into her red Cadillac car.

“Ow..!I-I still have so much to do, Sand." I can only protest after I get thrown inside the back of the passenger car.

Her bodyguard was in the driver's seat while Sandy chose the chair next to him.

“What's wrong with old clothes? Also, I don't have anyone that I need to impress."

“Newsflash, prom is not only for couples. This is for single but independent ladies too. This is our last event in high school. We should be fabulous!"

“—But you know this is k********g, right?" I hugged the back of Sandy's chair.

“Then you're probably the luckiest hostage, you're getting a free ride and a free dress! Now go, sir Reed, Chop chop!"