Best Nemesis

Chapter Three

Miles's Pov

I sat in agony watching my team play like rookies and tumbling over themselves as though they didn't have a game coming up in two weeks.

They were good players. A little too good if I were to give them credit. I could rely on them and I didn't have to feel like I had to carry the entire load of the team all by myself. They slowed me down sometimes, of course, but they would do just fine if they put in the work.

And right now, they were not putting in the work.

In fact, they were putting in no work at all. They were completely distracted. And there could only be one reason why a bunch of teenage boys would be completely goofing around and losing their focus.

The presence of a beautiful girl.

Especially a beautiful girl that none of the team had any experience or idea about.

They were playing just fine until she walked in ten minutes ago with Malory, the president of the newspaper club.

Malory was beautiful but clearly not the reason for the team's misbehavior and lack of coordination. We'd seen her severally and, as usual, sometimes she put us on our nerves with her endless questioning, but today she'd come with someone who had the entire team playing with their jaws hanging open.

She sat quietly on the bleachers nodding and taking notes on her clipboard as Malory gave her inaudible prompting and instructions. She had a small face and her dark brunette hair was packed at the top of her head in such a carefree way that appeared more cute than messy.

Her socks were drawn up almost to her knees to complement her short uniform skirt.

Okay, I mentally shook my head. I wasn't looking at her legs.

I stared completely, wondering who the heck of an angel she was as she pushed her big glasses up her nose.

She was completely not my type. I liked hot girls, like smoky hot.

The type that came with a lot of drama and trouble.

I'd never been attracted to innocent-looking, cute girls—like this one on the bleachers.

I didn't like girls that appeared like they had no clue of anything wild or fun.

So why? Why was my heart racing, like really, really fast?

"Mmmm mmmmm" Coach came up behind me, clapping my shoulder as he cleared his throat, giving me a suspicious look like he'd just read right through my mind. "Okay boys, let's take five!" He blew his whistle and my teammates, glad to be momentarily released, ran off the court, their sneakers squeaking as they moved towards the direction of Malory and the new face, like sharks at the sight of fresh blood.

I tried to act like I didn't notice her. Who cared anyways?

I was Miles Ashton. I could pretty much have any girl I wanted.

She was going to come to me. They always did.

I turned my head, inclining it a bit to her direction. So why wasn't she looking at me?

And since when did the team get interested in short interviews after practice?

My ego completely deflated as the guy being benched, I stayed rooted to where I sat in agony, clasping my hands together between my long, spread out legs and kept my focus to the ground.

"Someone's in a mood" Ryder's voice came up above me, making me lift my head.

"I'm being benched. Of course, I'm in a mood" I replied grouchily.

"Suck it up. We have a new reporter" Ryder grinned.

"Yeah, not my problem" I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"If you're not interested, then that's good news for the team" Ryder grinned with boyish mischief.

"Why's that?" I asked, puzzled.

"Because someone on the team stands a chance. Whenever you want a girl, the rest of us know it's a losing game"

"That's sick" I scowled. "And so not true!"

Ryder arched his brow. "Tell me one girl you've wanted that didn't run to you"

"You make it sound like I'm stealing them from the rest of you. I've never been interested in any girl that belongs to my teammates, you know this" I said defensively.

"Yeah, nobody says you're stealing but how can they belong to anyone when you show interest? You're literally every girl's first choice" Ryder pouted. "The rest of us are like backups till they get your attention"

"That's the most disgusting thing I've ever heard. That sort of stuff shouldn't come from you man. You have a long line of girls swooning for you that won't look my way, not even once, and that goes for the rest of the team too. You're just too focused on the girls that want me. That's why you thick heads can't see it" Then I stared at him suspiciously "Are you just trying to fan my ego because I was benched?"

Ryder grinned.

"You..." I raised my hand to duck him when Coach Warren blew his whistle at me.

Raising my hands in surrender, I sighed. "We're just kidding! I wasn't going to hit him"

Ryder looked at me cunningly. "You liar!"

"Get away from me" I teased back, shaking my head.

"Gladly. I'm going to shoot my shot now, so you better be supportive"

"Another girl added to your 'riding' list?"

Ryder clicked his tongue. "The name speaks for itself"

I shook my head at him. "You're such a disgrace. You dirty sinner"

"Says the priest himself" Ryder countered back.

I shook my head again, hoping this nightmare of a practice could come to an end when Malory's familiar voice rang up behind me.

"Hi, Miles" She said cheeringly.

"Nothing to report here. As you can see, I'm clearly not in any action today"

"Be glad!" Malory said "Luckily for you, I'm not taking any stats or making reports today"

Malory was in our class, and was not interested in anyone in the team. That was one of the reasons she was so good at her job at the press and could easily talk to us in our faces, completely unfazed. Rumors had it that she had a college boyfriend. Some were that she was only interested in girls. The later made much more sense. But that's all they were, rumors.

"I've taken permission from Coach Warren, so can you gather your team? I've got an announcement to make."

"Boys, gather round," I cupped my hand over my mouth, howling them over. "Malory has a speech to make."

The sound of heavy breathing and the deafening echo of Landon bouncing a basketball on his way to look impressive filled the air as my teammates circled around my bench, trapping Malory in the middle.

She was tall for a girl. She was a decent 5'8 at seventeen, but compared to my towering teammates, she stood no chance.

She jutted her chin up at us.

I just wanted to be out of here. I wasn't in the mood for a speech.

"Wrap it up, Malory," I said, yawning, even though I couldn't deny my attention was solely focused on trying to figure out who the girl in the bleachers was.

Oh, boy. I sighed, shaking my head in agony.

What was wrong with me today?