Page 62 of Full Court Crush

I know that, love, I watched the live stream. I meant how do you think it went? How’re you feeling?

She sighed. If her dad had seen the live stream, he knew she got benched. He also knew how much she hated being on the bench, even when she was a little kid, just starting out.

It was fine. I’ll tell you about it when I get home.

I will hold you to that. Love you.

I love you too, Dad

She sighed. She was going to have to work out how she was feeling before trying to talk to her dad. At least she had the three-hour coach ride home to do that. She returned to staring out of the window.

A while later, the rumbling of the bus engine starting up shook Keira out of her thoughts. She blinked a few times and glanced around. She hadn’t noticed most of her teammates board the coach, and was quietly surprised to see them there. It didn’t take long for Lucy to dig out her speakers and blare music so loud Keira could hear it over her headphones. It also didn’t take long for Amelia to tell her to turn it down.

The bus driver dimmed the lights as they pulled away, making it easier for Keira to watch the outside world roll by in darkness. A wave of tiredness washed over her as the adrenaline from the game finally wore off, and her eyes got heavy. Then she felt, rather than saw, someone move her bag and sit down in the chair next to her. She glanced sideways, expecting it to be Lucy trying to force her to join in.

But Amelia’s concerned eyes looked back at her. In shock, Keira took her headphones off.

“You’re quiet,” Amelia said.

Keira shrugged. “Tired.”

“Are you sure that’s all it is?” Amelia’s eyes roamed her face. Keira shrunk from her gaze.

“You know how it is. It’s not fun riding the bench,” she admitted. Amelia tilted her head, her brow furrowed.

“You played nearly all of the first half?”

“Yeah, and then got benched, after I made a game-tying three.” Keira said, a scowl forming across her face. Amelia’s previous gentleness hardened slightly.

“After you ignored the play and went rogue on us,” Amelia corrected, her voice was calm, but holding a hint of steel.

“So you had me benched?!” she angrily whispered. Most of their conversation was still drowned out by Lucy’s obnoxious music, but she didn’t want to risk being overheard. Amelia’s furrowed brow was replaced by a look of pure confusion.

“What’re you on about?”

“I saw you talking to Coach Grant. Did you ask her to bench me? You know how much Ineedthis.”

“Of course not!” Amelia exclaimed, probably more loudly than she meant to. She looked around before continuing. “But I would have been well within my rights to, as captain. We had aplan, Keira, and instead you tried to do it all on your own.Again.”

“Plans change.” Keira shrugged. “And lead to baskets,” she added, half under her breath.

“This time,” Amelia said sternly. “Against a different team, your maverick mindset might cost us the game.” Keira scoffed.

“Well,sorryfor being creative,” she said petulantly, but she regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. By then, it was too late. Amelia closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.

“Look, as your captain, you really need to start getting with the programme, or you’ll find you’ll probably end up spending more and more time on the bench as the season goes on. Coach Grant won’t tolerate anyone who isn’t a team player.”

Keira returned to staring out the window, but left her headphones off, still listening.

“And as your friend,” Amelia said, placing a gentle hand on Keira’s thigh.

She was unsure if she wanted to shrug it off or break down, intertwine Amelia’s fingers with her own, and hold on tight.

“I know you have a lot going on,” Amelia’s voice was little more than a murmur, “and juggling that and basketball will be hard. But for Pete’s sake, Keira, you’re so talented. Don’t throw it away because of your almost pathological need to be independent of everyone else.” Amelia gave Keira’s thigh a little squeeze, then removed her hand. Keira’s thoughts felt like they were in a washing machine filled with sludge. So she fixated on the first thought she was able to actually identify.

“Is that what we are? Friends?” she said, tone half petulant still, and half filled with sadness. “I thought I was just your dirty little secret.”

The look of pain on Amelia’s face made Keira immediately regret her words, but her pride wouldn’t let her take them back, especially since there was an element of truth to it.