I caught a ride to the JV boys basketball game with Asher and Jake Cooper, they were also on Varsity and were some of my friends.
I rode in shotgun while Asher drove and Jake sat in the back.
“So Turner,” Jake said from behind me. “Who’d you get for the mental health project?”
I froze in my seat. “Ha, funny story. I got Lilly.”
The twins shared a look in the mirror. “Like our Lilly?” Asher asked, looking at me for a second before turning his eyes back to the road.
“Um, yeah… Is something wrong with that?” I asked, suddenly worried. Lilly seemed like a good person, very smart, pretty, and athletic.
“She’s just going through some stuff, but I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Asher told me.
The twins then launched into a story about something that happened in one of their classes and I just smiled and nodded. The twins and Lilly were only a year apart, so while Lilly was a junior, they were both in my class as seniors. The twins were identical with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, they both had tanned skin and the same build. The only way to tell them apart was a scar that Jake had just about his right eyebrow.
We pulled up to the high school and grabbed our bags from the back. I had already changed into my uniform and track suit at school, but the twins were still dressed up. “I’ll meet you guys in the gym, sounds good?” I asked as we made our way inside.
They nodded and headed down the hall to the boys locker room. I walked over to the gym doors and opened one. I stepped inside and heard a ref blow his whistle. I walked past the bleachers and saw our school's freshman team playing against the other schools. It was 43-47, with two minutes to go.
I sat down near the top of the bleachers and watched as a kid stole the ball and got a layup. Thirty seconds to go, the other team had the ball. One of their kids went up for a jumper and missed. We had the ball, ten seconds to go, we ran our play, someone’s open for a three, he shoots…
Perfect swish. The buzzer goes off and the team goes wild. They shake hands as the JV teams start to warm up. I hear footsteps and see the twins with some of our other players coming towards me. We all said hi, but then quieted down as JV tips off.
“So, heard you’re with mini-Cooper for that mental health project.” Our point guard, Oliver, says as he leans back to talk with me. “That’ll be fun.”
I furrowed my eyebrows. “What do you mean by that?”
“Nobody outside of her friend group has ever done a big project like this with her, you’re the first.” He grinned. “And it’s in mental health, something that I hear she ain’t doing too well in.”
“Shut up Barkley.” Jake growled from behind me. “You don’t know shit about my sister.”
“Sorry, I wasn't trying to be rude or anything. Just warning Turner.” He turned his attention back to the game.
I moved to sit next to Jake. “What’s he mean by that?” I whispered.
Jake still looked mad but sighed. “She had a panic attack before one of the basketball games, Coach found her and tried to help but…” He took a deep breath. “Things haven’t been too good lately with Lil, but that’s all I’ll say. If she wants to tell you anything else that’s up to her, but I ain’t gonna spill all her secrets.”
I let that sink in for a few minutes, but by the time Lilly showed up it was the end of the first half and we were warming up on the court. I wanted to go talk to her at the start of the third quarter, but it wasn’t my place to ask questions. So I just kept my distance and hung out with the team.
JV won 63-54 and then it was our turn. We warmed up and got in the zone, the refs called over captains, Asher and me for our team, and then it was time for the national anthem. I watched Lilly as it played over the loudspeakers, she was mouthing along to it.
And then it was time to head out on the court. Our starters were Oliver, Asher, Jake, Tony, and I. I was the center, Tony and Asher were the wings, Jake was the small center, and Oliver was the point guard.
I sized up the other big and knew this game would be easy.
******
We won 73-60. I got a ride home with the twins.
“See you guys tomorrow.” I called as I headed towards the front door of my house. Our houses were only five minutes away from each other so we usually carpooled to school and sports events.
I walked inside and set down my backpack. “Mom, I’m home!” I walked into the kitchen and saw my little sister, Bailey, at the kitchen counter. She spun around at the sound of my voice.
“Josh!!” She squealed and ran into my arms. Bailey was six years old with dark brown curls and rosy cheeks. “Did you win?”
“Yup, we beat ‘em by thirteen.” She started doing her ‘happy dance’.
“Your team is the best!” She squealed. My mom came downstairs.
“Hey hon, how’d you play?” She asked, getting herself a glass of water.
“Pretty good, how are you feeling?” I asked. My mom had really bad arthritis and sometimes it got so bad she wouldn’t be able to leave the house.
“Better, I’m sorry we couldn’t make it to your game. But I promise I’ll be there next time.” She smiled.
“Thanks Ma.” I knew it probably wouldn’t happen, but it was nice. “I gotta go do some homework, goodnight.”
I kissed my mom and Bailey on the cheek and headed upstairs to work on my homework.
I had just opened the door to my room when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a text from Lilly.
Lilly: hey, just saw ur text. good game
Josh: Thx, when do you want to start on the project?
Lilly: shouldn’t we find out what we’re gonna do it on first?
Josh: You’re right, can we meet up tomorrow, maybe during study hall?
Lilly: depends on what study hall you have, i have period four, wbu?
Josh: Same, wanna meet up in the library?
Lilly: see you then
I furrowed my brow, she didn’t seem like she wanted to do the project. Her eyes had flashed with something when they locked with mine, it looked like she was worried. I shook my head and pulled out my notebook, homework wasn’t gonna do itself.
******
My alarm went off at 5 am and I immediately turned it off. Today was a morning run day. I quickly pulled on basketball shorts and a sweatshirt, made my bed, and grabbed my phone. I silently made my way downstairs and headed to the trail that wound through our development. Our houses all circled around a lake and the trail followed next to the lake.
It was a beautiful morning and I was the only jogger outside. I turned on my tunes and jogged around. The lake was pretty big, so I usually ran around once and then headed back home.
I was almost done with my job when I heard music filtering through my Airpods. I slowed down to a walk and pulled out my Airpods. It was ukulele music, coming from somewhere above me. I stopped at the fence and looked up, it was Lilly playing the music. She was humming along to the tune.
The sun was slowly creeping up the sky and I just listened to Lilly playing a soft, sad tune on her ukulele.
A short while later I heard her brothers calling for her. “I’ll be right there.” And then she left.
I smiled to myself and continued on my jog. I’d have to ask her about her ukulele when we met up for the project.
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