Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)(13)

BigBaller27: Well, then, we seem to be at an impasse. How do I know ur not some crazy chick who’ll stalk me, if I give u my name? :D





I take a deep breath, reminding myself just to be me. To treat him like a friend.

Emerald22: I could say the same about u lol

BigBaller27: Fair enough. We can still text though.

Emerald22: Yeah. Who knows when you’ll need another homework assignment :’)

BigBaller27: Or, u know… just to talk :)





I can’t help the warmth that spreads inside. Or the smile floating across my lips. I’m physically unable to stop it. He wants to talk. I realize that this could be the best thing possible. Do I like him? Maybe. But I don’t have to see him. I don’t have to try to be all flirty or play games. I can talk to him and do it through text. Yeah, some things get lost in translation with text messages, but for the most part, I can get to know him. And he can get to know me.

Emerald22: I’d like that :)





Chapter 9





Carter





I must look like an idiot as I’m driving home. I’m beaming. Absolutely beaming. I was so nervous before I sent the message about just talking. I have no idea who she is, what she looks like or sounds like. I don’t know if she’s tall or short. Is she curvy or stick thin? I have no freaking clue but exchanging the texts with her has lit something inside. I’d never thought I’d try getting to know someone without knowing what they looked like. Maybe this will be a good thing. And the way she comes across in her text messages, she seems like she’s cool.

After texting a little more, we set some ground rules. We aren't exchanging names, first of all. We can talk about our classes, but we aren't going to tell each other what period the class is, so we'll still have no idea when each other will be there. Also, we'll only do text messages. Prohibiting phone calls means we won't know what the other one sounds like.

The more rules we put down, the more I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm going to have to tell Matt about this, but I'm not sure how the others will react. Jeremy will bust my balls for sure, especially with Sarah always hanging over me. I push the thought from my mind because this is something entirely different. I can use something different.

I'm about to tell her I have to go because of my basketball game when I think better of it. She might be able to narrow down who I am if I tell her I'm on the team. I decide just to say I have to go, but I'll text her later.

When I get back to the gym, my mood has done a one-eighty, and Matt notices right away.

“Someone’s feeling better,” he says, as we change into our uniforms.

“I told you. I’m fine.”

“Yeah, right. Something was bothering you earlier.” He stares at me for a minute, letting his words hang in the air.

I look around the locker room, then back at Matt. “Okay, yeah, something was up. But it’s cool now. I’m good.”

“What was it?”

Matt’s my best friend. He has been for four years. If I had to guess which of my friends wouldn’t make a big deal out of what I’m doing, it would be him. But I’m not ready to tell him yet.

“It’s … complicated.”

“Dude, come on.” He gives me a pleading look.

“I’ll tell you, but not right now. It’s …” I think about it. Is it weird? I guess it is, but it’s also interesting. Different. “Unconventional.”

Matt raises an eyebrow. “Dude, are you–” he looks around at the locker room and then back at me, mouthing the word gay.

“What?” I scrunch my nose at him.

"I mean, it's cool if you are. I would never have guessed it. Though, now all the avoiding Sarah thing makes more sense."

“Dude, I’m not gay,” I say a little too loud and a teammate behind us, Franco, starts snickering. “Shut up, Franco.”

“Whatever,” he mumbles, continuing to laugh.

“Anyways.” I look back at Matt. “No, I’m not gay. And I’ve been ducking Sarah, because I’m over that, especially after that fiasco at homecoming. No, this new thing is different, that’s all.”

"Okay, you're way too secretive here. You gotta tell me."

"I will." I stand up, tucking in my jersey. "Later."

“Okay, boys.” Coach comes into the locker room and gathers us all around.

He goes on about remembering to stick to our game plan, which players to keep an eye out for, and everything that he usually goes over. Oceanview High School isn't a great team, but that doesn't mean they're going to be easy to beat. Our basketball team hasn't made the playoffs in three years. But this year we've started out okay and have only lost to one team in our division, so we're hoping to keep up the strong play and shoot for the playoffs this year. Of course, that was the first half of the season, and in the second half, we have harder teams we were going to be facing.

By the time we get courtside, we’re all riled up and ready for the game. Our basketball team isn’t as good as our lacrosse team, and definitely not as good as our baseball team, and the crowd makes that obvious. We have some students in the stands, along with parents, and a few others, but it’s far from a ruckus crowd.