The basketball court was draped in darkness. An eerie stillness filled the room, except for the athlete in center court. His muscular build was outlined by the darkness behind him. Every inch of his body was sculpted and toned. I looked around the glimmering floor and at endless bleachers. I imagined how they were usually packed with cheering crowds and how the lights shone down on the game. He was alone now. No fans, no spotlights. Just him. I watched him do figure-8 drills. He dribbled the ball through and around his legs, moving it from right to left hand as he went. He owned the court. He handled the ball like an extension of his own arm. I stepped forward with a lot of hesitation. The sparkling floor squeaked under my shoes, while I kept my eyes trained on his moving form. The closer I got to him, the more I admired his energy, his speed, his strength. The ball swished through the hoop without touching the rim. He went to pick it up when he glanced my way and- Froze. Luke stared at me like he couldn't believe I was more than a mirage. And, slowly, he removed his headphones. "Millie?" It was both a question and a statement. It's not often that I take Luke Dawson by surprise. I walked towards him, stepping over the large painted letters of POHS (Preston Oakes High School). "What are you doing here?" he asked me, stopping the ball from rolling away with the heel of his foot. "How did you get in?" "The doors were unlocked," I said. It wasn't Mission Impossible. "I'm happy you're here," he responded, "And surprised. We've been off lately, probably something I've said." "I didn't come here to talk about that," I admitted, feeling guilty that I was about to bring Jake's name up. Luke was looking so hopeful. "I came to let you know that I accepted the date with Jake. I wanted you to hear it from me first." Luke sighed. He threw his headphones onto the towel draped over one of the bleachers and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not going to talk about that until we talk about us," he said. "Us?" Just saying us had me feeling some type of way. "Why are you mad at me?" he asked. Sweat glinted off his smooth skin and his bright eyes shone against the darkness of the room. He looked hurt. Again. I couldn't believe I could be the one to hurt him. "Don't you get it?" I asked, my own pain coming through. He'd hurt me too. And I'd been trying to keep it in but couldn't anymore. "We had something that was obviously more than friends. But then you're rude to me when I'm invited to your home and you go on sleeping with other girls. Jamie came over to your place the night I was there for dinner." The words rested heavy in the air between us. It's true we never got together, but how could we if I couldn't trust him? I didn't expect his reaction. He closed his eyes. I looked at his tranquil face as he breathed out, "That's why you've been different around me." He said it in a way that sounded relieved. Like there was more to the story. "What do you mean?" He sat on the court, knees raised. With one hand, he absentmindedly dribbled the ball as he waited for me to join. I did so and my sneakers squeaked against the shiny floor. I crossed my legs and he reached out for my hand. I didn't give it. "I didn't want to cause you pain," Luke confessed, "Jamie's father set us up on a date before summer. She's a nice girl and I wasn't going to lead her on, but she and I aren't a fit." I didn't want to hear the love story of Luke Dawson and his basketball coach's daughter. I couldn't believe that coach set Luke up with his own kid?! "I explained that to her after she walked in on you and me at Austin's party. She's a reasonable girl and said she wouldn't tell anyone. Her dad would take it out on me during practice." "This story has so many moral issues with it, I can't," I said. "Will you let me finish?" he cracked a smile, "I know you're dying to give some hard ass commentary, but give me a sec." "OK," I nodded, "You have a sec." "Two," he smirked. "Jamie's a friend of mine. She has my back. We've known each other since we were kids. I used to go over to her place for dinner when coach would run me over some plays." "Again, I-" He took his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through his messages. The screen lit his face in a pale blue hue. "Now I know you won't believe the next part so I'm going to show you," he said, before landing on a text and then handing the phone over. I took his black phone in my hand and read the message from Jamie Griffith: Hey captain, I have to confess something to you. It's about Millie. Can I come over? Luke: Millie's at my place for dinner. Want to say it to her? Jamie: Please no. I've made a mistake and I don't want her to hate me for it. But I need to tell you. Luke: K. Jamie: Thanks! I know you don't like drama so I'm sorry for this. Luke hadn't responded to that message and they hadn't exchanged any messages since. My heart dropped in my stomach. "Are you OK?" Luke asked me, reaching out for my hand a second time. Again, I didn't offer my hand back. I stared down at the phone and my first reaction was- "She calls you captain?" I didn't hear what Luke said, since I was busy running scenarios in my mind. Underneath that question, my mind was whirling. So, Jamie didn't come over to sleep with Luke that night. In fact, they haven't been a thing since... before summer. And there was some more drama concerning me. Great – when one question answers itself, another one opens: Jamie question closed. The 'what did she do to me' question open. And I felt guilty. I jumped to conclusions about Luke. I expected the worst... when he only expects the best from me. "She and Bianca were concocting some plan to embarrass you, but I've already spoken to Bianca and it's taken care of," he said as if he could read my mind, "Nothing's going to happen to you. The girls are backing off." I itched my nose. Honestly, I was over this. I didn't ask him what they were planning because I wasn't into it. Luke leaned towards me and lifted my chin so he could see my eyes, "I would never do that to you, Millie." I smiled, feeling his soft and warm touch on my skin. The seconds passed by and not a sound pierced the silence in the basketball court. We were isolated from the world. Finally, I sighed, "What is it about you that drives girls crazy?" He laughed and waved the question away. He stood up, extended his hand and I finally took it. "No seriously," I said, as he pulled me to my feet, "They turn into demons." He replied, "I want you to be crazy about me." He said those words like they were no big deal. Like he'd been thinking it for a while now. And not like they'd create flutters in my chest and below. I didn't come here for this. "Luke-" "Millie, please don't say those words," he begged me, "Not tonight. I know I've done some things that you don't approve of, but I've never done anything against you. I was an assh*le when I met you and I regret that. I can't lose you now." He looked down, unable to face me properly. I didn't understand. "You see me for me," he spoke quietly, "You believe in me." "Luke, our whole town believes in you. Everyone adores you."