Jason too wasn't finding easy. He struggled with what to say. When he noticed how her eyes skated down to his lips frequently, he willed himself not to kiss her. Will he go on hiding whatever he felt for her? He wanted the whole world to know how he felt for Blue Nane. He wanted to push whatever obstacles that plunged in her way. He wanted to make her happy. Finally, he wanted to be that particular person that she yearn to see each and everyday.
Maybe, he was wanting too much. Maybe, he was dreaming too hard. He hadn't even given her the opportunity for her to make up her mind. She hadn't even acknowledge the fact that he was in love with her.
When he heard Freya questioning Blue after he had pushed Blue out of the restroom, he slightly regretted his act. He fought the will to come out and defend her. But she has to do that alone.
He listened attentively........
The bell rung.
"You must be seeing things. I didn't come out from there." He heard the sweet voice of Blue.
He smiled to himself. When did she become so good in telling lies? And her voice was calm as she said those words. He laughed to himself.
"I saw you come out from there." Freya insisted.
Jason rolled his eyes, what was wrong with Freya? He didn't know her to be this stubborn. What has gotten into her?
Blue tried a laugh. "Let's hurry. Class has started."
Jason stood still patiently until their voices faded into extinction. Then, he came out as a new thought crept into his head. He would try to see Blue by noon. But, how would he get her alone with him without anyone noticing him?
*******
Blue kept on daydreaming. Now that she has decided to join the basketball team poised as a boy. How does she intend to do it? Yes, she has taken the first step, what was next?
"What are you thinking? What's troubling you?" Freya asked, her chin resting on an elbow of hers while her eyes bore into Blue's.
"Nothing, just...nothing." Blue faked a smile. Should she open up to Freya? Freya was her best friend afterall, she would understand her plight.
Freya looked up at Blue's hair, studying it. "Your hair looks kinda of different." Freya's other hand reached out to touch her friend's hair.
Like a reflex act, Blue's hands suddenly slapped down both of her hands on her weavon. Freya's eyes bulged, startled at Blue's act, she turned to look around then back at her friend.
"What did you do that for?" Freya asked.
Blue didn't know what to say to that. "Em...I... I don't want you to roughen it. I had it styled in a different way." She had to think quickly.
"You've been acting kind of wierd, you sure you are okay?" Freya asked, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine." Blue tried a laugh, trying to ease the tension. She stood up, and looked out the window. "It's recess already, let's go out for lunch." She beamed brightly, grabbing Freya's hand.
They went out through the corridor, down the stairs and entered the cafeteria. They both went to the counter together to get some chips and chicken.
"I was thinking we get some chicken and chips. It's been a while." Freya was saying, smiling at the woman at the other side of the counter.
Someone grabbed Blue's hand while Freya was doing all the talking to the woman at the counter.
"Shuhhh..," he motioned, a finger of his on his lips.
"What do you say to that, Blue?" She turned to look behind her, shocked at the sight of a girl in a twin pony tail. Where was Blue? She looked around, there was no sign of her.
"Excuse me, did you see a brown headed girl? She was standing behind me." She asked the girl.
"I just got here." The girl replied her.
"Are you buying? Or you leave the queue." The woman at the counter said.
"Oh, I will get two, please." Freya said, turning back to the woman with pleading eyes.
******
Jason exhaled deeply when they were finally alone, his hair was tussled by the wind. His eyes reached out to Blue as he spoke.
"I've been thinking about you all through the day," he started, doing the thing that he always do, sucking on his lower lip while he spoke.
She swallowed as she watched him.
"I brought some documents. I had to do this...forged this documents so you can give them to Coach Bernard. I believe he will put you in the team." His hand dipped into his shirt and he brought out some sheets of papers.
Blue looked down at the papers. "James Chamberlain." She called out the name.
"I tried. You ...can't go by your usual name."
"But you said that....," She paused.
"I know what I said Blue," he told her. "But that shouldn't be an excuse. I know how much you want to join the team. I had to come up with another plan." He came towards her and pulled her towards him.
"I believe in your talent. I believe that this is also what you want. Coach Bernard would never know."
Her eyes suddenly went misty. She was struggling with what to say. "Why would you have so much faith in me? Why would you help me this far?" She asked him.
"Because you are you, Blue. You are Blue Nane." He told her.
She bowed her head slightly, as if she would break down in tears at any minute. "But, who is this James Chamberlain?" She looked back at the paper.
"James Chamberlain is my friend. He used to play the forward position in the school team." He explained, stepping an inch away from her.
"Your friend? I never knew you to have a friend." She told him, surprised by his words.
Jason looked back at her then gave a weak smile. "We used to be best of friends. We had a little misunderstanding, and we split up. Then came his injury during the last season. It was horrible. I tried to get back with him but he wouldn't want to see me. He hadn't returned to Greenville, I haven't heard from him in a while."
"Wouldn't this raise suspicious brows?" She asked him.
"It won't. Truthfully, James wasn't the best of the best, I believe you're far more skillful than him." He said.
She smiled at that. " How long has this been? This, James Chamberlain's accident?" She asked him.
"Before you came into our school." He answered her.
She watched him quietly, she was pleased that he atleast had a best friend. She had always known him to be a loner.
"I will do it. I'll stand as James Chamberlain." She said.
"I believe you will do great." He told her. "But you have to do something else for me." His eyes skated down her budding breasts.
Her eyes looked at him in surprise, tracing the line of his gaze. Her hands jumped out to cover her chest.
He looked away, shy, scoffing as one of his hands brushed down his hair. "I didn't mean it like that." He said as a matter of fact.
"How else do you mean it?" She shrieked.
"You are quite roundish there, so ... I..," he paused, finding it hard to meet her gaze. "I suggest you do something about that. So as not to give yourself away. Hanson, Joab and some few others shouldn't know who you are. Coach Bernard is truly not our problem."
"Quite roundish!" Blue repeated, looking down at the size of her breasts.
"Don't take it the wrong way." He looked back at her. His heart was jumping up excitedly. He wanted to laugh out loud at the expression of her face. She was cute, infact like a baby dog.
"Don't look at me like that." She looked away, wondering why his eyes were boring into hers.
He laughed, turning away.
"What's so funny?" She asked him, pulling him around to face her.
"Your face. You're hilarious." He smiled down at her. "I want to take you out, on a date but that will be after your first match on Friday." He said.
"A match on Friday?" She seemed surprised.
"Yes. You have to start training hard, be the best of you. I want you to shine." He said to her.
She smiled again. "I never believe you will be this sweet to me." She told him.
He laughed at that. "I have always been this sweet. I've only been hiding behind a facade. Will you train after school today?" He asked her.
She nodded. "I think I will."
He turned away to leave. "I have to leave now. You too, before Freya noticed that you were gone for far too long. You haven't told her, have you?"
She shook her head sadly.
"You should, because you're going to be mine soon." He started to leave.
"Jason?" She called him.
He stopped to look back at her.
"Do try to reach out to your friend. I'm sure you have a knowledge of where he might be." She told him.