[right]December 4th, 2016
Pinehurst Academy’s Basketball Court
Celtics VS Monarchs Championship Game[/right]

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The noise was deafening.

Francis had sunk the last three pointer with the fadeaway at the buzzer. He dropped to his knees and raised his fists triumphantly in the air as everybody got to their feet and cheered and yelled at the top of their lungs. Edenridge beats Pinehurst. Celtics beat Monarchs. No luck but what we make.

Allison ran screaming into the court, throwing her Pom-poms to Mei as she leapt into her boyfriend's arms and kissed him deeply. [color=FF1395]“You did it, baby! You did it! I’m so proud of you!”[/color] She looked out amongst the sea of people to her parents and her little sister. It was almost sobering. The thought of what her mother had been doing, the criminality that she had hidden, made her sick. At least with ReyRey, he was honest about being a nasty piece of work. She waved to Alexandria, her grinning little bean, as Francis waved to his own brother. They were the king and the queen of the school.

Russell and Rhett ran off towards their families to engage in love in its purest form, that between parent and child. On the other end, Coach looked at his son. David was smiling, but there was a hint of sadness in his face. It was obvious he wished he could’ve been on the court with them, but that wasn’t going to stop him from celebrating with the rest of his teammates. [color=bf755c]“Get out there, kiddo.”[/color] John removed his hat and sat down on the bench to watch his son run out across the hardwood.

David ran up to Danny and gave him a hearty hug. [color=BFA65C]“You fucking did it, boyo. I’m leaving this team in capable hands.”[/color]

Clay stood alone on the court as everyone celebrated with the ones they loved. He could feel all the people around him, fans hollering in joy, shouting nothing but kind words. Yet he couldn’t feel them. He made his way over to the bench and sat down by himself. He glanced up at the scoreboard and then back down to the congregation that had formed at half court. Strange little thing about this game of theirs; it made everyone love them. 

[color=9f1b3e]“How do you feel, Casanova?”[/color] The familiar, sultry voice that Clay loved so much appeared behind him before she joined the bench beside him, watching her family run on the court to interrupt Danny’s lovefest with David. She smirked as she watched her brother, who was likely stroking David’s ego like the fanboy he was. She quietly watched him go from his teammate to his family, getting pulled into a tight embrace by their mother. 

On the sidelines, near them, Taz had thrown his jacket on Vivia and begrudgingly complimented her performance. He didn’t want to ruin the moment so he simply let all her decisions of the night go, at least for now. Cat’s children followed Auntie Mira to bother Pierce Mercer, someone Mira looked up to, who was talking about the game with Kylee. The mayor’s daughter who always kept her socials updated. Now it was time for her to share the news of the game. Roddy had left Kylee’s side to find his way to his brother to say congrats and retreat just as quickly. And here Cat was, letting everyone soak in the energy, breathe, and enjoy the good feeling, sitting beside the charming Clay Costigan. [color=9f1b3e]“I’d say you did amazing.”[/color] She turned to the boy next door gleaming, her old pom poms resting on her lap.

Casanova. The voice was distinct and like music to his ears and the name; only one person uses that name; his Kitty. [color=BCDD81]“It was mostly Fran and Danny with Russ going beast mode on D. Still, I got my licks in.”[/color] Clay turned to the gorgeous woman that was sitting next to him and smiled.  [color=BCDD81]“But to answer your question I feel a hell of a lot better now you’re sitting next to me.”[/color] He wondered, albeit briefly, if at the last second his family would walk through that door having been stuck just on the other side listening in to what could be his crowning moment. Clayton’s dark eyes fell upon the Pom-poms in Cat’s lap and he cocked an eyebrow.  [color=BCDD81]“Well well, is there a Clover’s outfit underneath those clothes, Kitty. That’s a bit kinky but I’m here for it.”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“I doubt I still fit it,”[/color] Cat laughed, knowing damn well she still had her uniform after all these years in a box in the basement. [color=9f1b3e]“Don’t even think about it, Clay,”[/color] She teased, noticing him checking her out, before gently nudging herself on his sweaty arm, [color=9f1b3e]“Give yourself more credit, I doubt anyone could compliment everyone else as well as you do. They all have their niches, sure, but you, you navigate wherever it’s necessary.”[/color] If anything, Clay moved around the court like he was sailing a ship and while he didn’t think he had much control, a lot of it relied on him making sure every one of his teammates had their openings and could run through the play without crashing into someone. 

[color=BCDD81]“I appreciate that Cat, thank you.”[/color] Clay reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of water to take a sip from. It was hard work winning high school basketball games. Yet it was also hard work sitting next to Cat when every iota of his being was screaming at him, every fibre of him on fire and telling him that this was the love of his life. Still he was a kid and it was just hormones right? [color=BCDD81]“There gonna’ be a big party at the Belmonte residence tonight? To celebrate?”[/color] He had lived next door to the Belmonte family all his life and their parties were legendary. For one night only, Scott Street turned to the Southside. [color=BCDD81]“If my Mom turns up, tell her we won won’t you?”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“I’ll stop by when I drop my kids off,”[/color] Cat’s gaze searched the crowd to see Elisa make her way to the family to give her brother her regards. [color=9f1b3e]“Silly Clay, you should know better. Danny’s not going to be home for a few. There’s bound to be a party, especially after a big win like tonight? There’s always a party.”[/color] Cat knew the Clovers well enough and also the dynamic they shared with the Celtics. Whether there was one planned or not, there would be one, she just knew it. [color=9f1b3e]“Ma is going to watch the kids for me, I’m going out tonight. Treating myself to sister time with El and Nina.”[/color] She gestured toward Elisa who gave her a look that showed she could really use a drink. Their father had joined the fray and instead of giving his son a hug, he looked like he was giving him pointers on how to do better for the next season. [color=9f1b3e]“What’s your plans tonight? Going to party hard, hm? Get with a pretty girl?”[/color] Her attention was brought back at him, as she grabbed onto her pom poms and playfully shaked it. Damn she missed the days when she was a Heartbreaker. Those times were simple. Sweet. She missed that feeling. 

[color=BCDD81]“Is that an invitation?”[/color] God he wished it was. If Cat Belmonte turned to him and said that she wanted him, that would literally be his life complete. She was cute shaking her pom poms and it made Clay wish he had seen her in that Clover outfit. He let out a small laugh. She was making him feel better, less lonely, for a little while at least. [color=BCDD81]“I do have a date, yes. That’s her over there,”[/color] He pointed to a girl in the Pinehurst bleachers. [color=BCDD81]“Way out of my league but obviously looking to slum it for a little bit so I’ll probably miss whatever party these reprobates end up at since they are no place for a nice evening.”[/color] 

[color=9f1b3e]“First of all, ew. You’re sleeping with the enemy?”[/color] Cat glanced at the girl, surveying her up and down. She looked familiar. She didn’t know why but she did. The shirt she was wearing reminded her of her ex and she hated it. The girl got up from her seat to go to this photographer with fluffy hair. She narrowed her eyes trying to focus in on him… they looked scarily familiar. He looked like the spitting image of… Shaking her head, she put her focus back on the girl. Sure, the Pinehurst girl was cute and all but Clay could do so much better. Cat was certain of that. [color=9f1b3e]“Secondly, maybe when you’re older—”[/color] Elisa found her way out of the chaos that was the court and their family and found her way to Cat and Clay.

[color=258554]“Hey you two! Congrats, Costigan. You were great! You all were.”[/color] Elisa was quick to swoop her sister off the bench, grabbing her hands that held the pom poms, excited to not worry about grading papers for one night. Tonight they were going to have fun. [color=258554]“Mind if I steal her? We gotta’ save Nina from Palermo.”[/color]

[color=BCDD81]“Not sleeping with her yet,”[/color] Clay clicked his fingers and laughed just before they were joined by the hot goth math teacher. [color=BCDD81]“By all means, go be with the family. Thanks for the chat, Cat.”[/color] He got up to his feet and waved at the two women before heading off into the crowd. 

[color=9f1b3e]“I can’t believe he wants to sleep with a rando Pinehurst chick,”[/color] Cat complained, grabbing onto Elisa’s arms as they made their way back to their family, getting ready to say goodbye. They had drinking to do. That was far more important than talking on a basketball court in Pinehurst all night. 

[color=258554]“Hey, you can’t talk. You slept with number 7 way back when,”[/color] Elisa chuckled as she heard Cat grumble in response. There was a rule between the three eldest Belmonte women. They would never speak his name but they would call him by his number. That’s how bad the break up went and from there Cat’s life spiraled. 

From a distance, Kylee was once again left alone. Where did Pierce go? Roddy? Where was Mei? Why was she left alone?! Frantically, she scurried through the side of the court, not realizing she was on the Pinehurst side. Turning her head to see Francis talking to Russ, she found the way he looked at his teammate so… so… SLAM! Kylee found herself crashing right into… right into… a Pinehurst photographer?! Oh my god. Roddy was going to tease her later. [color=a95963]“S-sorry.”[/color] She looked between the older boy and the girl like a deer in headlights. 

That hurt!

The boy almost dropped his camera, his pride and joy. Thank God it was hanging from his neck. He instinctively put his hands onto the girl’s arms after she crashed into him to steady her before quickly pulling away and putting them behind his back. [color=E9F4C9]“No, no it’s fine. We were too engrossed in conversation…are you ok?”[/color] This girl was very pretty and her clothes screamed money. If he didn’t know different he could’ve thought her a Monarch like him and his sister. 

The other girl beside the photographer who was checked out by Clay and Cat only moments ago couldn’t help but give the widest grin at the newcomer. She loved when people got embarrassed. It was so, so, so adorable. [color=f8d97f]“You hit my brother hard! You must be dizzy.”[/color]

[color=a95963]“No…no, I'm good. Thank you.”[/color] On top of Kylee’s head pounding, the scent of this boy’s cologne was distracting. Out of her goddamn mind, she blurted out a compliment, [color=a95963]“You smell nice,”[/color] before realizing she didn’t even know him. He looked handsome and all, and his hair she could see herself playing with, but he was Pinehurst! The enemy! 

Okay, this is when she needed to head out. From the side of her peripheral vision, she caught sight of her best friend hiding by the bleachers. Thank fucking Christ. [color=a95963]“Um, excuse me. Sorry again.”[/color] And with that, the mayor’s daughter ran off blushing hard and calling out Roddy’s name. 

As she ran off, the Pinehurst girl snickered and teased her brother, [color=f8d97f]“You smell nice.”[/color]

[color=E9F4C9]“Shut up, [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/8a/27/218a27daa3f1321e4455122e1bb4b0c6.jpg]Kaylee[/url],”[/color] He put his hands behind his head as he watched the Edenridge girl run off into the wave of faces. [color=E9F4C9]“Besides you’ve been gawking at that Edenridger all night, the one with the hair. You really think that he’s worth your time? They’re scum here, sis.”[/color]

[color=f8d97f]“Scum doesn’t mean he isn’t fun. He was [i]hot[/i] on the court. You saw it yourself! And he just has the goofiest of smiles. I’d love to toy with him. But you wouldn’t get it. All you think about are those comic books and being a nerd! You’ll never get laid, Bambam.”[/color] Kaylee protested, crossing her arms and scanning the crowd for number sixteen. 

[color=E9F4C9]“What I do with my life is not your concern, Kaylee.”[/color] He took off his camera and placed it in its secure case. [color=E9F4C9]“Not you, not our darling brother, no one. I’m gonna follow the crowd to whatever party these guys end up at. Try and get some pictures for the baby. Do me a favour, if you open your legs for that idiot, put a sock on the door or something so I know it’s you in there and I don’t accidentally take a photo of my little sister getting railed by an Edenridge Moron.”[/color]

[color=f8d97f]“Wow, wow, wow. Don’t need to have a stick up your ass, bro. You know maybe one day you’ll take pictures that I don’t know, make you smile, instead of stirring the pot. It’s going to get you in trouble one day!”[/color] Kaylee patted the back of her brother before skipping away, [color=f8d97f]“Well, I’ll find the deetz and text you. See you, Bambam.”[/color] And with that she playfully blew her brother a kiss before socializing with the enemy to see if she could hitch a ride and make her mark. 

Tonight was going to be fun.[/indent][/indent][/color]