"scout"
Third Person POV
"Mouth?" Andrew questioned as he walked closer to the lit Rivercourt with a basketball in hand.
Mouth was sitting on the surface of the table just looking out at the sight of the water and the town lights.
The boy didn't even bother to turn since Andrew had already joined him by taking a seat beside him. "What are you doing here this late? Trying to make the team too?" He joked as he bumped his friend's shoulder, earning a slight chuckle from him before silence took over once more. "C'mon man, what's wrong?"
A sigh came from Mouth before he started to speak, "Eh, it's nothing really. Just something stupid."
"Well it's enough for you to be bothered so obviously has to be something. I won't judge."
"Well, you know how Rachel and I have been hanging out." He explained which made Andrew start nodding.
"Oh yeah, she was gonna talk to you about something for cheerleading right?" Andrew questioned.
"Yeah, and she did which is why I guess I'm here," He said making Andrew tilt his head, a little confused. "She asked me if I could help her with setting up a routine. So I did... then Brooke came along and she got into an argument with Rachel, something about going behind her back I think,"
The last few words of the sentence made Andrew furrow his brows for a minute before shaking off the thought.
"Anyways, I went to Brooke's apartment to tell her that I just wanted to help the cheerleading squad which included her. Brooke went on about her dislike for Rachel to which I tried to defend Rachel's case. That ended up fueling up her anger which ended up in her yelling at me. She then went on to tell me that if a girl like Rachel was being nice to me, it was a reason." He sighed as he shook his head.
Andrew furrowed his brows once again as a result of hearing what Brooke told Mouth.
"Guess I can't be friends with someone that looks like Rachel." He scoffed as he glanced down.
"Maybe she didn't mean-"
"She did." Mouth interrupted before his friend could even finish his sentence.
Andrew just looked at him before nodding his head. "Well I'm pretty sure you know this but I'm going to tell you anyway. You have been one of the people that she actually enjoys being around." He spoke as Mouth looked at him, listening to what was being said. "You're part of the few that she can call a friend and she appreciates that."
The slightly younger boy smiled at the words. "Really?"
"Really." Andrew confirmed. "Anyone would be glad to have a friend like you, Mouth." Mcfadden smiled at the words. Andrew put his hand on his friend's shoulder, giving a squeeze before getting up from the table. "Up for a game?" He asked as he showed the basketball in his hands.
"I'm not really the athletic type-"
"Eh who cares, not like your broadcast partner is here to see you suck." He poked fun.
"Gigi?" He questioned to which Andrew answered with a nod. "Uh no i-its not like that." Stumbling over his words.
"Alright if you say so," As he started to dribble the ball.
"Wait why do you think she likes me?" He asked as jogged onto the court. Which made Andrew smirk at his friend's question.
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"We're still going on our date tonight, right?" Andrew asked as he leaned on the locker next to Rachel's.
"It's a date now?" The redhead smirked as she quirked an eyebrow.
The boy immediately wanted to take back the word but realized that's what he wanted tonight to be. A date. "Yes, a date. If that's fine with you?" He asked to which she smiled.
"It is but I have to warn you that boys can get a little crazy for me," Rachel remarked as she shut her locker.
"Really?" He went on with her little banter with a smile on his lips. The girl hummed as she looked at him. "Well, that's a chance I'm willing to take." As he picked himself up from the locker.
Rachel had a small smile before speaking, "Okay, is this date going to be formal?" She asked as she twirled his tie, an accessory to his proper outfit that Whitey ordered for game days.
"If you want it to be, or I can change to casual cloth-"
"Leave it, you look hot with this whole business attire." She smirked, and a shy smile from the boy. "Out of everyone on the team, I think you wear it the best."
He leaned down a bit to her level and spoke, "Me too." The girl felt her cheeks warm up at how close his face was to hers. Now it was time for Andrew to smirk at her reaction. "I'll see you later for our date, Rach."
He took a few steps forward in the hallway before remembering to tell her something. "Also," His voice gained Rachel's attention once again as she turned to look at him. "don't bring your car, or else you might miss a good adrenaline rush."
~
"It's nice to not have to pick your ass up." Nathan teased as he walked along Andrew who had his helmet in hand with his sport gym bag on his shoulder.
"Yeah, and I don't have to listen to your crappy music blasting now." Andrew threw back causing a playful laugh to come from his co-captain. "But thank you for all those rides though."
"Eh, it's no problem. It's also nice to see you back with your motorcycle and trying to see you beat cars out of parking spots."
"Well now it's time to try and beat them," Andrew spoke, as he nodded his head to the group of guys that were their opponent for the night. "Actually scratch 'trying'. We are going to cut the losing streak tonight."
"Yeah, and we kinda have a tiny advantage on this court," Nathan said making Andrew look at him confused. "There's a dead spot. I'll tell you in the gym."
The duo made their way into the gym and not long after, people started to fill the bleachers including one specific man that players would want to impress, a scout.
Whitey called in his team for the pregame huddle before the players continued to their positions on the court, all but one. One of the particular ravens, Nathan Scott.
"I have to play tonight!" Nathan argued but his coach was not budging with his original decision.
"Nathan, sit down. Now!" The voice echoed causing Andrew to just glance at the two with a confused impression.
The young Scott looked at him for one more second before walking to the bench to take a seat.
As the second quarter was winding down, the Tree Hill Ravens were holding up pretty well despite that they were down by a few points. Something that was getting to the defensive mindset of Andrew. Yet it didn't affect his game as he gathered most of the points along with the other Scott brother.
The buzzer rang to signify the end of the first half. People took this time to either get more snacks or just converse about the game. Or maybe take the chance to apologize to a friend like a certain brunette cheerleader was doing at the moment.
Then you have the players as they walked back to the locker room, awaiting another speech from their coach.
"Hey man, don't worry other scouts are going to come, the season isn't over." Andrew said, trying to make Nathan feel better.
"He's a top scout on the east coast and I'm missing my chance to make an impression because I ditched."
"Like I said the season isn't over, we have more games that scouts can attend. Now stop moping." And with that, the coach of Tree Hill stepped in which made the room go quiet.
Halftime came to an end as players started in their position to resume their basketball game. Then without missing a beat, the Ravens carried with their game.
"Ball, Tim!" As he measured the opportunity of an open three-pointer by a screen from one of his teammates.
Number zero was quick to pass it to the open player who swiftly shot the basketball in a quick motion. Swish! As the ball went through nothing but the net gained cheers from the fans and an impressive look from the scout.
That shot now made the Ravens down by one in the fourth quarter with only nine seconds remaining as Coach Whitey called a timeout, making the players hurry into a huddle.
"Alright, now I want you to take a good look around you. Take a good, hard look because once in a while you have to ask yourself how you got to this place." Andrew placed his hands on his hip, trying to gain composure with his breaths. "0-2 playing in this crummy sweatbox of a gym. Well, I'll tell you how you got there. You got there by playing selfishly and losing. But for the next nine seconds, if you change the first thing, you'll change the second." Whitey spoke before putting his hand in the middle, making the players follow. "Alright, let's go. One, two, three..."
"RAVENS!" The team shouted as a whistle blew.
Before Andrew or Lucas could continue onto the court Nathan called for the two. Which caused them to jog to the younger Scott.
"The dead spot. Fleming has no left alright? He'll go to his right, so if either of you two forces him to the dead spot you'll be able to pick his pocket."
Andrew and Lucas glanced at each other before nodding to the plan and walking away.
The buzzer went off to signify that the timeout was officially over and players started to make their way back.
"I can't leave my guy open so you got this right?" Andrew said to Lucas who looked at him as they got lined up.
Andrew knew that the older Scott brother wasn't exactly an ideal defensive player so he needed to make sure that he could do this and by judging Lucas's face, he wasn't.
"Look don't let up on him, okay? Just play tight defense and expect a harsh shoulder bump but whatever you do, don't let space between you two." Lucas just listened and nodded, "You got this." Andrew encouraged him as they went to cover their assigned players.
The whistles blew and the game proceeded with the last few seconds. Every single raven had their guy covered as Lucas tried to accomplish the task. Every single person in the bleacher was up on their feet as they watched a close game
Though Andrew was making sure to keep up with his opponent, he was also keeping an eye on the situation that was playing out. As Andrew predicted, Fleming tried to push Luke to clear up space but he wasn't succeeding.
That's when the opening happened, Fleming tried to make a move but caused him to bounce the ball right on the dead spot which made an easy steal for Lucas. The home crowd cheered but they still needed another bucket to win. Lucas ran with an opposing player not too far behind. The Raven leaped with two seconds on the clock, the basketball leaving the fingertips of Lucas as it went through right when the buzzer went off. "Yes!" Andrew celebrated as the team, and cheerleaders and everyone did the same with cheers traveling through the room.
~
"What took you so long?" Rachel asked Andrew as he walked closer to her.
"Sorry, got stuck talking to a scout." He apologized as he tucked his hands in his pocket.
"Excuses, excuses, excuses." She remarked making a smile come across the boy's face.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I should've just ditched him and rushed over to the redhead beauty." He joked with a sarcastic tone.
"Yeah, you should have." She plainly replied, gaining a chuckle from Andrew which made Rachel break into a smile and excited demeanor. "It's alright, you're forgiven. For now, at least." She said as she snuck her arm and looped it between his.
"Only for now?" He questioned as they inched closer to his motorcycle.
"Yes, you know just in case you set up the worst first date in history."
"Hey! Have some faith in me. I'm a romantic guy." Trying to defend himself from the comment.
"Whatever you say 'Mr. Romantic'." She quipped which just earned a glance from Andrew before the two broke their connection as they reached the parked bike. "Ooo, I finally get a special ride on your bike?" Rachel commented as she checked out the black motorcycle.
"You do," Andrew answered as he got his helmet. "And if you're scared you can just-"
"Scared?" She repeated making him just look at her. Rachel got the helmet from his hand and scoffed, "Funny. I love motorcycles. "
Andrew raised his brows and nodded his head, "Alright, if the daredevil says so." As he put on his gloves before noticing that she was having a hard time putting on the helmet. "Need help." He smirked which didn't go unnoticed by the redhead.
"Stop smiling and help me!" She said which just made him break a laugh before assisting the girl.
It's funny how people can recognize a laugh so quickly. No matter if you haven't heard it for months you can still establish it from the rest. And that was something Brooke was doing at that current moment. She scanned the parking lot and it didn't take long for her to notice Andrew with Rachel.
Brooke watched the two laugh, and them doing the same exact thing that they used to do.
It was a sight that was cracking her second by second as she watched. All she was thinking was that Rachel was doing something she couldn't do anymore.
Make him happy.
Not being able to look at the pair for another minute, she quickly entered her car. The second she closed the door, she broke. Her eyes started to become red, along with her breathing became shaky. An anguished pain in her chest was present and the only person that could be able to ease it was no longer her's.
And it was her fault.
Not Edited
:) y'all enjoyed it?