They looked ready to throw down but cooled off when they realized I was just a harmless girl.
One quipped, "Sweetie, you're out of your league. We're not half bad."
Another chimed in, "Look, missy, you're barely half the height of that hoop."
The third continued, "Got a bad arm today, but watch me next time—I'll school you."
Amid the back-and-forth, one guy made a discreet exit.
That's when I spotted him—none other than Jason, hiding like he owed me money.
"Jason! Playing hide and seek?" I teased, calling out to the guy who was now crouching behind his teammates.
Jason Wright, the boy next door with a stellar rep: top-notch manners, killer grades, easy on the eyes, captain of the varsity basketball team, and head of the student council. Always a bridesmaid, never the bride on the exam leaderboards.
Me? I'm always the one edging him out for the top spot.
We didn't mix much, except for that one time at a meeting where a friend teamed us up for a video game challenge.
Our buddy warned me before the game that Jason wasn't much of a gamer. I figured he was just being modest—like I sometimes claim to be the underdog before I go and surprise everyone.
I gave him a knowing nod. "Gotcha."