Chapter 107: Chapter 107

Nate's POV

" The best player award of the match goes to.......GAVIN WEST."

Mr Jenkins, the chief guest to the basketball match and a former coach of our school, announce cheerfully through the Microphone. The stadium which was already filled with claps and cheers from the stands erupt into further more loud claps for Gavin.

I can't help but smile and clap my hands as loudly as possible. Ethan is beside me clapping and whistling and loudly yelling Gavin's name.

I tilt my head to look at Grace and she has a wide smile on her lips as she claps her hands, looking at Gavin getting hugged by his teammates.

I knew it ! I knew Gavin will be the best player of the match. He scored 23 points out of the total 107 points our school scored in the match against Dillon high in which we won on just 4 points.

A good lot of people from various schools had come to see the match and we barely got seats, even though we arrived at the stadium at 5, half an hour before the match started. And the spectators weren't disappointed. It was indeed an edge of the seat match with a lot of cut-throats playing so much so that the scores were neck to neck, all throughout the match. There were lot of fouls and penalties.

Gavin got two free throws in both of which he managed to successfully throw the ball into the hoop. He was playing really zealously today. The other players could barely catch up with him as he ran tossing the ball at high speed. I didn't think he can play this well. And he has a lot of rare basketball techniques in his hands. He should be the captain actually. Sure he will be made the captain soon.

Finally separating himself from his blissful teammates, Gavin walks up the stage with all of them loudly cheering his name. I expected to see an exhilarating joy on his face as he receives his ‘best player’ trophy and certificate from Mr Jenkins but instead of that, what I can read on his face is tension and nervousness. His hand is slightly shivering as he receives a shake hand from Mr Jenkins. He then looks in our direction and flashes a nervous tight lipped smile.

"Look at his face. Why is he smiling like that ? ", Grace laughs clapping her hands.

" He got all nervous going up the stage.", Ethan chuckles as Gavin stumbles while walking down the stage. He then joins his teammates and they all starts hugging him again.

The award function soon ends and after parading round the court with their trophy, the basketballers all enthusiastically jog out along with their jubilant coach.

" Where are they going ?", Grace asks Ethan.

" Probably to the canteen to celebrate their victory." Ethan replies and grabs my hands. "C'mon..let's also go. ", he says and already starts walking down the bleachers with me. Grace follows us behind.

When we reach the canteen, the basketballers are all there, receiving hugs and compliments from their friends and classmates. Gavin is standing along with a few of his friends and cheer girls, talking and smiling to them whilst sipping on a juice box.

" Wait guys ! Let him finish talking to them first and come to us.", Grace says crossing her hands as Ethan starts walking towards Gavin whilst dragging me along.

" Oh..okay then.", Ethan stops and nods, turning to her. Grace has her eyebrows furrowed as she stares at the cheer girl who is standing really close to Gavin, holding his 'Best Player' trophy in one hand and the other hand flirtatiously twirling her locks.

I sigh and looks at Ethan. " Shh...will this two ever date ?", I whisper ask.

" Don't know.", he shrugs and shakes his head looking annoyed at the girl beside Gavin.

It takes almost a minute for Gavin to finally notices us. And when he does, he quickly snatches his trophy from the girl and comes walking towards us, strangely his expression still nervous.

" Congrats Dude ! ", Ethan squeals and hugs him first, patting on his back. Gavin can't hug him back cause he is holding his juice box and trophy in his both hands. I reach to grab the trophy. It's a small beautiful golden statue of a basketballer tossing a ball. But Gavin doesn't give me. He has an iron grip on it.

" Congrats ! You played so well t..today.", I say and smile at him as he pulls away from Ethan. He smiles back at me and opens his arms. I quickly hug his sweaty body and pulls away laughing as he mutters a quiet 'Thanks dude'.

" You are literally d..drenched in sweat.", I say and reach to grab his trophy again. But he shakes his head and moves his hands away, causing me to pout.

" Ethan, your boyfriend has some obsession for trophies.", He says laughing whilst turning to Grace who still has her arms crossed over her chest. Ethan agrees bursting into laughter looking at me. But Gavin's laughter turns into an awkward chuckle. He then stretches the trophy to Grace, without actually looking at her, causing me to furrow my eyebrows.

" Congrats...nice trophy.", Grace smiles uncrossing her hands, but doesn't take it from him.

" Ahm..h..hold this.", Gavin says.

" Uhm..okay.", Grace nods and takes the trophy, scrunching her eyebrows a little at Gavin's stutter.

By now Ethan also stops laughing as he starts observing them. I wonder what is wrong with Gavin. Why is he so nervous? Is he going to confess to Grace or something?

" Uhm..", he stars to say something but pauses and groans brushing his damp hair backward with his now free hands.

" Uhm..what ?", Grace asks.

" Ahmm...want this ?", he asks and stretches his juice box to her, his eyes still not meeting her.

" Okay..what's wrong with you ?", Grace lets out a nervous chuckle, taking the juice box from him and having a quick sip. The next moment Gavin reaches and grabs her hands, fingers curling tightly around her wrist, causing her eyes to widen a little.

" Come..", that's the only thing he says before he starts running, dragging her along with him.

" I think he is finally going to ask her out.", Ethan says as they disappear outside the canteen doors.

" I think so.", I reply. " But why he didn't t..tell us? Or did he tell you ?"

" No.", he shakes his head. " You are now his roommate, right ? He didn't tell you ?"

" No..", I shake my head.

" Hmm..he is a strange secretive thing. Let's just wait and see.", he sighs.

" Okay, come, let's go sit in the volleyball court until 8.", he says and grabs my hands. I nod to him and we walk towards the court. It's usually empty there during this time. We have been sitting there, talking the last two days and no body came.

Soon we reach there and it's empty, much to our pleasure. We slump ourselves down in a dark corner and Ethan lies down with his head on my lap.

" My match is in three weeks.", he says.

" I hope you won't...a..again get hit and suffer a concussion.", I say, running my fingers through his hair.

" I won't..", he laughs. " That day I was distracted seeing you with Andrea. But now that you are mine, I will play well." My lips curl upward at that and he raises up a little and kisses me, causing me to blush. He probably can't see that in the dark but he still smiles looking at me.

We stay silent staring at each others eyes for some time and I finally decide to ask him the thing I've been wanting to ask him since some days.

" Ethan, are you g..going home tomorrow ?"

" No, I'm spending this weekend with my baby.", he replies, smiling.

Shit ! Now how will I ask him to take me to his home ? Probably he won't be going next week too. When can I finally collect his Mom's samples and make sure she is my Mom ?

" What are you thinking ?", Ethan asks.

" Nothing.", I shake my head. I don't know how long I can hide this from him. What if he somehow finds out my birthday is on June 7 ? Then what will happen ? I'll have to say all the truths. I can't even imagine how shocked he will be when he knows his Mom and sister isn't actually his Mom and sister.

I shouldn't let him find out. He shouldn't see my birthdate anywhere. I should be extremely careful.

But why does my mind says, he will soon find out ? I feel scared.

" Why is your hands shivering ?", he asks and grabs my hand which was running through his hair. " Oh ! Why are you so cold ? ", he gasps, sitting up and touching my sweaty shivering palm. I try to stop shivering but I hardly can. " Why are you shivering and sweating ? Are you alright?", he asks.

" Ahm...y..yeah..I'm fine.", I say.

" Are you nervous or something ?", he asks squeezing my hands.

" N..no..and it's the s..sweat from your hair.", I say.

" Oh..??", he asks and brushes his fingers through his hair. " No..my hair is dry."

" Ahm..then it's because...It's c..cold here.", I say.

"Does anyone sweat because of cold ?", he asks.

" I think I- I do.", I say and grab my phone from my pocket. " It's 7:50. Let's go Ethan.",

" It's already that long ?", he asks in a sad tone. " oh..! We haven't heard anything from Gavin and Grace yet. Shall we call them ?"

" Maybe text Gavin.", I say. He nods and grabs his phone from his pocket. He text something and waits for Gavin's reply. Soon his phone makes a 'bing' sound.

" They are at the auditorium. He is asking us to come.", he says and gets up, stretching his hands to me. I take it and he pulls me up. Then we runs in direction of the auditorium.

When he reach there, Gavin and Grace are sitting on the couple of steps leading to the stage. They slowly gets up on seeing us and starts languidly walking towards us, hand in hand.

" He sure asked her out..", Ethan whispers in my ear whilst laughing. I giggle back nodding.

Both of them have a shy smile playing on their lips as we reach them. And seems like they both are blushing. We can't see properly. The auditorium is only barely lit.

" Okay...why you guys asked us to come ? ", Ethan asks as if clueless.

" Guys, we are dating.", Gavin replies, smiling and tilting his head to Grace who smiles back at him.

" Oh..really ? Congrats. How did this suddenly happen?", Ethan asks. They both look at us and laughs awkwardly in reply.

" Ahm...I actually liked him from the beginning. Turned out he also likes me. So we decided to date.", Grace then replies.

" Really ? I never imagined y..you guys like each other..like that. ", I say.

" Oh..C'mon..", both of them groans.

" So you guys kissed ?", Ethan then asks, wanting to tease them more. They have been teasing us a lot since Monday. Now it's our chance.

" Yeah..we did.", Gavin replies swinging their intertwined hands.

" We actually shared our first kiss long ago.", Grace says, surprising me.

" Oh ! When did that happen?", Ethan asks.

" At the party at Noah's house.", Gavin replies.

" And you didn't tell me ! ", Ethan makes his mouth an ' O'

" He actually didn't know that until now. He wasn't really conscious then.", Grace replies. Gavin grins brushing his hair backward with his free hand.

" Great ! So are we taking a risk today by changing roommates ?", Ethan asks. Gavin looks at Grace for a reply.

" Maybe let's all stay in one room ??", she asks.

“ Yeah..that would be better. If we get caught, let's get caught together." , Gavin says.

" Okay...", Ethan nods. " Let's go to our 69 then."