Hailey’s eyes flashed over to Grant. “You don’t know what it was like to be me last summer,” she insisted.
“I know that I wish I had never laid eyes on you,” Grant groaned as he turned away.
“Back at you,” Hailey snapped as she crossed her arms. “You didn’t exactly turn out to be Prince Charming.”
Grant spun back around quickly. “Well, let’s face it, Princess; you’re not exactly my dream girl,” he retorted.
“I know you’re not from around here, Grant,” Paul broke in, silencing the bickering, “but in these parts when a man finds out some punk in town has dishonorable intentions toward his daughter, he tends to go for his huntin’ rifle to eliminate the problem.”
Grant rolled his eyes. “Well, first of all, you have obviously not caught on to the fact that Hailey and I can hardly stand the sight of one another. Thus, my disdain for the girl being a serious impediment in regard to my desire to pursue her. Secondly, I seriously doubt Hailey’s dad will retrieve his shotgun upon hearing whatever it is you think you have to tell him, seeing as how shooting me would most likely effectively end his evil scheme to finally get my father’s wife into his bed.”
“Do you know what your problem is?” Hailey groaned. “You just love to hear yourself talk…you really do…you love to hear the sound of your own voice.”
“Well,” Grant snapped, “I have learned that when I stop talking, other people, much like yourself, feel the need to interject, and I find the result is damaging to my sanity.”
“You are slightly passive aggressive, you realize that, right?” Hailey shook her head.
“Only slightly…I must be losing my touch,” Grant replied.
“Ever heard of sarcasm?” Hailey grumbled.
“Sarcasm?” Grant shrugged. “No, what is that… some sort of tractor part?”
“I can’t talk to you when you’re like this,” Hailey sighed as she turned to walk away.
“Oh, please come back,” Grant called, rolling his eyes. “I find your snarl so endearing.”
“If you two lovebirds are done,” Paul interjected, “we should take this to the court.”
“Fine,” Grant nodded, “but let’s raise the stakes a bit. If I lose…I quit. If you lose…you quit, and I lead this team to state.”
“Deal,” Paul agreed. “Meet me at the court behind the school in five minutes.”
“I’ll be there,” Grant nodded.
As the crowd began to disperse, Hailey walked up to Grant. “Grant, listen,” she sighed after a moment. “I didn’t know anything about this ambush…I swear.”
“Okay,” Grant shrugged.
“You believe me, don’t you?” Hailey gulped as they got into her truck.
“Just take me to the school, Hailey,” Grant frowned. “I don’t have anything to say to you right now.”
“Do you want to talk about what happened this summer?” Hailey gulped.
“No,” Grant replied coldly.
“If you lose this game, are you really going to quit the team?” Hailey asked softly.
“You heard the terms, just like I did,” Grant shrugged.
When they arrived at the school, Paul and his posse were already gathered under one basket. Hailey walked beside Grant, searching for the right words to say. “Grant,” she gulped, and she grabbed his hand to get his attention. “I want you to know that I didn’t want it to come to this.”
“It’s okay,” Grant shook his head. “I’ve never been the most popular kid in school.”
“This isn’t fair,” Hailey protested, and, noticing she was still holding Grant’s hand, she dropped it.
“Wish me luck?” Grant asked.
Hailey turned her head to the side, unable to look Grant in the face. “Good Luck,” she said softly.
“Hailey!” Paul called. “Get over here on my side before I start to think you’re rooting for the loser!”
“Come-on, Hails, the game’s about to start!” Misty chirped as she massaged her man’s shoulders.
Hailey glanced at her friends, then back at Grant.
“Hailey!” Billy Wayne bellowed. “Whatcha waitin’ for?”
“You don’t have it in you to be a traitor, Hails, so get over here,” Paul called.
“It’s okay…go ahead…” Grant nodded.
“What if I want to stay on your side?” Hailey asked seriously.
“You’d be the only one,” Grant shrugged. “They want me gone, and I think, if you’re honest with yourself, that’s probably what you want too.”
“Hailey!” the boys continued. “Get over here!”
