Talia's black ponytail whipped as she turned around. Her brown eyes searched for the person who called her name. A boy, Jacob, was waving.
"Wait up Talia!" Jacob called out. She turned and waited as he ran across the road. "Where have you been? Did you have basketball?"
Talia shook her head. "No, I was just doing some running at the Y."
"Do you want to shoot some hoops?" He offered, jerking his thumb at his driveway.
Talia pulled out her phone to check the time. "Sure! I don't have to be home for another half hour. My house is just around the corner so I can stay 15-20 minutes or so."
Talia and Jacob jogged across the road and started practising foul shots.
Talia walked into Oakdale Middle with her band. And by her band everyone knew it was Talia, Emily-Jane, Olivia and Charlotte.
"Don't look now Tals, but somebody's staring." Char said in sing song voice.
Talia glanced in the direction her friend nodded. She saw Nate, Danny, Liam, Darren, and a very embarrassed looking Jacob. She noticed the boy awkwardly wave. She smiled and waved back before Livvy grabbed her by the arm.
"C'mon. You said you'd talk to Michelle about nominating a captain." Talia nodded, but took one more glance back at Jacob before following her band.
"You and Jacob? I ship it!" Char squealed as she sat down at their booth in the cafeteria.
"Dude, if you guys get together I won't be the only one of the four of us with a boyfriend." Em-J pointed out. "Speaking of boyfriend, I'm going to talk to Nate for a bit." She walked away in search for him.
"Honestly, the look you guys gave each other this morning. It was adorable!" Livvy smiled at Talia. "Tals, I had to literally drag you away from him. Quick question. When exactly did this happen?"
Talia blushed. "I don't know. Maybe sort of last night?"
"What happened last night?" Char pressed.
"Well I was walking home from the Y. And he lives just around the corner from me. So we did some basketball together. And we talked. It was nice." Talia whispered blushing even harder.
As if on cue, Char and Livvy grinned. "Aww, Tals, that is just too cute!"
Talia was walking home from school when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and smiled nervously at Jacob.
"Hey, do you want to walk together?" the boy asked shyly.
"Why not?" Talia said quietly. They walked in and awkward silence.
"Oh my goodness, you guys walked home together. Ah, you two are so cute I think I might faint from the adorableness of it all!" Em-J squealed as she and Talia were waiting for Char and Livvy.
"Shut up, he's like two booths away!" Talia hissed. "He might hear you!"
"Who? Are you talking about Tals and Jacob?" Livvy asked as she and Char slipped into the booth.
"Yep, who else? Hey Tals, when are you going to tell him?" Em-J pressed.
"I'm not going to tell him!" Talia let out an embarrassed snort. "I don't want him to know! That would be weird. And he probably doesn't like me back."
"Don't say that!" Char scolded. "I think he likes you." She glanced back at the boys booth. "He's staring at you again."
"No he's not!" Talia glanced at the time. "Guys, I've got to be at science earlyish to talk to Mr. Brown. I should probably go now." She ran out of the cafeteria.
"Hey Talia!" She turned and saw Darren running up. "I was just wondering when you're next game is? Me and some of the guys thought we should come to one of Livvy and your games."
"We have one tomorrow at 8. You should probably come at twenty to though." Talia replied.
"Thanks!" Darren walked away.
Michelle and Talia were going through layups when Livvy jogged up. "Is that Jacob and Darren?" She whispered to Talia, pointing to the boys.
"Yeah," Talia replied "Darren said him and some of the guys were coming." She waved to the two boys, and they waved back.
"Alright girls, bring it in!" The coach yelled. He started giving the starting lineup. "Michelle and Becca, posts. Olivia, point guard. I'm gonna sub you out with Danica if your ankle starts bugging you again. Talia and Rachel, guard. Remember what I told you guys at practice. Let's go Bears!" And with his final cheer the team took their spot, ready to go.
Talia and Livvy hugged.
"Hey, how's your ankle?" Talia asked.
Livvy smiled. "I think it'll be okay after I see the doctor. Thanks for asking, Tals."
"Hey Talia." Jacob had approached the two girls. "Nice job winning the game."
"Thanks." Talia said. She noticed that Livvy had walked away, a big grin on her face.
"I was just wondering," Jacob began, "If, if you would go out with me?" He breathed.
Talia's heart skipped a beat. She felt her cheeks and ears heat up into a burning blush. "Of course I will, Jacob." She heard herself say.
Jacob rushed in to hug her. She wrapped her arms around his body to embrace the hug.
"Thank you." Jacob whispered. "I was really scared that you were going to reject me. How about McDonald's tonight to celebrate your awesome win?"
"Alright." Talia agreed. "Meet you outside in ten."
"How did the date go?" Livvy asked.
"It went great! We talked a lot and he even gave me a goodnight kiss!"
Livvy, Char, and Em-J all squealed at the same time. "Aww, that is so cute!"
Then Jacob and Nate walked up. They each hugged their girlfriend.
Char started talking to Jacob. "So you and Tals had your first date!"
"Yeah! It was great! Talia makes me happy!" He said the last part self-consciously, but became confident again when Talia hugged him.
The bell rang and Jacob and Talia left for class hand in hand.
"See you tomorrow!" Talia said, hugging Jacob.
"Love you!" Jacob gently kissed her on the nose. He then proceeded to walk across the street. When he was about halfway across the road a car zoomed around the corner- and drove right at him. He didn't even have time to run.
Talia screamed. At first she just stood there, staring. Then she rushed over to him and called dialed 9-1-1. She wasn't quite sure what she said, but they sent an ambulance. Then she rushed to Jacob's house. His mother opened the door.
"Mrs. Thomas! Jacob got hit by a car!" Then she collapsed and cried.
Talia was lying in her bed, crying. Her mom knocked quietly on the bedroom door. "Honey, Mrs. Thomas is on the phone."
Talia got up and opened her bedroom door. "Thanks." She tried to smile as she took the phone.
"Hey Mrs. Thomas."
"Hi Talia. I'd just like to thank you. Thanks to your quick thinking he's still alive."
"He's alive!" Talia burst out. "Do you think I could visit him soon?"
"No."
Talia was shocked by the answer. "Why not?"
"Jacob isn't okay. He's in a coma."
"Oh." Talia said. Then she politely hung up and once again she was crying.
