CHAPTER 31
In case you’re wondering, basketball tryouts go on forever. I mean, forever. Eternity as a vampire is nothing compared to how long this stuff lasts.
The student spectators are allowed to come and go as they please (along with the public, including all those coveted college scouts). But we cheerleaders have to stay through the whole freakin’ fiasco. And we have to be peppy, too.
Honestly, I think that’s asking just a little much.
Fortunately, though, I wasn’t stuck by myself. I had my cheery cohorts (hahaha) and my partners in crime. Jenny and Clayton, to be specific. And they were armed and dangerous. Armed with holy water, and dangerous to vampires, that is.
Even Elise was there, tucked away on the bleachers, her eyes never leaving Chris. Honestly, I had no idea what she still saw in him!
Coach Dunne blew his whistle, and a bunch of guys on the court left, replaced with another bunch of guys, including Nelson and Chris. Stephen, apparently, was already on the team. He was standing with the coach, whispering things and pointing at the various guys. I wanted to fill up a spray bottle of holy water and blast him in the face. But considering the audience we had, I figured that probably wasn’t such a great idea.
Another shrill whistle, and off the guys went, with Nelson and Chris jamming all over the court. Why wouldn’t they? I mean, they’re preternaturally fast, right?
I only hoped Clayton and Jenny could work a little magic of their own.
Tamara started making rah-rah noises, so I picked up the pom-pom action, yelling things like “go!” and “you can do it!” and some other cheery stuff so that it would seem like I cared. Mostly, I was watching Clayton, who was easing over toward where a few guys were warming the benches. And where a few extra balls were sitting in a tub, just waiting to be tossed into play if somebody threw a foul.
I held my breath, waiting for the opportunity for Clayton to throw a new ball in. He must have realized I was watching, though, because he looked up and smiled at me.
Okay, I was so not used to that yet. I got all tingly, my cheeks warmed, and I had to look away.
And that’s when I saw him.
Kevin, my friendly neighborhood vampire hunter.
I tried to signal for Clayton, but it was too late. He was already tossing the ball in . . . and Nelson was already grabbing for it.
He reached out, ready to take the pass, and then suddenly he screeched. He fumbled (or whatever the word is for basketball) and the ball bounced away.
“What’s wrong with you?” Coach shouted. “You got butter on your hands?”
“No, sir! I—” But he didn’t bother finishing, just chased after the ball, then tried to dribble it again. I saw his face contort in pain and then he pushed the ball away. Not a dribble, but a shove.
Chris took up the slack, running in and accepting the pass (or whatever you could call the wildly bouncing ball), but then he fumbled, too. The whole thing was the Three Stooges on crack, and I was having a hard time not falling over with laughter.
Coach blasted out on his whistle again, and I searched the stands for Jenny and Clayton. I found them, finally, tucked into a corner, laughing so hard I was sure they were going to hurt themselves.
And the best part? Randy, my sports editor, stood front and center with his camera.
The not-so-best part? Kevin’s eyes weren’t glued on the court. Instead, he was looking straight at me.