When they arrived at the basketball court, the other guys were already there, dribbling, shooting hoops, and just hanging out.
“Hey Nicky Boy!” AJ shouted from across the court and waved his tattooed arm in the air.
Nick, with a clearly disturbed expression on his face, did not answer.
“What’s the matter Nick?” Kevin asked while shooting the ball through the basket. “Yes!” He said excitedly as the ball went through the hoop gracefully.
“Nothin’,” Nick sat down on the benches.
“Hey Nick,” AJ poked Nick in the ribs, “Who’s the girl?” AJ peered through his sunglasses curiously.
“Just some girl my mom told me to baby sit for.” Nick replied, still annoyed that Brian was on the girl’s side and not on his.
“Baby sit? How old is she?” AJ asked while watching Brian and Christina play some one on one.
“She’s only 12–”
“12? Whoa, she looks like a 15-year old! What’s her name?”
“Christina.”
“She’s pretty good at basketball.”
“Are you kidding–” Nick turned around to face the direction of the court just as Christina scored a three-pointer. Brian stood helplessly, staring at the ball shoot through the hoop.
“Hey B-Rok!” Nick cupped his hands to his mouth, “You’re not gonna lose b-ball to a girl are ya? What’s your name? It’s B-Rok, not ‘Mr. I-Suck-At-Basketball’!”
Christina frowned, “What is it with you guys and their ‘I Can’t Lose To A Girl’ deal anyway? I’m sure that I can beat you at b-ball any day, anywhere.” Christina argued with one of her hands on her hips and the other dribbling the basketball on her finger. Nick had always been her favorite Backstreet Boy, but from what she’s seen so far, Nick’s far from anything she’s heard on the Internet. She’s beginning to doubt that staying with Nick Carter is a dream come true after all. “I’ll make you a deal, first one to score a basket wins.”
AJ’s jaw dropped down as his sunglasses slid down his nose. Brian laughed from behind Christina, “Hey Messy Marvin! Someone to beat you at b-ball! I wouldn’t be too easy on her if I were you, she’s tough at b-ball.”
“Oh yeah?” Nick said with a cocky expression on his face. He crossed his arms and legs and leaned back against… nothing! Nick fell back helplessly as the others started to laugh uncontrollably. Only Brian managed to be reasonably calm and help Nick from his position on the pavement.
“Frack… you ok?” Brian asked concerned as he tried to hold back his laughter.
“You seem concerned Frick.” Nick rolled his eyes and rubbed his back.
“So-so… Mr. I’m-A-Genius-at-Basketball is-is, so clumsy that-that he can’t even sit on a b-bench p-properly? Christina managed to say between bits of laughter.
“Shut up.” Nick grumbled as he grabbed the ball from Christina’s hand and started to dribble. Suddenly, from somewhere behind him, a hand reached out and snatched the basketball from him. Nick watched the ball in Christina’s delicate hands. She stuck her hand out and started to tease him.
“Come and get it…” Christina said playfully as Nick tried every attempt to get the ball away from Christina’s hands. Christina ran close to the basket with the ball that she was still dribbling with. She jumped and dunked the ball through the basket.
“Woohoo!” AJ shouted, “Go Chris!” He started to clap his hands and cheer for her.
“No fair!” Nick whined, “I wasn’t ready!”
“Aww… too bad then. That just proves that you’re a sucky basketball player and that you’re a bad loser.” Christina laughed as Nick jumped up and down still not wanting to admit that he lost the game. “Come on, I wanna play against someone who’s actually good at b-ball.”