The Basketball Heartthrob

Taylor Anderson 

I rumbled through my closet as I tried to pick an outfit for the day, it's the first day of a new session in college. I’m anxious and excited at the same time. I’m excited. After all, I hope to make new friends this session, and I am anxious because I know it's going to be another year of watching girls swim around my stepbrother without him noticing or even talking to me.

I’m the typical nerd who's always covered in glasses and baggy clothes all the time. I’ve lived with my stepbrother for two years and there has never been a day he spoke to me or replied when I talked to him, it's almost as if he hated me and despised the sight of me. He cut me off both at home and in school, nobody knows we are related except for a few of his friends who come around the house. 

Two years ago after I lost both of my parents in a car accident, Mr Mayor used to be my father's best friend, he took me in after the accident and that was how I started living with them. The first day I set my eyes on Liam I knew instantly there was no going back, my crush on him started that very moment and my heartbreak started too.

Liam doesn't talk to me, he acts like I don't even exist in the house even when we walk past each other and I greet him, all he does is ignore me and walk away. What feels more heartbreaking is that Liam is my next-door neighbor and I had to endure the unending moans and skin slapping that comes from his room every day from the different girls he mingles with.

Liam has never had a steady girlfriend, all he does is change women like he changes clothes, not until he starts dating beauty. She's from my department and honestly, she deserves her name beauty, she's everything any guy would want in a woman, she has the perfect body and face and I understand why Liam could not let her go, they have been together for some months and I can smell the strong chemistry between them. 

I have made up my mind to make friends this semester and try my best to forget about Liam, he never liked me as a sister not to talk of loving me as his lover, for the past two years all my life has revolved around Liam and I promise myself to change it this time, make new friends create new memory and stop loving someone who would never love me back.

Liam’s parents are multi-millionaires who travel around the world and never stay at home. It's always Liam and I with his friends. I also want to bring my new friends home and spend time with them too. 

I also decided to change my looks, I mean it's not like I don't like my old self, I do it's just that I want to try new things for a change, after rumbling through my closet for close to thirty minutes searching for the perfect outfit that's different from what I used to wear, I finally found a blue rugged jeans and white shirt. I put them on and couldn't help the smile forming on my face when I looked in my full-length mirror and saw how different I looked, 

I looked nothing like the previous Taylor that's always on baggy and oversized dresses and jeans. This rugged jeans hugged my body bringing out the tiny curve I have, I could barely recognize myself, 

Now it's time for me to change my ponytail, looking in the mirror I slowly loosened the band I used in packing my ponytail and watched as my hair flowed freely, I shook my hair a little bit, swinging it from left to right, I have a blonde hair which soothe my skin color,

I cannot believe how pretty I looked, I took my glasses from the table and wore it on, I can't believe who I’m seeing in the mirror, I hope that with this new look, I can make some friends and create new memories from now on, 

I looked at the time and I just have twenty minutes to be in school else I’ll be late for my first class, I picked my black handbag and stuffed all the things I would need inside of it before I zipped it up and hang it on my shoulder as I left my room in a hurry, 

There was no sign of Liam or his friends downstairs so I assumed they have left, I left the house in a hurry and was surprised to see Liam and his friend about to hop into their cars, they halted immediately they saw me as they all focussed their attention on me staring in shock,

“Shit Taylor is that you!?” One of Liam’s friends named Ethan asked with his mouth wide open,

“Damn Taylor you looked so hot and different” Eden added, he's Ethan’s twin brother, I slowly looked at Liam, and all he does was stare at my outfit with a cold expression

“Let's leave,” He said to his friends, He hopped into his latest BMW, while his friend entered their Ferrari, I stood watching as they drove off. What was I expecting? That he will change after I change myself? I must be a joker. Whatever the case maybe I already planned on moving on from him, so there's no point feeling bad about what he thinks of me, 

Oh shit, I don't have much time left, I took off and started running to the nearest bus station, I ran with all my strength and finally I made it in time just when the last bus is about to leave, I hopped into the bus immediately and since there's no space left I have to stand up.

Ten minutes later I was standing in front of the school, I looked at the time and I had just five minutes to be in class. I checked my first class for the day and shit! It was a combined class with Liam, I walked faster as I tried not to be late, I entered the class and was surprised to see that everywhere was already filled up, there was no space. People began to murmur immediately they recognized me as Taylor the nerd.

“Isn't she the nerd?”

“Damn she looked so different”

“Hot is another word for how she looks” They kept on whispering while I eye-searched for an empty seat, 

“Hi…?’’ I saw someone waving at me through the crowded lecture hall, it was a guy, I’ve never seen his face before, 

“Come sit beside me’’ he said with a smiling face, I nodded immediately and walked towards him, but Liam and his girlfriend including his friends were sitting in front of the guy, it's not like I care, I sat beside the guy happily, he has a charming smile

“Thank you for the seat” 

“It's nothing, you looked beautiful”

“Thank you, and you look handsome too”

“Ohh really?”

“Hmmm, you have a charming smile and you're handsome too”

“Aww….now I won't forget that till the rest of the day” He muttered dramatically holding his chest while I laughed at his drama

“Can we be friends?” He asked and I was surprised, this is the first time someone is asking to be my friend, I was suddenly happy my wishes were finally happening

“Sure why not”

“I’m Kelly” He introduced himself and extended his hand for a shake

“I’m Taylor” I smile happily shaking his hand

“Can you guys shut the fuck up and stop being noisy?” Liam lashed out in anger, glaring at us, I was surprised and taken aback at the same time, this is the first time Liam is ever talking to me, 

“Oh sorry” Kelly apologized, 

“What’s your department?” Kelly whispered slowly

“Anatomy”

“Shit! We are in the same department” He exclaimed happily 

“Are you that excited?” I asked smiling

“Of course, it's good to make a female friend” 

The rest of the day passed by with Kelly and I doing everything together and it actually felt good to have a friend you could talk to and do things with, it was finally time for me to go home

“Taylor?” 

“Hmmm”

“You know today is the first day of school right?”

“Yes,” I replied nodding my head,

“The basketball team always plays a match at the beginning of every semester, can you come watch and cheer for me?”

“Huh? Are you in the basketball?” 

“Hmm, I recently transferred to this school, and trust me, I’m a good basketball player, I can't wait to kick some ass and you're my only friend please come support me, please?” He pleaded giving me his cute puppy eyes 

Oh no, Li

am is the college best basketball player, that means they are going to rival against Kelly’s team.