3 CHAPTER II: “CHEERS TO THAT”

DANIEL'S P.O.V.

*That same morning*

   Damn!

I thought to myself  as I stood in front of my new school. I had just been transferred to Merchant High to complete my senior year.

Long story short, My mom had been promoted to Senior Manager in one of the branches of her office, which resulted in our move, so here I am.

I'm not quite sure how I'm gonna fit in, seeing that it's my final year, but i'll give my best, and if I end up heaving to bury myself in basketball {the minute I make the team that is},and books, then so be it.

I walk in and look for the administrative office,when I find it, I walk towards a middle-aged woman, sitting on her desk, typing away, then she yells a deafening "NEXT", I clear my throat, "Daniel Turner, transfer student?".

She looks up at me, "Oh, the basketball prodigy, right?" I nod. She types away on her computer then hands me a bunch of papers from the printer, "Okay, well here's your schedule and um-" She looks around and yells, "Harper, come here! This is Daniel Turner, he's new and supposedly on basketball team", Then she looks at me, "Daniel, this is Samuel Harper-" He cuts her off, "Sam". She gives him a look and continues, " He's on the team and will show you around".

She dismisses us and yells another, "NEXT" as I walk out the office with Sam.

"So Daniel, what school did you transfer from?" He asked as we walked down the hallway.

I cleared my throat, "Um Jordan Webster High, somewhere in Ohio, my mom got a promotion in her office, so here I am".

"Oh I see, well welcome to Merchant High, we're a crazy bunch but we're family, you should fit right in, seeing as you're a 'basketball prodigy'" He nudged me, grinning.

I shrugged, "I wouldn't call myself a prodigy, I'm just okay".

He laughed, "Relax bro, I know who you are Daniel, you're a basketball whiz, won more competitions that anyone ever, has scholarships lined up, but decided to finish high school. No wonder Merchant High let you in, you're an asset, Anyone would know who you are, you're like a legend".

I crossed my arms, " Well, I guess that helps in the introduction process, but I'm a pretty normal guy, and kind of a nerd".

"A nerd?" He chuckled, "Yeah girls are gonna love you, famous basketballer who loves school, thanks for ruining my reputation Daniel". He said mockingly.

We shared a laugh, "I'm not really in for the girls though, that part of me is kinda occupied".

He nodded, "Girlfriend?". I shook my head, "Not exactly, my last few relationships we're pretty bad because my heart was always with someone else, and still is".

"Huh, did you get to tell her about your feelings?" He asked, eyes distant.

I pushed my glasses up my head, "Nah, I couldn't, she left before I could, I've been going crazy ever since, knowing that I had a lot of opportunities to tell her, so I buried myself in Basketball, It was just easier, you know?".

"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean" He sighed then quickly changed his expression, "So, let me get you to your class now, may I see your schedule?" He stops in front of a door as he held out his hand and I gave him the paper.

His eyes scanned the paper, "So you have Advanced Chemistry first, then a spare, then History, then Gym class, which will be a spare for you this week because you have to meet Coach Ambrose, then Lunch, then Calculus, a few other things to handle and that's the end of your school day." He looks up from the paper, "So yeah, that's your schedule for the day, and i'll be happy to-".

A voice from behind cuts him off in the middle of his sentence, "And what are you boys doing in the hallways at this time, aren't you supposed to be in class?"

Sam forced a smile as he turned around, "Principal Williams, good to see you again ma'am, I was just helping Daniel over here, He's a transfer student and Mrs. Mullins said to show him around, if that's okay with you. Now if you would excuse us, we'll get going now, so we don't miss any more classes today".

Principal Williams stood there, her face turned a light shade of red, "Very well then, but i'm sure you'd be done before the end of this period?".

Sam smirks at her, "Of course we will, that's not a problem, thank you, we'll be on our way now".

We walk away from her and once she's out of earshot, I burst out laughing, "Dude that was epic, she was like, about to fucking explode right now, how'd you do that? I really wanna know".

Sam laughs back, "Thanks bro, I've picked up a few tricks over the years, and she's used to it, but she's just embarrassed that I said it in front of a new student while she was trying to look like a professional."

"Damn" I paused, "Though I gotta say, you're not half as bad as I thought you'd be".

"Thanks man" He smiled, "I can say the same for you, we just might be great friends in the near future".

"Cheers to that" He held out his hand for me to shake which I obliged.

He looked down at his watch and sighed, "Well I have to get to class before Principal Williams has a reason to get me into detention on the first day, just mingle around, don't get lost or in trouble, and I'll see you around, bye Daniel". He walked away and I'm left alone wandering around this huge ass school.

I walk around for what seems like forever till I hear a bell ring. I decide to check out the school gym, so I'd know what I'd be working with that year, but before I knew what was going on, I collide with a body. I go to help pick up the books that fell as a result of the collision, and I start apologizing, but the person just brushes it off.

We get up at the same time, and I notice the person standing in front of me, a very familiar face, with ocean blue eyes, long chestnut-brown wavy hair, and just the most beautiful face I'd ever seen. A face that had captured my heart, a face that intimidated me so much, that I couldn't stand to be away from it, a face I could never forget, no matter how hard I tried, a face I never thought I'd see again, a face I was completely in love with.

I realize that we'd been staring at each other for a while, but before I could say anything, the person speaks up first, with a voice that held a permanent place in my heart, "Daniel, Is that you?".

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