Chapter 3

July, Beaverton

They love their basketball in Oregon. Tons of outdoor courts. Plenty of private facilities and massive indoor complexes. Flat land is at a premium here. Newer houses all seem to be built on steep hills, including ours. Five blocks from my house, down a steep hill, then back up a steep hill was the nearest double set of ball courts. With a ball tucked under my arm, the smell of roses and evergreen trees in the air, and a refreshing cool breeze for July, I trucked down and then up the hills.

With a few guys shooting on one court, a lone girl on the other court, I chose the opposite empty hoop to warm up. After a bit, one guy yelled, “Hey, wanna run?”

I nodded and went over as we shot for teams. “Four on four, last to make a free throw sits.”

“Wait, what about her?” I pointed to the girl still shooting.

“Spooky won’t play with us, but if you can change her mind, then yeah.”

So, I walked over. “Hi, what’s your name?”

“Maggie.”

“Maggie, will you please play so we can go five on five full court?”

She stared at me, ball on hip, for a good long ten count, then said, “Sure.”

Thus started a beautiful friendship. She ended up on my team and actually helped us win. Five foot seven, athletic and skilled, she mostly passed the ball until I finally yelled, “Come on, shoot when you are open!”

And shoot she did, banging home several outside shots until someone got embarrassed and guarded her close. Then she just drove strong to the basket, got fouled hard as she released the ball. I watched her hit the ground, flat on her back, eyes never leaving the ball. The ball hit the bottom of the rim and somehow spun upwards, hung on the iron and then dropped in.

“And that’s why they call her ‘Spooky’,” I heard someone mutter behind me.

After a good hour of playing, the game broke up. I hung back, trying to chat up Maggie. I found out she was also going to be a junior with me at Beaverton High School. We talked about the school, my life, Iowa, Oregon, until finally I pushed the conversation to her. “Why do they call you ‘Spooky’?”

“Because if a girl beats you in a sport, it must be luck, or I must be supernatural.”

“Well, that one shot ... never seen such crazy spin!”

“Get used to it.”

“Why did you agree to play today when they told me you wouldn’t?”

“Because I was curious.”

“Curious?”

“Yes, I hadn’t seen you before, wondered if you were an asshole?”

“Verdict?”

“Still too soon to tell. Walk me home. I might learn enough to decide.”

I tried not to stare as I checked her out. The oversized shirt hid much. But such a beautiful face. Incredible bone structure. A few cute freckles across very light brown skin that looked to be natural, not completely from the sun. Amazing emerald green eyes. An overall stunning look of dreams. I almost walked into a pole while trying to walk and look. Maggie laughed, but still no smile escaped.

She lived only two blocks away from me. Another big two-story, perched on the side of a hill on a lot that was way too small. She invited me in, headed to the kitchen, “Grab yourself some fruit, a water or a Coke. I’ll be back down in a few. And don’t sit on the furniture ... you are sweaty.”

A few minutes later, I was gazing out the back window. Looking at the tiny backyard, with the house behind way too close. Caged rats, I thought. Expensive cages brought to us by urban growth boundary laws in Oregon.

Hands touching my hips jarred me back to now. I spun around. There was Maggie. Showered, hair dry, long flowing blonde hair no longer in a ponytail. Wearing a sundress, baring bare tanned shoulders and legs. Well, I couldn’t actually see her legs; she was all but pressed against me. “Kiss me,” she whispered.

But did she whisper? Or was her voice coming from within my mind? Gentle but firm pushing. Then, not so gentle. Indescribable. The irresistible desire to surrender to lust. Her body pressed against mine, against my growing hardness. Within my brain, a mental orgasm ... a slow-building mindgasm. But also an invasion. My mind battled hers, forcing her out.

I moved backwards, sideways, to get some space. I laughed nervously and said, “Uh, no.” Shaking the intrusion and regaining my wits...