University Gymnasium - Afternoon
The gymnasium was buzzing with energy. Students filled the bleachers, waving banners and chanting. It was the biggest basketball game of the season: Team A vs. Team B. The rivalry was intense.
And Alice was determined to be the best supporter ever.
"I'm going to be the LOUDEST, MOST SUPPORTIVE GIRLFRIEND IN THE WORLD!" she announced to her friends.
Chima raised an eyebrow. "You're going to embarrass him, aren't you?"
"I'm going to SUPPORT him! There's a difference!"
"Is there?"
"Yes! Support is good! Embarrassment is bad!"
Wony examined Alice's outfit. "Alice... why are you wearing red?"
Alice looked down at her red top. "Because it's a bold color! It shows enthusiasm!"
"But the team colors are blue for Team A and green for Team B. Your boyfriend is on Team A."
"So?"
"So you're wearing red. That's not a team color."
Alice waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine! Red is a power color! Everyone will know I'm here to support!"
"And what's that?" Fatimah asked, pointing at the banner Alice was holding.
Alice unfurled it proudly. "I MADE IT MYSELF!"
The banner read:
"GO TEAM B! WIN FOR ME! I LOVE YOU!"
Silence.
Chima blinked. "Alice... that says Team B."
"I know! I made it!"
"But your boyfriend is on Team A."
"I know that too!"
"So why does it say Team B?!"
Alice looked at the banner. She read it again. Her face went pale. 81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl94Z266a4h
"Oh no."
Alice was frozen. "I... I made the wrong banner."
"You think?!" Chima shouted.
"I was so excited! I must have grabbed the wrong materials!"
Wony pinched the bridge of her nose. "Alice. How do you mess up something this simple?"
"I DON'T KNOW! I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED!"
Fatimah tried to stay calm. "Okay, okay. It's fine. Just... don't hold up the banner. And maybe change your shirt."
"I don't have another shirt!"
"Then just... sit quietly."
"I CAN'T SIT QUIETLY! I'M A SUPPORTER!"
"Then support quietly!"
"THAT'S NOT HOW SUPPORTING WORKS!"
Alice looked at the banner again. "Maybe... maybe no one will notice?"
Chima stared at her. "Alice. It says 'TEAM B' in giant letters. Everyone will notice."
"But Team B is playing too! Maybe they'll think I'm supporting them!"
"You're supposed to be supporting YOUR BOYFRIEND!"
"I KNOW! BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THAT!"
***
Gymnasium - Game Time
The game started. Team A and Team B were going head to head.
Alice was in the stands, still wearing her red shirt, and still holding her Team B banner. She was trying to hide it behind her back.
"GO TEAM A!" she shouted.
Everyone around her looked confused.
"But her banner says Team B," someone whispered.
"I know! She's confused!"
"Should we tell her?"
"She knows. She just can't change it now."
Alice heard them. She was mortified.
"I'M SUPPORTING TEAM A!" she shouted. "I JUST MADE THE WRONG BANNER!"
A guy next to her patted her shoulder. "It's okay. It happens."
"HAS THIS HAPPENED TO YOU?!"
"...No. But I'm sure it happens to someone."
Alice screamed internally.
***
Gymnasium - Second Quarter
Alice's boyfriend, Hayden, was on the court. He was playing well, scoring points, making assists, being generally awesome.
During a timeout, he looked up at the stands.
He saw Alice.
He saw her red shirt.
He saw her banner that said "GO TEAM B."
He did a double-take.
Alice saw him looking. She frantically gestured, "I'M SORRY! I MADE A MISTAKE!"
Hayden looked confused. He pointed at the banner. Then at himself.
Alice shook her head. She pointed at him. Then she tried to hide the banner.
Hayden laughed. He actually laughed.
Alice wanted to die.
Chima was laughing too. "This is the funniest thing I've ever seen."
"It's not FUNNY! It's DISASTROUS!"
"It's both!"
Wony was shaking her head. "I can't believe you made a banner for the wrong team."
"I WAS EXCITED!"
"Excitement doesn't excuse incompetence."
"THAT'S NOT A REAL QUOTE!"
"It is now."
***
Gymnasium - Halftime
Alice ran down to the court level during halftime. She was determined to fix things.
"HAYDEN!" she called out. "I'M SO SORRY!"
Hayden turned around. He was smiling. "Alice, it's okay."
"It's NOT okay! I made a banner for the wrong team! I'm wearing the wrong color! I'm the worst girlfriend ever!"
Hayden laughed. "You're not the worst girlfriend ever. You're just the most... enthusiastic."
"That's a nice way of saying 'incompetent.'"
"I'm saying 'enthusiastic.'"
Alice pouted. "I was trying to support you."
"I know. And I appreciate it." He looked at the banner. "Even if it does say Team B."
"I'll make a new one! A better one!"
"Alice, the game is almost over."
"Then I'll make it really fast!"
"Just... sit down. Cheer for me. That's all I need."
Alice's face lit up. "Really?"
"Really."
"I LOVE YOU!"
"I know."
Alice ran back to her seat. She was still wearing red. She was still holding the wrong banner.
But she was cheering loudest for Team A.
***
Gymnasium - End of Game
Team A won. Hayden scored the winning point.
Alice screamed with joy. "YES! TEAM A! I MEAN, MY BOYFRIEND! I MEAN, EVERYONE!"
The crowd cheered.
Hayden looked up at Alice and gave her a thumbs up.
She waved frantically. "I LOVE YOU! I'M SORRY ABOUT THE BANNER!"
He laughed.
Chima was still laughing. "This is going in the group chat forever."
"DON'T YOU DARE!"
"Too late! I already sent it!"
Alice grabbed Chima's phone. "DELETE IT!"
"NEVER!"
"I'LL DELETE YOUR FAVORITE SHOW FROM YOUR WATCH LIST!"
"YOU WOULDN'T!"
"TRY ME!"
Fatimah stepped in. "Okay, okay. Calm down. Alice, the game is over. You can relax."
Alice let out a breath. "Fine. But I'm never making a banner again."
"You said that last time."
"This time I mean it!"
***
Campus - Evening
After the game, the group gathered outside the gymnasium.
Hayden walked up, still in his jersey. "Hey, Alice."
Alice immediately started apologizing. "I'm so sorry about the banner! And the shirt! I should have checked—"
Hayden kissed her forehead. "It's fine. Honestly. It was hilarious."
"It was humiliating!"
"But hilarious."
Alice stared at him. "You're not mad?"
"I'm not mad. You were there. You were cheering. That's all that matters."
Alice smiled. "I love you."
"I know." He looked at her friends. "Thanks for keeping her from doing anything worse."
Chima laughed. "We tried. But she's unstoppable."
"She really is."
Alice hugged him. "I'll make it up to you. I'll make a new banner. A correct one."
"Alice, you don't have to—"
"FOR NEXT GAME!"
Hayden sighed. But he was smiling.
Because this was Alice. Chaotic. Loud. Always wrong team.
But she was his.
And he wouldn't have it any other way.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyZgzAj04Z
and then Add to home screen.