#rivervale_lodge

At the high school, Dagmar is trying out! Flush with victory Pennons, this is, well, maybe almost sedate.

Basketball isn't her strongest sport, but Softball and Track won't be until next semester... soooo...

Like she practiced, a back-and-forth dribble. She's only a freshman, but she's already tall - up another inch over the summer, just shy of 5'9", and a good six inches taller than most of her peers.

The Gym Teacher observes then nods, "Okay,good, now layups everyone get in line, don't feel selfconcious now.."

The scuff and squeak of sneakers as Sam falls in line with the other girls.

She's not the only tall girl in class, but one feisty Latina girl doesn't seem to care that she's.. uhm on the pint size!

And she's got great hustle!

Another girl, tall and lanky feels self conscious , her buck teeth getting snickers from other girls.

"Hey." Sam nods to the other tall one... and shoots a GLARE at the laughers.

"Hey" She says ..a brief cautious smile, that 'do I dare to take you as legit nice or is this jjust a set up' kind of worried smile.

"King, your turn" Ms. Gray says

"Gotta go." A grin, and she heads off into the layup... jogging forward, the pivot and... whoosh. A soft sweet sound as the ball catches nothing but net.

"nice hustle, and beautiful placement King!" A voice "Morhouse! You're up..."

The scrawny girl follows and perhaps, emboldened by kindness makes the shot! She looks goofy in motion, but there's no denying she's quick on those thin legs and her own ball swooshes in.

Sam holds up a hand, palm out, to high-five the other girl. "Nice shot."

After they've had their turn ,and can talk again, the buck toothed girl says "I'm May."

And she does high five ,a bit awkwardly, but she is a white girl

"Sam."

"Thanks.Your shot was better, and I just tried to copy"

She shrugs. "My dad's been helping me."

"Cool, my parents just want to me to you know, talk to folks. " She says sheepishly "But my grandpa played basketball and was pretty good. I miss him "A bit wistful

She nods. "Sucks to lose people. Hey, you in first lunch?"

"Yeah, you?" she asks

"Yeah. You got people to sit with?"

A blush "That obvious huh?"

A shrug. "You said about your parents. Symon hates talking to people too, you could come hang out with us."

"Symon? He's the slim Korean boy right? I think I've seen him."

"Yeah. He is kinda introverted, but he's cool. We might start a D&D group."

"Oh. I thought about getting into that but the guys at the game store looked at me like what are you doing here?" She brushes hair back

"Yeah, nerds can be jerks. F-.. screw them."

"Well, some can be nice... and not like normal folks are much better. I …"

A loud squeak of sneakers as Sylvi hurries in from the locker room, still tying back her hair.

"Oh, Sylvi must have just gotten out from cheerleading..."

"And yeah, not all nerds. But screw the jerk-nerds, right?"

"Davidson?" Ms. Gray looks over checking her list, "You're a bit late."

"Yeah, sorry...I had...a kind of a personal emergency." She gives the coach a significant look, her voice dropping to a stage whisper at the end.

"mmmhhhmm" The gym teacher raises a brow, "Try a layup."

A glance over to Sam, and a wink that the coach can't see.

"She's pretty" May says of her

a bit envious. Some tall girls are gorgeous, some are buck toothed girafes

A sigh. "Yeah."

"Huh? Oh...sure, okay..." She takes the ball and dribbles a few times, sizing up the basket....probably a longer pause than she should really need...then she goes to take the shot and jumps and...

...well, she was close, anyway.

"But she's not stuck up about it." A soft hiss when Sylvi misses.

She rolls her eyes and smiles at the other girls trying out. "Whoops." She doesn't seem at all concerned, retrieving the ball and passing it off to another player.

"Tough break." To Sylvi. "Hey - Sylvi, May. May, Sylvi."

"Yates" the coach says

while Yates takes her shot...

May holds out a hand, "Hi, nice to meet you" the gangly ugly girl says

"Hey, Sam." Sylvi smiles, then looks at May and...hesitates a moment before shaking her hand. "Hi."