Free Like This And Like That by Nia Stephens

thoughts.
    â€œSo what should I have done?” Gemma asked.
    â€œSorry, can’t help you with that. But I do know what you shouldn’t have done.” Maria looked down accusingly at Gemma’s cell.
    â€œDo you think I should text him again?” Gemma’s forehead crinkled with worry. When she sent the text she never once thought it was inhumane. But on the other hand, most cruel people don’t actually think they’re cruel. She wasn’t one of those people, was she?
    â€œWhy bother?” Maria asked. “The deed’s been done. You got what you wanted—and that is to be free and clear of Drew.”
    Somehow that did very little to make Gemma feel better about the situation. When Maria saw the concern on her friend’s face, she draped her arm over Gemma’s shoulders. “It’s really not that bad,” Maria assured her, giving her a squeeze. “Breaking up via text message happens all the time.”
    â€œWould you do that to somebody?” Gemma asked.
    â€œWell, no, but it happens.”
    â€œTo who?”
    â€œI don’t know ... but I’m sure it happens.”
    â€œGee, thanks for all the comfort and support,” Gemma said.
    â€œ ‘That’s what friends are for,’ ” Maria sang, although she hardly sounded like Dionne Warwick. “Besides, at this point, it’s hardly you that needs the comforting and support. Poor Drew.” Maria shook her head.
    Gemma nudged Maria’s shoulder as the guilt hit her stomach like a stone. “Knock it off please. I feel bad enough.”
    Â 
    Gemma knew only one way to get rid of the antsy feeling sending nervous energy through her whole body. Hard time on the court. Basketball practice. She needed offense so she dragged Maria down to the YMCA with her.
    â€œTell me again why I’m here?” Maria asked, standing in the middle of the court.
    â€œPut your arms up and at least act like you’re trying to block me,” Gemma commanded.
    Maria lazily raised her arms over her head as she yawned. Gemma shot down the court and pushed Maria aside with her shoulder.
    â€œFoul!” Maria cried. “That was a blatant foul.”
    Gemma rolled her eyes. “You have to be playing in order for it to be considered a foul.”
    â€œWhatever.” Maria plopped down, cross-legged, right in the center of the floor. “So what do you want to do now? This basketball thing is tiring me out.”
    â€œTiring you out?” Gemma threw the ball. It bounced off the rim and into the bleachers. “You barely moved a muscle. How could you be tired?”
    â€œHey, I played defense,” Maria said, now sprawling on the floor.
    â€œThe only thing you played was no-fense.” Gemma threw another brick. “What if I made a mistake?” she said, suddenly turning to face Maria. “What if he was the guy for me and I just totally blew it. Think about it, blowing off a guy because he screwed up trying to impress you.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œDrew. Who else?”
    Maria stared at her friend in disbelief. “How did we get back onto that subject?”
    Gemma whirled around and took one last shot. “I just feel so bad about how this all went down. The guilt has been eating me up all afternoon. Do you think I should call him and apologize?”
    â€œNo,” Maria said. “Let it go.”
    â€œWhat if I text him again?” Gemma asked.
    â€œI wouldn’t.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œI just wouldn’t. It’s better if you leave it alone.”
    Gemma plopped down next to Maria. “I guess you’re right.”
    â€œAnd if I remember, letting Drew go was what you wanted,” Maria reminded her.
    Gemma nodded. Maria was right. What was done was done. There was nothing she could do to change it. Gemma jumped up and resumed her practice. She had a game next week and had been slacking off the past few days. She