AN: Ok, this is the last real chapter before the epilogue, sad I know. But when I was on my trip for three weeks, I did three weeks of writing a sequel in a notebook. So there will always be more I think for Jay and Troy.
Chapter 9
"What's going on?" Jay asked walking into the school one day and there was an abnormally large group in front of the notice board that included her brother and some teammates with a few others. She had been talking to Gracie outside as Troy had wondered into the school with Chad and others. Now they were all huddled around the notice board with unhappy looks on their faces.
"That," Jason pointed to the notice board. Jay looked at and gasped, she had to lean on Jason after stumbling and losing her balance.
"Ok, what are we going to do, we can't just let this happen," Jay said.
"Yeah, we have to do something," Chad agreed after Kelsi, who Jay knew from a class and Troy with the musical, explained that the Evans twins did it.
"No, we are not seeking to their level, we are the good guys," Troy said.
"How cliché," Jay muttered.
"Be quiet Jay, now are you with me or not my dreamer, I can always use your help," Troy sent a pointed look her way.
"I am always with you," Jay said, resisting rolling her eyes.
"That is what I thought," Troy said, "Now we all have to work together for this to work."
"So this means you have a plan like always?" Jay asked the question everyone was thinking in his or her head.
"I always have the plan, now who is with me?" Troy put his hand in the middle of the circle like a basketball huddle. Everyone stuck a hand into the middle too, "Ok, here is the plan..."
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Friday, the day of everything, Jay walked down the hallway in the morning. Troy was talking to Chad and Zeke not to far from her. He sent a wink at her and she rolled her eyes. "Chem," He mouthed and she nodded and remembered her first part of the plan. She had to distract whatever teacher was in the science room where they kept all the chemicals so Gabriella and Taylor could grab some to add to the beaker later in the day. The easiest time was before homeroom when Mrs. Mackey was in the room. She was easy to distract.
Taylor and Gabriella were in the room when Jay walked in. She remembered her brother and winked at them, hoping they would get it. Jay went up to Mrs. Mackey and asked her about drawing hydrocarbons. The teacher went off telling her about all the rules and showing her different examples on the board, turning her back to the classroom. Jay stopped her after alkenes once she saw Taylor and Gabriella had finished. She said she needed to start heading to class and put on an extra limp to her walk as she exited the classroom.
Everything was set up for the end of the day, the big finale, Jay was antsy and she had barely anything left to do. It was all up to the clockwork of Taylor and Gabriella and Troy's speed to the opposite side of the school.
The final bell rang and she bolted for the gym. She needed a seat behind the benches for the teams. She still had one more smaller job of distracting their dad so Troy could make a secret and quick escape from the gym to the callbacks. He would be needing all the time he could get to be able to get to the auditorium.
She watched warm-up and went through the normal routine of telling Troy about the other players. He already knew everything she was telling him, but it all had to appear normal to their dad.
The game started and Jay watched the scoreboard for the start of it freaking out. She also had to point it out quickly to gain more time. When it did she took a second to react and she screamed it out causing everyone to look at it and the game to stop. She faked a cry of panic directed at her dad, so he looked at her as she saw Troy disappear behind him. The principal told them all to exit the gym and so she came out on the court and jumped on Chad's back – as per Troy's orders so she wouldn't get caught up in the crowd and get hurt, Troy was forever thinking of her safety. The team speeded down to the auditorium, "In the middle," she told them, so they would have a good seat.
She looked up on stage, both Troy and Gabriella were there, and that was a good sign. They both also looked nervous as people streamed through the doors. She winced as they had to start twice out of fright. But once they got started, Jay blew out a sigh of relief. They were awesome and they looked like they were having fun gallivanting around the stage. She smiled at her brother's happiness, he deserved it. If anyone deserved it, it was Troy who did. He had done all her could for her and Jay was forever in his debt because she had no idea as to how to repay him.
Troy kissed Gabriella on the cheek after they finished. Jay let out a cat cal and Troy glared in her direction. "Oh my prince of peas, please let you have a happy ending," She whispered quietly to herself. It hit her then that they still had a game to play. Everyone went back to the gym and the game resumed.
It was a good close game, "Let him hit a winning shot," Jay said to herself at the last time out before the last few seconds. She watched him steal the ball and look at the clock before scrambling down court. After a short series of passes she saw him shoot the ball, and there was only time left on the clock for this one shot. "Go in!" She shouted with the crowd around her. In! It went in and the buzzer rang. Jay crumpled on to the bleachers, they'd won. She got up and went to celebrate with the team.
The first person she found was Jason. She gave him a high five before thinking what the heck and pulled him into a sweaty hug. She'd smell anyways so why not start now. "Hey, look!" She pointed at her brother and Gabriella. They were going to kiss, she could tell. She felt a little like a peeping tom with Jason as they watched. Wait, what was Chad doing? Of course he had to go ruin the moment. She looked at Jason, who laughing, and she had to admit, it was slightly funny. She let go of Jason and went to find Chad. When she did she hit him on the back of the head.
"Hey what was that for?" He asked rubbing his head.
"They were going to kiss and you broke it up. I ought to do more that just your head. You screwed my brother over."
"I – I didn't notice," Chad wasn't about to get into it with a Bolton, he knew he would lose.
"Hey, don't kill my team," Troy said, coming over and pulled Jay away from a frightened Chad, "I can do it another time, I doesn't matter that much."
"Just one please, and why do you have to be so unselfish?" Jay pleaded.
"You'll be in jail and can't play if you kill him, and we'll finish the other discussion some other time," Troy reasoned, "But I'll always be that way."
"Can I do it after my game then?" Jay asked.
"Not even then."
"You always ruin my fun."
"That's one of my jobs," Troy grinned.
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The next Friday, Jay was fiddling with the hem of her jersey in the locker room before the game. She knew she was still slow and they – being the other team – would love a chance to take out her knee. She and Troy had began running and shooting and a few cuts and some defense. They had settled on rebounding being out of the question, it was too easy to get hurt from all the pushing and shoving down low. She had to stay near the top of the key. She knew she wouldn't start, but she had always expected it.
Gracie called everyone out to the court to warm-up. Jay sat down to stretch at the end line. "Jay, Gracie!" Troy called.
"Yeah?" Gracie had been receiving his pep talks while Jay was injured. They gathered at the end line so Jay didn't have to move that far.
"Number seven's a shooter and so is 13, her shot is the elbow, don't give it up. Her shot from there is like Ang's 3-point shot from the top of the key – automatic ok? 37 is a fouler, but she's sneaky and gets away with a lot. Make sure the best free throw shooter on the court is on her. Tell Emma to watch 52, she flashes to the free throw line and can make the shot, keep a body on her, got it?" Troy conversed.
"Yeah," Gracie said as she and Jay nodded.
"And when I say shoot," Troy started.
"Square up and shoot no matter what, you are seeing something we aren't," Jay and Gracie said automatically in perfect unison. Gracie wondered off, as she never got the departing line.
"K.O. my dreamer, K.O." was Troy's departing line.
"I never got that one," Gracie said to Jay as they were warming up.
"Never as he never told you it or never as you never understood what it meant?" Jay asked.
"Both."
"It is just a little reminder between us. We have both always been good at tracking the ball and anticipating where it will go next. K.O. is for knock off and to knock off a pass for a steal, it is how I've always gotten so many," Jay explained.
"And I am suppose to remind you to always stay on your toes, your brother's orders," Gracie said as they headed to the locker room for the coach's pep talk about the game. Jay rolled her eyes at this as they sat down to listen to her dad.
They exited the locker room a few minutes later and had a few minutes left to shoot around before the start of the game. Jay picked up a stray ball and took a deep breath. She dribbled around to find her spot. She hadn't done this in a while by herself. She found her favorite spot on the left hand side between the lane and the three-point line. She squared up and shot, it bounced on the rim before going in.
Coach called them to a huddle for a few last minute reminders and prepared to start. Jay took a seat on the bench as the game begun.
They took an early lead of 14 to 6 before the other coach called a time out. "Jay, how you feel?" Coach asked in the huddle.
"Good with butterflies," Jay said nervously.
"Ok, tap your head twice if you need out, go in for Ellie, Ellie, take a seat by me on the bench, I wanna talk to you. Keep doing what you are doing girls, you look good," Coach said.
A buzzer sounded, "Wildcats on three," Gracie said and they put their hands up in the air together, "one, two, three!"
"Wildcats!" came the yell.
Jay walked over to the scoreboard table to check in. She tapped the table. The guy looked up at her and grinned before nodding. Jay took a place on the court in the wing position. There was a tremendous roar from the crowd as they saw her walk onto court. She blushed as the ref whistled giving Ang the ball. She tossed it in to Gracie, who brought it up the court, "Better watch your precious knee Bolton," the girl who was guarding Jay said. It was number 22, Jay would have to remember that.
Jay looked at the girl for a split second before running off on the play Gracie had called. She caught the ball on the elbow and squared up to shoot. She stumbled when she came down, but stayed on her feet. She saw the ball go in and jogged back on defense. She was thankful for the extra pain medicine she had taken earlier that day.
"Lucky shot," number 22 said.
"Pure talent and skill," Jay said as she knocked the ball out of bounds. Jay went through this same discussion with the girl as Jay continued to sink shots through the end of the first quarter. Thirty seconds before the end of that quarter, Jay got in a place she didn't want to be in. Down low in the lane was a disaster waiting to happen.
"Get out of there Jay!" Troy yelled from the sidelines.
"Switch Gracie," Jay called out. Gracie nodded and they crossed paths and Jay headed to the top on the person Gracie was previously on and Gracie to Jay's.
"K.O." Troy called out as he saw that the other team wanted to restart, kicking the ball to the top again.
Jay swiveled her head around to watch the passes and saw the one coming the top. There wasn't much time until the buzzer rang out. She hit the ball towards her end of the court and chased it down and was going to go up for a lay up. This was something she and Troy had not practiced, and she was scared of something going wrong. Her frightened mounted as she pounded down the court, but she was sure only Troy could tell of this fright. She leaped up and let go of the ball. She knew in the air the only way to get down without potentially hurting knee was to do what she did. She landed on right foot only and let it bend and to give way. She stuck out her hands to catch herself on the ground before her left knee hit the ground. And she did it. She kept her left leg entirely off the ground as she hit it. She rolled to sit on her bottom and blew a sigh of relief. Her brother, dad, and Gracie were all racing towards her as she sat on the ground. The refs had to call a suspension of play as they got to her.
"Jay, babe, are you ok?" Troy breathed heavily.
"Yeah, my knee never hit the ground just help me up, I am fine I swear," Jay said, and she was telling the truth.
"Absolutely positive?" Coach asked.
"Yes, but I think I'll sit out some next quarter, maybe right before halftime I'll go in?" Jay said.
"Ok, Gracie, call Ellie in," Coach ordered, "Troy get your sister up."
Gracie disappeared to the bench, Coach walked away and Troy grinned at his sister. "You totally freaked me out that something was wrong," he said.
"I knew it was the only way to get down with out hurting my knee," Jay said off handedly, "So how about getting my up?"
"Yeah, of course you know the drill Jay," Troy said.
"I sure do," Jay said, crossing her own wrists before taking a hold of Troy's. And the game went on. East continued to stay slightly ahead of the other team. Jay sat out most of the second quarter but went in with three minutes to go before halftime. She tapped the scoreboard table and waited for the ref to wave her in. She didn't know she wouldn't be doing it again for a very long time. She slapped hands with Ang as she went in for her and took up her person at the wing position. The ball was thrown in and Jay crouched down into the defensive position.
She played through a couple points at both in when a sub was called in for the other team. The person she was guarding left the floor and was replaced with the dreaded number 22. It was forebodingly haunting the look the girl gave Jay as she took her position. "How's the weak knee?" She asked in a sarcastic tone.
"How's the weak mind?" Jay returned. That ticked the girl off and she shoved Jay hard as she ran passed her. Jay stumbled to catch up to her, but was too late as the girl sunk a shot. "That's horrible that you have to cheat to be able to make a shot," Jay said down at her end of the court as Gracie brought up the ball.
"It's only cheating if you get caught," 22 said.
"It's only cheating if you do it," Jay said before running off the play. The girl sneered as she kept Jay from getting the ball. Jay didn't care as Ellie still made a shot. It didn't make a difference as to who made the shot as long as the shot was made.
They went up and down the court a few more times before Jay heard an almost dread call, "K.O. Jay," Troy said. He hated saying it as he didn't want anything to happen to his sister, but he could see and he knew Jay could see such an easy opening coming around. Maybe if it was easy enough – like it looked – nothing would happen, maybe she would come away unscathed. But that was just a useless hope, a useless prayer sent up to heaven. Jay took a deep breath before knocking the ball towards her end of the court. She knew that as she was running up the court with the ball, someone was close behind her. She came to a jump stop, hoping that the person would whiz on passed her and she could get an open shot. But was not to be. The person didn't stop like Jay thought would happen, but they didn't stop running into her.
It threw her to the ground and she had no time to try and save her knee, it would be futile. Time slowed down again in that gym as the crowd and players and coaches and refs all saw Jay tumble to the ground for not the first time that season. "I told you to watch it," the player next to Jay on the ground said. It was 22, how did she know? The girl picked herself up and walked away as the Bolton men, Gracie, and Chad came to the end line by Jay.
"Get her up, get her up and too the bench, she's done," Coach ordered, "And where the heck are her crutches?" he asked to no one in particular. Chad disappeared to find them.
Troy was kneeling by his sister; she was refusing to let a tear slip down her face even though they all could tell she wanted to. Coach walked off to get some ice as Troy pulled Jay up for a second time that night. Troy and Gracie helped Jay off the court as the crowd applauded and the other team looked pleased with what happened. Coach returned as Jay was being laid down on the bench with her leg stretched out. Coach handed her the ice, which she set on her knee in the proper place. Chad returned and leaned the crutches against the bench and went back to his place in the stands.
Gracie went back to the game and Troy stayed at the bench. Coach talked to Ang a quick second before sending her in for Jay. "At least I got to play," Jay said shaking her head in defeat.
"She did it on purpose, she should have gone around you like every normal person," Troy said angrily.
"Dude, I know, I was there. She told me to watch my knee in the first quarter when I went in," Jay said wincing as the other team scored, taking a one-point lead.
"Then tell someone, tell dad, tell the refs," Troy said.
"They couldn't do anything it is passed. Besides it would be my word versus hers and the other team would know that my knee is really frail."
"Because it is."
"They don't have to know it. Now shut up and watch the game," Jay said as Ang scored.
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Fourth quarter, East was up by one with the ball with around 30 seconds left when the other team's coach called a time out. "Girls, you know what I am going to say," Coach said in the huddle, "Gracie, Ellie, Ang, take care of the ball, smart passes, and just waste time, we are up and have no need to shoot. Expect a full court press. So run Army. Ellie, make a good pass in, Emma, Sara, set up good picks for the guards. Gracie, Ang, make sure you are brushing shoulders with your posts for a good pick. Don't pick up your dribble unless you absolutely have to. Emma, Sara, watch out for your guards, if they are in trouble, you have to go to the top for a pass. I know you hate it up there, but they will get open and get the ball from you. And lastly girls, think of Jay and how much she wants to be in the game, in this last play. She's got more heart than anyone and will kill you if you don't win, just kidding. I know you are tired, but it is thirty more seconds and we have had so much fun this season with the highs and lows, let's finish it strong ladies, finish strong."
"Please, lord, let us win," Jay prayed silent as the team cheered and she sat back down on the bench.
She watched the last thirty seconds unfold, but they seemed to last a lifetime. Emma and Sara lined up at opposite sides of the circle for tip off. Gracie and Ang on either side of them and Ellie went down to the end line and received the ball from the ref. She slapped and the play started. Gracie and Ang swung out and received a pick from each other as they ran pass each other and another from post as they passed them too. Ang got the ball and the two posts drop back to their home positions on the block and Ellie and Gracie formed a triangle with Ang to get the ball across the half court line within the ten second limit and about four passes later they got it over. Ang passed the ball to Gracie who held it and counted to five in her head before dribbling the ball around to the top of the key and watching Ang and Ellie. She picked up the ball and held on to it for a short two seconds before passing it to Ellie. Ellie got it and her person ran into her causing her to stumble. The ref called a foul. They were in double bonus so Ellie got two shots.
The East high side of the gym got quiet for her and the other side grew louder to distract her. Her teammates gave her encouragements as she lined up at the free throw line. She shook out her limbs and took a deep breath and tried to get in the right mindset. She needed to make these to help her team. She tried so hard to block out the noise as she received the ball from the ref. She took another deep breath and went through her free throw routine. She dribbled the ball three times in quick succession and then lined up with the basket. She found her grip, took another breath and shot. It hit the rim and bounced off to the left. The opposite team's crowd cheered at her miss. Her teammates on court gave her a low five and encouraging words as she got ready for her next shot.
"Think of Penni!" Jay shouted from her seat on the sideline. Penni was Ellie's horse in Montana that she loved. Jay thought maybe her nerves were getting to her and that thinking of Penni might calm them down. Jay knew how much Ellie was in love with her horse. Ellie spent every spring break, Fourth of July, every Labor Day, and many more days up in that state riding her horse.
Ellie looked at Jay, Jay nodded at her. Ellie tried to picture her beloved horse's face in her head as she shook out her limbs again to shoot the next shot. She received the ball from the ref and went through her routine again. Three quick, successive dribbles, line up with the basket, fine the grip on the ball, deep breath, shoot, and the ball goes in. Just like clockwork, the ball sank threw the hoop with out even touching the rim.
"Tough, defense girls, tough D," Coach called from the sideline. There were twelve seconds left in the game and East High was up by two, they couldn't let them shoot. "Full court press, Emma, stay back," Coach ordered.
Sara, Gracie, Ellie, and Ang were all in the backcourt trying to stop them from bringing the ball up and not letting the ball get behind them where they only had Emma under the basket. Sara dropped back with a post and Gracie, Ellie and Ang were able to trap a guard, but the girl was able to back out and pass it off to a teammate. They got the ball across the half court line with seven seconds. They passed around the ball for two seconds and a girl put up a shot obviously way out of her range of shot as it air-balled. It hit the posts hands and there was a loose ball on the floor. A girl from the other team picked up the ball and shot it with one second left and the whole gym sent up different prayers. If you were with East high, you prayed it wouldn't go in. If you were with the other team, you prayed it would go in. It all came down to the last shot at the last second. It hit the backboard, hit the rim on one side, then the other and rolled off and out of the basket. It took a moment for everyone to comprehend and the gym exploded with noise and the East high stands cheered at their win.
Jay jumped off the bench, forgetting her knee and she collided with Abbey. She hugged the girl, despite the differences they had earlier. She limped onto the court with the help of her brother to shake hands with the other team. The crowd stormed the court and Jay tried to find Ellie. Troy stayed by her side since the crutches lay forgotten by the bench. Jay found Ellie and threw her arms around her in a hug. "You did it!"
"I did make the shot didn't I?" Ellie said, "And almost all thanks to you."
"What else am I suppose to do from the bench?"
"Heal."
"Totally overrated," Jay laughed and she let Ellie wonder away. Some one picked Jay up from behind and twirled her around – it was Chad.
"Great game Jay," he said.
"I didn't do much of anything," Jay said
"Cheerleader, inspiration leader, heart and soul of the team, you've done everything," Chad said in a 'duh' voice.
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AN: And that is the end of it. That is the end of the chapter, the end of the story the end of everything. Except I do have a very short epilogue to put up and then I do also have a sequel I wrote on my trip before, so maybe it isn't totally over, but the end of the main story. Please leave me a review of what you think of anything, the chapter, the story, the pretty bird outside the window, whatever. And that last one was a joke, but I really don't care if you do.
