The following morning, Calvin woke up to the sound of his alarm clock. He just pressed the snooze button and got out of bed. He then proceeded to the closet to look for what to wear for the day. He immediately grabbed the tuxedo he had hanging up and took that with him. He then felt the side of his head and, knowing his wound had most likely healed by now, took off his bandage and threw it away.

"Nice to see you up and about." He heard Sam say. "Well, today's the big day: Our game against Carnot."

"Yep." Calvin said. Sam then noticed the tuxedo he was carrying.

"So, what's the occasion?" Sam asked. "With the fancy apparel I mean."

"I have to show up for William Jr.'s court hearing this afternoon, so I need to look my best." Calvin said. "Remember, I was a victim, so their probably gonna call me up as an eyewitness. Hey, can I borrow your pomade?"

"Absolutely. Spring Green or Turbulence?"

"Do you have any unscented brands?" Calvin asked.

"I have petroleum jelly." Sam said tossing him a can of that.

"That'll do."

"Just put it on after your shower for best results."

"Gotcha." Calvin said as the two headed out and to the showers.


As soon as they finished, they got dressed and headed down to the cafeteria and to their usual place where the others were waiting.

"Morning guys." Dennis said. "Wow Calvin, you look sharp."

"Thanks." Calvin said. "It's for Willy's court hearing."

"Would you mind leaving now?" Rumiko asked. "We're just about to talk about our next Lyoko mission and, well you know…"

"You're just trying to get rid of me, aren't you?" Calvin asked.

"Sorta." Sven-Søren said. "We'll let you know when you can join."

"Very well." Calvin said. "By the way, Rumiko, have you heard back from the college you applied to yet?"

"Not yet." Rumiko said. "I'd better get in, though. I put a lot of effort in those exams."

"Well, good luck." Calvin said. "And Dennis, make sure you use that playbook for tonight."

"Not gonna happen." Dennis said.

"Fine. Play your way." Calvin said.


He then walked away with his food and walked over to the table where the rest of the soccer team was sitting. They were talking amongst themselves about the big game when Calvin interrupted.

"Mind if I sit with you guys?" Calvin asked.

"Not at all." Lance said. "After that stunt you pulled, it would be criminal not to let you."

"Well thanks." Calvin said as he sat down. "So, you all excited for the big game?"

"Oh, definitely." Tyson said. "Sam told us you had this big plan for defeating Carnot."

"Yeah, but Dennis isn't too keen on using it." Calvin said. "I kinda betrayed his trust not too long ago."

"Is that why you aren't sitting with him and talking about your blocks, mega tanks and XANA?" Lance asked

"You know about that?" Calvin asked.

"Duh. You guys talk about it all the time."

"Yeah, what's up with that?" Ian asked.

"It's a role-playing game we're creating." Calvin lied. "You're in a virtual world and you have to deactivate these towers to stop attacks on the real world."

"Almost like your Dad's book." Owen said.

"Yeah, it's supposed to be based off of it." Calvin said. "Well, I gotta get going now."

"Hey, you'll be back in time for the game, right?" Lance asked.

"Oh, definitely." Calvin said. "The hearing shouldn't take too long."


As the morning passed, Calvin had his lunch and waited out in the parking lot for his father to pick him up. After a few minutes, he arrived and Calvin got in the car as they drove to the courthouse. A few hours had passed before the hearing came to an end, with mixed results, and Calvin and Ulrich drove away.

"You know, Calvin." Ulrich said. "We still have a few hours before the game. Do you wanna stop by the hospital and visit your mother?"

"Sure." Calvin asked. "I have no other plans."

With that they headed off to the hospital. After a few minutes, they parked and walked over to the front desk. They then walked up to the room and knocked on the door.

"Yes?" Yumi asked.

"It's me, Ulrich." Ulrich said.

"Come in." Yumi said. Ulrich opened the door as he and Calvin walked in. "Calvin. What are you doing here?"

"I figured since that the hearing exhausted all my remaining school time and the game doesn't start for a while, I'd come and see you."

"Well, that's very sweet of you." Yumi said. "How did the hearing go?"

"He got 15 for the attempted murder, 10 for his cronies, but there wasn't any direct evidence that could be used to convict him for the hospital fire, so those charges were dropped." Calvin said. "But enough about me. How are you?"

"Just fine, actually." Yumi said. "I should be out of the hospital tomorrow morning."

"That's great!" Calvin said. "You'll be watching the game, right? Because it is being televised."

"Of course." Yumi said. "Hey Calvin, can we talk?"

"Umm… okay." Calvin said.

"We saw the news report last night." Ulrich said. "The one where you told Dean off."

"Oh yeah, that." Calvin said.

"I just want you to know we're very proud of you to stand up for your mother like that." Ulrich said.

"Yes." Yumi said. "And Calvin."

"Hmm?"

"I have never, ever thought you were anything less than the brilliant, talented kid you are now." Yumi said. "And I never will."

"I know, Mom." Calvin said.

"Even if you lose tonight, you're no worse than I thought you were when I gave birth to you." Yumi said hugging her son.

"Thanks, Mom." Calvin said returning the hug.

"Alright, I'm gonna head back to the dojo now." Ulrich said. "Which means, Calvin, I'll be dropping you back at the school."

"Okay then." Calvin said. "See you, Mom."

"Good luck, Sweetie." Yumi said as they walked out.


Calvin then returned to the school and told his sisters about how the hearing went. Afterwards, he went up to his dorm room, changed out of his tux and washed the petroleum jelly out of his hair. He then put on his soccer clothing and went out to the field. This was a big game, so he needed all the practice he could get.

An hour had passed and Calvin was on the field doing stretches. Jim had come up to the field and talked to him.

"Bus is leaving any minute." He said. "Are you coming?"

"Of course." Calvin said. He then got up and headed to the bus that was waiting by the front gate. He then got on and took a seat as the bus headed off. As Calvin sat by himself and stared out the window, he felt someone tap his shoulder. Calvin turned around and saw Sam standing by him.

"Anyone sitting here?" He asked.

"No, go ahead." Calvin said as Sam sat down beside him. As the trip went on, Sam noticed Calvin loudly and quickly drumming his fingers against the window, as if he was trying so hard to keep his mind of something.

"What's the matter?" Sam asked. "Are you nervous?"

"Yeah, I am a bit nervous, actually." Calvin said.

"Hey, don't sweat it." Sam said. "You'll do great out there."

"Well, if Dennis would just listen to me and follow through with my plan, we'd have a much better chance."

"Well, who knows?" Sam said. "He gets pretty desperate if we're losing badly at the end of the first quarter. He'll probably use your strategy in the event of that happening."

"Okay."

"But you still have to do your best out there." Sam said. "He can tell when you're faking it."

"Right." Calvin said. "Hey, you know Dean's dating your sister, right?"

"So that's where I heard that name before." Sam said.

Just then, the bus pulled up to the front of Lycee Carnot and the team got out and headed to the visitor's locker room.


In Carnot's locker room, Dean and his team were already talking about whether or not Kadic should be viewed as a threat.

"We shouldn't even be playing." Dean said. "The end result is just too obvious. We should be in the championship by now."

"Well, we haven't won yet." Kyo said.

"But we will." Dean said. "No denying that."

"I don't think we should be taking this too lightly." Kyo said.

"I concur." Benedict said. "They did make it this far, after all."

"That will do." Alex said. "If Dean says it'll be easy, then it'll be easy. With a team like Kadic, I have to agree with him."

"Well, he hasn't lost a game yet." Nikolai said.

"Exactly." Kjeld said. "Carnot's never lost a game with Dean. Why would we lose now?"

"I never lose." Dean said. "I never lost in my life."

"You see." Alex said. "We'll be just fine."

"If you say so." Romero said.

"We're a team, though." Manuel said. "No matter how much Dean has done for us, we still have to hold up our end."

"Hands in, Team." Dean said as they placed their hands in the center.

"1…2…3…GO EAGLES!" They shouted lifting their hands in the air. They then walked out the locker room and to the field. Dean turned and saw his girlfriend, Sammy, was waiting by the door. Dean then turned around and went to her.

"Knock 'em dead, Macho Man." She said to him.

"Oh we will, Baby Doll." Dean said as the two kissed.

"You coming or what?" Kyo asked.

"Alright, I'm coming." Dean said as he caught up to the rest.

As the two teams entered the field, they were met with loud cheers of the crowd, most from Carnot but some from Kadic. Calvin turned to see his father in the front row and his sisters in their cheerleading uniforms standing by him. Calvin took his position on the field, directly across from Dean.

"Ready for this?" Calvin asked.

"Ready to lose?" Dean asked.

"I know you are." Calvin responded.

"Then I guess you have nothing to worry about." Dean said.

The referee blew his whistle; the game had begun.


Please Review.