"Alright everyone, we're doing great but we've gotta up our
performance so we can beat our main rivals, Green High." Big was saying as
they shot warm up shots.
"No sweat, Triple H was the best player there and he transferred here during the last season and he didn't even want to play basketball here." Edge recalled.
"Hell, I'd jump at the opportunity." Jericho said as he landed a three pointer.
"Come on guys let's see some hustle out there." Big clapped encouragingly. Jericho and Edge double teamed one of the other players. Edge got the ball and went to make a shot from the free throw line but was being blocked. He jumped as if he were to shoot but bounce passed it to Jericho on the side three point line. He made it. "You're doing great guys, let's get the adrenalin going, get the sweat flowing." Edge blocked a shot and hit the ball, it flew to Jericho and he dove for it but was hit aside. "Foul!" Jericho went and made both free throws. "Let's keep the game moving boys." Edge stole the ball and went to make a shot from just inside the three point line but missed. Jericho caught the rebound and made a slam dunk. "Alright, that's some good moves there." The practice went on for about half an hour until Big blew the whistle. "Alright guys, that's it. Let's rap it up then come on in." Edge got the ball and threw it over to the bleachers before joining Jericho and the others by Big. "I think we're gonna win this year."
"Think? Ha, I know." Jericho flexed his right bicep. "Look at us coach!"
"Don't get too cocky, I hear Green's got a new star." Big warned.
"We can take them." Edge assured and the team jumped into agreement.
"Still, don't treat this game like any other, our opponent is no push over, and neither are we. So I want you all to give it you're all ok?" Big pep talked.
"Ok!" Everyone said in unison then put their hands together.
"Stamford on three." Big put his hand in. "One, two, three!"
"Stamford!" They all raised their hand and began to root. That night, Jericho went over to Edge's house to hang out. They'd already finished all of their homework.
"Can you excuse me for a sec?" Jericho said and got up from talking to Edge, Christian and their parents as they watched the hockey game on TV. He looked over his shoulder and walked to the bathroom. He put down his pack and took out his Sprite and a bottle that looked to be a bottle of aspirin. Jericho got out a pill and took it with his soda.
"Hey Chris man, where are you?" Edge's voice was heard and he opened the bathroom door. "Sorry to bother you.." Jericho turned around and gasped, but Edge had seen enough. His smile faded as he saw the bottle. He growled and stormed off.
"Wait, Edge, hey!" Chris called after him. He put the bottle in his pocket, grabbed his bag and soda and ran after him. He found him shooting the basketball at the hoop over the garage. "Edge?" He put down his things and walked over. "Come on man."
"Come on nothing." Edge threw the ball at him. Jericho caught it. "So it was you?" Chris lowered his head. "Why man, I mean, you were the best, you don't need it."
"It's not anything bad man, hell, my dad gave them to me and he got them from one of his teammates. If pro's use it why can't I hu?" Chris said and took out the bottle.
"How long have you been taking it, why?" Edge was very disappointed.
"Just this last quarter. With basketball, school and my band I need all the energy I can get and I don't get enough sleep at night and stuff you know?" Jericho sighed.
"That's no excuse." Edge took the bottle and read it. "All natural?"
"Yea, like I said it's perfectly normal. It's sold in stores everywhere." Chris said.
"That doesn't mean it's safe." Edge shook his head. Chris felt bad now.
"If it means that much to you, I'll stop taking it when the school year ends." Chris said and looked up to Edge for his reply. He had no idea how his best friend felt about it.
"That's in a month and a half." Edge folded his arms. Chris spun the basketball.
"After the games." Chris compromised and shot the ball. It made it in the basket.
"Ok." Edge grinned. "Promise?" He extended his hand. Jericho grinned back.
"I promise." Jericho shook his hand. Edge grinned. "Now come on, let's play."
"Sorry, it's dinner time and I think you should go home too." Edge replied.
"Ok, later." Jericho nodded, got his soda and left. Edge held the bottle and looked at it. He decided he'd ask his dad about this, he was smart so he would know.
"Hey dad," Edge came into the room to find only him watching news. "I." He began but his dad saw him holding the bottle and he jumped to conclusions.
"What are you doing with that?" He was furious, his face tensed.
"No, it's not mine." Edge gasped and shook his hands. "Honest dad!"
"Where'd you get it and when?" He came up to his son with his hand on his hips.
"Just now, it's Chris's." Edge replied and his dad looked confused and shocked.
"Chris Jericho?" He took the bottle and looked at it. "How long has he had this?"
"He said since the start of the fourth quarter this year." Edge got nervous. "Why?"
"This stuff isn't as healthy as it's cracked up to be." His dad read the label.
"He said he got it from his dad who got it from a teammate." Edge added.
"You know something son?" He looked up. "I think I need to talk to Ted." Edge nodded and went out of the room. He found Christian in the den playing his Nintendo. The next day as Chris and Edge went to school, Edge's dad went to Chris's apartment and found that Ted was still home. "Hi Ted, I'm Edge's dad. Edge is Chris's friend."
"Yea I know, they're on the team together." Ted let him in. "Say, how about that game tomorrow, are you excited as I am? Oh man, I'm gonna be there front row center."
"Speaking of games, my son got this from your son." He revealed the bottle.
"Oh really? That's mine, I gave it to Chris. Good stuff too." Ted nodded.
"No, not really." Edge's dad shook his head. Ted looked a little unsure. "I've done some research on this. It seems it gives you the same boost as speed does and in essence gives you the energy that steroids do and those are illegal. It can make you sick."
"It's not speed and it's no steroid. It's all natural, I got it down at the corner store. You can go down there and see more than just one brand too you know." Ted added.
"All natural doesn't mean it's healthy." Edge's dad shook his head and Ted was really confused now. "While reading into this I found out that you can get very sick even just a sore throat, but as time goes on, you can die if you over do it, especially if you take it with caffeine such as coffee or soda. So all natural isn't always all good, you see?"
"Well we haven't been taking it very long, and if it bothers you so much we'll stop ok?" Ted said and Edge's dad nodded. "Thanks for visiting, I'll see you at the game." Edge's dad left. Ted shut the door. But Edge's dad could tell something was still wrong. That night when Edge came home from the dance, he was eager to talk to his dad.
"So what did Ted say to you?" Edge asked as he threw down his backpack.
"He said only what I wanted to hear, I could tell he didn't mean it and just wanted to get me out of there." He sighed and Edge lowered his head. "Did you talk to Chris?"
"Yea he promised to stop taking it even if his dad wanted him to." Edge said.
"Well good, at least he's safe." His dad shook his head. "I'm just glad it's not you or Christian." There was a knock at the door. "It's Chris, he probably wants to play."
"Ok, I'll be back after we practice." Edge got up. "Don't worry, I won't be late."
"Oh, Edge, you mom and I are going out to dinner so Christian will be here when you get back ok?" His dad called after him. "And make sure he doesn't eat all the pie!"
"Got it dad." Edge shut the door. They walked to the park and Edge's parents left soon after. "So did you get in trouble at home or anything Chris?" Chris drank his Sprite.
"Nah not really, my dad is just kinda miffed at your dad." Chris shrugged. "You know I never knew stuff could be so dangerous, I guess I really am dumb aren't I?"
"Yea, well, parents can be so weird." Edge laughed and made a free throw.
"I never, eeeever, wanna grow up." Chris shot a three pointer but missed. "Dam!"
"Why, you get to do so much." Edge got the rebound and made a regular basket off the backboard. He got the ball back and threw it to Chris who stood at half court.
"Yea, like paying bills and having no fun at all." Chris caught the ball.
"True, you've got a good point there." Edge grinned as Chris dribbled the ball.
"Gangway, slam dunk coming through!" He ran past Edge and dunked it.
"Made it!" Edge caught the ball as it bounced towards him and bounced it a few times. "Chris?" He looked over at his friend who hadn't moved. "Hey, what is it?" Chris's legs began to buckle and he slowly sunk to his knees. "Chris!" Edge threw the ball onto the grass and ran over as Chris began to collapse on the court. "What's wrong?"
"I, don't, feel so good." Chris said slowly, he couldn't breath much at all.
"Come on man." Edge shook him but Chris eventually blacked out. "Chris!" Edge looked around, nobody was there and they were too far from home. He saw a payphone.
"How long do you think the kids will be playing?" Edge's mom asked as they drove home. "The game is tomorrow so I bet they'll be practicing long and hard."
"If it makes you feel any better we can go by the park and see." Edge's dad said. They turned the corner and went to the park. They saw flashing lights as the neared. "What's that?" He drove faster and Edge's mom got a tight grip on her husbands arm. As they stopped on the street across from the park, they could see it was an ambulance.
"Edge!" His mom ran out of the car and his dad followed. "Oh my god, Edge!"
"Mom?" Edge heard her and he got up from the grass. He ran over to them and she embraced him tightly, so glad that he was alright. "Mom!" He was crying.
"What is it?" She looked at his tear streaked face. "Are you alright baby?"
"What happened here son?" His dad asked as he looked around. "Where's Chris?" The three of them went to the ambulance as Edge told them what had happened.
"I don't know what's wrong, we were playing and he just slowly collapsed and it looked like he was in pain and couldn't breathe." Edge stammered. His mom hugged him as she watched her husband go over to the paramedics who were loading the stretcher in the back of the ambulance. He asked them what happened and then turned around to go back to his son and wife, but before he did he saw somebody else standing on the other side of the truck. It was Chris's dad, Ted. Both their eyes met and Edge's dad looked strait into Ted's eyes. Ted lowered his crying eyes, he was heartbroken and in disbelief. He had no idea what would happen and that it would happen to his son. And it was all his fault. Edge's dad looked at him as Ted got into the truck, feeling shameful and the blame.
"What happened?" Edge asked as his dad came back, he was still very scared.
"Chris had a minor heart attack, if you hadn't called the hospital in time he wouldn't have made it. You did a good thing Edge, you're a real friend." His dad said.
"Not that good, I could've stopped Chris, I could've helped." Edge cried on.
"It was out of your control, it's not your fault. It's always the fault of the parent, and in this case, we have our person to blame right there." His dad said as they watched the truck drive off down the street with its siren blaring and lights flashing. They went home and Edge still couldn't stop crying. Christian met them at the door. They were home late and he had gotten worried when neither one of them had come back yet.
"Will he be able to play tomorrow?" Edge asked as they went to the door.
"No son, I don't think he'll be ready." His dad replied. "Maybe game two."
"What happened?" Christian asked as he saw his big brother walk by him crying.
"We'll talk about it later son." His dad put a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you go off to bed." His dad said and Christian nodded with a sigh and did. They watched their two sons go upstairs to their rooms. Christian cautiously came up to Edge's room.
"Hey, Edge?" He asked but got no reply. He sighed sadly and went to his room. Edge didn't sleep much but he eventually cried himself to sleep. Ted never took the pills again and told his team not to too. Chris stopped taking them too, but it was already too late. Game one was lost but Chris came back and played better than ever, he had learned.
"No sweat, Triple H was the best player there and he transferred here during the last season and he didn't even want to play basketball here." Edge recalled.
"Hell, I'd jump at the opportunity." Jericho said as he landed a three pointer.
"Come on guys let's see some hustle out there." Big clapped encouragingly. Jericho and Edge double teamed one of the other players. Edge got the ball and went to make a shot from the free throw line but was being blocked. He jumped as if he were to shoot but bounce passed it to Jericho on the side three point line. He made it. "You're doing great guys, let's get the adrenalin going, get the sweat flowing." Edge blocked a shot and hit the ball, it flew to Jericho and he dove for it but was hit aside. "Foul!" Jericho went and made both free throws. "Let's keep the game moving boys." Edge stole the ball and went to make a shot from just inside the three point line but missed. Jericho caught the rebound and made a slam dunk. "Alright, that's some good moves there." The practice went on for about half an hour until Big blew the whistle. "Alright guys, that's it. Let's rap it up then come on in." Edge got the ball and threw it over to the bleachers before joining Jericho and the others by Big. "I think we're gonna win this year."
"Think? Ha, I know." Jericho flexed his right bicep. "Look at us coach!"
"Don't get too cocky, I hear Green's got a new star." Big warned.
"We can take them." Edge assured and the team jumped into agreement.
"Still, don't treat this game like any other, our opponent is no push over, and neither are we. So I want you all to give it you're all ok?" Big pep talked.
"Ok!" Everyone said in unison then put their hands together.
"Stamford on three." Big put his hand in. "One, two, three!"
"Stamford!" They all raised their hand and began to root. That night, Jericho went over to Edge's house to hang out. They'd already finished all of their homework.
"Can you excuse me for a sec?" Jericho said and got up from talking to Edge, Christian and their parents as they watched the hockey game on TV. He looked over his shoulder and walked to the bathroom. He put down his pack and took out his Sprite and a bottle that looked to be a bottle of aspirin. Jericho got out a pill and took it with his soda.
"Hey Chris man, where are you?" Edge's voice was heard and he opened the bathroom door. "Sorry to bother you.." Jericho turned around and gasped, but Edge had seen enough. His smile faded as he saw the bottle. He growled and stormed off.
"Wait, Edge, hey!" Chris called after him. He put the bottle in his pocket, grabbed his bag and soda and ran after him. He found him shooting the basketball at the hoop over the garage. "Edge?" He put down his things and walked over. "Come on man."
"Come on nothing." Edge threw the ball at him. Jericho caught it. "So it was you?" Chris lowered his head. "Why man, I mean, you were the best, you don't need it."
"It's not anything bad man, hell, my dad gave them to me and he got them from one of his teammates. If pro's use it why can't I hu?" Chris said and took out the bottle.
"How long have you been taking it, why?" Edge was very disappointed.
"Just this last quarter. With basketball, school and my band I need all the energy I can get and I don't get enough sleep at night and stuff you know?" Jericho sighed.
"That's no excuse." Edge took the bottle and read it. "All natural?"
"Yea, like I said it's perfectly normal. It's sold in stores everywhere." Chris said.
"That doesn't mean it's safe." Edge shook his head. Chris felt bad now.
"If it means that much to you, I'll stop taking it when the school year ends." Chris said and looked up to Edge for his reply. He had no idea how his best friend felt about it.
"That's in a month and a half." Edge folded his arms. Chris spun the basketball.
"After the games." Chris compromised and shot the ball. It made it in the basket.
"Ok." Edge grinned. "Promise?" He extended his hand. Jericho grinned back.
"I promise." Jericho shook his hand. Edge grinned. "Now come on, let's play."
"Sorry, it's dinner time and I think you should go home too." Edge replied.
"Ok, later." Jericho nodded, got his soda and left. Edge held the bottle and looked at it. He decided he'd ask his dad about this, he was smart so he would know.
"Hey dad," Edge came into the room to find only him watching news. "I." He began but his dad saw him holding the bottle and he jumped to conclusions.
"What are you doing with that?" He was furious, his face tensed.
"No, it's not mine." Edge gasped and shook his hands. "Honest dad!"
"Where'd you get it and when?" He came up to his son with his hand on his hips.
"Just now, it's Chris's." Edge replied and his dad looked confused and shocked.
"Chris Jericho?" He took the bottle and looked at it. "How long has he had this?"
"He said since the start of the fourth quarter this year." Edge got nervous. "Why?"
"This stuff isn't as healthy as it's cracked up to be." His dad read the label.
"He said he got it from his dad who got it from a teammate." Edge added.
"You know something son?" He looked up. "I think I need to talk to Ted." Edge nodded and went out of the room. He found Christian in the den playing his Nintendo. The next day as Chris and Edge went to school, Edge's dad went to Chris's apartment and found that Ted was still home. "Hi Ted, I'm Edge's dad. Edge is Chris's friend."
"Yea I know, they're on the team together." Ted let him in. "Say, how about that game tomorrow, are you excited as I am? Oh man, I'm gonna be there front row center."
"Speaking of games, my son got this from your son." He revealed the bottle.
"Oh really? That's mine, I gave it to Chris. Good stuff too." Ted nodded.
"No, not really." Edge's dad shook his head. Ted looked a little unsure. "I've done some research on this. It seems it gives you the same boost as speed does and in essence gives you the energy that steroids do and those are illegal. It can make you sick."
"It's not speed and it's no steroid. It's all natural, I got it down at the corner store. You can go down there and see more than just one brand too you know." Ted added.
"All natural doesn't mean it's healthy." Edge's dad shook his head and Ted was really confused now. "While reading into this I found out that you can get very sick even just a sore throat, but as time goes on, you can die if you over do it, especially if you take it with caffeine such as coffee or soda. So all natural isn't always all good, you see?"
"Well we haven't been taking it very long, and if it bothers you so much we'll stop ok?" Ted said and Edge's dad nodded. "Thanks for visiting, I'll see you at the game." Edge's dad left. Ted shut the door. But Edge's dad could tell something was still wrong. That night when Edge came home from the dance, he was eager to talk to his dad.
"So what did Ted say to you?" Edge asked as he threw down his backpack.
"He said only what I wanted to hear, I could tell he didn't mean it and just wanted to get me out of there." He sighed and Edge lowered his head. "Did you talk to Chris?"
"Yea he promised to stop taking it even if his dad wanted him to." Edge said.
"Well good, at least he's safe." His dad shook his head. "I'm just glad it's not you or Christian." There was a knock at the door. "It's Chris, he probably wants to play."
"Ok, I'll be back after we practice." Edge got up. "Don't worry, I won't be late."
"Oh, Edge, you mom and I are going out to dinner so Christian will be here when you get back ok?" His dad called after him. "And make sure he doesn't eat all the pie!"
"Got it dad." Edge shut the door. They walked to the park and Edge's parents left soon after. "So did you get in trouble at home or anything Chris?" Chris drank his Sprite.
"Nah not really, my dad is just kinda miffed at your dad." Chris shrugged. "You know I never knew stuff could be so dangerous, I guess I really am dumb aren't I?"
"Yea, well, parents can be so weird." Edge laughed and made a free throw.
"I never, eeeever, wanna grow up." Chris shot a three pointer but missed. "Dam!"
"Why, you get to do so much." Edge got the rebound and made a regular basket off the backboard. He got the ball back and threw it to Chris who stood at half court.
"Yea, like paying bills and having no fun at all." Chris caught the ball.
"True, you've got a good point there." Edge grinned as Chris dribbled the ball.
"Gangway, slam dunk coming through!" He ran past Edge and dunked it.
"Made it!" Edge caught the ball as it bounced towards him and bounced it a few times. "Chris?" He looked over at his friend who hadn't moved. "Hey, what is it?" Chris's legs began to buckle and he slowly sunk to his knees. "Chris!" Edge threw the ball onto the grass and ran over as Chris began to collapse on the court. "What's wrong?"
"I, don't, feel so good." Chris said slowly, he couldn't breath much at all.
"Come on man." Edge shook him but Chris eventually blacked out. "Chris!" Edge looked around, nobody was there and they were too far from home. He saw a payphone.
"How long do you think the kids will be playing?" Edge's mom asked as they drove home. "The game is tomorrow so I bet they'll be practicing long and hard."
"If it makes you feel any better we can go by the park and see." Edge's dad said. They turned the corner and went to the park. They saw flashing lights as the neared. "What's that?" He drove faster and Edge's mom got a tight grip on her husbands arm. As they stopped on the street across from the park, they could see it was an ambulance.
"Edge!" His mom ran out of the car and his dad followed. "Oh my god, Edge!"
"Mom?" Edge heard her and he got up from the grass. He ran over to them and she embraced him tightly, so glad that he was alright. "Mom!" He was crying.
"What is it?" She looked at his tear streaked face. "Are you alright baby?"
"What happened here son?" His dad asked as he looked around. "Where's Chris?" The three of them went to the ambulance as Edge told them what had happened.
"I don't know what's wrong, we were playing and he just slowly collapsed and it looked like he was in pain and couldn't breathe." Edge stammered. His mom hugged him as she watched her husband go over to the paramedics who were loading the stretcher in the back of the ambulance. He asked them what happened and then turned around to go back to his son and wife, but before he did he saw somebody else standing on the other side of the truck. It was Chris's dad, Ted. Both their eyes met and Edge's dad looked strait into Ted's eyes. Ted lowered his crying eyes, he was heartbroken and in disbelief. He had no idea what would happen and that it would happen to his son. And it was all his fault. Edge's dad looked at him as Ted got into the truck, feeling shameful and the blame.
"What happened?" Edge asked as his dad came back, he was still very scared.
"Chris had a minor heart attack, if you hadn't called the hospital in time he wouldn't have made it. You did a good thing Edge, you're a real friend." His dad said.
"Not that good, I could've stopped Chris, I could've helped." Edge cried on.
"It was out of your control, it's not your fault. It's always the fault of the parent, and in this case, we have our person to blame right there." His dad said as they watched the truck drive off down the street with its siren blaring and lights flashing. They went home and Edge still couldn't stop crying. Christian met them at the door. They were home late and he had gotten worried when neither one of them had come back yet.
"Will he be able to play tomorrow?" Edge asked as they went to the door.
"No son, I don't think he'll be ready." His dad replied. "Maybe game two."
"What happened?" Christian asked as he saw his big brother walk by him crying.
"We'll talk about it later son." His dad put a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you go off to bed." His dad said and Christian nodded with a sigh and did. They watched their two sons go upstairs to their rooms. Christian cautiously came up to Edge's room.
"Hey, Edge?" He asked but got no reply. He sighed sadly and went to his room. Edge didn't sleep much but he eventually cried himself to sleep. Ted never took the pills again and told his team not to too. Chris stopped taking them too, but it was already too late. Game one was lost but Chris came back and played better than ever, he had learned.