Chapter 20! Hope you like it!

"Okay, guys," Chad said. "Today is the big game and I've got a surprise." He turned and pointed at the door. Jason and Zeke walked in, each holding something in their hands. Zeke handed the letter to Chad and Jason held up the jersey to show everyone the number.

"This arrived yesterday," Chad said. He cleared his throat and said, "February 18th," before reading the letter.

"Dear Wildcats,

It has been a privilege to play with you this year, an amazing honor. You guys are one of the best teams anyone could ask to be on. You guys are better people than most, not only do you care for each other but you care for the world around you as well as everyone on it.

I don't know if I'll be able to play with you guys again, but I know you guys will do great without me because you don't expect anything other than your best.

I want all of you to know, that you are the first people that I would tell anything to. To quote a song Mack's listening to right now, "You raise me up so I can stand on mountains. You raise me up to walk on stormy seas. I am strong when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up to more than I can be."

Chad had tears forming in his eyes, and he handed the letter to Zeke, who continued reading.

"I couldn't ask for better friends and its breaking my heart to write this. Next year, I might be on the side lines. But know that I'll cheer you on. Your my guys.

I know how scared each of you were when I fell, I could see it on all of your faces. I just wanted to tell you that I'm fine, that's not why I can't play. Apparently, I have an attitude problem, but whatever.

So, if your reading this then you made it to the semifinals. You need to keep your head in the game, all of you, because this is a team sport. I can't wait to watch you in the championship on television. Win it for yourselves because you deserve it.

See you guys,

Troy"

The room was quiet for a few minutes after Zeke finished reading. No one dared to talk. Every eye was fixed on the letter. The letter with so many possible meanings. Zeke looked at Chad, he had a look on his face. Zeke knew that look very well, it was the look that meant he was going to pretend what just happened didn't happen. He always had that look when something wasn't right.

"WHAT TEAM!" Chad shouted, trying to pretend.

"Wildcats," the team said, mumbling.

"WHAT TEAM?"

"WILDCATS!"

"Wildcats."

"GET'CHA HEAD IN THE GAME."

The team headed out the doors to the court, but Zeke and Jason held Chad back. "What are you doing. Let me go!" Chad said.

"No. We both saw that look of yours. We want to know what's wrong," Zeke said.

"Guys, did you listen to that letter?" Chad grabbed his hair. "I guess that whole thing about not playing got to me. Nothing could get Troy not to play."

"The musical did," Jason pointed out.

"But, thats different and you know it!"

"Chad how is it different?" Zeke asked.

"Because Troy wanted to be in that musical. If Troy can't do basketball, he probably can't do the musical either. If he's fine, why aren't they letting him play?"

"His attitude problem."

Chad laughed, "Troy with an attitude problem. Thats like me and an A in Darbus' class. Impossible." Chad stopped laughing. "Do you think it has anything to do with Cam Boucher?"

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"Troy, sweetheart, please wake up."

Elaine watched her son's eyes flutter open and she sighed with relief. She had been trying for ten minutes for him to show any sign of waking up. Troy squinted at the bright sun light that filled the room.

"You missed the game," she said putting a hand on his forehead. He was still warm, but his fever had gone down. "They won by twelve."

Troy looked up at her. "Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Do you remember what to do?"

Elaine looked at her son. "Do you remember what I'm supposed to do?" When his mother didn't answer, he put a hand over his heart, still not comfortable to talk about his condition. Elaine put her finger on his neck to check his pulse, but immediately withdrew it. It was faster than normal. She walked over to the counter that held the procedure to slow the pulse down and walked over to her son.

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"Calum? Calum, wake up."

"What?" Calum said lifting himself up in his bed to look at his older brother. He still remembered what Cam had done to him and placed a hand protectively over his sore rib cage.

"Calum, I want you to come with me." He grabbed Calum's wrist and walked toward the door. Calum was still in his pajamas. "Theres something I need to show you."

Calum didn't want to go, but he had no choice. He didn't know where Cam was taking him, and he didn't care. Cam led him to a neighborhood Calum had never been to. Calum knew it was a neighborhood where 99.9 percent of the kids went to West High. Cam pulled him through bushes into a backyard.

"Hey Captain," said a guy's voice. Calum saw eleven faces scanning him.

"This is my brother, your future captain. Calum, this is your team. They will obey your every order," Cam said.

"But I'm going to-"

"Calum, enough with the joke. Mom and Dad might buy it, but I know it's for attention. As I was saying. This is your team." Cam changed his focus to the team. "You will address him as captain, as he will be as soon as I graduate."

"But Cam..."

"Calum!"

"You're not the boss of me." Calum jerked his arm out of Cam's hand. "They are not my team and they will not call me captain!"

Cam's look was sincere. "I'm just trying to help you. This is the right decision."

"Maybe for you. I don't want to want to be on a team with a bunch of guys who look like they'd jump off a cliff if you told them to. I'm a wildcat, I always have been." Calum turned and ran away from the yard full of his brother's brainless followers.

"CALUM!" Cam was chasing after him. Calum knew Cam would catch up, he had longer legs making him that much faster. Calum felt hands wrap around his arms and he started to struggle in his arms, hoping Cam would let him go. Cam brought the boy closer to his chest.

"Cal, I'm sorry it I hurt you that night. But, you belong at West High." He turned Calum around so he faced him. Calum thrashed around making it difficult to hold on to him. "They will eat you alive at East High. You'd be like a prince at West High. You will be the outcast at East High, the kid who doesn't belong. You and Mack wont last forever, and when you go your separate ways, you wont have any friends at East High." He took a deep breath, "I'm trying to protect you."

Calum got free from Cam's grasp and glared at him. "I'm a big boy, I can protect myself." Then he turned on his heel and sprinted faster than he had ever run before.

Hope you liked it. How was Cam's team? Tell me what you think! Review!