Chapter 538: Apex

Thursday, February 23rd, Evening

(Song lyrics in italics)

Walking into the locker room, she looked at several team members. After their walk-through, they went their separate ways for a few moments. Finally, they all started to drift back to the locker room to get ready. As she walked to her locker, she nodded to the one or two members already preparing for tonight's game; several were there because they needed treatment.

Once Brett got to her locker, she unlocked it and started to unpack her gym bag. Removing her jacket, she hung it up. Grabbing her smartphone, she scrolled through a few things, then finally pressed a button. Putting her phone down, she started to undress.

Brett pulled on her sports bra and ensured it was in the proper place. The music filled her ears as she started to remove her hair back and started to put it up for the game.

A few moments later, Baylee opened her locker and looked at Brett. Baylee shook her head, "Changing hairstyles tonight?" Baylee asked.

"I saw it in a music video, and Aunt Bobbi showed me how to do this style," Brett said.

"What video?" Baylee asked.

"Moonlight Rendezvous by Beast in Black," Brett said.

"So?" Baylee asked.

"I thought it would be cool," Brett said, "And Aunt Bobbi said she could show me."

"Aunt Bobbi? Boring Aunt Bobbi? She does something other than hiding in her house?" Baylee asked.

"Why do you call her boring?" Brett asked.

"She's not as exciting as your Aunt Kelly," Baylee said.

"Bay, you know Aunt Bobbi has done quite a lot," Brett said.

"It seems all she does is work," Baylee said.

"She runs her own fashion label; I've watched her work," Brett said.

"Who did you watch work?" Avril asked as she walked over to her locker.

"She mentioned watching Aunt Bobbi working," Baylee said.

"Watching Aunt Bobbi? How are you watching Aunt Bobbi?" Avril asked.

"I've been staying at Aunt Bobbi's this week," Brett said.

"Why? Did your mom finally kick you out?" Avril asked.

"My mom moved her dad and my cousins into her place," Brett said.

"Oh, yeah?" Baylee asked.

"Hmm," Avril said as she started to get ready for the game.

Brett noticed Avril was bobbing her head to the music. One of their other teammates came over to the seniors. Brett looked to see Jade Loyal, Brett's other starting forecourt partner.

"What are you listening to?" Jade asked.

"What?" Brett asked.

"The song that's playing?" Jade asked.

"Yeah, it's a good song," Baylee said.

Brett nodded and reached into her locker. Pulling out her smartphone and looked at the screen.

I'm not violent but let's play a little game

Let's pretend you'll listen to me, every word I say

You've been all up over me, yeah all up in my space

Back off, back off

Don't know why I let you walk all over me

Let you get the upper hand but not for long you see

Now you're in a position I wouldn't wanna be

Back off, back off

"Icon for Hire, Ready for Combat," Brett said.

"Hey Jewell, come here," Jade called.

Jade's little sister Jewell Loyal walked over and looked at Jade. "Yes?" Jewell asked.

"Listen to this," Jade said.

"Listen to what?" Jewell asked.

"The song," Jade said.

"Okay," Jewell said and listened.

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

Jade shook her head and leaned against the lockers. Jewell nodded and looked at her sister.

"It's a good song," Jewell said.

"You know what, B," Baylee said.

"What?" Brett asked.

"I think we have our song," Baylee said.

Avril chuckled, "On this again?" she asked.

I'm ready for combat, ready for rage

Haven't you heard? Luck favours the crazy

I'll make you fight back, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Rеady for combat, give me a war

Tick like a timеbomb, ready to roar

Let me ignite that, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Ready for combat

"Of course, we're the only ones that don't have a theme song," Baylee said.

"Oh yeah?" Avril asked.

"The first championship had I will be Heard," Baylee said.

"Could you replay it?" Jade asked.

"Why?" Brett asked.

"I want to hear the song again," Jade said.

"Fine," Brett said and hit replay.

As the girls finished dressing, they started to collect around; Brett finally shook her head and shut her music off. The routine was regular from that moment.

Kinda fun watch you trying to escape

Long time I stayed out of it, now I instigate

Making up for lost time, I could do this all day

Back off, back off

Don't act like you haven't been asking for it

Don't act like it isn't your fault

You always provoking me, I ignored it

Now I'm gonna give you my all

Why would things go unexpected? This was their third playoff game this season. They burst out onto the court. Something wasn't right, Brett felt; they seemed off.

The game started as most did. Apex came out swinging. It was more like drunk boxing than anything else. The problem with facing a drunk boxer is that sometimes they land hits, and sometimes those hits are strong, which will leave you in a daze. The quarter ended Apex Seventeen, Tree Hill ten on the scoreboard.

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

The team came off the court at the quarter break. The coaches went over some adjustments. Brett shook her head; they went into the game loose but overlooked their opponent.

Faye Ambrose, the starting point guard, looked over to Brett.

"Are you ready, B?" Faye asked.

"Ready for what?" Brett asked.

"For combat," Faye said.

"That's not funny, Faye," Brett said.

"Yeah, but I wouldn't compare it to combat," Brett said.

"Well, let's go," Faye said.

I'm ready for combat, ready for rage

Haven't you heard? Luck favours the crazy

I'll make you fight back, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Ready for combat, give me a war

Tick like a timebomb, ready to roar

Let me ignite that, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Ready for combat

The team retook the court for the second quarter. The gameplay restarted, and Tree Hill came out fighting. Tree Hill shook off their lethargy and attacked.

Brett wondered if the girls liking the song was a foreshadowing. They fought on the court, under the hoops, and on the boards. At one point, Brett swore she saw a player bleeding; as halftime loomed, Tree Hill came back, eventually taking the lead. Tree Hill outscored Apex eighteen to seven. As the teams walked off the court to the locker room, the scoreboard read Tree Hill Twenty-eight, Apex twenty-four.

After halftime Tree Hill returned to the court, they conferred with the coaches; they readied to play the third quarter.

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

You can try to minimize me, but here's the truth

I've been saving all my savage up just for you

As the team huddled together on the sideline. They all looked at Faye.

"Ready for combat on three," Faye said.

The girls nodded. Faye nodded, "One…two…three," she said.

"Ready for combat," the team said and took the court.

I'm ready for combat, ready for rage

Haven't you heard? Luck favours the crazy

I'll make you fight back, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Ready for combat, give me a war

Tick like a timebomb, ready to roar

Let me ignite that, yeah how you like that?

And just like that I got you

Ready for combat

This game, like all others, eventually came to an end. As the final buzzer sounded and the basketball hit the court, one team went home, and the other advanced. Tree Hill High School walked off the court with the final score, Apex Fifty, Tree Hill Fifty-nine. Tree Hill's season was extended for one more game.