CHAPTER 6

"So Iris is going because Wally and Eddie are both playing, so I thought I'd come too. Wanna join me?" Barry said to Cisco as he stood by his computer in ethical hacking club.

"Honestly?" Cisco replied. "No," he went back to typing.

"Oh c'mon Cisco! It'll be fun!" Barry begged. Cisco titled his head.

"Will it? I mean I don't really care for high school basketball" Cisco said somewhat sarcastically. Barry tried to smile really big back at Cisco to convince him to come. "Won't it be weird with Iris, aren't you know… " he leaned over and whispered "In love with her," Barry smiled.

"Not anymore!" Barry said happily. Cisco looked at him confused. "It's like the feelings are," he snapped his fingers "gone!" Barry explained. "Ever since my date with Kara, I just can only think of one girl," Barry said.

"Good for you man," Cisco said smiling at his friend. "Still not going though," Barry groaned.

"Oh C'mon!" Barry said. But just then he knew exactly what to say. "Iris said her friend Sara Lance is going," he said with the utmost confidence.

"So..." said Cisco

"I also know for a fact, that Nyssa al' Ghul will be coming with Sara," Barry smiled. Cisco looked back at him doubtingly.

"You're sure?" he said.

"Positive," Barry replied. Cisco stared at Barry for a moment.

"Fine, I'll go." Barry pumped his fist. "But not for you Allen!" he added pointing his finger at him.

"What are you guys talking about?" Winn asked.

"First basketball game of the season is tomorrow, are you guys coming?" Barry asked.

"Oh yeah! Wally and Jax are basically some of my closest friends so I told them I'd be there," Winn said. "How about you Felicity?" Winn added.

"I guess I'll go if everyone else is," Felicity said optimistically. Just then she saw that Kara had walked in. "Are you coming to the game Kara?"

"Of course!" Kara said

"Great! I can't wait to see you there!" Barry said now genuinely excited to go. Barry was still so happy from their date. He has a girlfriend that is super hot and loves him and the Flash, it's really a dream come true for him.

Oliver approached the door to the computer lab but stopped himself. He listened to the friend's talk and looked down at the flash drive he needed to be analyzed. The truth was he could probably do it himself in his hideout. But lately, he had been looking for excuses to visit Felicity at ethical hacking club. He contemplated entering. But ultimately he didn't feel like lying to Felicity today so he turned and left.

…

"Really?" Tommy said. "You want to go?" he looked confused.

"I already told Sara I could give her and her friend I ride so I'll probably be there," Laurel said.

"Plus James is on the basketball team, don't you want to support our fellow baseball teammate?" Oliver said to Tommy.

"No, I'd love to go! I just didn't think you would," Tommy said. "You know, because of John Diggle. He's the coach now," Tommy added. Oliver and John's relationship was complicated. But in the simplest way, they were completely different. Oliver had been in his sophomore year when he met John and they clashed often even though they were two years apart. Everything Oliver did, fooling around, not working hard, expecting everything to be handed to him, went against what John stood for. In sports, John worked hard while Oliver relied on pure talent. John was going to West Point Army Academy, while all the school's Oliver had applied to were known to be party schools. They were fundamentally different, which lead to a hatred between the two. Oliver had a hunch he and John would get along much better if he could act like his new self, like the Arrow. But that wasn't even up for debate.

"I'm sure I'll be fine!" Oliver said.

"Alright, I'll totally go with you then!" Tommy agreed. Yes, Oliver wanted to go support his baseball teammate. But had also overheard Felicity was going. And he wouldn't miss an opportunity to see her. But not because he liked her, he told himself again and again. It was because… well, he wasn't sure. He just wanted to see here. Whenever he was near her, a feeling of pureness went throughout his body that made him forget all the horrible things he had done.

…

The game was starting in ten minutes. The entire basketball team sat in the locker room. "Ready Snart?" Wally asked.

"More than you'll ever be West," Snart said defensively. He was still a little disgusted he was actually wearing his school's colors. He looked down at the red-lettered 'Ridgeside' across his chest and the soaring hawk sewed on below it. Snart scowled, he truly hated this school.

"Okay then…" Wally replied. "What about you Jax? You ready to go?" Wally said a little more enthusiastically.

"Absolutely," Jax was smiling. They were ready to break the losing streak their school had maintained since Diggle left the team two years ago. Dig was back as a coach and they were more ready than ever.

"Listen up guys," Dig said to the whole locker room. "We've been practicing hard for today. I know we can win. Olsen, I want you to get every rebound. Snart, show the other team what you do in practice and we'll do great. Wally and Jax make your layups. Thawne show off those smooth moves. And everyone on the bench, do well too. Smallville doesn't stand a chance. Now let's go show them who's boss!" The team was ready to go. As they opened the doors to the court they were met with thunderous cheers.

"Wow," Wally said. "There are A LOT of people here…" You would think that NBA all-stars were playing by the look of the crowd. Wally could hardly spot his friends in the stands because the court was so packed with hopeful people who thought John Diggle could bring Basketball back again. This intimidated him. They had such a huge court because the school made so much money off of people from all-around coming to see John Diggle play when he went here, and it looked like every seat was filled.

The game started as James won the tip and Snart got it and slowly dribbled up the court, he saw an open spot in the defense that he could dribble through but then Snart spotted a wide open Eddie who hit a three. The game continued as it stayed close. Smallville made a layup as the clock ticked down at the end of the first half tying the game. Snart took the ball up the court. The crowd was yelling out as the clock winded down. "Five, four, three…" Snart shot from the half court line. "Two, one.." Swish. Snart's shot went in. The crowd erupted into a roar as this amazing shot added yet another three-pointer to Leonard Snart's already amazing stats.

"Alright gentlemen that was a great first half, keep doing what you're doing," Diggle says calmly. The locker room was silent because everyone was just so focused. "We need to bring up the intensity level and keep grinding out there," Diggle said. "Count us out James,"

"Hawks on three! One, two, three…" James counted out.

"HAWKS!" the whole team cheered.

They come out for the second half fired up and ready to win. Slowly they began to pull away from Smallville. By the end of the game, they had won by a landslide. As the final buzzer sounded, the crowd exploded. It was their team's first win in two years.

"Yes!" Jax exclaimed as he went over to high five his teammates. After the short team meeting, Wally and Jax went to find their friends and family. It was kind of a blur for Wally, full of lots of congratulations from his friends, and his sister's friends, strangers, and teachers. Finally, he made his way to the parking lot with his dad. Joe had his arm around his son, with a look of pure pride on his face. Wally still couldn't believe how well his team played. He saw Snart already changed out of his uniform, sitting in Mick's truck. Wally could have sworn he saw Snart smile, like an actual, genuine smile. This was a function he wasn't aware Snart could perform. Wally didn't mention anything though, he was probably just imagining it...