Chapter 6: Crushing Defeat
Sorry for the wait. We didn't have connection to the internet, so I couldn't post. Thanks for the support, constructive criticism, and encouragement.
"You rely on such lost creatures to save you. You must be truly desperate." (Loki v.) "You have made me very desperate." (Nick Fury v.)
"That okay with you?" Coach Durham shook his head at Nate, and turned to Lucas.
"Sure." Lucas said, staring Nate boldly in the eyes.
Nate smirked, and looked at one of his teammates, who tossed him a basketball. Coach Durham backed off the court, a scowl on his face. He found himself between
Jake and Tim.
"Go Nate!" Tim yelled.
"Oh, shut up Tim." Coach Durham muttered sourly.
Jake shook his head.
"This is bogus."
Coach Durham laughed.
"He agreed to it, Jagowski. Let's see what he's got before we count him out."
Nate had the ball first. He dribbled it around Luke and took off before Luke knew what was happening. He executed a layup and grinned confidently, as it went in. The
gym exploded with yells for Nate. He checked the ball to Luke. Luke checked it back, and Nate did the same.
"Let's see what you got, second best."
Now it was Luke's turn to grin.
"First to ten?"
Nate nodded, confused. Why was he smiling? Luke dribbled the ball, and sent the ball sailing through the air into the hoop.
"Actually," Luke said, still smiling. "I was born first."
"Whoa." was all Jake could say.
Coach Durham nodded, impressed.
The gym was silent. Luke was clearly no pushover. The game continued in excellent fashion, Nate's slam dunks and lay ups stating his dominance, against Luke's
quiet and graceful shots from far away, and sometimes up close when Nate, nor the spectators expected it. The room had become divided. Some still rooted for Nate,
but surprisingly, Luke's sparks of potential won others over. It was down to the final point. Both had nine. It was bruiser versus assassin.
"He never mentions you."
That hurt Luke more than he thought it would. However, his eyes did not miss one of Nate's moves. Nate dribbled faking left and right. Then he hit Luke with another
insult.
"Guess he made a mistake with your mom. Oh wait, that was you."
Luke's face twisted in anger, but Nate knew he had lost focus, and shot the ball from where he was. He gave Luke a cocky grin, as the ball went into the hoop. He
shrugged.
"See? Mistakes don't win."
Luke lost his restraint and shoved Nate.
"So, he's a sore loser too?" Nate asked, as jeers flooded throughout the gym.
Luke swung, catching Nate off guard. With a swift punch, he knocked Nate to the gym floor. Nate grabbed Luke's ankle, tripping him. Luke smacked his head off the
floor. By then, Coach Durham was blowing his whistle, and yelling, as Nate positioned himself over Lucas, and began choking him.