Romeo On and Off the Court

Chapter 11: Game Day

The day on which a sports event takes place.

Edward

Game day. I've had countless game days, and this was the first time since I was six that I was nervous. The only difference between then and now was Bella was going to be in the stands. I didn't look at the tickets. Hadn't wanted to know where she would be sitting. Didn't want to be tempted to look for her. All I knew was she wasn't in the areas reserved for the Dawg Pack.

Wiping my hands on my warm-up pants, I focused on the chalkboard coach was drawing X's and O's on. Our game plan was central to my leadership on the court. And what was on the board was the defense Oregon State presented in their last game. They had lost to Arizona State, but the game had been close and could have gone either way.

"Cullen, it's your responsibility to direct the offensive and defensive. You see any openings, you point them out."

I nodded. Oregon State was a tough opponent. If we beat them, we would be crowned the PAC-12 regular season champions.

"Team, don't let them shred our defensive. Together, we can outscore them," Coach concluded.

Coach Grouch was a to-the-point man. He told it like it was. Yelled at us when we screwed up but congratulated us on a well played-game no matter the outcome. He didn't give long speeches of motivation or after we won, but took forever berating us when we lost.

"You're right, Coach," I yelled, before addressing the team. "Team, we got this. Let's go out there and make the Beavers wish they were Huskies."

~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~

I took a deep breath and released it before walking out onto the hardwood to warm up. The urge to look up into the stands and locate Bella was there and I resisted. I wasn't playing to impress her. This was like every other game, and I was playing for the love of the game.

Jasper passed the ball to me and I lifted it above my head, launching a three-pointer from well behind the arch. Swish! I moved around and accepted another ball. Swish!

When the buzz sounded, I moved back to the locker room for final instructions before the team introductions. The visiting team had gone into their locker room five minutes ago.

Bella

Angela and I walked into the arena. It was much bigger than our high school gym. She pulled me along the floor and up into the stands. Six rows up she stopped and motioned me down the aisle. I looked for seats five and six.

She pointed to the seats along the court, right in front of us. "The home bench is right in front of us. Then the floor-level Dawg Pack seats." She pointed across the arena next. "Edward's parents sit somewhere in section nine."

It was overwhelming and exciting at the same time being here, supporting Edward. "Is this where you usually sit?" I asked as my gaze moved over to watch the visiting team for a minute. The Huskies hadn't come out to warm up yet.

Angela shook her head and pointed up. "There are more Dawg Pack seats at the top of sections three through six, nosebleed seats. These seats are far better. Edward offered to get me tickets before and I've always turned him down. If I knew they would be this good, I would have taken him up on it at the beginning of the season and dragged you along."

~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~

When Edward appeared on the court to warm up, my hand moved to my chest. He was bare-armed and muscular, I hadn't been expecting that. I had felt those hidden muscles. Whitlock passed Edward a ball and he raised it above his head. The ball rolled off his fingers, arching high in the air. I followed the ball and it slipped through the net with an unheard swoosh.

My eyes moved back to Edward and it took me a moment to locate him. He had moved to one of the two lines on either side of the basket.

Angela nudged me and handed me a bag. "I ran into my aunt Esme when I went to get us drinks. She heard you were going to be here and wanted you to have this as her thanks."

"You left?"

She smiled and motioned to where the team was still running through warm-up drills. "I tried to tell you."

"What can I say? I love basketball."

I opened the bag and pulled out a white jersey with the number eight stitched in the center. Flipping it over, I found Cullen above it on the back. There was nothing else in the bag.

I found Edward on the floor again. I couldn't tell what number he was wearing.

"What's Edward's last name?"

"Cullen." Seeing my hesitation, she added, "Go ahead, put it on. And don't even think about giving it back."

Not arguing, I slipped it over my head, glad I had worn a short-sleeve purple university tee. I would decide after the game what to do with it.

~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~

I yelled at the referee when he called a charging foul on Edward with three minutes to go in the second quarter. The defensive player fell but so did Edward. It should have been a blocking foul, and they didn't review it. The coach pulled Edward. He was in foul trouble and the team would need him if the game went into overtime. He threw himself into the padded chair and accepted a cup and towel. I could tell he was upset, whether with himself or with the referee was the question.

Edward

I pointed out an opening in Oregon State's defense and Jasper rushed over, setting up what I hoped would be a three-point shot. The opening was closing fast as Ben passed the ball to Emmett and then lightning quick, Jasper had the ball. Defenders were all over him. The shot clock was ticking down and we didn't have long to take a shot. I called for the ball and arched it up and over my defender's head. The stands went wild as my shot hit and swooshed through the net.

We didn't take time to celebrate, getting back on defense. Oregon State drove the ball to center court and called time out. Walking over to the bench, I accepted a cup of Gatorade and downed it. Crushing the paper cup before swiping a towel down my face. Coach took me out of the game. There was only a minute left until half-time. I sat, draping the towel over my head. Lifting my head when I heard the whistle, I watched the action and my fellow point guard. He had a lot to learn about leading the team, but he did well enough and we went into the locker room with a one-point lead.

~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~

Oregon State outscored us in the second quarter, and the game was tied. We stood on the sideline reviewing the overtime plan. Coach was drawing like a madman on the clipboard. "Cullen, call it as you see it. I trust you out there. You see an opening, you go for it. And don't foul out."

I nodded. One more and I would be done. Stupid referee. I couldn't focus on that. He had called it as he saw it, and I couldn't blame him.

Oregon State got control of the ball, and we were in their face as much as we could.

I barely heard the final buzzer ending the game as the stands were in an uproar. We'd pulled off the win.

~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~

I checked my phone as soon as we were in the locker room. Two texts. One from Mom and the other from Angela. I was sad to see Bella hadn't sent me one.

I read Mom's first. "Good game, Edward. That foul was BS and the ref knew it. It should have been reviewed and reversed. See you next week for dinner."

Next week? I thought I was meeting up with her and Dad afterward for dinner. I shrugged. I'd call later and see if something came up.

Coach came in, and I stashed my phone. He'd kill me if he saw I was on it not long after the game. The rest of the team was doing the same.

"Great game, team. Game ball," he held it up. "Goes to Cullen. He showed true leadership out there and as the final minutes ticked down, saw an opening and got the ball to Whitlock for the shot."

The team cheered as I accepted the orange sphere.

"Speech," they shouted.

Taking a breath, I looked at Coach. He motioned me to go ahead. "It's an honor to receive the game ball. However, we are a team and each of us deserves this ball." I lifted it above my head, knowing the team would side with Coach.

"You deserve it, Edward," Jasper yelled. "Without you, Oregon State would have crushed us."

I laughed. "As a team, we worked together and pulled off the win."

Coach slapped me on the back. "Not changing my mind. The ball is yours, Cullen. Everyone hit the showers and go celebrate. See everyone at practice Monday morning. And curfew is extend until 2 am."

Another cheer erupted around me.

I turned back to my locker and pulled my phone back out. There was another message. This one was from Bella. "Angela is mean. I wanted to go, but she dragged me toward the locker room, saying I was going the wrong way. Oh, congratulations. Hate the referees." I was confused by her text. Maybe Angela's would help me decode Bella's.

"Bella will be outside the locker room waiting for you, she was headed to the visitors." So, Bella wanted to wait for me. "Your mom slipped me the passes she and your dad use to meet up with you." That was good. Explained Mom's text. " I'll disappear. Take her to your place and order pizza, or take her out to dinner." Plan on it, Ang. "No thank you needed to me or your mom."

Under Angela's text was a picture. I enlarged it and my jaw dropped. Bella was wearing my number as she leaned against the wall outside the locker room.