A/N: Wow, only two more chapters for part one! Here comes Vince, and next, and last for this part, will be TJ! Still don't own Recess!
Chapter 5, Vince
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The boys locker room was always a messy place. The guys were messing around, yelling and shouting, laughing. They didn't need to be as serious as the tall, dark skinned boy who tried to get them to calm down and listen. They futures don't rely on the way things work out at the basket court. But his does.
He was their captain, and that means a lot of responsibility, but also great honors if the team does well. It means he will actually get a scholarship, and he will be able to go to the same school as his girlfriend, Gretchen, at a different program of course, but they will be together, and that's really all he can ask.
«Guys? GUYS!» Vince yells out in the locker room. «So, tomorrow is the biggest match of the semester. Do you feel ready? Are you ready to take on this?»
The team is really quiet for a while. They mumble some answers, but it's not enough. «You need to really want this guys! What's wrong with you today?» Vince tries again.
«We're sorry Vince,» Luke, a junior player tries to reason, «it's just, the team we're playing against haven't lost the fall championship in years! Do you really think we have a shot?»
Vince can't help but grin. «Well, that may be my friends, but I'm pretty sure they haven't met a team as good as ours in years either. So, if we go out there tomorrow, and play as we know we can, and we believe in this team, we will do this! Who's with me?»
As he yells the last part, the whole team cheers. Oh yes, this was going to be one for the history books. Vince could feel it.
—
Later that night, when Vince is sitting with his brother, Chad, in their kitchen, he jus can't seem to focus on the trig Chad is trying to teach him. His whole head is filled with basket and Gretchen. Nothing new there, really. But Chad seems to notice, and gives him a friendly shove in the shoulder.
«You know lil' bro, you should just go and see her tonight. Relax before the big game. You and I candy this another night, and it's not like we're getting anywhere tonight anyway, is it?» Chad says, smiling.
Vince looks at him gratefully. He couldn't bee more right, he needed to get out. «Thanks Chad, I'll be back tonight, yeah? Have a good one!»
Vince grabs his coat, and goes out the door. He automatically ends up at the way to Gretchen's house, and he guesses that's right. He needs to calm down and look at things like only Gretchen can get him too. Her logical ways always seems to calm him down.
But just as he is about to knock at her door, he freezes. Does he really want to bother her with this right now? She has a lot of big tests going on, and is constantly studying. She can't really do anything for him now, so he should leave her alone. Not that she would ever tell him to leave her alone, but right now, what Vince needed was just… air.
He turns around and starts to walk. The town is really nice at this time. But he needs someone to talk to, that's for sure. He picks up his phone and calls TJ. When TJ answers, he can hear the sound of Spinelli's voice laughing and shouting in the background, and he feels like he just interrupted something he shouldn't have.
«Hum hi Teej, I was, you know, wondering… but I can hear you're busy, so I'll just…»
«No, no dude, it's just Spin driving rainbow road, not what it sounds like! What do you need? Shoot some hoops to calm you down? Want to come over?»
Vince sighs, relived he didd't interrupt what he think he did. «Yeah dude, I'm a little on edge. What to grab a bite at Kelso's or something?»
TJ agrees happily, and they agree to meet there in 15 minutes.
As Vince walks into Kelso's a little while later, he sees his best friend already sitting there, but to his surprise, he's Spin.
«Heya TJ, did you forget your girlfriend?» Vince asks as he sits down. «Oh, no I just thought that maybe you needed to talk alone before the big game. This really is a game changer, right?»
Vince sighs, and nods. «It's all or nothing bro. You know, if I mess this up I most likely will not get my scholarship, and that means I won't be with Gretch next year.» TJ looks at him with sympathy. «I feel you man. But you will do great, the team has been awesome this year. If you play for everything, for Gretch, for school, and for your future, you will make it. I just know it.»
Vince smiles and shakes his head. «You never lost the leadership crap did you? But you're right tho. Thanks for saying that. But right now, I just need a burger, some sweet potato fries, and some hope for the future on the side!» Vince grins.
TJ nods. «Just remember one thing. You have to do this for you, and you only. Don't go anywhere you don't want to go, even for Gretch. But if that's what you really want, that's what you're going to do.»
Vince nods. He knows, he really wants this. Now, all he's got to do is to night for it.
—
The locker room is quiet. It's never this quiet in here. But everyone is looking to their captain, waiting for him to say something. They're all on edge tonight, but they're all ready. This is it.
Vince get's up on one of the benches, and everyone turns to look at him. «Okay guys, tonight is the night! I really hope all of you are half as exited as I am! This is not just a game to us, is it? It's what we got. It's what we want, and what we love. That is what you guys need to remember out there! This sounds like some coach from elementary, but seriously, you do this because you love it, so if you try to have fun, you will do well. The other team is just here to win, right? Well we're here to prove something bigger. That dreams are possible, and that we change the fact that we haven't won this match in many years! We'll make our school proud, our families and friends proud, but most of all, we will make ourself proud! WHO'S WITH ME?!»
The cheering in the locker room fills Vince with so much adrenaline, he just feels it. This is it, and irt's going to be awesome.
Eyes on the price LaSalle. Eyes on the price.
—
A/N: I'M SORRY IF I MESSED UP. I know nothing about basket and high school games, so I tried, haha! But I hope you liked this chapter, and thanks for reading! Please review!