Thanks to katzike123, DawnBerlitz, JazzGirl123, RunoandAkizafan, Hawkgirl230, and Star.

Again to JazzGirl123: I honestly have no idea how those numbers got there, but I got rid of them.

Star: Yeah, I looked it up online and it looks pretty cool! Thanks for telling me.

"Hey, Dan," said Dan's mother as Dan opened the front door. "How was the game?"

"Fine," Dan muttered, climbing the stairs to his room without even glancing at his mother.

One inside, Dan plopped on the bed and Drago popped up beside him. "Dan, take it easy, it was just the first game."

"But I wanted to win so badly…" replied Dan.

"Well…you still shouldn't have yelled at Alice," said Drago. "You should apologize to her during practice tomorrow."

"Yeah," agreed Dan, immediately feeling guilty.

"And one more thing…" started Drago.

"What?" asked Dan, a little pissed. "Going to tell me off for not being able to work with my team? Tell me I'm a bad team captain?"

"No," replied Drago, smirking. "But you should take a shower."

Wednesday, before school…

"Alice…HEY ALICE!"

Alice who had been walking on her way to school turned around to see Shun running towards her. In about a second, he caught up with her and smiled. "Hey."

"Hi," replied Alice, looking a little sad.

"Still thinking about yesterday?" asked Shun.

"I…I don't really wanna talk about it," replied Alice, turning and continued to walk.

But Shun grabbed her hand and spun her around. "Look, it wasn't your fault we lost, ok? Dan was…being a jerk. He lost his temper; he's famous for that."

Alice smiled a sad smile. "Thanks, Shun. I know you're trying to make me feel better, and I really do appreciate it…but I don't think I'm a worthy player for the team. Everyone has their own special talent like Fabia can steal and Joe and shoot…but me? I just duck whenever the ball comes my way."

"Alice-"

"School's about to start," interrupted Alice, pulling her hand out of Shun's grasp. "See you later."

Shun stood rooted to the spot, his anger building up inside of him. He was going to have a talk with Dan very soon.

~Basketball Brawlers~

As Dan walked down the hallway, he heard someone call his name. Well…not exactly his name but he knew whoever was speaking was talking to him.

"Well, well, if it isn't the team captain."

Dan looked to the left to see Shun casually leaning against the wall. Dan grinned. "Hey buddy-"

"Save it," Shun growled.

"Whoa, man," said Dan, a little scared. "What your problem?"

"My problem?" asked Shun. "Alice, that's what."

"What, did you ask her out and she rejected you or something?" asked Dan.

"No, it's not like that!" Shun exclaimed, his cheeks turning slightly red. "She's depressed! She's angry at herself; she's beating herself up!"

"Why?" asked Dan.

"Why?" repeated Shun. "Because a certain SOMEONE starting yelling at her in the middle of the game for a small mistake! I mean it's not like YOU didn't make a mistake at all. Wanna know how many times you've tried shooting and missed?"

"How many?" asked Dan.

"23," answered Shun.

Dan sweat dropped. Shun actually counted that?

"But that's not the point," replied Shun. "We didn't yell at you when you missed. So there's no need to yell at another person's mistakes, especially when you've made a ton more than they have. So if I were you, I'd apologize to Alice."

"I know," said Dan. "I'll do it either at lunch or during practice, okay? Now quit giving me lectures! I got it, okay? Coach Harben yelled at me, Drago lectured me, and I don't need anything from you!"

"What was that?" asked Shun, glaring at Dan.

"You heard me," snapped Dan, shoving Shun aside and walking towards his class.

Lunch…

"Anyone seen Alice?" asked Runo as she sat down. "I didn't see her today."

"She's at school," replied Shun.

"How do you know?" asked Runo.

"I saw her in the morning," answered Shun, glaring at Dan.

"I guess…I'll apologize during practice," said Dan under Shun's glare.

But Alice was absent during practice as well. Where is she? Dan thought.

The next day, the group didn't see any sign of Alice at all.

"What did you do?" snarled Shun at Dan.

"I didn't do anything!" Dan protested. "I swear!"

Shun's face softened. Dan was his best friend. He may be a jerk at times, but he was also loyal and trustworthy.

That night, Shun asked his grandfather if he could visit a friend for a few minutes. After getting permission, Shun sprinted to Alice's house and got there in no time. He knocked on the door a few times before Alice's grandfather opened it.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Is Alice there?" asked Shun.

"Alice?" repeated Alice's grandfather. "She's in her room."

"May I come in?" Shun asked politely. "I need to talk to her."

"She's sick."

"What! How?"

"She came down with a cold yesterday and I had to pick her up in the morning. Then today, she stayed home. She's been really depressed, did something happen during school?"

"Er…" started Shun, wondering if he should tell the old man the truth or not. "Basketball practice must have worn her out or something."

Alice's grandfather sighed. "All right, you may come in. But only for a few minutes."

"Thank you, sir," said Shun as he entered the house.

"Alice's room is upstairs to the left," said Alice's grandfather pointing to the stairs.

Shun nodded and silently ran upstairs and towards Alice's room. He knocked twice on the door before Alice opened it, looking very sick indeed.

Her face was pale and her eyes were tired. In one of her hands, she held a tissue. "Shun?" she asked, her voice raspy. "What are you doing here?"

"Making sure you're okay," replied Shun.

"Well…as you can see I am sick…"

"I know…But I also know that…Dan didn't mean what he said at the basketball game. He didn't, he feels guilty and wants to apologize."

"Is that so?" asked Alice. "Well tell him I said "thank you" but I don't think I'm going to see you guys after school anymore."

"Why not?" asked Shun.

"Well…I decided…I'm going to quit basketball."

Thanks for bearing with me on that short chapter last week. I made a longer one to make up for it. Please review!