All right, I may have to give up the whole update-once-a-week thing and will probably start updating things biweekly. A thousand apologies to all. But if I do somehow get an opportunity to update once a week, I won't hesitate to take it.
Thanks to my reviewers: Crazy Cool Kid, Alana Fox, jazzmonkey, Laura B, JazzGirl123, SheepRainbow, Icewings13, and Hungryhippo 1000.
Not sure if there will be romance in the next chapter, but it's definitely coming soon!
Enjoy!
Saturday at the park…
"Where are they?" asked Chan. During lunch on Friday, the Brawlers had agreed to have one last practice at the park before their game against the Neathians on Monday. They decided to meet at 2:00 but so far, only the girls have shown up.
"Dan called me and mentioned something about 'getting a bite to eat'" grumbled Runo. "He probably dragged the rest of the boys with him."
"But not Ren," interjected Fabia, quietly. But all the girls heard and turned in her direction. Things have been a bit tense between Fabia and the team ever since she decided to drop in and chit chat with Ren during lunch-twice. After explaining her motives, the girls "forgave" Fabia quickly, although Fabia knew she didn't do anything wrong. Runo took more time to convince but she eventually gave in as well. Billy and Shun were indifferent and merely shrugged it off. Joe, however, did not take it lightly much to the others' surprise. He was usually lenient with everything but considering how Ren had showed him up during P.E., who could blame him?
But none of those reactions compared with Dan's. He didn't speak to Fabia for days, believing Fabia to be a traitor. He was truly convinced that Ren had only transferred to Vestal Academy to learn about the team's strengths and weaknesses and then use it against the Brawlers during the final game. This only confirmed Ren's story of how he was mistreated the very moment he stepped into the building. Rage filled Fabia as she screamed at Dan who was happy to return the favor. Runo and Shun had to separate the two. Since then, neither have said a word to each other except to call out each other's names to pass the ball during practice and even then that was rare.
It was Alice who broke the long silence that ensued after Fabia's comment. "Hey…aren't those the Gundalians?"
Immediately, all four girls turned to see that Alice was correct. There was no mistaking their aura of arrogance and the way they held their chins high.
"Back again, are you?" asked Sid with a grin.
"Don't you mean you're back again?" demanded Runo.
"Easy, Runo," whispered Alice.
"Don't you remember?" asked Lena. "This has always been the court we've been practicing on. You guys got lucky once when we left you alone, but that's only because Ren was with us and ordered us to leave."
"But Ren's not here this time," said Mason, smirking. "I am."
"You're the new captain?" asked Chan.
"Heck yeah. And this time, I'm going to claim what's rightfully ours."
Alice resisted the urge to roll her eyes. This was so stupid, battling over a basketball court where there were hundreds more.
"Girls, let's go, let them have it," urged Alice. She did not want to get drawn in a pointless fight.
"No," answered the rest of the girls immediately. Alice sighed and wondered why must all three have a fighting side to them. Chan was a master in martial arts and Fabia exceled in hand-to-hand combat. Though Runo wasn't known to have any training of self-defense, she sure had that fiery temper which was enough to fuel some punches and kicks out of her.
"No?" asked Stoica.
"No," repeated Fabia in a firm voice.
"And what are you gonna do about it?" asked Airzel. The Gundalians took a step closer to the girls who in response took a step back.
"There's nine of us and only four of you," added Kazarina.
"How about a challenge then?" suggested Runo. "A fair one?"
"Oh, Runo," started Alice. "Don't-"
"What kind of challenge?" asked Mason, eyes glinting.
"Bakugan?" asked Jesse.
Chan immediately shook her head. Neither of the girls had brought their Bakugan with them.
"Basketball," said Chan, sticking out her hand. Why the hell not? This was a basketball court they were fighting over anyway.
"Deal," said Mason, shaking Chan's hand.
"Four against four," said Fabia. "Girl's game only."
"We have only three girls," said Lena. "You have four."
"You can count me out," said Alice immediately. She was not going to get involved. Besides, she needed time to think of a plan. She had a nagging feeling something would go wrong. But then again, when have any encounters with the Gundalians turned out well?
"Three on three. Perfect," said Zenet rubbing her hands together.
"No dirty playing," warned Fabia as she got into a defensive stance. Bent knees, hands up.
"What made you think we'd do that?" asked Kazarina a little too innocently.
A lot of things, thought Alice as she stepped off the court. Mason bounced the ball to Kazarina who passed it to Fabia who passed it back. Let the games begin.
Kazarina bolted past Fabia, pulling a little spin move to make a lay-up. Luckily Chan was there and luckily she was a high jumper. She smacked down the ball into Runo's hands who took off towards the other court.
Alice heard a snarl within Kazarina and also within Zenet and Lena as they chased after Runo. She's seen Runo growl when she got pissed, but it was never as menacingly as this. Surely, these Gundalians weren't human. They were killing machines, bent on doing anything to win anything; even if it was a mere three-on-three game to decide who got to practice on the court. That in itself was already ridiculous but at least it didn't make Alice's hair stand like it was doing now.
She needed to do something. But she couldn't. Her feet nailed themselves on the cement and all she could do was watch. Watch the Gundalians do they very thing they're best at: playing dirty.
Within minutes, Fabia, Chan, and Runo each received a set of bruises and cuts. Sure the Gundalians were beat up as well, but it was merely a cut or two here and there.
Why? Alice wondered. They weren't this hostile during the last game. Then it hit her. Because the Brawlers played so poorly in that game, it wasn't worth the Gundalians' time to use any amount of effort. But the Brawlers have improved and it certainly showed when Chan smacked away Kazarina's layup. The Gundalians were supposed to the best, undefeated, unwavering. And look, one of the Brawlers, a team with only one experienced player, has just rejected a shot. A shot that was supposed to never miss. Ever.
Alice could only imagine the fury of their opponents. But one thing was certain. She needed to do something before someone got seriously hurt. No one else was in the park. It was her and only her who could call for help. The other girls were too stubborn to do it. Move, she commanded her feet.
Faking a need to use the bathroom, Alice hurried over to the girls' stalls and dialed Dan's number. To her relief, he picked up.
"Hey, what's up?" asked Dan.
"Dan! You need to come to the park right now!" cried Alice.
"What? What's wrong?" Dan suddenly became dead serious.
"They're here! The Gundalians are-"
Click. That was all Dan needed. Alice leaned back against the wall, comforted by the fact that Dan and hopefully the others would arrive soon. But how soon? And what state will the other girls be in by the time that comes?
Panicked, Alice glanced back towards the court to meet a horrifying sight. Chan and Runo were on the floor coughing and panting, gasping for breath, desperate for air. Their injuries have only but increased. This couldn't be the work of a basketball game. Alice's theory was proved true when she saw Fabia hurling punches at Sid. Undoubtedly, a fight had erupted while Alice was gone but it wasn't just between the girls. Apparently the boys decided to have some fun as well. Clearly, the Brawlers had underestimated the Gundalians, which is saying something.
Alice knew Chan, Runo, and Fabia were fierce fighters but three against nine weren't any odds anyone would want to be up against unless of course, you're on the side with nine. But they weren't.
Fear paralyzed Fabia when she heard Kazarina give a hiss and say, "Listen girlies… I don't know what gears are running through your pretty heads. But keep them well-oiled to remember this: You do not defeat the Gundalians. You are not superior to the Gundalians. You are not in control of the game against the Gundalians. Those are the standard rules everyone must follow and has been following. But it seems as if you're new to these rules. No need to worry. We're here to teach you a lesson to fix that, aren't we?"
Alice's eyes widened when she saw Sid grab both of Fabia's wrists and spin her around so that her back was to his chest. Fabia screamed and thrashed to get free but Sid only increased his grip as he laughed with the others. Though she was paralyzed by fear, she could hear herself screaming inside her head. MOVE! DAMMIT ALICE! MOVE NOW!
But just as she was about to take another step, a voice interrupted her but it wasn't just any voice. It was a chilling voice that contained fury, hatred, and an aura of command indicating that you shouldn't even think to dare disobey this voice.
"Let her go, Sid."
It was Ren.