The Face with Two Skeletons

By: Tropicwhale

Disclaimer: Hehehe I wish.....but they're not.

Author Talk: I promised....here it is.

Chapter Seven

Booth was enjoying the game. The opposing team was using every dirty trick in the book to get ahead and every time they did Zack's team just changed tactics and scored on them. It was brilliant. When 18 stuck his foot between 04's legs and tripped him Booth was on his feet with everyone else as all hell broke loose. 04 was helped back to the bench and Zack handed him a water bottle as the ref went over and talked to him and his foot was bandaged. Booth noticed how 18 was accepting high-fives from the rest of his team and some Devils fans. 04 stood and hopped to the foul line. Booth clapped along the rest of the crowd. 04 missed the first shot but, after a tense second the second one went in and possession was awarded to the Copperheads. Zack subbed in for 04 and Booth cheered on the littlest squint. "Way to go, Zack! Come on! Yeah!"

Zack looked over at Booth when he heard his name called and Booth gave him the thumbs up sign. Zack nodded and looked over as Zerbrowski passed him the ball. In a matter of seconds he was covered by three Devils. Zack looked around for a clear path to pass the ball and 67 grabbed the ball. The situation quickly deteriorated for Zack until both he and 67 were lying on the ground grappling over the ball. The referee quickly called jumpball but Zack did get in one good kick to the others guy's shin before they were pried apart. Othello was the one to help him up. The older man chuckled at Zack. "That was funny. He looked so stunned that you kicked back when he tried to hit you on his head that I was sure you had gotten his balls."

"I only got his shin. It was an accident. I didn't notice him trying to hit me. Now I feel less bad." Othello laughed and clapped Zack's shoulder in a way that sent Zack stumbling.

"By the way…your Olivia looks on." Othello added as he walked away to guard his man. Zack remembered when Othello gave Shakespeare's "The Twelfth Night" to Zack to read. Zack disagreed that Booth was Olivia. He was more like…Zack wasn't sure if there was a Shakespearean hero that qualified. He looked up at Booth on the stands and nodded. Booth nodded back and Zack jogged off to guard 34 as the ball was passed back into play by Keg to Zerbrowski.

The score was 24-23 Devils and there was only five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Booth was clutching his seat in anticipation. After Zack's captain (or so Booth assumed) injured his ankle the team seemed to lose heart and the Devils took advantage of it. Finally, when Booth could take it no more, 04 caught the ref's eye and signaled for a time out.

Zack and the others jogged over to Robbie and Wineskin. "Othello, change out with Wineskin." Othello sat down heavily. "Alright, boys…we've 4:20 left on the clock and down one point. We need possession and a basket. End Game." Zack and the other nodded. "If they get another basket I want the ball to go to Zerbrowski…Zeta variation on End Game." The other nodded. "Alright..on three 'Go Team'." Robbie put his hand into the center of their circle. The other did as well. "One. Two. Three."

"GO TEAM" Zack shouted with everyone else and jogged back out to the court.

Author After Talk: Yeah, it was short. But I think that I'm going to get two paragraphs of my audio homework done then I'll put up chapter eight. Tomorrow three chapters are going up. because its Friday. Hopefully by then I'll have 18-20 written and, in chapter 20, there is definately some Booth/Zack......fun. None of this teasing stuff I've been baiting you with. I'm just chumming the waters, my dears.

Tropic