-FIVE-
For the first time in ages, she could hear loud voices downstairs as she sat at her desk trying to study. They weren't yelling voices but louder than usual coming from her father's office. It was her parents, they were arguing about the basketball lock down and the cancelled game. There was pressure surrounding the family and basketball team with the parents and camera news crew, there was also the upcoming conference that was going too held in a few days.
The real tension started when she was at the family sport store with her father and Kenny. It was like every other night, she went to the store after school and helped Kenny out while her father had stayed behind at the school library helping the team until seven, before coming to the store. Kate was showing her father the accounts when someone threw a brick through the shops front window, bringing the whole window to the ground while her father raced outside to yell at the attacker.
The second strike before the conference was one morning driving to school, her father was in the driver's side with Damien beside him and Kate behind her brother. Their family car had stopped at the traffic lights while another vehicle pulled up alongside them. The passenger of the other car indicted for the their window to be put down, Coach did exactly that and the passenger got out of his car and suddenly spat on the window, aiming for their father.
In reaction, Coach exited the car to confront the man who was getting back in his vehicle. "Dad!" Kate yelled, undoing her seat belt to follow her brother out to make sure their father would be alright. "Dad." She said once again, when the other vehicle drove away and Damien came to their father's side.
Watching her father curse she slowly got back into the car, shocked by the earlier actions and wondered how far this would go – the news crew, a brick through the window and now residents were spitting at them.
The strikes kept on coming, not pointed towards their family but the members of the basketball team.
There was loud knocking at their front door, the lights were turned off in the house with the Carter family in their rooms. Kate heard her parent's door open, she knew it was probably her father going to answer the door though she had no idea who'd be knocking at this hour of the night.
She could hear voices coming from downs stairs and appeared at her door to figure out what was happening. Damien opened his door and they shared a glance before heading down stairs to investigate.
They came into view of the front door and found Cruz in the arms of their father, the distressed sounds coming from the basketball player made her chest tighten up. "I'll put the kettle on." She muttered to no one in particular and headed for the kitchen to give the basketball player some space.
She flicked the switch on the kettle, making sure that the jug was full as she knew everyone was going to need a cup to help with the bundle of emotions. She pulled out four mugs and prepared them for the water before leaning against the cupboards. Kate couldn't understand what would cause such a reaction from Cruz, he always seemed so sure of himself at practice.
Damien came into the kitchen, a pillow and blanket in his arms. "His staying the night." He answered at seeing her raised eyebrows.
"Is he alright?" She couldn't help but ask.
He shrugged his shoulders' unsure, he'd seen the blood on his clothes. "I don't know." Damien said truthful before continuing his way to the lounge to his father and Cruz.
The kettle hissed at her and she picked it up, pouring the hot water into the cups before taking two into the lounge. She didn't know what to expected, it wasn't to find Cruz sitting on their couch trembling or the stained clothes on the floor. "Cruz?" His only response was the stillness of his body. She moved forward and took a seat on the couch beside him, careful to leave some space between them so he didn't feel crowded. She put one cup in front of him and sipped her own to relax herself. "Mother always says that a hot drink calms the soul." She said the words, hoping they would ease him as it did her. She saw her father entered the room and slowly got up, wanting to give the two men some time alone. She headed for the kitchen to dispose of her own cup, though before leaving the room she took one last glance at the pair and was relieved to see Cruz finally pick up his cup.
A couple of days later, Kate found herself seating beside Worm under the tree at the school basketball court. "You should have seen him, Worm." Remembering the night with Cruz, the next morning he had acted like nothing was the matter.
"He just saw his cousin die." Worm said, remembering the look upon his friend's face as he had held his dying family member. "It could have easily been him." Any one of them could have – it was a shock back to the reality of world outside of the class rooms and court.
At the strange expression on Worm's face, Kate put an arm around his waist and pulled him into an embrace. It was like a realisation had suddenly come upon him.
"Hey guys." Stone walked over in the couple's direction, The pair pulled apart to give him their attention. "You going to the court conference?"
"What times that?" Kate asked, suddenly remembering what they were meant to be doing.
"Like now." Stone answered with some amusement and walked over to the bus stop, hearing the two others follow quickly after him.
The trio managed to get to the court conference, it was already on the way when they entered the room to find a table of professionals that included their school principle in front of Coach and an audience of parents. Kate didn't say much, merely sat at the back with Stone and Worm. Watching her parents up the front while the audience shouted their opinion.
It wasn't until the room quietened down and the attention was focused on the table ahead. They were taking a vote on whether or not the lock was to be taken from the gym doors. Kate couldn't believe what she was seeing as each and nearly every one raised their hand against the Coach. "This is bullshit." She muttered to Worm, he simple nodded his head in agreement.
"Come on." Stone stood up from the seat and headed out of the room with the two trailing behind them.
"What are we going to do?" Worm questioned, angry at the turn out of the conference.
"You have a contract to follow." Kate said, referring to their grades in which they were slowly improving.
"I think it's time for a team meeting." Worm stated, knowing that whatever happened next, they would have to do it as a team.
Their unofficial team meeting happened and the team agreed on their next approach. Damien and Kate managed to speak to a few teachers, expressing their interest in continuing their studies while the team got to relocating their study area to the court.
Kate had to admit that the expression on her father's face when he walked into the gym was satisfying and worth helping the team organise their defiance against the locals and court. Lyle spoke up from his seat when the Coach came to a stop. "Sir, they can cut the chains off the door, but they can't make us play."
"We've decided we're going to finish what you've started, Sir." Damien promised.
"Yeah, so leave us be, Coach. We've got shit to do, Sir." Worm's words brought a few small laughs from the team members, even managing to get a smile from the Coach.
She couldn't help but noticed the proud expression on her father's face as he looked at the basketball team in front of him. He was about to turn and continue with collecting his belongings when Cruz suddenly stood up. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. You're playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Cruz paused for a moment, his words touching everyone on the court. "Sir, I just want to say thank you, you saved my life."
"Thank you Sir." Coach said to Cruz before turning to address the rest of the team. "All of you." He said honestly before turning to leave the court with his box full of belongings.
At her father's retreating back, she was almost tempted to follow after him but she held her ground and continued to help Battle with his latest maths because she knew that it meant reaching her father's, the team's goal in improving their grades and getting back to the basketball court.
It was lunch time, with the school performance finished that left Kate and Rebecca to bath in the sunny weather. "This is nice, I can actually work on my tan." Rebecca said, removing her jumper to expose more skin to the sun.
"Don't red heads burn." Kate threw back at her, already seeing her skin start to redden.
"Like bloody lobsters." Rebecca sarcastically said.
"And their bloody crazy too." Kate rolled her eyes at the woman, not seeing the sense in her actions.
"Girl, you don't need to worry about a tan." Her friend tap her on the nose, pointing out her dark skin.
"And you're talking like a black woman." She poked back at her with a smile.
"Learnt from the best." Rebecca nudged her shoulder.
"Kate!" Worm came jogging from the school building catching the two woman's attention. There was a large smile spread across his lips as he reached them. "Guess what!?"
"Wha-" She asked curiously, not sure what was causing his sudden enjoyment.
Worm continued before she could finish asking. "Our grades have improved which means-"
"You can play." Kate matched his excitement and pulled Worm into an embrace, delighted at the news of the team been successful because she knew that some struggled and others were growing restless.
"We can play!" He repeated again in eagerness, leaning forward and kissing her lips without hesitation.
Unsurprisingly, when Friday night came around with the basketball game – Richmond won with flying colouring.