Today was the first game of the season for the basketball team.
I was pretty nervous, but I didn't let it show. The key to success is confidence...right? I'm hoping.
If we lose this game we can't go to the dance, and then Stacie will find another date, and then she'll forget all about me, and then I'll have no one and- there's a lot riding on this game is what I'm trying to say.
currently I was in, Mrs. Beale's class, not listening to whatever math she was teaching, as always.
"Beck, you seem like your definitely paying attention, what's the answer?" she of course called on me, "what's the question?" I looked down at my notes, slightly panicked, "give me an expression equivalent to 9x squared minus 16y squared." Mrs. Beale said again, as she pointed to the board with a multiple choice question shown on it.
"Uh, 3x - 4y, squared?" I guessed, "incorrect, maybe you should get out of Lalaland and focus, we have a test coming up on this in a week, I'd hate to tell your coach that you're nothing more than a pretty faced basketball player." Mrs. Beale said, as she went on to give the correct answer and showed how to solve it.
She was right, I needed to focus more.
When the bell rung I got up and started packing my stuff away when I felt a tap on my shoulder, "yeah?" I turned around, shocked to see Quinn. Ever since the mall encounter I tried to keep my distance from her, per the warning of the boys. "If you ever need a study buddy, or a tutor, I can help." she offered, more to my lips because that's where her eyes were, but I'm assuming to me too.
"Thanks, but I got Aubrey if I ever need help, she's pretty smart." I went back to packing up my stuff, but Quinn leaned over my desk, her cleavage on full display, "well you have my number, if she's busy just know that I'm not." she winked seductively before sauntering off with more sway in her hips than needed.
I let out a deep breath as I collected my final things and made my way to the door, only to be stopped by Mrs. Beale as she called me over to her desk.
"Yes ma'am?" I asked, "Beckett, I've noticed that you've been spacing out in class a lot lately, dozing off during partner work, are you ok, is everything fine at home?" she asked worriedly. I chuckled before I could stop myself and quickly apologized, "I didn't mean to laugh, but yes I'm fine, home life is fine. I just- practice has ran me dry. I'll try to pick it up." I promised her.
"That would be ideal. You got a D on your last worksheet Beck, that's cutting it close for an athlete. You need to learn to be a student-athlete, not an athlete-student, got it?" Mrs. Beale raised a questioning brow, "got it." I nodded.
I finally left the class and quickly walked to chemistry before the bell rung.
When I walked into the class I noticed that my normal seat-next to Stacie-was occupied by Chicago, who normally sat in the back.
He was taking to Stacie and the closer I got I could make out the conversation.
"Thanks, but I'm good." Stacie said, not even looking at Chicago as she took some notes, "oh come on! I'm every girls dream, you're every guys dream, we're a match made in heaven." he pestered, "no Chicago, I don't want to go out with you, not yesterday, not today, and not tomorrow!" Stacie said, clearly getting frustrated.
"How about in 72 hours?" he asked with a cheeky smirk, Stacie on the other hand wasn't amused, "ok fine, just go to the dance with me?" he bargained, "no, I already have a date." Stacie said resolutely, Chicago scoffed, "and who might that be?" he almost laughed.
I took that as my cue and stepped closer, tapping him on the shoulder, he turned around and I smiled, "that might be me, also this might be my seat, so, move." I made a move motion with my hand.
"really!? You're going with this cock-suck?" he looked at Stacie with bewildered expression, "yup, and I can't wait." she said looking at me, "same." I smiled at her. We continued to look at each other, and I nearly forgot Chicago was in between us until he made a gagging sound, "please cut it with the heart eyes, it's giving me a physical reaction." he dramatically clutched his stomach.
"Maybe if you were sitting at your seat instead of mine, that wouldn't be happening." I told him as he stood up, "you could do so much better than this dick wipe Stacie." he glared at me, "it's funny that you think you're better." Stacie shot back not even looking up from her books. "Just take the rejection and move on man." I said, stifling a laugh as I took my seat back.
Chicago went back to his, albeit begrudgingly and class started up.
I again dozed off as class went on, not finding any motivation to work, at least until Stacie nudged me.
"Yeah?" I mumbled into the crook of my arm since my head was laying there. "We need to work together." she told me, with a groan I sat up and looked at her, "what're we supposed to do?" I asked, taking note of how she had on safety goggles and there were beakers of liquids in front of us.
"We have to find a solution that makes this clear one dissipate and one that makes it change colors." Stacie explained, "cool." I nodded along.
We worked together and I couldn't help but to notice how serious Stacie took this class. We had one other classes together, that being dance, and she didn't take that one as serious, she still worked hard in dance, but it also came naturally to her.
"Why do you like science so much?" I found myself asking before I even processed the fact that I had a question, "oh, um, I don't I just like it. I want to be a biochemist when I graduate. Why'd you ask?" she asked me, "I don't know, I just happened to see how much you focus in this class. Taking notes every day and whatnot." I said honestly.
She nodded and smiled a little, "I'm glad you pay attention to the little things." she said as she glanced at me. If I'm being honest that gave me butterflies, I don't know why, I guess I just like her a lot.
Toward the end of the day during dance, things were pretty normal, we stretched, we warmed up, we danced. After that I was getting ready to leave to get ready for the game, but the girls stopped me.
"We just wanted to say good luck." Stacie told me as they walked down the hall with me, "yeah, don't lose." Aubrey encouraged, "I'll try, to win that is, not lose." I clarified, "good, we'll be there, and during halftime you'll see what all our after school practices go towards." Chloe said right as we reached the locker rooms.
"Can't wait. Good luck to you three as well." I wished them as I went into the boys locker room and they went into the girls
Most of the team was already in there and I was happy that I prepared for this by wearing my jersey under my hoodie. I took off my hoodie, stuffing it in my duffel bag, before taking out my shorts and putting them on. I laced up my basketball shoes and left the locker room to warm up.
Kyle and Jordy were already on the court practicing shuffles. "Can I join?" I asked, walking over to them, "of course!" Jordy answered enthusiastically, "you ready for tonight bro?" Kyle asked me as I shuffled, "I think so, I hope so." I said.
I felt nervous but overall I think I was good.
"We got this, Journey High sucks, I'm glad we're playing them first." Jordy said, "they aren't so bad now though remember, Constance Lerner used to play for Alden High, but he moved to JH." Kyle said a little bit of shake in his voice.
"Who's Constance Lerner?" I asked, "Constance is a basketball player, he's a Junior now, he's real good. Better than one whole NBA team combined. Rumors were that the Lakers, Bulls, and Warriors, already want him when he graduates." Jordy said. "Yep, Alden used to be the best in the conference, but Constance got expelled from there and the principal at Journey snatched him up, promising him that he'd pass all his classes, so long as they make it to the champs and win this year." Kyle added.
"So basically we're royally fucked?" I blinked.
"Well with that attitude we are." I heard from behind me and turned to see coach Smith, "oh, coach, I uh-I'm positive we'll win." I stammered, "I'm just messing Beck, I wasn't confident about Alden because of Constance, now I'm not confident about Journey for the same reason." he patted me on the shoulder.
"I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse." I frowned, "well how about this, go out there and try your hardest. If you lose I'll consider letting you guys go to the dance." coach said, "deal!" I quickly nodded.
That was a deal I could get behind.
After warming up and practicing for a bit, coach called the team back into the locker room.
"Alright boys! Game time in ten minutes, Journey's here and they look ready. I need my starters-McFaye, Mitchell, Ranz, Swanson, and Vinny-on top game, we're gonna run playbook 1 for this first quarter a two-man drive. If you get hold of the ball I need you to pass, get the ball down the court, the rest will be up to whoever has it." coach told the team.
We ended our huddle and ran out onto the court. The stands were already filled with kids from our school and the opposing. At the sidelines I could see the dancers and cheerleaders stretching and getting ready for the game.
"Five minutes til tip off!" a ref called.
I took one more deep breath and ran onto the court getting into position.
When the buzzer rang, all motion in the gym stopped as the ball was tossed in the air and a tall kid jumped up, hitting the ball to a teammate only to have it intercepted by Ryder who drove it down the court, shooting a three.
The crowd shouted and cheered, and for a moment I felt like we could win this.
By the end of quarter one the score was 21-13, and we weren't winning.
"You're doing good guys, Constance definitely got better over the summer, but we can take him." coach encouraged.
I didn't feel as confident though. Constance was much better than I thought. He was tall 6'2 at the least, dark skin and dreads, he had muscles but not a body builder frame, more on the skinny side. He was fast too, definitely ran track in the spring. If I didn't know he was only 17 I'd have thought he was 20 something playing in the NBA.
We went back on the court and the game resumed, Kyle was the point guard so most time we passed the ball to him in hopes of scoring more points. That plan didn't work that well though because Constance was also point guard and was often times guarding Kyle.
Eventually I had the ball and no one else was open so I ran the ball down the court lining myself up to take a shoot, but got pushed in the back which sent me flying to the ground.
The ref blew his whistle calling a foul, and Jesse helped me up, "tough blow, you good?" he asked, "yeah, I've been in a million fights this year, a scrape on my knee isn't anything." we shared a laughed as I took my place at the free throw line.
My first shot went in all net, my second toilet-bowled before falling into the net. My team cheered and we got back to the game.
By halftime I was spent. The score was 31-20.
The dancers took the floor as each team prepared for the next half.
The dance was incredible, or more specifically, Stacie was incredible. Like I said, dancing came natural to her, it suit her as well as my headphones suit me.
"Alright team, before halftime ends, I want to change the line up a little, my center, Swanson I'm switching you with Henny, Mitchell with Kennedy, and Ranz with Kopek." coach said as the new kids stood up.
I felt immediate sadness at being replaced. Was I not good enough?
As the game continued I went to talk to my coach.
"Hey coach?" I called him, "yeah?" he asked as he came over to me, "why'd you swap me? Did I do something? I asked, "look Beck, you're good, one of my best actually, but I don't think you're a small forward." coach said to me and it felt like my stomach dropped.
Was he kicking me off the team? Or taking me off the starting lineup?
"Oh." I said, feeling lost at finding any other words, "what do you think would suit me more?" I added after a beat, "I want you as my point guard, and furthermore as my team captain." he said.
I was stunned at this, I never thought I was good enough for point guard, let alone a captain.
"Me? Why me? There's like three seniors perfect for the job." I asked confused, "Beck, being captain has nothing to do with age, it's about skill, about moxie and savvy. Things you have." he pointed at me. "I've been watching you Beck, how you interact with your teammates, how you act on the court and off, that's leadership material." coach said earnestly.
"Well thank you sir, I'm truly honored, and would love to accept both offers, I'll gladly be the captain if you think that's fitting for me, but I can't take PG, that's Kyle's spot." I said, "I'm reworking the whole team, no one spot is anyone's yet he can be a sub PG but I think you'll be better." coach said to me, "ok, if you say so." I finally nodded.
"Great! I hope I can rely on you as my captain, I hope you can set an example for the team." coach said, "of course sir." I said with no hesitation.
When the game ended the team made their way back to the locker room.
We lost by three points. 33-30.
"You guys did good today. I know we weren't expecting Constance to be at our first game, but even with that set back you guys fought hard. Three points is nothing. I know I said you wouldn't go to the dance if you lost, but since you did so well, you can go." coach told the team who erupted into cheers.
"Settle down, settle down," he quieted us, "I have some news, some of you may not like it, but I trust you'll handle it responsibly. Beck will you join me up here?" he called me to the front of the room, I got up and walked up there.
"I bet you've noticed that we don't have a team captain yet, if you were here last year you know that the last captain, Lucas Mayer, graduated last year and the spot is open. After heavy consideration, I've selected Beckett as your captain." coach revealed and most of the boys cheered.
With the exception of Tom and his friends.
Tom scoffed, "he's a small forward, that's not pretty traditional. Besides, Lucas promised me that spot." he complained, "well is Lucas here, and is he the coach? I didn't think so, he had no right to promise you the spot, and for that I apologize, but Beck is your captain. As for his position, I've also made the executive decision to make him a starting point guard, I think his capabilities and skills will be better suited there." coach said.
As he said this I made eye contact with Kyle who only gave me a thumbs up in response.
"Really! Point guard, are you crazy, he doesn't have a clue about running plays." Tom said with a glare at me, "and you do?" coach raised a challenging brow, "Lucas taught me last year, I know more than him." Tom claimed. "I doubt that." I mumbled quietly, "got something to say?" Tom asked, getting closer to me.
I put my hands up defensively, "I'm not looking for trouble Tom, we all know what happened last time anyways." I smirked, "fuck you!" he spat, "Tom I advise you calm down or I can have a chat with your father." coach eyed the boy, Tom backed down but didn't lose the glare.
"Alright, good job today boys, rest up this weekend, you've got a dance to attend." coach said before he walked out of the locker room.
As the boys dispersed I found Kyle, "dude, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to snatch your position from you." I immediately rushed out, "Beck, it's cool, coach talked to me a few days ago and I think he's right. Besides, I have word that the varsity team is looking for a center, coach is recommending me." Kyle said, "dude that's awesome!" I high-fived him.
We talked for a bit more before I left the locker room and found the girls standing around talking.
"Hey guys, you did great." I complimented as I got closer to them, "thanks, you too." Chloe said, "sorry you lost Beck." Stacie said as she rubbed my shoulder, "it's cool, coach said we can still got to homecoming so it's alright." I shrugged.
We walked out of the school and I noticed a lot of the guys were still here. Tom's group was part of the crowd and he walked towards me.
"I don't know who you are, coming to my school, stealing everything from me, but it's not over. I am going to ruin you!" he yelled, before walking away. I was silent as I watched him leave.
"You ok?" Stacie asked, "y-yeah, I just, I'm fine." I said, "hey, I'll text you guys later, I gotta go find someone." I said as I ran off in search of someone.
I finally found who I was looking for and stopped next to him.
"Hey Beck, you did good today during the game, congrats on making cap." he congratulated, "thanks, you did good today too. But there was something else I actually wanted to talk about." he looked at me, "go on." he said, "your plan, to take down Tom, when do we start?"
A/N: Why I took a whole week to write this, I don't know, but it's done so...