Chapter Twenty-Nine (2)

Locker doors clanked shut as the sound of shuffling feet echoed through the boys locker room.

The Mellbury junior basketball team, The Black Lions had huddled around their coach, each fully clad in their black basketball shirts and yellow shorts, Audrey and Bruce wore yellow headbands while the others wore black ones.

"Listen up, Mano, Terrance, Williams, Parker and Lawrence, you're starting, the rest of you are benched for now" Their coach said with a distant look despite the tension exuding from the boys. The boys nodded and set their hands on top of each others, "Let's go....Black Lions!"

.....

The game began as soon as the referee tossed in the ball, Terry (Terrance) took the lead, sending the ball flying fast to his teammates palms, the boy staggered back a bit from the impact but readjusted himself just in time before a player from the opposing team, Maybell's Red Eagles, could steal the ball. Both players crouched down facing each other with the ball bouncing underneath his palm, staring into each other's eyes with sheer determination.

The crowd cheered as the boy with the ball faked a pass to the left and sent the ball flying to his teammates waiting on his right side.

On the bench, Conner, Bruce and Audrey sat together paying close attention to the course of the game. Conner, distracted, had a frown growing on his face, Bruce noticed him from the corner of his eye and raised a questioning brow. "Hey!" he said as he tapped Conner.

"Hmm, Hm?" Conner said as he blinked rapidly.

"What's wrong?"

"What happened?" Audrey asked now looking at the two in confusion.

"It's the Coach" Conner stated, his frown resurfacing.

"What about him?" Audrey asked furrowing his brows.

"Look at that face he's making, the entire time he trained us, he barely had any expression, but now we're dominating the game he looks angry?!" Conner explained pointing to the Coach who stood a short distance across them near the court overseeing the game.

Audrey and Bruce frowned at this.

"What are the odds that the three of us are benched? Terry's good at passes but not making a shot..."Bruce started.

"He's not going to try to shoot unless no one else does" Audrey added.

"Mano and Williams can take a shot if they aren't blocked the bigger boys, otherwise they'll just keep passing..."Conner trailed on in thought, his brows raising in realization.

"... this isn't good."

The boys stared at each other with worry in their eyes and crossed their fingers.

----------

The scoreboard chimed and displayed the new record.

Black Lions 0 - 1 Red Eagles

The cheers echoing through the stadium quietened. Audrey stared at the scores display intently with a shaken look on his face, he gaze travelled down and across the court before resting on the Coach. He grit it his teeth, the Coach stood there smirking at the score board. As if sensing Audrey's glare, he turned and locked eyes with the glaring Audrey. Barely stifling his smirk, he raised a questioning eyebrow at Audrey who just glanced back to the court.

The game went on with the Black Lions being barely able to make it near the basket. The coach kept changing the other kids except for Bruce and Audrey, this caused the pair to grow exceedingly anxious. Various thoughts flashed through their minds, but one thought was mutual... The Coach is gonna pay!

The buzzer went of signaling the first quarter was over. All the kids went off the court and Terry collapsed on Audrey's knees.

"Te-tell me, tell me I can get back at that bastard once this is over?" Terry forced the words out panting. Conner, scowling, walked in front of them and dumped a towel on Terry's head then turned to give Audrey a pointed look while wiping himself down with another towel.

Audrey sighed, "Yeah, but don't curse like that, there are old people everywhere". For the first time since the game started, Audrey let his eyes wander around the hall, a bitter smile forming on his face.

"Audrey!"

A familiar little girl's voice rang through his ears snapping him back to reality. He turned back to see Eve running over to him in her shiny black cheerleader outfit holding yellow pom-poms, her blonde hair was pulled up in a tight ponytail held by a black ribbon with little loose strands framing the edges of her face. Her blue eyes looked at the boys with concern.

"What's happening on the court? I know you guys play better than that, and why aren't you two ever on the field?" She asked softly noticing the boys vexed expressions. She walked closer to Audrey but stopped in front of Terry who was draped on Audrey's laps with the towel still on his head. She scrunched up her nose at the smell of sweat oozing from him but still crouched down to help him wipe of some of it with the towel.

She stole glances at Audrey who just watched her hands work on Terry quietly. Her gaze travelled to the other boys, she noticed Conner's deadly gaze on the Coach who was talking to some of the staff, then turned her attention back to Terry who seemed to be drifting off to sleep with his head on Audrey's laps. Once she was done, she folded the towel and set it on the bench beside Audrey and ran back to her cheer squad frowning.

Families came to check on their kids, even Terry's father had come to him pry off Audrey with a little difficulty as Terry had entangled himself around Audrey's legs. Conner's mother and younger sister had come to give Conner a pep talk and Bruce's grandmother came with her reassuring words to comfort him. Eve was forced in to doing cheerleader poses for big sister's camera by the Court. Everyone else had someone by their side encouraging them except Audrey, who still sat on the bench with his gaze to the ground.

Time had passed and people began to return to their seats, it was merely three minutes to the start of the next period when the Hall doors swung open with a bang drawing everyone's attention, including Audrey's... his eyes went wide.

Donna, Willow and Jill stormed into the hall wearing matching black Basketball Shirts with numbers "5" written on it, tucked into short yellow leather skirts with knee high black leather boots. Donna's hair was lightly curled and cascading down her shoulders as she stood jutting out her hip and scanning the room for a certain someone. Her expression was blank until she zeroed in on his shocked but somewhat sad face, she glanced up at the score board and furrowed her brows.

Black Lions 0 - 4 Red Eagles

A group of teacher's swarmed over to them with security. Jill glared at them with malice in her smokey-eyed eyes causing them to stop in their tracks. Donna's face held a hard frown as she stared coldly into a short chubby Middle aged woman's, Mrs. Margaret's eyes standing amongst the staff. "Lady, can you explain why those two boys haven't participated in the game at all? and for your sake, I hope I like your explanation" She said in a sickeningly sweet tone, her frown replaced with a sarcastic smile. Willow stood behind Donna wordlessly with a blank but threatening expression on her own face.

"What are you talking about?" Mrs. Margaret retorted, her brows furrowing in confusion as she stared up at Donna who stood two heads taller than her standing in her heels.

Donna's sarcastic smile deepened as Jill took out her phone and played a video. The video was of the game that had just taken place seemingly to have been recorded by someone sitting behind the Black Lions bench.

Mrs. Margaret frown and took the phone from Jill, watching intently with sheer surprise. Donna groaned in annoyance and snatched the phone from her hastily.

"It's a fucking hour long video! Point there is, those two have been benched for more than half of the game, And... I ... WANT AN EXPLANATION!" Donna yelled causing the whole room to fall silent, even the Black Lions Coach finally caught on.

Her smile drain to one of pure rage, "Are you dea-" she said as she moved to lung at the woman, thankfully, Jill blocked her with her arms spread out, though glaring at them with just as much rage.

Hurried steps echoed through the hall and two men, one unusually thin and elderly and the other vibrant and around his mid 30s, rushed to the scene.

"Thank you... please forgive my niece's outburst, however what she says is true, I'm here to see my nephew participate in this game like every other patron, do ensure that happens... Girls, let's get our seats" Alex said in a rush as he held Donna's hand firmly in his larger one. He squeezed her hand a little till she dropped her murderous expression and released a dejected sigh.

The Principal appeared before them and gave Donna a reassuring handshake, which helped to calm her down a little more, then thanked Alex for his quick intervention.

"Uhm, is that Alex Schneider?"

"What, like The Doctor Alex Schneider?!"

"Oh my God it is Alex Schneider!"

"He's basically like a celebrity Doctor, oh my God"

"OMG I just checked Insta and it's totally him!"

"Isn't he supposed to be around 30? He's so hot!"

"Oh my God, I need to get his number! He could treat my Nonna!"

"Excuse me, Doctor"

"Doctor!"

"Doctor!!!"

"Doctor Alex Schneider! I'm your biggest fan, I'm studying to be just like you sir"

"Doctor I just bought your latest issue on Anatomy!"

Within seconds, Alex was swarmed, the hall quickly turned to a mess of people trying to get a closer glimpse of the famous Doctor Alex Schneider.

Audrey merely stood by the bench watching chaos unfold with wide eyes... at least until bodies wearing a number "5" basketball shirt blocked his view.

"Missed me?" Donna said with a grin as she lowered herself to meet him. Without uttering a word, he moved and trapped her in a tight hug and stayed that way till all his worries melted away.... or till the school managed to get the hall back in order.

--------------

"I'm open!" Bruce yelled as he ran across the court with his eyes on Terry. Terry, smirking at his opponent dribbled the ball beneath his opponent and made a pass to Bruce who immediately caught it and made an air pass to Audrey who caught in time. The opponents rushed towards him but he leaped just as the ball touched his hand and made a slam dunk.

The score board chimed.

Black Lions 3 - 4 Red Eagles

"Go Lions, make us win, You've got this!" the cheer squad cheered loudly.

"You've got this Audrey!" Eve yelled from spot waving her pompoms in the air excitedly.

"Eve you're not supposed to say that" another cheerleader whispered beside her, covering her mouth with her pompom.

"Wait really?" Eve asked in a whisper, her eyes wide in shock.

"Hey! he's not the only one here yunno!" Conner yelled back to her from the bench with an appalled look.

"Get your butt back in the game!" she yelled sassily in response.

Conner stuck out his tongue at her and she did the same.

The score board chimed again returning their attention to it.

Black Lions 4: 4 Red Eagles

"Go Lions, make us win, you've got this! let's win! yeah!" the cheer squad yelled performing with their pom-poms.

Audrey had a big smile on his face as he looked up at Eve on the cheerleaders bench rolling her pompoms in front of her chest, her cheeks burned once she noticed him staring with his charming grin.

"Go Lions, make us win, you've got this! let's win! yeah!"

Audrey got into position and glanced over at Donna where she sat guarded by the others smiling down at him with pride, she winked at him and he grinned in response and turned back to face the game.

"Boys!" he called out excitedly from their part of the court as they waited for the referee.

"Yes?!" Conner, Bruce, Terry and Parker responded.

"They're gonna come at us with full force, likely for an intentional foul, so...Show no mercy!" he said grinning crazily.

Terry and Conner grinned evilly at the other team earning them awkward stares by their opponents. Bruce and Parker chuckled excitedly and exchanged knowing looks.

"Ball!" the referee called out and tossed in the ball.

As he predicted, the Red eagles team came with full force intent on knocking the Black lions off their feet using the bodies to push them down. One of the players approached Terry who had the ball bouncing in his grasp with smirk, he moved quickly to seemingly grab the ball but push Terry as well but Terry dodged and passed the ball to Conner who caught it in the air.

Conner landed on both feet and bounced the ball from hand to hand, three players came at him together and just as they got a little closer, Conner begun to make a weird crazy sound with his mouth that freaked them out, he continued and began to approach them frantically while still in possession of the ball which made them move backwards in confusion before ditching them and passing the ball to Parker who quickly jumped over an opponent to catch the ball on the ground, running across the court bouncing it till he reached a good spot to pass to Audrey who was surrounded by all the opposing teams players in an intimidating circle, Parker made an air pass to Audrey, Audrey as well as the opposing team's players all leaped into the air, but Audrey was barely a head taller, but tall enough to reach the ball first and hit it, sending it flying to Bruce who was positioned closest to the basket with no opponent in sight.

Bruce grabbed the ball and made a slam dunk!

The score board chimed

Black Lions 5- 4 Red Eagle's

The timer stopped and buzzed to signal the end of the game.

The crowd's cheer was deafening, Patrons and Cheerleaders ran into the court to cheer the Black Lions. Conner and Terry Lifted up Audrey while Parker and Williams lifted up Bruce as they cheered loudly in celebration, Audrey and Bruce fist bumped and laughed maniacally as they were paraded my their teammates to the bench. The Coach however was no where in sight to celebrate their victory.

The boys were set down and congratulated each other with chest bumps and roars since they were called lions to begin with before dispersing to their families.

Donna appeared behind Audrey who turned and grinned excitedly. "Can you see me Doughnut, I'm smiling now!" he said ecstatically pointing at his cheeks, giggling. Donna laughed and ruffled his hair "I can definitely see it and it's perfect! Muah!" she said and begun kissing his cheeks playfully causing him to giggle uncontrollably.

"Cut it out Doughnut..." he said between laughs, she stopped and stared at his elated face, his smile was so contagious, she couldn't help grinning just as crazily as he was doing. "Come on!" he said and held her hands in his. Her grin widen as she realized what he wanted.

They both swung their arms and hips crazily to music that started to play in complete disregard for the rhythm.

Alex, Jill, Willow and Chris watched the two perform Audrey's infamous victory dance laughing at the silly pair. Chris held out his phone to record it while Jill inconspicuously passed a packaged syringe into Alex's coat pocket without taking her eyes off the pair, on his other side, Willow leaned in to whisper. "Kim found Maria in the closet of the next room. Unconscious but still has a pulse, no signs of violence, no idea what Madonna did to her"

"No survelliance footage?" Alex asked quietly, smiling at the scene in front of him.

"Partial, it showed them talking in her room, Maria left first, She followed and came back by herself, then started searching for an outfit to wear for the game. There was nothing on Maria's whereabouts after that point on any of the surveillance footage."

"How did Kim find her?"

"She entered the room to search for some materials for our next gig, her measurement tape fell and rolled towards the closet. Maria's fingers were sticking out in the cracks"

"I bet you a million bucks Maria told her to skip the game. That maid got seriously lucky this time" Jill said with her eyes still trained on Madonna and Audrey who were still doing their victory dance with giant smiles that seemed to be plastered on their faces.