The most elaborate game

The game was a thing of art. Never before had Oggend seen such a one sided match. The Likens played like wild warriors, their movements unpredictable, but always connecting with each other. It was as if they could read each other's minds. Camilia watched in awe as one point became ten, ten becoming 30. Camilia kept her awe off her face, turning her reactions into encouragement. She would have a towel and water bottle ready for the teammate who would be switched out next. They would come out, tired and discouraged.

Winters called a timeout. Kyle sat down next to her, resting for a precious few minutes, "They're like no one I've ever seen. Where have they been?" He looked at the opposite team, drinking a few gulps of water.

Camilia shook her head, "I don't know."

Kyle sighed, "I don't see this one ending well for us."

Camilia smacked him on the back of the head, "Don't write yourselves off yet, they can't keep this for long. We'll wait to see who has the most endurance." She said this, but as she looked at Neil's aware stance, she could tell he wasn't tiring. The players around him had bright eyes, still laughing and talking as they had when warming up. They looked at their coach who had a stern look on his face, some smiles became sheepish as they looked away.

The ref gestured for the teams to wrap it up and Kyle stood up, clapping to get the team's attention, "We got this. Hawks on three." Everyone joined the circle.

"Hawks!" They yelled, Camilia adding her voice to the strong harmony. The boys smiled, energy willing their movements once again. Camilia gave the five boys going out high fives, sitting down and jiggling her leg again. She wished she could go out there and play, but Oggend wouldn't let her and they had no girls team. She sighed, manager was the closest she could get to the court, yelling on the sidelines the most she could do.

The game started again, Kyle passed the ball in, Neil ran to swat it but missed. Camilia smiled, they could still turn this around. Her team ran around the court, their movements purposeful and hopeful. The youngest boy on their team, a freshman named Brett squeezed his way into the key, receiving the ball and shooting it into the basket. Camilia cheered, laughing, her team could do this. They would show Liken their skill.

The game then entered its second half, this one was close, the teams trading point for point. Camilia narrowed her eyes as she watched the Likens, they moved more deliberately, but they weren't tired. Their passes were planned out, their faces not changing when the ball was swatted from them.

"Are they pitying us?" Camilia asked Winters, as Neil lost the ball to Brett. She watched Neil, seeing his eyes flit to her, he grinned at her, the carefree expression disappearing as he ran to the other side of the court, his movements almost too tired. She frowned harder, they were too proud, such a lazy attitude could make them lose in seconds. She looked at the scoreboard, 55 to 43, Liken leading.

Winters nodded, "They've been dialing it back in degrees since the first time out." He turned to her, "Watch our team."

Camilia nodded, her eyes tracking her team. She watched as Kyle made a layup, followed by Neil making a two pointer. Then Brett made a three pointer, followed by the redhead making a layup. The Likens gave her team room, but never truly backed off, mirroring Oggend's moves. She could tell her team already knew this was a pity match. She narrowed her eyes, forming a complaint for Neil later, then she stopped. Seeing her team's expressions. They had tamed them so they looked tired, determined. They never looked so determined, Camilia looked closer, starting to smile as she saw through their facade. Kyle's eyes were light as he played, he knew this wasn't a true game. If the other team tried he wouldn't be able to land a single point. So he played without worry, just enjoying the feeling of the ball in his hands. The only ones who didn't know of Liken's goodwill was the student section. They cheered and booed to every point, every action.

"Sorry for that." Neil chuckled as he fouled Brett.

Brett found himself chuckling as well, "It's fine, I was wanting some practice." The two laughed as the student section screamed in anger.

Camilia covered her ears, her cheeks on fire, these students were the worst, they were cursing the ones giving their team a good game. She blushed harder as she realized she would have been among the ones booing if Winter hadn't alerted her to her team's sentiment. She looked up, meeting the eyes of the redhead who smiled at her, waving his hand to show they didn't mind those screaming. Camilia smiled back, wondering if she had brought enough treats for both teams. She promised herself that she would apologize to the team for her harsh thoughts.

Brett made his shots, high-fiving his teammates, the other team hid their clapping and cheering.

"This is the most elaborate fake game I've ever seen." Winter said, with a laugh, "I wish we had played them last year, that would've been the perfect motivation."

Camilia laughed, hiding her expression, if the teams were faking their game she would as well. She watched them, hiding her laughs and smiles for when her team scored or stole the ball.

Winters gestured to Josh, one of the benched boys, "You'll substitute in for Ricky." Josh nodded, licking his lips.

Camilia smiled at him, "Don't worry, just have fun." He nodded, giving her a small smile. He ran into the court, high-fiving his blond teammate with curly hair. Ricky jogged out, sitting next to Camilia as she gave him his towel.

He smiled, "I've never made that many baskets in a game." Camilia smiled, looking at his scores, he had gotten 12 points this game. Kyle was behind him at 8, so it seemed he was passing to let everyone get their baskets.

Camilia looked up, seeing this was the last minute of the game. In most games, this minute would stretch out to fill almost 10, but in this one Camilia could see the boys saying their goodbyes. The score was tied and Camilia wondered who would take another point. Neil was guarding Kyle, but Camilia saw the two smile at each other, conspiracy in their eyes. Josh passed to Kyle, the pass a fraction off. Neil swatted the ball away, sprinting down the court. He looked at the basket, growing nearer. Then he jumped, flying through the air. Camilia couldn't stop herself from clapping as Neil slammed the ball in as the timer blared the end of the game.

Camilia clapped as the band started to play, their team had lost, but as Camilia saw her team laugh and high five the Likens she smiled. It didn't seem like they had lost anything.

Camilia and Winters got up to join the line. Camilia smiled as she congratulated the team, seeing how none of them were out of breath, each had bright eyes and fanged smiles.

Camilia high fived Neil's hand, he smiled, "Do you have your answer?" He asked, grinning at her.

Camilia smiled, "Yeah, I think I do." Neil smiled wider, excitement entering his eyes. Camilia hid a laugh, picturing a puppy wagging his tail.

She kept this smile as she went through the rest of the line. The coach gave her a high five, smiling at her.

Then Camilia was through the line, she walked to stand next to Kyle and Brett, they were breathing hard still, their energy contagious as it filled the air.

"Camilia, you would have loved that game." Brett gushed, shifting from foot to foot. He glanced at the Liken team, still in a huddle with their coach, "I wonder if we could practice with them."

Camilia nodded, "I'll ask Winters, I think that would be good for us." She saw the Likens start to wander, Neil and the red-head heading their direction. Camilia snapped, remembering her treat. She had made peanut butter cookies, enough for both teams. She grabbed her box and placed them on the table, gesturing to her team that they could eat them now. Then she headed back to where Brett and Kyle stood talking with Neil and his friend.

Camilia came into the circle between Kyle and the red-head, her face reddening as Neil smiled at her, "I think you have something to tell me." He chuckled as he saw her face, waiting for her answer.