Chapter Thirteen

On Friday, Alan reappeared at the Gym as he watched his friends get ready for the practice. "Welcome back, Alan." Coach Duke smiled as he glanced at Alan's way. "Here to support the team once more?" MayMay appeared at the Coaches site, almost like a ghost who chose when and where to be seen if they wanted it to be seen at all.

"We should have a scrimmage, dad." MayMay cut off Alan's reply as he realized MayMays and Coach Duke's similarities. "I want to pick the teams." MayMay didn't break Alan's eye contact as he sat down on the closet bleachers in front of the team, raising an eyebrow at MayMay.

"Oh, okay." Coach Duke muttered as he looked at MayMay in confusion. "Sure, why not." MayMay's smile grew as she glanced back at Alan and then her father.

"Can anyone join?" She grabbed her fathers hand, squeezing as hard as she could. "Like anyone in the Gym?"

Coach Duke looked confused, the team looked confused, and everyone was confused.

"MayMay," Kia said as he got closer to her. "What are you thinking, share your thoughts." Instantly, all thought of Max having a deep bond with MayMay was gone. MayMay's bond with Kia was definitely deeper, just the way they looked at each other and how Kia seemed to finish MayMay's thought process. Alan was sure, out of everyone to watch, it was Kia and Max.

"As you know," Alan turned towards the team who all stared at her like hungry hawks. "We are always unbalanced when it comes to scrimmages." The team nodded with some sad yeahs and a Si from Max as he nodded viciously. "My thought is that we just get another person to play with us. And I have the perfect person!" Her voice raised as she quickly turned around and stared at Alan with a large smile. Soon the rest of the team as well as the Coach looked at Alan who was more scared then confused. "As a caption," MayMay grinned bigger. "I pick Alan as my first teammate." Instantly chaos broke out, but not because of Alan. Shouts of the second Caption arose before Kia took the stand and called it with a monstrous tone.

"Wow, MayMay." Alan said as he stood up. "I don't play, you need to understand that." Alan didn't mean to be so mean, but it was too late. Home pushed MayMay back as he got into Alan's face.

"Relax dude," Anger filled his voice, but it was more chill as he spoke. "She was only trying to include the new kid." MayMay rolled her eyes before pushing Home backward into the rest of the staring boys.

"Just play, I saw you do it and you were great." MayMay sighed as if Alan exhausted him. "I don't know your deal with ball phobia but you can get over it on the court, now let's go!" Alan was grabbed by MayMay as she pulled him to a side as Kia went the opposite. Alan watched in a haze as they split into teams. Kia had gotten White, Cody, Home, a boy named Tj, and another named Caiden. The MayMay team had Max, Anthony, Brendon, Alan, and another boy named Jake Jr. who hid in the back of the tall boys.

"Are you ready?!" The Coach screamed as he blew the whistle. "This game is solely about teamwork, if I don't see it!" Spit flew from his mouth as his face turned a new shade of red. "Then you will not play!" Again, he blew the whistle. Instantly, the ground was filled with loud thudding as the world began to shake. Both teams rushed towards the two players each other as the winner of the jump ball gained control over the court. Alan was confused, he was beyond lost. People rushed around him as he stood motionless on the court. He was just one of those people who didn't do it if he didn't want to. He spent the whole first half standing before it was finally down to a tie and the next point would decide the winner for that night.

"Alan!" Max yelled from across the court. "Block him!" Alan was the only person on his team who was close to his own home net as he watched Kia from the other side run up the court towards Alan and the net. This was Alan's chance, he was no longer 10 and defenseless. He could start over, become a new player with a new team standing beside his back. The positivity rushed towards him as began to sprint towards Kia who had already passed. Alan knew that he couldn't stop Kia as he gained ground, his only chance was when Kia was about to throw the ball into the net.

Kia being much taller than him, meant Alan would not only have to jump high, but launch himself from the ground. Seconds passed, Kia bent his knees and jumped as he let the ball flow off his fingers. Alan launched himself off the ground right above the hoop as his finger grazed the falling ball in motion. The ball that was once second away from the hoop was now falling as Alan's fingers took control from the top. Alan hit the ground with weight and speed before launching down the court with the ball at his side, excitement, energy, and the will to play, blasted through him as he zoomed past players, tricking them at every turn. Most were taller than him, but he had soon realized he was way faster. Kia was on his heels as he passed over unto the opposite side of the court. All Alan could hear was his feet landing on the ground, the ball bouncing up and down, and his heavy breathing as he once again launched himself up with full control over the ball before slamming the ball through the hoop with inhuman speed.

"Alan Holy shi-!" Max screamed before a loud smack was heard as Anthony backhanded him. The court was silent as the ball fell out of court with a weakening bounce. All eyes were on Alan as he sucked in a breath and let it out. Alan felt like flowers were blooming in his chest as a large smile grew as his teammates' faces turned to shock to joy as they all rushed him with pats and vicious side hugs filled with excitement.

"I told you, you were good!" Alan patted him with a large smile on her face. "Why have you been hiding your talent?" Alan stopped, his world stopped. He had heard that before, just like that. Alan's stomach dropped as his smile faltered.

"Why have you been hiding that talent, boy?" The menacing voice crawled down Alan's back as a memory that he had tried to suppress fought its way back. "If I had known sooner," The cracking voice whispered from the other side of the closet. "I would have made sure you weren't able to play sooner." A heavy laugh followed Alan as he was brought back to present, only able to look down at his slightly crooked fingers from when they didn't heal correctly.

"I don't like playing." Alan said as he pushed through the boys who no longer were filled with joy.

"What do you?" MayMay followed him as he stopped at the bleacher that rested his backpack. "You were happy. I saw it, they saw it." Alan followed her gaze as she looked back at the team where we're still celebrating but we're giving Alan glances as they tried to listen in. "Why are you making playing basketball so difficult for yourself?" MayMay pushed herself in front of him as he swung his backpack over his shoulder.

"Because," Alan grunted out. "I don't like to play."

"The only person you're lying to is yourself, no one else is falling for it." MayMay snapped as she pushed Alan back by his chest as he tried to walk out of the Gym. "So stop acting like a coward and start doing something for yourself." Alan was angry, whether or not it was because she was right or because he wanted to listen. But each time as she shoved him on his chest, he lost himself a little more to memory that was supposed to be forgotten.

"Just," Alan signed in duress as he stopped walking towards the Gym door as MayMay stopped pushing him and making a scene as the whole court stood and watched. "Just leave me alone. I have to go home, it's getting late."

"You can't escape me," MayMay had become way calmer as she physically relaxed. "You live a couple houses down from me." Alan heard that as he opened the Gym door, looking back at MayMay with concern then the Coach who was watching with a slight smile with fear.

"So I will never escape you." Alan raised an eyebrow at her as a slight grin grew.

"Not even a bit." Her smile widened as her eyes sparkled with future trouble awaiting both of them with their obnoxious friendship growing every second.