1 prologue

**Noah's POV**

Man, I'm so tired! My left calf hurts so much... Can I even finish this? I feel like a zombie. My throat is so dry...

Noah... Noah... NOAH!!!

HOLY SHIT, LUCAS!? Damn!!! Why did you scream in my ear? What the hell!

I say as I lift my head and look at him while cleaning my ear with my finger. He's a bit shorter than me, probably around 5'11" tall, with a body that looks slim when dressed, but I know he has a lot of muscle hidden there, with sweat-drenched red hair, brown eyes, and a pointed chin. I think women would say he's quite handsome.

It's because I've been calling you, and you weren't responding! Here, drink some water. The break is only 15 minutes, so you'd better focus. If our main center is daydreaming, we're going to lose the game... Are you okay?

Thanks.

I feel the cool water running down my throat.

I'm fine, I was just thinking about the other team's strategy. Now shut up, it looks like the coach is about to recite another laughable poem. I say, laughing as I try to divert my friend's attention, and I see the coach moving to the front of the team, holding his motivational poetry book.

"My dear team, we've gone through many challenges to get here. Now we're in the third quarter of the high school state finals, so I'm going to recite the speech I made at the beginning of this championship, the one that motivated us to get this far. Ahem, ahem...

'If you're going to try,

go all the way.

Otherwise, don't even start!

This could mean losing girlfriends,

wives, family, work... and maybe your mind.

It could mean not eating for days,

It could mean freezing in a park,

It could mean jail,

It could mean...'"

I didn't even bother to pay attention to this garbage of a poem. My left calf was hurting again, so I grabbed an ice pack to press against my tight muscle.

NOAH!!

Damn it, can you stop yelling in my ear, damn it.

- The break's over, let's get to the court, quick. Said Lucas, almost already on the court.

I was shocked that time had passed so quickly, so I quickly dropped my ice pack and headed to the court with the rest of the team.

Beee, and the third quarter begins.