Chapter 23: Results

Loxus PoV

Loxus stood at attention as he and the others gathered around the coach.

"You boys performed admirably. Sadly, there are only so many spots available. Originally, I planned to just let the two losing teams go home."

Loxus glanced at Sylvester. If the coach had stuck to that original plan, it would've eliminated him right away.

"But," the coach continued, his voice echoing through the silent gym, "after seeing your performances today, I've decided to take some time and think it over."

Loxus could feel the tension in the room rise. The coach's decision would change everything. It would influence who would be a part of the team, who would get a chance to play at the nationals.

"The first ones to join the team," the coach began, pausing for dramatic effect, "are Loxus and Blake."

Loxus smirked as he heard his name. He had made it. He was one step closer to his dream of taking this school to nationals.

He glanced at Sylvester, who was standing a few feet away. The guy looked tense as he waited for the coach to name at least three more names.

"Next up, we have Jensen," the coach continued. A tall guy with a mop of curly blond hair stepped forward, a confident grin on his face. Jensen was an all-rounder, good at both offense and defense. His quick thinking and agility had caught everyone's attention during the tryouts. Too bad Loxus hadn't gotten to play against him himself.

"Following Jensen, we have Noss," the coach called out. Noss, a dark-skinned guy with a muscular build, nodded in acknowledgment. He was a power player, his strength and endurance unparalleled. He was the kind of reliable player any team would be lucky to have.

"And last but not least, we have Travis," the coach concluded. Travis was a lean guy with a serious expression. He had a quiet demeanor like Sylvester, but his skills on the court spoke volumes. He was a sharpshooter, his accurate shots a valuable asset to the team.

As the coach finished announcing the names, Loxus could see Sylvester's shoulders slump slightly. He had not made the cut. But the coach was right, there were only so many spots available, and the competition had been fierce.

Loxus gave Sylvester a quick glance. He had shown promise during the game, and Loxus had to admit, he had enjoyed their little rivalry. He hoped that Sylvester would take this as a challenge and push himself even harder.

For now, Loxus knew he had to focus on his own performance. He had made it to the team, but the real challenge was yet to come. The upcoming matches would require him to be at his best. He was ready to give it his all, to make his dream of winning the nationals a reality.

The coach glanced at Sylvester.

"Sylvester, I'd like you to stay after," the coach said, his gaze steady on the quiet player.

Loxus raised an eyebrow. He was curious about what the coach wanted with Sylvester. The tryouts were over, the team had been selected. What could he possibly want to discuss?

Loxus and the rest of the players started to disperse, leaving the gym. But instead of heading straight home, Loxus decided to linger outside the gym door, hoping to catch snippets of the conversation.

His attempt at eavesdropping was cut short when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Startled, he turned around to find Natasha, the girl from the pet store, standing behind him.

She had a grin on her face, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Eavesdropping, are we?" she asked, her giggles echoing in the otherwise quiet hallway.

Caught off guard, Loxus could only manage a sheepish smile. "Just curious," he said, trying to shrug it off.

Natasha laughed again, her eyes scanning the empty hallway. "How's your kitten doing?" she asked, her gaze landing back on Loxus.

Loxus felt his cheeks warm up slightly at the mention of Dusk. "He's doing well," he said, trying to keep his voice casual. "He's much bigger now than when I found him."

"Good to hear," Natasha said, her smile genuine. "Take care of him, okay?"

Loxus nodded, his face still warm. He eyed the luggage bag she was carrying.

"Moving in?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Was hoping to finish yesterday but I ran into a friend who needed some help."

Loxus raised his eyebrow. He frowned as it hit him that friend she spoke of might've been that idiot, Wilt.

"Did something happen to him? This friend of yours, I mean."

"No, nothing like that," Natasha replied, her smile turning into a smirk. "He had a bit of a leg issue, so I drove him home."

Loxus raised an eyebrow. Wilt's leg? He hoped it wasn't anything serious that could affect their performance at the nationals. Despite his personal feelings towards Wilt, Loxus knew that his skills would be invaluable on the court.

"That sounds like Wilt," he muttered, more to himself than to Natasha.

Natasha laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You know him?"

"We've crossed paths," Loxus replied, trying to keep his tone neutral. He didn't want to get into a discussion about Wilt. He had more important things to think about, like preparing for the nationals. 

"Well, I better get going," Natasha said, adjusting the strap of her bag. "I've got a lot of unpacking to do."

Loxus nodded, offering her a small smile. "Good luck with that," he said. 

As Natasha walked away, Loxus turned his gaze back to the gym door. He was still curious about the coach's conversation with Sylvester. But he decided to let it go for now. He had his own challenges to focus on.

With the thought of the upcoming matches and Dusk waiting for him at home, Loxus headed back, his mind filled with training.

He froze as it hit him. Kallen required all freshman to live on campus. That meant he had to move into the dorms too, leaving the guys behind in the rundown house. Moving into the dorms meant a new environment and new people. But most importantly, it meant leaving Dusk behind. The university had a strict no pets policy in the dorms. 

He thought about the little furball that had been his steady companion since the day he found him. Dusk was more than just a pet to him. He was a part of his life, a part of his family. The thought of leaving him behind was unbearable.

He felt a wave of frustration washing over him. He had worked so hard to make it to the team, to get a step closer to his dream. But now it seemed like the dream was pulling him away from the ones he cared about.

Loxus clenched his fists at his sides. He needed to find a way to keep Dusk with him. He couldn't just abandon him.

As he walked back to the house, he tried to come up with a solution. Maybe he could find a way to sneak Dusk into the dorms.

He knew that it wouldn't be easy. But he didn't have a choice. He had to do what was best for Dusk, even if it meant taking risks. The furball needed him. And... he needed the furball.