Game 2.0

The first and second quarters were like that, me and the rest of the team assisted Ralph, he was the top scorer on our team but the score was still close 74 to 70.

" Alright we are ahead but we shouldn't relax " the coach said .

" Go back there and win " he commanded as the ref blew the whistle. He clearly didn't have much to say like always. He had his hopes up. He hadn't called me out which meant I'd played to his expectations. Once in a while I glanced over to Jenny, she showed me a middle finger which according to her means ' Your fucking it '

I was fucking it. I was good. I smiled most of the times.

The game resumed, Zack passed the ball to me and I passed it to Ralph and he dribbled to the opponent's hoop, he jumped for it, he was in midair when shirt 21 tacked him, he must have landed on his right leg all the pressure it took he wouldn't be ok. If he'd made that dank he would've been the talk of the whole school, the greatest slam dank in the school history but he failed.

He folded himself like a kid while hugging his right leg screaming in pain, he looked cool doing that too, imagine Lebron curled on the floor screaming, the referee blew the whistle for a fowl to the opponent team. We all rushed to where Ralph was. I used less energy though.

I looked at his beloved leg, it looked physically okay. But he kept screaming. he was hugging it looked okay to me. Drama queen. I remember thinking. But then he would have stopped whining after the first two minutes but he didn't stop, so yeah he pretty much broke his ankle or whatever, the students medics team rushed to him and they carried him on a stretcher.

We were given only two minutes to sort out who would play Ralph's position .

We went to the side where coach was and the cheerleaders plus the substitutes .

I looked at Jenny and she smiled. I wanted to flash my middle finger at her.

Tess looked very worried, she didn't even notice me. She soon rushed to the sickbay.

Jenny waved her hand to get my attention.

" Hey Mike " coach said. I immediately turned to him. They seemed to have been discussing something, which I hadn't paid attention to.

" You are playing Ralph's position." he looked at me then turned to a Noah the tallest guy in the team he was sitting there without any worry " . . .and Yoga play Troy's position. " he said in a commanding voice.

Noah looked panicked, he was sure he wasn't going to play but there was turn of events. I got creeps for playing Ralph's position.

The whistle blew and the third quarter resumed. It was a tough one, everyone now seemed to notice me at the court, that position is always hard to mark, the opponents always left me free, random passes from all my teammates, if I'd known this was what Ralph was dealing with I would have stayed benched, I'm pretty much used to disappointing people, it's my thing and at that game it all changed, I focused on the ball and hoop and funny thing is it always went through whenever I shot, my inner Michael Jordan was out now, he didn't let my guard down. I became the star of the team now that Ralph was out of the picture. It was an uncomfortable feeling. And it felt good in a bad way. I always focused on shooting ever since I started playing, all that training didn't let me down.

The best player or players in their last year or even below are taken by the NBA to New York. It depends on how you play anyway. Our principal had his connection that's why he took that basketball team a little too extreme, he even has a cheerleaders team, the guy was a sucker for that game. I didn't have the feeling of ever going but at that moment a sense of willingness grew in my veins, I wanted to go. I could go.

The game ended at a score of 123 to 111, we had won. That feeling of victory and conquest feels really good, I hadn't felt that good in years.

The whole court blew up in loud roars and I knew that wouldn't go well with me. After the last whistle. I barely got out there, the court was flooded with a bunch of kids .

Kids from our school and even Vixen ran to the court shouting in joy and excitement and they all seemed as if they had been triggered. The loud voices were starting to get to me. I covered my ears and penetrated through the crowds. Some of the guys like Zack had already removed there shirts roaring in joy.

I struggled up to the locker room and by the time I got there I felt Iike exploding.

We found Brad sitting there .

" How did you get here before us ? " I asked him in confusion.

" I'm used to this kind of things " he said removing his nike sneakers I noticed they were new.

" As soon as the game ends just ran to the locker room or else they will rip you apart " he added with a grin.

He was right I almost got ripped apart.

The rest of the team and coach arrived excitement could show on there faces .

" Well done guys " coach said but he couldn't hold his joy and excitement he kept on smiling.

This was not his character he never smiled much but that day he couldn't stop showing us his white teeth.

He looked better though.

" We are gonna celebrate " he said still very happy.This mood suited him better no debating there.

" Sundown Palace at 7:00p.m my treat " he said then turned . " Oh you can even bring your friends or girlfriends or whatever " he threw his hands then exited the locker room .

I counted from ten downwards my eyes closed.

It helped a little.

" So have you guys. . . how is Ralph doing " Zack said looking at all of us.

" He's in the sickbay he has a torn something something, a twisted ankle " Brad said.

Brad was also Ralph's best friend at least that is what I think, they were always together. Or Brad was Ralph's brand they were always together than not.

Brad was a complete suck up though, whatever Ralph did he did, whatever he didn't, Brad also didn't. He was much less of a jerk though, he was easy to talk to and he didn't go around throwing his attitude like Ralph.

" What ! How will we win this league ? He won't be able to play for some time. " Zack said in a worried tone .

" Don't worry we got this " Sydney said patting my shoulder.

" Yeah Troy played really great ball today " Brad said looking at me. " Thanks " I said.

Despite Ralph being a jerk Brad was the opposite, a typical nice guy.

" So you guys are coming to the party right " Gideon said . He was the greatest fan of the team but didn't participate enough although he was a also member. As if he just filled a place in the team. He was also kind of chubby. But don't underestimate him he played really good ball he just gets tired quickly.

" Yeah can't miss it "

" Of course "

" Totally " everyone agreed except me. I just stayed silent. I had other things boiling up in me.

" Troy what about you " Zack asked me, he was the party animal he wouldn't miss any party, sometimes he would even through parties, that only meant he was a ladies kind of guy, he never had a real girl you'd call his girlfriend he had a lot like a whole lot, he was also rich for that fact. It explained his lifestyle.

" Not sure if I will make it " I said scratching my head.

" C'mon you were the top scorer " Gideon said raising from the bench .

" Yeah " everyone else supported him .

" Ok I will be there " I said as they wouldn't let me be. And I needed peace. Inner peace.

I couldn't argue with fifteen guys.

" Don't let us down " Sydney said standing up to go.

I nodded.

****to be continued....