The vipers new recruit.

Tyze still intended on seeing his mum and Maya, but he decided not to he didn't want to stain them with the heavy problems he was facing at the moment especially this new found one with joe.

It had almost been 48 hours since Joe's demand. Tyze was ready dressed and had already left his room to meet Joe, just like they discussed. It was 8:09 PM on a cool evening, the perfect setting for a relaxing night out. Tyze, wearing a casual T-shirt and a faded face cap, arrived at the alley in search of Joe, who was already there, standing against the wall in the shadows, chewing gum with a relaxed smile on his face.

As Tyze approached, his eyes scanned the environment in a coded manner. He could see that it could be a trap or something else - for all he knew, he couldn't trust that guy. Tyze thought this just when his thinking got interrupted by a hiss. With how close the hissing was, Tyze could quickly locate it; he immediately turned to his left, where he saw Joe signaling him to come closer, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"You're ten minutes late," Joe said, his voice low and even, the sound of chewing gum accompanying his words. Tyze felt a surge of anger and a little helplessness, but he didn't want to show it. He tried to compose himself, his mind racing with thoughts of the situation. Joe's demeanor didn't give him a chance to respond.

As Tyze kept silent, Joe said, "I thought you weren't going to show up," his tone laced with a hint of menace, his smile still plastered on his face. Tyze swallowed hard, trying to sound confident. "What am I here for? Let's get on with it," he said.

Joe's expression softened slightly, his smile growing wider. "Yeah, I knew we were going to have some issues with the outfit," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He popped his gum, the sound echoing through the alley. "So, I got you something."

Joe held out a sleek, black jersey with the logo of his team, VIPERS, emblazoned on the chest. "This is the jersey you'll be wearing for the main games and for practice," he said, his eyes glinting with a mixture of excitement and intensity. "There are some more copies at home, but this will do for now."

Tyze's eyes narrowed as he took the jersey, a mix of anger and helplessness simmering beneath the surface. He didn't want to be here; he didn't want to be forced into playing for Joe's team. But at the same time, a part of him looked forward to the thrill of competition, the rush of adrenaline that came with playing the game he loved. However, he couldn't let Joe see that. He couldn't let on that he was even remotely interested in playing, not yet. He had to keep up the facade, had to make Joe think he was only doing this against his will. For Sophia's sake, he had to be careful not to raise any suspicions.

"So, do you like the jersey?" Joe asked.

Tyze's face remained neutral, his expression a mask of reluctance. "What a stupid name," Tyze said, holding up the shirt and looking at the logo on it.

Joe's eyes gleamed with amusement; his smile still plastered on his face. He chewed his gum thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving Tyze's face. "I'll take that as a yes," he said, his smile growing wider.

Tyze's comment about the team name caught Joe off guard, but he quickly recovered, his smile never wavering. "Hey, the Vipers are a legendary team," Joe said, his voice laced with pride. "We've won countless championships, and our fans are some of the most dedicated in the league."

Tyze raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Yeah, right," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that you're the one running the team."

Joe chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Hey, I may be the captain, but I'm not the only one who makes this team great," he said. "We've got some of the best players in the league, and I'm confident that you'll fit right in."

Tyze snorted, his expression unimpressed. "I doubt it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Joe's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Well, we'll see about that," he said, his voice low and even. "You're going to have to prove yourself, just like everyone else. But I think you'll find that we're a pretty tight-knit team; we look out for each other."

Tyze raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Save it," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm not buying what you're selling."

Joe's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing in the dim light. "We'll see about that," he repeated, his voice low and even. "Now, let's get down to business. We've got a game to prepare for, and I need to know that you're on board."

Tyze felt a surge of anger, but he bit back his words, knowing he had to play the game if he wanted to get out of this situation. He nodded curtly, his expression neutral. "I'm in," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Joe's smile returned, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "That's what I like to hear," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Now, let's get to work."

Joe's smile never wavered. "I'm confident you'll fit in well with the team," he said, his voice firm.

Tyze scoffed, his expression incredulous. "I doubt that," he said, his voice laced with disdain.

Joe's eyes narrowed slightly, but his tone remained even. "We'll see about that," he said. "You'll be surprised at how well you'll mesh with the others."

Tyze raised an eyebrow, his skepticism evident. "I'm only doing this because I have to," he said, his voice cold. "Once we're done with this deal, that's it. I'm out."

Joe's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "We'll discuss the terms of our agreement later," he said, his voice firm. "For now, let's focus on the game. We have a lot to cover before the big match."