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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: October 8th, 2025)~~~
~~~(Time: 4:00 PM)~~~
~~~(Location: Holden Basketball Court)~~~
It's the fourth quarter, and there are 3 minutes left. After halftime, I decided to take the game over. Coach Rodgers didn't like how close the game was. It was 28-22, and I kept letting my teammates try and score and make plays.
They're still getting used to it. The score is now 79-37. I have 44 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 7 blocks, and 4 steals. I've shot 100 percent from the field. I've made 8/8 from three, 8/8 from 2, and 4/4 from the line. I've only taken 16 shots the entire game, and they were spread out between the third quarter and this quarter.
Edwin is defeated. They look absolutely destroyed. I'm not going to score the rest of the game. There's no point, and that's just blowing up my stats. When you're as efficient as I am, there is no reason to take so many shots. "Timeout!" Coach Rodgers calls for a time-out, and I know it's so I can sit out the rest of the game.
We agreed that this year he'd be benching me during garbage time so he can give the younger players some time to play. I have no problem with that. I've got my stats and the win—no reason to continue playing.
~~~(POV: ESPN Reporter)~~~
~~~(Date: October 8th, 2025)~~~
~~~(Time: 4:01 PM)~~~
~~~(Location: Holden Basketball Court, sidelines)~~~
I've never seen anything like this. I know that he's had a history of going for perfect games in the past, but he made it look so much easier than it is. "Unbelievable..." He walks over to the bench and takes a seat. He starts drinking some water, and his replacement goes out.
Everyone person who knows basketball know's what he's doing right now. I can't help letting the word slip out. In all my years of reporting basketball, there has never been a player like this. I don't know if he'll be open for an interview after the game, but I'm going to try.
I watch as a cheerleader from Holden walks up behind the player bench and leans in behind Ulysses. She starts whispering things into his ear, but I watch him turn, and he takes a serious but also gentle look. I watch his lips move, and it looks like he's saying he has a girlfriend.
I remember high school. I couldn't get a girl to look at me, let alone talk to me. Now I have a family of my own. A wife that loves me. I watch as the young hormones wash over the cheerleader. I watch as she slowly says I know. She's the type that doesn't care.
~~~(POV: Hannah Fiona)~~~
~~~(Date: October 8th, 2025)~~~
~~~(Time: 4:01 PM)~~~
~~~(Location: Holden Basketball Court, Bleachers)~~~
I watch in hate and anger as the blond, busty cheerleader talks to my boyfriend. I watch in pride as Ulysses informs her that he has a girlfriend. She, on the other hand, says something that pushes me over the edge. She says she knows.
I immediately stand up and start making my way down the bleachers. Ellie tries to stop me, but it's no use. I have my target locked. I make it courtside, and I walk up to them. "Get away from him." I waste no time, and I watch the blonde cheerleader turn towards me. She looks me up and down and scoffs.
It takes all my willpower not to punch her in the face. "You're not working with much, little thing." She attempts to make me feel self-conscious about my figure, but that won't work. I may not be as busty as her, but I'm curvy in all the right places.
I walk up to her, and we are inches away from each other. She has the same confident look on her face. "You know, I don't mind sharing him if you don't. I'm sure there is more there than either of us can handle." I can't stop myself from slapping her across the face.
The next thing I know is an elbow colliding with my nose and a loud crack coming from it. I don't know what happened. The only thing I see was the red of her cheerleading uniform's sleeve. I'm also looking up at the ceiling.
I see Ulysses looking down at me and making sure I'm alright. "Hey! You there?" I slowly nod my head and lift my body. I look, and I see teachers talking to the cheerleader, and the game has been stopped. "Just take it easy. You got hit pretty hard. She elbowed you in the nose. It was so fast you didn't see it coming..." As I listen to Ulysses. I realize what just happened. I lost. I lost in front of my boyfriend. I feel tears coming.