Chapter 57

I woke up the next morning with a shoe being thrown at me. I sat up in the chair and looked at Sara.

"Oww what the hell?" I said looking at Sara who was giving me a face.

"Get your ass up." She said. Her parents weren't here hence the word ass.

"What why?" I said laying back in the chair.

"Because you've already missed one class. If you miss two more you're not going to be able to play tonight. So get your ass up and get dressed." She said throwing her left arm around gesturing for me to get up.

"I'm not going anywhere." I said as I got up and sat on the bed next to her.

"Yes you are. You're going to school. And you're not arguing about it. You can't miss the game. So get up and get to school." She said lying there, perfectly still. I knew that there was no way I could argue with her when she's like this. She's so stubborn.

"Okay fine. I'll go. But you better text me." I said getting up off the bed.

"I will I promise." She smiled back at me. I leaned down to give her a kiss.

"And Avery," She called after as I started to leave

"Yeah?" I asked turning around.

"Play the way I know you can." She said smiling. I just nodded and walked out the door. I pulled up my hood and walked through the halls. I told her id play my best, but I don't know if I can do that right now. I don't want to leave her. I don't want to go to school. I want to stay in that chair next to her bed all day. Until we both go home. But I did what she told me, because she'd never forgive me or herself if I didn't go.

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As soon as I got to school I regretted it. I had only gone home to get my basketball clothes and to put some jeans on, since I had been in leggings all night. I still had my hoodie on and I had my hood on. I didn't want to talk to anyone but as soon as I walked into the classroom everyone just stared at me.

"Well it's nice of you to join us Ms. Atkinson." My teacher said. She must not have heard about what happened because she said it really sarcastically.

"I have a game." Was all I said as I sat down. I put my head down on my desk and didn't talk to anyone, but I could feel them all looking at me. I hated being that person who's dad died or who's girlfriend was in an accident, but this wasn't about me, and I shouldn't make it about me. I sat through three classes without talking to anyone. When I got to fifth period Ollie sat right in front of me. He didn't say anything he just looked at me.

"She's going to be fine." I said with my head on my desk and my hood on.

"Are you okay?" He asked in a low voice.

"I just got scared." I mumbled into the desk.

"Thats okay." He said as he put is hand on my head.

"You ready for the game tonight?" He asked with his hand still on my head.

"Thats the only reason I'm not with Sara is because of the game. She made me come." The more I thought about it the more I didn't want to play.

"You'll be okay. I promise, and Sara is going to be absolutely fine." Ollie said. I just kept my head on the desk and waited for class to be over.

Sara had been texting me all day. The military doctor had stopped by once to check her and the nurses had been in and out to change bandages and check her collar bone. Her parents had been with her all day and I could tell she was getting annoyed by how much they were smothering her. They asked every ten seconds if something was okay or if she needed something and what not. It's just because they care so much. I probably would be doing the same thing if I was there.

When I finally got to the locker room to change the whole team plus jv and freshman just looked at me. The only reason the stopped looking at me was because Kris walked in a little while later and she gave them something else to whisper about. Kris walked right over to me and sat on the bench and started to take off her shoes.

"Are you okay to play?" I asked concerned. She didn't look up at me, just kept undoing her shoes.

"Yeah I got cleared because I don't have a concussion just a little cut. No big deal." She said. After we changed we all loaded up on the bus. We were going to play at West Oaks. We had to play at a neutral location so neither team would have a home court advantage. I hated west oaks though, but I guess it doesn't matter. Kris and I sat in the back of the bus. Neither one of us said much. We just sat and rode to the game. Sara was still texting me.

Babe I can't believe you're not going to be here. I text

Its okay. I'm going to have Ollie face time me during the game so I can see you guys kick ass.

How you feeling? I asked as I leaned my head against the window and instantly regretted it because Braddock hit a bump and I banged my head against the window.

I'm okay. Should be home by tomorrow. They just want to run a couple more tests to make sure I'm okay.

Okay good. I love you

I love you too. I'm getting kind of sleepy though so I'll text you before the game. She said

Okay goodnight babe

When we got to West Oaks Kris and I just put our headphones on and kept our heads down. The gym was already packed with people. The jv and freshman teams were here with us for support, but honestly I think we could have just left them. I looked into the stands and saw Ollie at the top with Jake and some of his guy friends. My mom and Lucas were already there in the top left corner where they always sat. Even though the gym was crowded and loud I drowned them out with my headphones and kept walking though the gym to the locker room. I had almost made it out of the gym with no problems but I just had to look up at the end. When I did I saw Mack in the bottom corner of the bleachers with some of her basketball friends. I just rolled my eyes and put my hood on. If I saw her I know for sure Kris did. But I don't need to worry about her right now.

Inside the locker room we all put on our shooting shirts over our jerseys so we would match while warming up. We were wearing our black and maroon jerseys because we were away and Clarkwood was home. We waited in the locker room for what felt like a lifetime for Braddock to come talk to us. He came in 5 minutes before we were supposed to go onto the court to warm up. All he said was

"We talked about everything yesterday. I know that some of you might not be in the right mind set but leave it all here. Don't take it on the court. Get on that court and play." As he said this he looked at me and gave me a somewhat sympathetic look. The same one people had been giving me all day. It annoyed me. I adjusted my headband and stood up so that we could go warm up.

When I stepped on the court top play after warming something wasn't right. When I step on the court everything is supposed to go quiet. I usually don't even know that there are people around me accept the ones on the court. But this wasn't right. I could hear all the shouting I could hear the other teams bench stomping their feet. I couldn't zone out I couldn't get into the game. I walked over to my position and got ready for Kristina to do the jump ball. Ana was on the other side of the court, filling in for Sara. None of this was right. It didn't feel right. Jump ball.

Clarkwood got the ball. The girl that was facing off against Kristina was almost 4 inches taller than her and her vertical was insane. I ran back to get on defense. I was guarding their point number 12. I tried to focus on her stomach. If I looked at her feet she could trick me. If I looked at her eyes she could trick me. I tried to focus on the numbers on her jersey and read what she was going to do. I wasn't playing close enough defense on her and she pulled up for a 3 pointer that went off the backboard and straight into the basket. Shit. My fault.

Ana took the ball out and passed it in to me. Clarkwood was running a half court press. They were going to try and feel us out first, see what our reaction time was and our offense how decent it was without wearing themselves out with a full court press. I took the ball down and waited to cross half court. I looked down the court to see if anyones open and I see Kris behind the press I pick up my dribble and throw it straight over my head hard. Before I know it though I see a hand come up in the middle of the balls path and their shooting guard 25 hauls it toward the other basket.

"Shit!" I yelled as I ran as fast as I could to catch her. I didn't have enough time to get in front of her so I tried to hit the ball out of her hands but I missed and ended up hitting her arm with a loud slap. She missed the basket but the next thing I hear is the whistle blow and the ref says

"Foul number 4. Two shots." I wanted to scream. Everything was too loud, Sara wasn't here and I couldn't get out of my fucking head.

The second quarter was just as bad as the first. I wasn't fast enough, my shot was off and fucking number 12 kept getting past me. We were back on offense and number 12 was playing me hard. She was getting too close and would start pushing on me even when I didn't have the ball. I dribbled to the right towards Kris and passed to her. I went down and looped around Kara and out to the three. 12 was right behind me and too close. I caught the ball at the three point line and drove in fast and hard. I felt my elbow barely push against her stomach and the next thing I know she's on the ground and the whistle blows again.

"Offensive foul number four." The ref said again. I wanted to scream.

"What the hell." I screamed. Kris pushed my shoulders back and over to the free throw line.

"Avery calm down." She said trying to calm me down because the ref was looking like he was ready to give me a tech.

"That was a shit call, I didn't even hit her." I yelled. Kris just gave me a look and said

"Get to the free-throw position now." The look in her eyes was stern and unmoving. I just nodded and took my place around the key.

At half time I had 3 fouls and we were down 30-38. As we walked to the locker room I wanted to hit something. I was so mad. I was playing like shit. In the locker room Braddock gave us a long speech that I didn't hear a word of. On the court I heard everyone in the stands, but in here I couldn't hear anything. Its like I was trapped in my head. I just stared at my shoes. I only snapped out of my trance when Braddock clapped his hands and everyone got up. I walked to the bathroom that was in the locker room and washed my hands. I heard someone behind me and I turned around, it was Kara. She didn't say anything she just handed me Ollies phone. I could tell it was his because the case was navy blue with a weird little symbol on the back. I gave her a confused look and she just gestured for me to put the phone to my hear. So I did.

"Hello?" I asked. Kara just walked back into the locker room.

"Avery?" Sara asked

"Hey Sara are you okay?" I asked, worried that something happened

"Babe I'm fine. But you're not." She said. I forgot Ollie was Face Timing her so she could see how bad I was fucking up.

"No, I'm not." I said honestly. I don't know why but I felt like crying.

"Avery I know that all of this is a lot for you, but get out of your head." She said

"I'm trying Sara but I can't. I can't focus, the ball doesn't even feel right when I'm dribbling. I'm not fast enough and I can't even shoot the damn ball and I'm running point. Everyones looking at me to know what to do. Everyones depending on me to run the right play. Everyones depending on me and I don't know if I can do it. I don't know if I can win this game." By now I was crying. I wiped my eyes furiously and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like a pathetic mess. It made me furious.

"Avery listen to me right now. You have worked so god damn hard for this game. So damn hard to get here. Don't throw it away because you think you're not good enough to win it. You're running point because there's no one else who can do it. They depend on you because you're the one who always knows what to do. They trust you to make the right calls. And I know it feels like a lot right now. I know that you're worried about other things besides the game but leave that off the court. Get on that court and play. Depend on your team. You're not alone in this. Depend on them the same way they depend on you. And remember that I'm right there with you. You've got this babe. I believe in you." When she finished I couldn't say anything. There were stray tears falling down my face but I didn't look pathetic anymore. No more whining. No more being stupid. Sara was right. I worked too damn hard for this to throw it away because of how I was feeling.

"Okay." Was all I could say.

"I love you. Now get out there and play." She said through the phone.

"I love you too." I said as I hung up the phone. I wiped the last tear and walked out of the locker room. Kara was waiting for me by the door.

"You alright?" She asked as I handed her the phone.

"I'm fine. Let's win this." I said as I walked straight for the court.

I stepped on the court and everything went quiet. All I could hear was my own breathing. I walked to the half court line where Kris was waiting next to the ref so she could throw the ball in to me. The ref handed her the ball and she passed it in to me. Clark wood was still in a half court press. I looked down the court. Number 12 was at the top of the press and 25 was to the left and 32 as on the right. The posts were down low guarding Kara and Kristina. I dribbled slow and deliberately. I started going left and as soon as I crossed half court 12 and 25 jumped me with a double team, but Kris ran right behind the double team and me and I bounced the ball backwards to her and she ran right past the double team and 32 into the key. When the two posts went to guard her they left Kara and Kristina open. Kris faked a jump shot and passed it to Kristina who made an easy shot off the back board. 32-38

I changed up our defense. I had everyone else back on a half court man but I was up on 12 trying to make sure she didn't get the ball. 32 came up and got the ball. As she ran down the court I could tell she wasn't confident taking it down. Before she could pass it to anyone I ran up behind her and hit the ball out of her hands and it went straight into Anas hands. Ana picked up the ball and started running towards our basket. As soon as 25 got up to guard her she picked up the ball and passed it to Kris who was running by and Kris passed it to me. I was already headed to the basket but 32 was on me. Kris threw the ball straight in front of me and I caught it and went in for the lay-up. As I jumped in the air to make the shot 32 slammed against me and I basically flew out of bounds. I heard the whistle again.

"Push, number 32, 2 shots." The ref said. Kris ran over and helped me up off the ground.

"You alright?" She asked as she pulled me up.

"Yeah. Gatta shoot some free-throws." I smiled. I got up and went to shoot my free

thows. I made them both. 34-38. I ran to 12 and played defense. The rest of my team ran back on defense. 25 got the ball this time and started to run down the court. I let 12 pass my just a little bit and as soon as I did 25 stopped to pass her the ball. When 12 had the ball I got in front of her and watched the the number. She started left and I followed. She quickly did a cross over quickly and I followed as fast as I could. When I didn't I felt like I ran into a brick wall. 12 ran around and went in for a jumper. Kristina came out of nowhere and blocked the shot. Kara rebounded the ball and passed it out to Ana. Ana ran down the court and Kris and I followed. 25 and 12 were already on defense. 3 on 2. Ana ran to the right side of the three point line and looked for someone to pass too. She passed it to Kris who was at the top of the key. Kris drove in about 5 feet and the defense followed her. Kris didn't even turn around, she just bounced the ball backwards to me and I shot a 3 that went in with a swish. 37-38. A second or two later as we were getting back on defense the buzzard rang.

Braddock gave us the run down back at the bench. He gave us the plays he wanted us to run and then told us what we were doing right and wrong.

"Okay ladies, I know you want this. If you didn't we wouldn't even be in the game. So keep fighting. Get out there and have some fun." As he said this I could see something in his eyes. It was pride with a hint of sadness. I understood it. This was our last game. Whether we won or lost, this was it.

When we got back on the court it was Clarkwoods ball. Braddock had us switch from a half court man to a full court man which meant more running. Which meant we'd be more tired, but so would they. They switched in 2 for 25. 2 went to throw the ball in. I was on 12 Ana was on 2 now and Kris was on 32. I let 12 get the ball but as soon as she didn't I didn't let her get past me. She tried move after move to fake me out but she couldn't. Before I knew it, the ref blew the whistle and said it was a five second call. I laughed as 12 got pissed and ran back to get on defense. Ana threw me the ball and I looked at the scene that lay before me. Half court trap still. I started to go to the right side of the court. As soon as I passed the half court line 12 and 2 tried to double team me, but I kicked off as hard as I could and ran right by them. With them behind me all that left was the two posts down low. I dribbled up to the three point line and shot a 3 point shot, it went in with a nice little swish. 40-38.

Five minutes later and the score is now 45-40 with us ahead. We have 2 minutes left and all we have to do is hold them. If we can just keep them from scoring we'll win. We get back on defense and 12 has the ball. She's starts going left and crosses over again to right. I'm not falling for that again. I dropped my shoulder and kicked off as hard as I could and rammed straight into number 25 who had set up another screen. With her on the ground Kara and I closed in on 12 and she picked up her dribble and passed out to 25 who had gotten up and was at the three point line. Ana was too slow to get to her so she shot a 3. It hit the back board and went in with a thud. 45-43. 1:30 left on the clock. We have to hold the ball. When they tried to throw the ball in Ana was too slow and her man got the ball and ran right past her. I tried to catch up to her but if I couldn't get in front of her and I was not about to get my 4th foul. She couldn't go in for a lay up because Kara and Kristina were down low but me and Kris and Ana were behind her. So she pulled up for a three and made the shot. 46-45. Shit. Fucking Ana. 1 minute until the game was over.

Ana went out to throw the ball in, but the Clarkwoods defense had changed. They were now in a full court man, but they didn't have anyone past half court. I picked up my hand and put up four fingers and screamed

"Four across!"

Kris and I lined up on the free-throw line and Kara and Kristina were lined up on the three point line. I v-cut in and Kris set a screen. As she did so I hauled ass towards the other side of the court to our basket. Ana threw the ball as far as she could but it wasn't enough. I was too fast and too far. 15 seconds. I had to stop turn around and go back for the ball, and by the time I got it 12 was starting to catch up. I ran as fast as I could to the basket to shoot the lay up. As I did I could feel 12 right on me. Instead of a lay up I stopped for a jump shot and ducked, 12 went flying past me into the wall. I shot the ball off the backboard and it went in. 47-46. A second later and the buzzard rang. That was it. IT was over. We won. We won.