Finding My Place ⚙️ Knot (a SOTUS fanfic)

vol.14: f o u l

"Doesn't take much to feel the rush,
with nothing but your eyes on me.
I don't see no red lights, just a wild ride.
You're my getaway, you're my getaway.
Tonight, I'm gonna be alright."
- Getaway - Tritonal, Angel Taylor

⚙️

"All right, everyone. The game is over. Gather around," the coach told us after M shot the winning basket. Everyone was breathing heavily, covered in sweat but no less happy about their progress, especially those that had been on the winning team.

"Waad," M breathed out, throwing his arm around the boy's shoulders, "you were excellent. What should I do to be as good as you?"

"Practice," he answered simply. "A lot of it."

"Have I not done enough of it?"

"Practice," was his only response, making me laugh at M's dumbfounded expression.

"Don't think on it too hard," I patted his shoulder. "He's probably been practicing since he was a little kid."

"Maybe..."

"Hey, freshmen," the coach called out, holding open the black folder in his hands. "I'm going to announce the results for the player selection. There are five in the starting lineup. The first player is..."

Everyone stared at him with their full attention, hoping to be picked to play in the game – except for Kong and myself, who had registered as substitutions. I really hoped all of my boys made it into the lineup.

"Waad."

No surprise there! We all clapped for him as he raised his arm. I grinned, "Good job, Waad."

He nodded his thanks.

"The second one is..." he paused with a smile, his eyes scanning the group as he let the tension build. "Tee."

We clapped again and Waad smiled at him, patting his arm, "You're good to start with. Congrats."

It warmed my heart to see Waad being so friendly with someone when he had always been so reserved to everyone. Though I wish he was a bit less aloof to us, I understood that we couldn't win them all and he might just not feel comfortable around us.

"The third player is... Beam."

We clapped and Tee patted him on the arm, "Good job."

"The fourth one is... Klam."

And again, we clapped. M leaned toward Kong, looking between the two of us. "Kong. Aspen. There's only one more spot left. That means it's between us three, two of us must be a substitute."

I quirked a brow in confusion, sending Kong a look. Had he forgotten that we specifically picked that role? Kong just nodded at me before looking to his friend when M put his arm around his shoulder.

"I hope this selection process is not going to shake up our friendship."

Kong looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and amusement as the coach spoke up again, "And the last player is... M."

M screamed with excitement, jumping up and down as he thrust his fist into the air, doing a twirl. "Yes!"

"Congrats, man," Kong smiled, patting him on the back.

"Yeah, you did great, M, grats," I held my hand up and he high-fived me before he switched back to his reserved self, almost as easy as a light switch being flipped.

He looked between the two of us with a frown. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Kong questioned.

"I went overboard."