It's Just A Game

Chapter 17 Half Time

Dunhill's coach called a timeout with 3:41 minutes left in the clock and score stuck at 43-47 in favor of the Sentinels. Perspiration dripping from the players and I watched them intensely as they caught a breather.

"Chase, I need help with GFord in the shaded area. The screen set up for him is bugging me endlessly. We need to double team him." Xanthy suggested with laborious breathing.

"Not yet, Xanthy. It's too early for that." Chase tapped his fellow player's shoulder.

" Randell, you're in," I said with authority. "Xanthy, you can relax for the meantime."

Both nodded with the brief commands. The game resumed with GFord taking a surprise three-pointer above the arc and narrowing the lead to a point. Chase led the counter-attack and also shoot a long three over GFord's defense before the time expired to end the second quarter.

Halftime was spent in the dugout good for thirty minutes. The team was very much cheerful with the four-point lead. Chase was doing his role in checking everybody's state including me.

"How's the team performing so far?" Chase ventured to stand beside me.

"With the current lead, our team is doing good." was my brief comment as I leaned back and felt the cold material of the locker touched my back. Closing my eyes, I tried to envision the scene the last time I came inside this area. I'm trying my best to block the memories how I found Paul's body covered in a body bag by the responding authorities.

"Are you okay?"Chase's breath was tingling the right portion of my face. When I opened my eyes, he was in front of me. His face so near mine. His right arm folded and leaning distantly on top of my head. His eyes staring into my own. "Tell me what's running in your head right now."

I don't know what came over me. I'm not thinking right. I'm being pulled a hundred different directions currently with my roaring emotions. Paul's death and his memories are still making an impact on me. I don't understand myself when I'm around Chase. And this bet ongoing between him and GFord. I should be mad at the turn of event but still, a hidden force doesn't allow me to be furious. We're like fire and ice. Plus this game's mixed perceptions is putting me on a thin line before going deranged. He pressed nearer to me still with enough space for me to run and walked out. I rested my forehead on his left shoulder and hands fisting on his newly worn jersey.

" My brother died here. He was shot here." I said so softly to him. " I missed him so much. I want him back in my life."

Chase pulled me to himself for a tight hug. His arms wrapped around me. " I'm sorry to hear that, Myah. I know you're close to your brother and loved him that much."

I looked up and was mesmerized by his emotional gray eyes. "Nobody wants their loved ones to be taken away from them either by natural death, accidents or through crime. It is painful and that's a fact to deal with. Just remember that everybody serves a purpose on this Earth, you're staying doesn't come with the luxury of unlimited time."

Definitely, Chase was hundred percent right. I only nodded and stayed quiet oblivious to the other people around us. I mentally scolded myself since I wasn't able to control breaking down in front of Chase. I need to put up a strong front for all the guys as their coach for this game. Exhaling loudly, I let go of his jersey and stood on my ground against his eyes of gray. "Thanks for the reminder."

"I was thinking of you being mad about the bet. Yet I thought wrong." There his smirk formed at the corner of his mouth. Why does he need to look so sarcastic and handsome at the same time?

And we're back to being cats and dogs in an instant. I slapped his arm before he could retreat away from me. "You better win that bet against GFord. I don't want to deal with another Landon in my life." I blurted out loud and covered my mouth right away when all the players turned their attention on me.

"What bet?!"The boys all chorused with scrutiny and interest."What are you talking about it?" Luke inquired eyeing me then Chase.

He shook his head laughing to himself as he watched me turn to crimson and looked at him with pleading us. "Hold your horses, guys!"

"I agreed to a bet with GFord before the game even started." He frustratedly wiped his face with the towel handed by Jessie. "And what's the bet all about?" Seth hoisted his led on the long iron bench.

" He wanted Myah as the prize if he wins the game. If our team wins, we keep our coach." Chase relayed what conspired in the heated conversation.

The players all have these crazy glints in their eyes as if it was amusing at the same time challenging. "Is your brother crazy or what, Chase? He can't take away our sunshine from us. Not from this team. Right, guys?" Phil exclaimed out of nowhere. "We aren't going to hand over Myah to GFord. We'll be the winning team by the end of this game." Luke included himself in the noise.

Instead of getting annoyed, I found myself overwhelmed with their attention and excitement. The bet just made their urge to win to increase. The bet was just between Chase and GFord but the rest of the boys took it upon themselves to participate by not letting the other team succeed. GFord, you're messing with the wrong team.

Chase signaled the team to exit the dugout upon seeing five more minutes left on the timer displayed on the headframe of the door.