Cruel Summer- Caitlin Clark

14. Don't leave because I know all I need is on the other side of the door.

"Please win, for me." Caitlin whispers in my ear 

Caitlin had just twisted her ankle by getting fouled, and it was my turn to sub in for her. It was a super important game because we were playing LSU, who had robbed Iowa of March Madness, last year. 

It had been a super hard game, but we were up 86-83. 

Growing up, Angel and I had grown up playing basketball against eachother, and we are friends now. So, hearing everyone hating on her kind of hurts for me. 

"Hey Rory, come here." Coach Bluder Says 

Of course, I'm nervous. No one is calm when they play a game that is this close, when there is a minute left. 

"Okay, kid. You see that score. This is not went down last year. We got defeated in the National Championship. Do you want to prove that you belong here?" 

"Of course, I do!" 

"Then this is your shot, kid. Don't blow it." 

Those words echo throughout my brain. This was my one shot to prove to the world that I deserve to be here.

As I walk up to toss the ball in, Angel has a big grin on her face. 

"Let's finish this ever lasting rivalry, once in for all?" She asks 

I ignore her, throwing the ball in. 

What am I doing??

As I make it halfway down the court, I slip. Angel picks up the ball, dribbles it down, and shots a three with 9 seconds left on the clock. 

Oh my god. 

Of course, we get the ball back. As soon as we get it, Angel fouls me, just to stop the clock and slow it down. 

As I'm walking up to the line, I see Caitlin's face. A look of shock or disappointment, I can't really tell. How could I slip and mess up the one shot that I had to prove myself? 

I realize that this is it for her. The one time in her career that she can prove that she is better than last year. I have to make the shots. 

As I release the ball, a shock wave goes through my spin. As I throw the shot up, it is so reckless, an airball, almost. 

Oh my god. 

I see Caitlin, looking over. Definitely disappointment, I can almost assure it. 

What am I doing? 

As the crowd goes silent, of course, I'm nervous. I have to make the shot. 

I release the ball, and it is pretty good, but it is spinning around the rim. 

Please go in, please go in. 

As the ball finally slows down, it leans in. An uproar through out the stadium occurs. I did it. That was the moment that I proved that I should be on the team. 

Of course, there was no time left on the clock, so we won. 

The whole team was SO excited, and proud. 

"Oh my god, Rory!! I'm so proud of you!" Caitlin says, grabbing me into a hug. 

After we had finished interviews, and what not, Coach Bluder pulled me aside and said that she had to talk to me, in her office, alone. 

"Um, Rory, this meeting is very important." 

"Oh, um. Did I do something?"

"Um. Well, kind of."