It's Just A Game

Chapter 19 Change of Plan

What was that all about? I asked myself after GFord disappeared into the crowd. Suddenly, I felt a strange foreboding sense of danger. It was uncontrollable. Goosebumps all over. "Are you okay?" Chase nearness was creating more confusion in me. I just shut up unaware of how to respond. "Never mind him. He's creepy sometimes."

I mumbled incoherently. I felt weak and out of strength. "Why would he bother to tell me such warning?" Chase was getting frustrated already. His usual habit of pinching the bridge of his nose always reminds me that he is about to reach his highest point. "I really don't have any idea. Don't worry. I'll talk to him at home." We continued on our way as the rest of the boys piled up on their respective cars.

"Where to?" He asked Luke who was igniting his car to life.

"To the hospital to visit Coach Stibbs." was Luke's prompt response.

"Party after will be at Luke's house," commented Zareena cheerfully who was on the front seat.

Chase and I just nodded to them as I saw Jessie deposited our stuff in the backseat. We didn't utter any words as we settled into his car. The drive to the hospital was not that long but filled with awkward silence. I rolled down the window on my side to feel the cold air on my face.

The night sky was sprinkled with twinkling stars but no moon can be found above. The street lamps illuminated our way amidst the growing darkness. The cars were in a convoy towards the towering building of the hospital from a distance.

The boys were able to locate the coach's designated room with few inquiries at the information desk. The nurse did not allow us to go inside altogether, only three people at a time. It was Luke, Chase and I who took the last turn. When we came in, our beloved coach had IV's attached to his wrist. His wife has this welcoming smile pasted on her face.

"Hey, Coach," Luke said softly. Coach Stibbs eyes opened. He was looking tired but his face was full of determination.

"Lukey boy, did the boys had fun during the game?" He managed to say with labored breath.

"We did, Coach."

"And you were able to manage without me, Myah." The coach's hand reached for me and I held him like a sensitive object. I just nodded. "I'm so proud of you."

"Chase, come here." The tone of authority was still there.

"Yes, Coach." Chase seemed pulled out from his own trance.

" I have to tell you something. Can you lean a little bit towards me?" Chase complied with another nod as our mentor gestured for him to come closer. He whispered something into his player's left ear. "Can you do that for me, Chase?"

"Your wish is my command, Coach." Chase's face turned serious after giving the other man a thumbs up.

I was about to interrupt their exchange when a robust nurse came in to inform us that visiting hours were over. The three of us groaned out loud childishly as Luke pouted his lips trying to convince the nurse to extend for another hour. It made the coach smiled genuinely as his wife joined the peals of laughter at Luke's antics. We said our goodbyes to them. We gave the coach a kiss on his forehead and received a motherly hug from his wife in return. The team was assembled by the lobby. It sounds like they were in deep conversation.

"What's going on?" Chase beat me to it again.

"We can't have the party at Luke's house." Zareena took the liberty of answering.

"And why is that?" Luke's eyes bored into his girlfriend.

"Your sister called just a few minutes ago on my phone asking for your whereabouts coz it seems like you're not answering your phone." She glared at him.

"My phone's dead." Luke countered.

"Your sister Aria wanted me to relay the message that your parents are home from their Europe trip. I told her that we visited Coach and you'll be out partying after." The rest of the guys snickered since her boyfriend's face was in absolute horror.

"You did not just do that, babe!" Zareena was fully aware that Luke wasn't allowed to go out on a school night or else he would get grounded for weeks. "You are killing me, Zareena!"

The boys seemed to enjoy the banter of the couples in front of us. I even chuckled when my best friend pinched Luke's red cheeks like a baby.

"I'm just joking, babe!" Zareena exclaimed followed with her bubbly laughter. " I told them you're exempted from classes tomorrow since tonight is a game night for the team."

Luke looked with anger and relief at his girlfriend whose acting bully right now. I'm not even an exemption to her deadly pranks and craziness. "You'll be the death of me." He just pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead.

"I know." Zareena just buried her face in his chest. "You should have seen your face. It was priceless."

"So where to now?" I inquired to them as the laughter subsided.

" I have an idea. Are you willing to hear us out?" The Marino twins have this crazy glint in their eyes.