Intertwined

Part 7: A Flat

They were missing for a good while it seemed and Max could hardly focus on anything else.

It made his heart race and terrible thoughts fill his mind.

He swore, Helen kidnapped Luna to take her to some agency so he would never see his little girl again.

He irrationally felt that way and it broke his heart into a million pieces.

But then as their game continued- he saw her and his sweet little girl come through the doors with their food.

It was like a wave of relief and something else flowed over and through him. Never in his life did he feel so guilty for assuming something so nefarious of such a sweet woman.

And then it happened.

"AHHHHH!!!!" A scream rings out on the court and Max adverts his mind from guilt and finds Liam Sweeney- his small forward laying on the court's floor clutching his ankle and writhing in pain as he cries. The whole gym goes silent and the boys drop to their knees. Max and Reynolds rush over to him and Max only wishes he witnessed what happened.

"It's alright Liam." Floyd says and a medic comes hurrying over as well as the other side's couch.

"I'm sorry, Man! I didn't see your foot there." The other team's kid- who seemed to have tripped over Liam, nervously says as he kneels beside his opponent.

"Owww!!! Ow!!!" Liam cries as the medic looks his foot over.

"Best guess is it's broken. Let's get him on the board. Contact the parents if they're not already here." Another medic comes over and Liam's Dad- who was in the restroom at the time, comes out and finds what's happening. He doesn't seem angry at the other kid- just very concerned as the medics get Liam on a body board to lift him off the court to deal with the issue at hand. The whole gym claps and Max can feel his heart racing. Turning back, he looks up at the score board. They're neck and neck with only a quarter left of the game. Going back to the bench, Max and Floyd look at their JV members and both try to mentally choose it seems.

"Parker..." Floyd begins.

"No—." Max states.

"No?"

"Put Jr. in."

"You can't be serious?" Floyd says and Max shrugs.

"Give him a shot. I don't think we'll regret it." Max says and the ref comes over.

"Who's subbing in?" He asks and Max looks at the referee with a small smile.

"Logan Sharpe- 32." Max says and looks at Logan, who seems both excited and yet very nervous. "You got this Jr. You're fast and quick with the ball. Set your brother up as much as you can- alright."

"You got it G." He goes to run out and Max gently grabs his wrist.

"You'll make me proud no matter what happens. You got this." Max states and lets the kid go- who's face goes slack at hearing his coach say he believes in him.

No coach had ever said that to him.

Only one man ever had.

And for the longest time- that was the only voice that ever stuck with him- no matter what he did in his life.

And now.

Now there's Max.

Turning around and looking up in the bleachers, Max makes eye contact with Helen- who seems both nervous that her son is going to be playing with the big boys- but also so excited because she knows Logan has the potential to make this game count.