Courtside Hearts

Chapter 6 - Game day!

Aiah sat on the bleachers, her heart pounding as she stared at the empty court. Tomorrow was the start of the new season, and the weight of it all was beginning to settle in. Her hands fidgeted with the edge of her jersey, nerves twisting her stomach into knots. She knew she had the skills, but the pressure of performing well in front of a crowd, alongside her new teammates, was overwhelming.

Colet, passing by on her way to the locker room, noticed Aiah's unusually quiet demeanor. Pausing, she walked over and sat down beside her.

"You alright, Arceta?" Colet asked, her tone soft but probing.

Aiah looked up, startled out of her thoughts. "Oh, Colet... yeah, I'm fine. Just... you know, thinking about tomorrow."

Colet studied her for a moment, sensing the anxiety behind her words. "First game jitters, huh?"

Aiah nodded, a small, embarrassed smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. I just don't want to mess up."

Colet gave her a reassuring nudge. "You won't. You've been killing it in practice, and everyone on the team knows it. Just play your game and trust your instincts. We're all in this together."

Aiah's shoulders relaxed slightly at Colet's words. She hadn't expected such kindness from someone as focused and intense as Colet, but it was comforting. "Thanks, Colet. That actually helps."

Colet smiled, a rare warmth in her eyes. "No problem. We've got this."

Later, the entire team gathered in the locker room, the air thick with anticipation. Coach Emerson stood at the front, clipboard in hand, his expression serious but calm.

"Alright, everyone, listen up," Coach Emerson began, his voice commanding the room. "Tomorrow is the start of the season. We've trained hard, and we've built a strong foundation. Now it's time to put all of that into action."

The room was silent, every player hanging on to his words.

"We're facing a tough team, but I have no doubt that we can take them down if we play smart and play together. Remember, communication is key. Stick to the game plan, support each other, and stay focused."

Colet stood near the front, her arms crossed, nodding slightly as Coach spoke. Aiah, standing just behind her, felt a surge of determination. This was it—the moment they had all been preparing for.

Coach Emerson's gaze swept across the room, landing on each player. "You've all worked hard to get here. Trust in yourselves and trust in each other. We're not just a team—we're a family on that court. Let's show everyone what we're made of."

As the meeting wrapped up, the tension in the room shifted into a unified resolve. The team was ready to give it their all, and the pre-game jitters were slowly being replaced by a shared sense of purpose.

The gym was alive with the sound of squeaking sneakers and the steady rhythm of the basketball hitting the floor. Colet, ever the leader, called for a quick, intense practice session before they all headed home. The team needed one final push to fine-tune their plays, and Colet wanted to make sure everything was sharp for tomorrow.

"Alright, let's run through the sets one more time," Colet commanded, her voice clear and authoritative. "Keep the pace up, and focus on execution."

The players moved with purpose, running drills and executing plays with precision. Colet's eyes were everywhere, watching each player's movements, noting where adjustments were needed. When Aiah stepped up to run her part of the offense, Colet observed closely.

Aiah dribbled with confidence, her movements fluid and controlled. She made a quick fake, then drove to the basket, finishing with a smooth layup. The ease and skill with which she moved caught Colet's attention. Aiah then positioned herself at the perimeter, catching a pass and sinking a three-pointer with ease.