Hearts on the Court

Chapter 4: Final Results

After storming off in a mix of frustration and anger, I made my way through the crowded campus, determined to find Noah. The cool evening breeze did little to cool my mood as I pushed through groups of students, their laughter and chatter grating on my nerves. Andrew was trailing behind me, calling out my name, trying to catch up. 

His footsteps pounded the pavement as he jogged after me, but I wasn't in the mood for his casual optimism right now. I had one goal in mind: find Noah and vent.

It didn't take long before I spotted him near the student lounge, leaning against the brick wall with his phone in hand. His laid-back demeanor seemed to be a sharp contrast to the mess of emotions boiling inside me. When I approached, Noah glanced up, his face lighting up for a moment before noticing my expression. Andrew, panting slightly, finally caught up just as I started ranting.

"I can't believe Coach Martin! We were all ready for the results, and just as he's about to announce who made the team, he pulls this ridiculous stunt and tells us to wait until tomorrow!" My voice rose with every word, the frustration from the tryouts still fresh in my mind. "I mean, seriously, who does that? He had us all lined up, hearts pounding, and then—boom—'Wait until tomorrow.'"

Noah, ever the calm one, raised an eyebrow and said, "But how do you feel? Do you think you did enough to make the team?"

I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know, man. The first two quarters were a disaster. I was missing shots, fumbling passes—it was bad. But then, in the last two quarters, I turned it around. I nailed every play, but now... I just don't know."

Andrew, ever the joker, chimed in with a smirk, "Oh, so you screwed up at the beginning and then saved yourself? That's rough, dude."

I shot him a glare. "Yeah, thanks for the reminder, Andrew."

He shrugged, unfazed. "I mean, what's the big deal? Just wait until tomorrow."

"Shut up," I muttered, exasperated. "I'm already on edge. Just tell me how it went for you."

Noah, smiling like a kid who just won the lottery, chimed in first. "Well, I got accepted. Coach told me after the tryouts, and tomorrow they're measuring me for the uniform."

Andrew, not one to be outdone, grinned as well. "Same here. I'm in too."

I tried to muster a smile, but it was hard to mask my disappointment. Noah, always trying to keep things positive, nudged me and said, "Don't worry, Jacob. I'm sure you got in. You've always been a strong player."

"Yeah, whatever," I muttered, too exhausted to argue. "Let's just go. I'm tired."

Noah gave a knowing nod, signaling to Andrew that it was time to head out. We exchanged quick goodbyes and split ways, each walking in different directions. As I trudged back to my dorm, the weight of uncertainty hung over me like a cloud. The silence of the night was interrupted only by the faint sounds of distant conversations and the occasional car passing by.

Once inside my dorm, I wasted no time in hitting the shower, hoping the hot water would wash away some of the tension. But even after stepping out, a nagging restlessness remained. I barely had time to dry off when my phone started ringing incessantly, vibrating across the countertop like it was possessed.

Grabbing it, I saw it was my little sister, Val, calling. I couldn't help but smile. No matter how bad a day I had, Val always knew how to brighten it up. "Hey, Val, what's up?"

"Finally! I've been trying to reach you forever!" she exclaimed. "So, how did the tryouts go? Andrew told me all about them."

Surprised, I chuckled. "Wait, how do you know about the tryouts?"

"Because you didn't bother telling me yourself, duh! Andrew filled me in. So spill, how did it go?"

I smirked, trying to tease her. "It's late, Val. I'm tired. I think I'll just go to bed."

"Jacob!" she whined, clearly not in the mood for my games. "Come on!"

Laughing, I gave in. "Alright, alright. It was okay, I guess. I don't know if I made the team yet. The results are tomorrow."

"Oh, that sucks. But I bet you'll get in! You were the best player at our school," she said, her confidence in me unwavering.

"Yeah, but there were some real talents at the tryouts. It's not a sure thing," I admitted, though I appreciated her faith in me. "But enough about me. How was your first day? Miss me yet?"

"Yes, I missed you," she said, feigning annoyance. "But my day was great! I got to see all my friends again."

"Glad to hear it, and glad you missed me," I teased, feeling a bit lighter. "So, when do you want me to visit?"

"Christmas. You better be home for Christmas," she demanded.

"Yeah, I'll be there," I assured her.

"Good. Well, I have to go. Good luck tomorrow. I know you'll do great!"

"Thanks, Val. Goodnight," I said, hanging up with a smile. That was exactly what I needed—a bit of normalcy, a bit of family.

The next morning, I woke up with a knot in my stomach. I went through the motions—shower, breakfast, class—but the anticipation was suffocating. By the time Andrew and Noah wished me luck before the results were announced, I was practically vibrating with nerves.

The club was packed with all the freshmen from the tryouts. Every one of us was anxiously waiting as Coach Martin strolled in with the rest of the team. He didn't look like he was in any rush, which only made the tension worse.

"Alright, time for the results," Coach Martin announced, but then, to our horror, he smirked. "Just kidding. The results will be out tomorrow."

There was an audible collective groan from the crowd, but before we could react, Coach Martin burst out laughing. "Relax! I'm just messing with you. The results are here. Tom will announce them."

Tom stepped forward with a list, and I held my breath as he began. "Congratulations to... Ryan, Scott, George, Steve..."

At that point, my heart sank. It felt like all hope was slipping away, and I resigned myself to the idea that I hadn't made the team. But then, Tom continued, "...and Jacob."

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. I couldn't believe it. I actually made the team! My face broke into a grin as relief and excitement washed over me.

Coach Martin clapped his hands. "Those who made the team, follow William to get measured for your uniforms. The rest of you, great effort. You can try again next year."

As we followed William, he turned to me with a grin and whispered, "Told you that you'd make it."

I chuckled, feeling a rush of gratitude. "Thanks, I couldn't have done it without your support."

William gave a shy, cute endearing smile before quietly joining the others for training.

Once we were measured and ready, Coach Martin barked, "Alright, no time to waste. Let's hit the court!"

With a newfound sense of belonging, I joined the others, ready to train hard and prove that I deserved my spot on the team.