Downfall of the nation's hero

Chapter 8

We're down by fifteen at halftime. I know that it's mostly my fault, but there are more important things on my mind than basketball. I can't fully concentrate knowing Ren is selling me behind my back. Did I expect it? Yes. Does it change the fact that I'm so fucking disappointed by it? Nope. I wanted this to work, I really did, but if there's one thing I can't do, it's working with snakes.

I've been purposefully fucking up, whenever Ren passed the ball to me - not catching the ball, shooting way off, and stuff like that, doing whatever to make our chemistry seem bad in front of the media. I've ignored all of her attempts to talk to me, always walking away are waving her off. Anything to make us look like we can't co-exist with each other so that eventually, they'll have to make a choice. Either her or me. One of us has to leave the team and it's for sure not going to be me.

The vibe in the locker room is off. What a surprise. Most of the other teammates are too scared to say something. Even Sophie, who's usually a very vocal leader, stays quiet. I bet she wants nothing more than to scream at my face to get my shit together but at the same time, she understands. She knows how much I value my personal life and she hates my family for constantly exploiting it. I know I have her full support right now. The same thing cannot be said about our coach.

"Are you fucking serious, Audra?!" Fox shouts at me. "What the fuck has gotten into you?! I thought you were fine with everything that has been going on! That's what you told me yesterday! This is not the player we recruited!" He pauses to take a deep breath and possibly to make me rethink my actions. "We were well aware of the controversy that surrounds you, but you were good enough of a player to risk it. So far, you're only making us regret this decision. Wherever you go, troubles follow and our PR team is fed up with covering for you. So tell me, Matonis, are you gonna fucking play or what?"

I stay silent. I don't mind it when coaches raise their voices at me. I mean, I'm Lithuanian after all, so it's kind of part of the culture since basketball is like a religion in Lithuania. I also don't have anything to say to that. He's got every right to be angry, but I'm not backing down from my stance.

When Fox sees how pointless it is to argue with me, he leaves the locker and slams the door behind him. The rest of the players wait a second and then start leaving one by one. Some of them give me hateful looks, some of them just let it go. Sophie tries to motivate the team with words of encouragement accompanied by clapping. She doesn't deserve this, I'll have to apologize to her at the hotel after the game.

Ren is the last one to get up from her seat. She heads towards the open door and sticks her head out to look around. When she makes sure about whatever she's been making sure about, she closes the door behind her and locks it, leaving the two of us trapped inside.

I get up to face her. I'm really not in the mood for her stupid games.

"Alright, Matonis, what the fuck is your problem?" She has the balls to ask as if she has no idea. "I wouldn't question shit if you just kept missing your shots, even though it would be pretty suspicious enough, but you're fucking playing as if you hated me!"

"I do hate you, Martin." I growl at her.

She throws the water bottle, which's been holding in her right arm, at me. "And what the fuck have I done this time?!"

I manage to dodge it at the very last second but It's enough for me to lose my temper. "Oh, you want me to fucking say it?" I grab her by her jersey and pin her against the wall. "I asked for one thing before the season, just one!"

She tries to slip out from my grip but it only allows me to slam her into the wall again. The second impact blows the air out of her lungs, making her gasp.