The Sun and the Moon

Chapter 26

Dennis' POV

Ever had injuries that you couldn't explain about?

As a kid, I had always wanted to have both a cat and a dog as a pet. I wasn't any less irresponsible and reckless than now at that time so of course I was denied. I did wonder about the alternative though, and if the dog and cat would've made a good team together.

I got my answer today: Yes, they will. If the dog and cat are like Spencer and Obito.

As we got into position on the free throw line; me and Sheldon with our backs facing the hoops, I cudgeled my brains about Spencer and why Obito could have chosen him. As far as I knew, he was quite good at basketball and would have made it into the team in his previous school, if it hadn't been for him shifting town.

There were rumors he crushed on Obito, not that Obito liked him back. But with their lofty smiles and confident eyes; bordering on arrogance and how they got into position simultaneously - it was proof they had experience playing as a team.

Which puts us at a disadvantage. I turned towards Sheldon. "Any idea of their style?"

"Dunno." Sheldon shrugged. "Not sure about that brunette. The other guy - he's my classmate but we've never talked. He's aggressive. Brutal."

"Think you could handle him? And me-er, Obito?" I glanced out of my eye's corner at Obito who flashed a sickly-sweet smile, giving me the creeps.

Coach Fred approached us, ball in hand and whistle in mouth. All of us crouched in position.

Those few moments waiting for the whistle to be blown, felt like minutes. I was consciously aware of a pair of harsh, brown eyes boring into me.

The shrill sound of the whistle rang in the afternoon and the ball was launched into the air. Spencer gave a great jump, his large hands closing in on the ball.

Sheldon immediately approached Spencer, blocking his way with arms spread apart while I paced backward so I blocked Obito.

But he quickly slid to the side and every time I was close to blocking him, he would slip to the other side. It was normal - but the speed at which Obito was going wasn't.

He seemed to be moving around with a certain kind of grace, his feet shuffling in a rhythmic way - very fluid - as if it were effortless.

What else can he do? Is he gonna pull up another trick?

Sheldon was however handling Spencer much better. Every single time Spencer sidestepped or tried to shoot, Sheldon would pretty much restrict his range and narrow his angle at shooting.

Spencer glared at Sheldon. Then he stepped back, pausing for a moment and after which the ball soared in the air.

"Dennis! Towards you!" Sheldon yelled.

My heart nearly rose to my throat. I crouched, ready to slam the ball away before Obito could get his hands on it. Obito's shoes shuffled continuously on the asphalt. One eye on the ball slowly nearing us, the other on him trying to squeeze through any opening.

That's when he did it.

He tried to reach the ball by getting around me and I widened my legs to limit his range.

A very vulnerable position for a defender. As soon as the ball was within range, we both leaped up at the same time.

My hand was nearer - I could smell the rubber in the heat of the afternoon - I should have reached it first.

Only that in the next second, something hard collided into me and I was lying on the ground on my stomach, knees burning.

When I got up, Obito had the ball.

What the hell just happened?

"Dennis-you okay?!" Sheldon's small, distant voice rang out. But I didn't reply. The previous moment - the ball nearly in my hands - was floating before my eyes like a mirage. Then how did I land like this?

I swiftly swung around; Obito relaxedly bouncing the ball - his eyes trained on the hoop. Oh, oh.

Sheldon was quicker to react as he ran nearer to the hoop while I blocked Obito from right where I stood, a sharp, stinging pain shooting up my knees.

But it was of no use. He would aim high. And he did. The ball almost seemed to float in the air, and despite Sheldon's best jump it hit the backboard before spiraling down the net...along with our hopes. And the whistle blew.

Gasps and cheers rang around us while I stood there - rooted to the spot until Coach Midoriya came closer and asked me if I was okay, before glancing down at my knees.

Turned out, I hadn't just fallen over, I had scraped both my knees in the most stupefying manner.

Sheldon hurried towards me. "Does it hurt?" He frowned.

"No-not really." I shook my head. "Let's get that fixed first, then we can continue." I tried convincing Coach Midoriya but he wouldn't take no for an answer, so for the second time in barely five minutes, I landed back at the stands. Coach Fred approached Obito.

Coach Midoriya quietly tended to my scraped knees while the other 4 member participants continued playing their match. Ours was halted until I felt better to continue.

"What happened though?" I whispered to Sheldon. "I-I remember jumping up and then I- I- think Obito crashed into me or something." Sheldon hesitated, crossing his arms with frowned eyebrows as if wondering how best to phrase it.

"You could put it that way. You both jumped at the same time but Obito wasn't as close to the ball as you. You both collided mid-air and fell but Obito somehow caught the ball when he was going down. It just happened in a split second. You got worse injuries than him though."

Sure enough, when I observed him, he had some scrapes including one on his arm but they were mere scratches if you ask me. Mine just looked a bit bloody compared to his yet everyone was freaking out like I broke my leg.

"Yikes, that ain't pretty." Neil winced. "Of course it isn't." I snorted. "It isn't that big of a deal so don't fret."

"You guys almost gave Jamie a panic attack when you collided." Maya muttered. "Next time, play safe and don't scare him."

"Depends if he plays safe." I said darkly.

"Could be." Sheldon mumbled, which surprised all of us. "Wait, do you think he fouled?" Neil asked.

"I wouldn't be sure of either." He tapped his fingers against his elbow. "It did look purely accidental but he was pretty fast to recover and not only that he got the ball though you were nearer to it - when ideally both players usually fall and no one gets the ball."

"But even if he did cheat, the coaches would have noticed something." Jaimie whispered. "I am sure they won't turn a blind eye to such things."

"Even then, that doesn't matter now." I pointed out. "We - Sheldon and I - need to be prepared for whatever they throw at us. We've still got another chance at being defenders, after which we'll have to switch."

"True." Sheldon nodded. "You're ready to go now?"

"Absolutely." I smiled.

As we called out to Coach Fred letting him know we were ready to resume, while even Obito had his minor injuries taken care of, I felt someone staring at me.

I turned back but there were only my friends, with encouraging nods but it wasn't them. There was someone else. In the corner of my eye.

Whoever it was, I hope they stay back. Cause they're about to see Dennis the Menace back in action.