Misery Company

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

It was Friday, the last day of school for the week. The Coach was going to make it count. “I hope you all rested yesterday because today everything will be double. I want double the laps around the gym, double the time on the court. Double your time here so I hope there’s nowhere you have to be.” The team groaned and one by one shot a glare Mackenzie’s way.

“Yes I love you all too.” She plastered on a fake smile. “What do I do?” she asked Coach, she didn’t need to work out or train, she wasn’t on the team.

“Playing defense then switching, I want you to pinpoint each one of their weaknesses and strengths on the court.”

Mac groaned and cursed life, today was going to suck royally. She was going to be lucky if she survived the team’s fury. She stood back as the guys were divided into two teams, blue and red, offense and defense.  Her first group included, Eric, Quinn, Luke, Dean and a few others she didn’t know names for.  “Ok,” she started. “I don’t want to be here either so lets make this as quick and painless as we can. Use everything you have and let’s kick their ass then I’ll tell them the same thing and we all go home.”

The Coach tossed the ball in the middle, small didn’t matter much at least not to Mac, with a quick jump to the side she grabbed the ball before in bounced to the ground. She tossed it to Quinn; he dribbled a quarter of the way to the basket before the other team was on him. Quinn tossed the ball to closest available teammate; Dean and he made the first two points.

Mac grabbed a hold of the ball again and that’s when Rick from the other team decided to join in, not so kindly bumping her with his arm, he weighed more then twice her size. Next Mac felt her head hit the floor.

“I’m getting tired of this floor, it could use a mop.” She didn’t rush to get up.

“I barely touched her.” Rick said before the coach could speak. “I didn’t know we had to baby her.”

Now Mac stood. “Baby? The baby here is you; you’re the only being childish because you don’t have the talent to take the ball from me.”

“Hey!” Coach Scott yelled. “Everyone inside this room is one step from being suspended. I am tired of explaining why I have Mac here and she isn’t going anywhere.”

“Damn.” She cursed.

Coach Scott sent her a stern look before continuing. “We all want the same thing, to win so let’s do it. Mac did you notice anything yet?”

“Dean favors his left shoulder and its noticeable pretty quick, anyone with common sense would use it against him. Rick is too heavy on his feet and that makes him slow. If he had managed to get the ball from me it would’ve been no problem to take it back.” She turned to face Rick. “If you had done that in a real game the other team could’ve called foul and more points for them. I don’t know about how the rest of you play but speed is the best weapon.”

“She’s right.” Coach Scott said. “Our first game is against Edward High; most of us here have already played them and lost. I don’t the same mistakes made again; I don’t want them to suspect anything. Does anyone have anything else to say before we continue?” Mac rose her hand, a grin playing on her lips. “No you can’t go home and no you didn’t hit your head that hard, you’re fine. You and Rick, one on one now.”

“Coach seriously I’m going to wipe the floor with him.” Mac was all for trying to help Coach Scott since he helped her out a few times now but playing Rick would be a waste of time.

He tossed the ball to Rick. “Play fair.”

Mac took control of the ball before they were a minute in and made a quick three points. The poor guy started growing red because he was losing and embarrassed he was losing to a girl. Every time he tried to grab the ball he missed, it was three minutes later when Coach Scott blew his whistle. “Any suggestions?” he asked the rest of the team.

“He should try out for football?” Eric said.

“Suggestions that help right now and this game?” Coach Scott started showing his own lack of patience.

“He can become our secret weapon.” Dean spoke. “Everyone can see Rick’s a big guy and they expect him to move like one. If we can get him to be a little faster he could take the ball without any expecting it.”

Coach Scott nodded. “Work with him.” It would be much easier then forcing Rick to keep working with Mac. “Have you been practicing?” he asked Dean.

“As much as possible.” And with a six month old at home that wasn’t much.

“I want you to play Mac again now that you’ve had time to practice and work on the mistakes.” Dean was one of his best players; he had expected more and hoped to see it now.

Shit, Dean mentally cursed as he walked to the court. Today was becoming too damn long and it was just getting longer. Mackenzie wasn’t going to pass up a chance to screw him over especially after the fight with Christy and Jake’s blackmail.

“Ready?” she taunted. “You don’t want to look like a complete ass so you should at least last a little more then your buddy over there.” Grinning and bouncing on the balls of her feet, oh yes she was enjoying this.

Maybe the anger helped because Dean made the first two points; at least it was already looking up from their last game even if he lost. The thought of losing to Mac, again, sickened him. He was better then this. The first time he could argue she caught him off guard but if he lost again there would be no living it down.

He blocked as she tried to make a shot.

At the end of the short match to ten points Dean won, but he didn’t feel like a winner.

“See?” Mac slapped her hand on Rick’s shoulder. “Losing to me helps, look how better he got.”

Dean watched her, every other person and sound fading away. The truth was right in front of his face, so damn clear; she let him win.