His Help (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 6

I was beginning to regret letting them pull me into this. "Guys I barely even know the rules of basketball." I said as I stepped onto the basketball court in Monroe park, the same one I'd been to with Caspar. "It's simple." Howard said as he put some high top shoes on instead of his combat boots. Sadly I only had converse to play in.

"Just get the ball in the hoop." Howard said throwing the basketball at me as I struggled to catch it but as soon as I'd gotten a grip on it Caspar just simply plucked it from my hand, giving Howard a glare before turning to face me. "All you gotta do is dribble the ball on to their side and try to make a basket but you can't step out of the lines on the side, you know that much right?" He said kindly and I nodded, I knew you couldn't step out of bounds.

"I think you should be fine if you follow our lead." Caspar said and I wasn't sure I liked the 'I think' part of that statement.

Soon enough we were playing though and suddenly I was passed the ball and dribbling like I'd seen Caspar do plenty of times, keeping myself lower to the ground as I blocked Oliver from stealing it but I didn't notice David come up from the side until it was too late.

David quickly grabbed it and dribbled for the other side of the court, me now switching to defense as Caspar took the show. Just as David was ready to shoot Caspar made a flying jump, knocking the ball from David's hands and quickly running with the ball at his side, only slowing down when he was face to face with Howard.

Howard seemed to know Caspar's every move as he followed his eyes. It's like Howard had memorized everyone's position as he pushed Caspar right by going left, right into David and forcing him to pass to Ricky who quickly passed it to me. I was close enough to make a shot and nobody was near me so I went for it, trying to copy the way I'd seen Caspar shoot so many times.

The ball soared through the air, almost in slow motion it seemed, hitting the rim and bouncing slightly in the wrong direction as David and Ricky raced for the hoop but Ricky was quicker, jumping with all his strength and tapping the ball into the net making Howard scowl as I grinned happily. I may have needed Ricky's help but that was the point of having a team right? To depend on each other.

After a few more points were scored Howard's team called a break or at least Oliver did, Howard was still shooting baskets with Caspar while the rest of us laid down in the cool grass and talked about random things.

I wasn't truly paying attention to the conversation though, I was watching Howard and Caspar in their 1v1 basketball game they seemed so intent on finishing.

Both of them looked like they could fall over from exhaustion any second, both covered in sweat and Howard looked like he was favoring one leg. I never knew that two of the shortest people on the team could be so incredible in a game where height was power but I suppose that's what gives you the passion to stick with it. To prove people wrong and be the best.

I watched as Howard faked left and went right but Caspar had seen it and didn't fall for things as often as Howard, his perception impeccable. Soon Caspar had made another shot and scored a three-pointer, making Howard finally give in as they walked over towards us and Howard fell into the grass panting.

"I'd hate to play you guys in a real game." David said watching as Caspar sat down beside me. "If this was a real game I doubt the opposing team would have any spirit left." Howard said from his spot in the grass, drinking from a water bottle he had. "Next game we should switch teams." Oliver said as Ricky piped in, "Yeah! It's not fair that me and Oliver have to be on different teams seeing as we are a hundred times better when we're playing together." He said leaning against Oliver.

I couldn't tell if those two were in a relationship or if they were just really good friends but they were seriously confusing.

"So next time I'll have Oliver and Ricky on my team and you have David and Gavin?"  Caspar asked Howard who nodded, "Just give me a few more minutes." Howard said still slightly breathless. I wondered how long him and Caspar had been playing basketball if they were both this good at it.