Chase & Adrienne

24

CHASE

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

This is the first time this season that I'm on the bench during crunch time, and I am pissed. We have three minutes to go, and we're down by 10. If North Stone pulls any farther ahead of us, we are going to lose this game. We need to be first in our district, otherwise we risk not making it to State. I have been working toward State for as long as I can remember. It's been in my sights since the day I learned how to dribble a basketball, back when that thing was nearly as big as I was. 

My simmering anger reaches a boil as I watch Luke out on the court, running around with the ball, as I sit here in dress shoes and a button-down shirt. It hurts to watch them lose and not be able to do anything about it. My sideline-coaching isn't gonna make a shred of difference, whether I like it or not. I catch Coach Z. looking at me for the fifth time tonight, about to tell me to get in the game, only to quickly remember that I can't. He exhales through his nose and returns his attention to the court. 

C'mon, guys, I urge my teammates silently. This is our game.

My silent prayers must work somehow because the team gets pretty fired up. We start doing really well, draining shots from the perimeter and getting two fast breaks. Before I know it, we're back in it. The roaring of the student section spurs us on, and I spot Adrienne among the cheering faces. She's not sitting with the usual group, but at least she's not sitting by herself. I watch helplessly as she cheers happily when Luke scores a layup. Pride shines in her eyes. I look over at Carmen and the guys. They're having the time of their lives, coming up with absurd cheers and waving around brightly-colored towels. Their excitement is contagious, and I can't help but smile and hoot along with them from the bench. 

With 10.2 seconds left in the game, we're only down by 3. It's our ball. Coach calls a time out, and we all huddle up, listening intently as a game-winning play is drawn up. It's given to Luke, who is supposed to make a 3 to tie the game, sending us to overtime. He only has time for one shot. I look over at him. Luke's nervous. I can see it in his eyes, even though he's trying really hard not to show it. I can see it because I've been there. The way your feet tingle and your arms feel like jelly. There's always the possibility that you just can't get open or that you just plain miss. Life isn't like the movies, especially when it comes to sports. Just because it would be epic if you swish the game-winning shot doesn't automatically mean it's going in. That's not how it works in the real world. People miss, no matter the stakes. I pray that Luke doesn't. As much as I hate him, he is a very skilled three-point shooter. If anyone's gonna make it under this kind of pressure, it's him. Luke can have his moment of glory if it means we win. 

"'Together' on three! One! Two! Three!"

"TOGETHER!" 

We break out of our huddle. Luke jogs onto the court haughtily as I plop down in my seat. 

Don't show off, I scold him silently. Get in focus-mode, man.

The other team joins us on the court, and the ref hands Andre the basketball to inbound. He slaps it hard, looking to pass to Luke. However, he's already made a couple threes this game, so Luke is up against North Stone's best defender. Instead, Andre kicks it out to our point guard, John, who sets up our second option. Luke cuts across the lane, leading his man into a screen by our big man, Todd. Luke gets himself wide open in the corner. John delivers the ball to him. Luke sets his feet and shoots. The entire gym holds its breath as the ball sails through the air, the clock ticking down like a detonator. 

The buzzer goes off as the ball is still in the air, its sound piercing through the silent gym. From my split-second assessment, the arch is good. His form his good. But the shot is slightly off, clunking off of the rim and falling to the ground. The opposing fans leap out of their seats, cheering loudly and flooding the court. They pick up their team's star players and hoist them up on their shoulders, parading them around the gym.