We Come Alive 5

Snapback

Saturday morning, Hurst and Ricky called a practice for the players and them to have a relaxing day of both work and play. Baylor heard his phone alarm going off, so he got up, took a shower, got dressed, and walked to the front of the house. He gave small greetings to his family, but gave the warmest one to his sister in the kitchen with his breakfast.

Bianca handed Baylor the paper bag full of his food for his walk to the school. Baylor took it and thanked her, but his attention was ultimately taken when he saw his brother sitting at the kitchen table cleaning Baylor's old gun.

"What did you do?" Baylor asked, reaching into his breakfast bag and pulling out a breakfast sandwich, taking a big bite out of it.

Oscar glanced at Baylor then back at the emptied out gun. "Has some business last night. Heard you're going to the championships." He nodded his head smiling. He looked at his baby brother and set the gun down on the table. Oscar got up and grabbed the back of Baylor's neck.

Baylor tightened up under his brother's grip, but smiled hearing what his brother said next.

"I'm proud of you. I'll make sure we watch you play." Oscar smiled. "You're doing pretty good out there. Better make it to the pros, too. Get these leeches out my house."

"It's my house." Bianca corrected, but smiled at her brothers. "Get going, Baylor, before you're late."

Baylor padded his brother on the back then gathered his stuff and walked out the house. His entire walk to the school, Baylor just ate his food and threw the garbage out in the same trash can he always threw it out in when he walked past a park with kids playing.

When Baylor got to the school, he saw some of the other players in the parking lot heading inside to the gym where the meeting was being held.

"Man of the hour!" Ethan clapped, hopping out of Diego's truck and taking his crutches out. "You killed it last night."

Baylor chuckled and turned his hat backwards on his head so he could see their faces. "Thanks. Appreciate it."

Diego walked alongside Ethan and Stephen inside the school while a four-door car pulled up and parked next to them. They looked back and watched Clover and Jose get out of Clover's car and rush to follow them inside.

"So y'all finally gonna stop begging me for rides?" Diego asked, holding the door open for them to go inside.

"No." Clover scoffed. "Gas is expensive. I can't pay that all the time."

Diego rolled his eyes, listening to them agree with her. When they walked in, they saw Hurst and Ricky waiting on all of them to come and sit along the far wall where Danny was telling them to sit down to talk. When he walked in, Ethan saw Hurst and Ricky waving him over. He walked over and nodded his head for Jose to come with him.

"You have some dedication to come to the game yesterday and to the practice today." Hurst admitted. "I'll give it to you, you're better at coming on time than some of the active players."

Ethan shrugged and wiggled his boot around as it hovered over the floor. "It keeps me busy. I'm kinda cool with it."

Ricky looked at Ethan sympathetically. "We know this gives you a reason to get out the facility, but you have to face your demons eventually."

Ethan shook his head frowning. "No, I don't!" He laughed. "This is what I always tell people; I say if you've got issues, I say run from them and run from them as fast as you can for as long as you can. If you run from them, they won't ever— No! If you run from them fast enough, they won't ever catch you."

Jose padded Ethan shoulder and agreed with him. "No, no, no. If you run from them consistently enough, you gain the stamina to keep running from them."