The Hive

12

An hour before the game started they started stretches and then jogging around the outer court. The Bulldogs, a ragtag little bunch, ran the opposite way, ignoring the glared they got from the Hornets.

Coach gave the same look to Wally. "Sorry," She said quickly, "Do you need anything from me before I leave Coach?" She shook her head and waved her away. Wally sighed as soon as she was back in the locker room. Less than a year, she reminded herself. Sitting in the box for a little over an hour would all be worth it.

Bulldogs won the coin toss. They served it all the way to their fastest, which Wally was sure to write down, Warren 08. He tossed it to Fields 11 who had gotten closer to the goal while he tried to out maneuver Natalia. He shot the ball to her and she slammed it toward the goal. Sasha caught it easily and tossed it to Natalia who took off running down the court and tossed it to Alina.

The Bulldogs fought like madmen but still found themselves a point or two behind. Wally watched Sasha block goal after goal and Alina make them, overwhelming the opposing goalie. It didn't help that she was destined to have the ball. It was a weakness in the team she was not allowed to address. Alina must make the most points every time.

She jogged down to the locker room at half time, the team gathered around her and Coach. She left her side to check on Joan, who'd had a brief scuffle with one of the Bulldog defenders who'd swung on Alina.

The only damage was bruised knuckles. She kissed her hand discreetly and turned back to listen to her notes on the other team. Coach read every single one. Wally felt a little more important.

But soon it was time for her to retreat to watching the screens in the viewing box and listen to sports commentators named something along the lines of Chad and Dave or something like that go make offhanded comments about players. They didn't notice the little details. Even on screen Wally could see the Bulldog goalie limping from a high-speed ball that had slammed her in the left leg. Or how the shortest of the Bulldogs, a left field shooter, constantly tried to trip everyone in his path.

Wally noticed. And thanks to her notes, her team now noticed too. They shot goals on the goalie's left and one of their defenders knocked the wind out of the left field shooter after slamming him into the all hard enough to make his head spin and sent him off the court.

By the time the second half was halfway over, they were in a five point lead, three fourths of the way over they had a three point lead. Wally grew nervous. No one got that close to the Hornets that close to the end of the game. She stared at Sasha who shook out her hand, it was giving her pain. Of course.

She jogged down to the bench and cleared her throat. "Sasha's missing her goal because of her hands." Coach raised an eyebrow and looked at Sasha who missed a goal by a mere inch and quickly shook out her hands again. She blew her whistle and hit the glass, calling for a time out.

She grabbed Sasha as soon as she stepped off the ice and squeezed her hand. She winced. "If you can't effectively guard the goal, let someone know. We're playing it close because you can't get over a little injury! Go get changed and don't come out until the game is over." Sasha looked at Wally before she nodded and jogged into the locker room.

Coach turned to look at Wally, then back at the viewing box. "I see, I'll-" she put a hand on her shoulder to stop her, pointing to her side. "Your observation skills obviously catch things these aging eyes cannot. Stay." Wally nodded and said nothing but couldn't stop bouncing as she watched the game finish, the new goalie expanding the point gap until finished with a comfortable five point lead.

12-17 in the Hornet's favor.

The stands erupted and Wally wouldn't help but throw herself at Alina, fresh off the court and covered in sweat as they stomped in unison. She'd seen this unfold year after year from the viewing box but on the floor it was exhilarating. Watching her team beam and congratulate each other. Coach pointed out Alina and Natalia for press duty after they did the obligatory good game lineup nonsense Wally didn't see the point of. Instead she moved to the locker room.

"Sasha!" Despite the noise outside, it was silent in the locker room. She looked down the rows and found them empty. She quickly moved to the showers and tried again, hearing no water running. "Sasha! Sasha where are you?" She looked at her armor, discarded on the ground beside the trashcan. She rushed over to her locker and found her day clothes gone. Her mind moved back to her apology and her stomach flipped. She was about to do something she'd deeply regret and Wally hadn't a clue what it was.

So she said nothing of her disappearance, instead she waited for the girls to finish showering but not before shouting came from outside.

"Lucille Hart, you are under arrest for..." the girl's locker room was silent as Wally pushed open her office door and barged through the other door leading to the outer ring of the stadium where all the concessions were located. The police had Coach against the wall. Coach looked at her and flicked her eyes toward the man cuffing her. Wally knew what she wanted but there were so many people and the guns on their belt couldn't help but intimidate her.

Officer number two picked up on it. Maybe not exactly what she was asking but that she was trying to speak with her. "Do you need help finding your parents? I'm sorry kiddo you can't be here right-" "I am eighteen years of age! Thank you very much. Now what are you doing with my Coach?" The police officer frowned, "You're part of this team? We're going to need everyone involved with Coach Hart to come with us for questioning." Wally looked between them, watching her be escorted away. She pulled the door shut but the officer stopped it with his foot. "Stop there are people dressing in here!" He sighed, "There are officers posted at all the doors, don't think about leaving. Let me know when everyone is dressed."

She pulled Alina right out of the shower. "They're arresting Coach. They're- they've got her in cuffs. Alina I'm-" Alina shrugged, "Our lawyer is equipped for this. Don't worry about it, okay?" Wally shook her head, having drawn everyone's attention now. Before she had time to speak a female officer stood in the doorway, "We need all of you to dress now and come with us. Quickly please ladies." Alone looked a little more panicked but she took a deep breath and smiled.