His Choice

Chapter 13: Did I Mention

I'm baaaack 😁🦋🖤👸🏾 I'm trying to finish the story as quickly as possible now. No worries though!

It took Jay and Carlos twenty minutes to chase down Ben and drag him to the locker room for the big game. As soon as Mal was out of sight, Ben was basically back to normal. He focused on warming up for the game and getting into his uniform. No one would suspect he had taken a love potion.

Carlos was leaving the locker room to find Evie and Mal so they could watch the game together when he heard someone shout, "de Vil!" The coach threw him a jersey, knocking him in the head with it, and told Carlos welcome to the team. A part of him was glad he was part of a team; the other part of him glared at the "101" on the back of the jersey. How clever. So he joined the rest of the team in the locker room again and prepared for the game.

When the team filed out onto the field to begin the game, Carlos headed straight for the bench and didn't move from that spot the entire length of the game. He spotted Mal and Evie in the crowd easily (they were the only two not obnoxiously decked out in blue and yellow colors to support the team), and waved to them. The remainder of his time on the bench was spent watching the game, but mostly letting his mind wander.

There were only forty-seven seconds left on the clock and the score was all tied up. Although Carlos was relieved he never stepped foot on the field, Jay was itching to get in the action. Jay hadn't been called in either, the coach told him he was saving him for the perfect opportunity. The coach said nothing to Carlos.

"Go get 'em, Chad," Jay encouraged the prince as he put down his water bottle.

"Thanks, Jay," Chad replied, surprised the villain kid was supporting him. He ran back into the game, leaving the two boys on the bench once again.

The coach called one of the players off the field and turned to Jay, a stick outstretched in his hand.

"You're up."

Jay hesitated. Then he stood, yanking Carlos up by his jersey with him.

"Coach, how about my buddy here?"

Carlos freed himself from the taller boy's grip with an "oh no," and sat back on the bench.

The coach looked weary, "I'm not so sure about that."

"Coach, he's been practicing," Jay pushed, grabbing Carlos off the bench again, slinging an arm around his shoulders so he couldn't escape.

"Jay," Carlos warned.

"And you said yourself; a team is made up of a bunch of parts."

"Jay, I'm not that good," Carlos interrupted again.

"Well, he's kinda like my brain," Jay said looking at Carlos fondly and ruffling his hair.

The coach sighed and called off another player. Oh no. Carlos would have to actually play now.

"You heard him, get out there!" The coach told Carlos with a smile.

"Don't worry bro," Jay said turning his face back to Carlos. "I got your back."

"How about my front?" Carlos asked terrified, looking up at him.

Jay let out a laugh and pushed him onto the field before grabbing his tourney stick and following him.

"They're bringing that pot-head Jay in from the Isle of the Lost and that little guy Carlos who can barely hold the shield!" Carlos did his best to block out the announcer as he jogged over to the rest of the team.

Ben made a brief pep talk about how the main goal is to have fun, and whether they won or lost they would still remain proud of their season. With a loud "BREAK!" the team separated and the play commenced.