Airball

Chapter 25 - No More Distractions

February 20, 2020.

The final buzzer sounded to end the game. The score was 48-54, and we'd barely lost. Including the loss yesterday and the one on Valentine's Day, that made three in a row, which was really hurting out chances of making the playoffs. I didn't even know what we were doing wrong, either. I didn't have an problems with anyone I was on the court with, especially since I had made up with Cam, Nathan, and Max. The only person on the team that I did have a problem with was Chance, and we were never on the court together. So what was going wrong?

On the bright side of the week, things with me and Harper were going great. It wasn't official or anything and we hadn't told anyone, but we had been hanging out and talking a alot, both in person and through FaceTime. I didn't know why I hadn't told anyone yet, because I really did like her. I guess I just didn't want to deal with the drama. Plus, I wanted to see if it would last.

"We just have to win Monday's game," Wesley said after the game. "As long as we win that one and the next, we'll be in the playoffs. If we lose either one, though, we're out for the season."

"Hey."

I turned around to see Coach Hendrix standing behind us. He looked at Wesley and then to me.

"A word, Blake?" he said.

"Oh, sure," I replied, and I followed him across the court.

"What is it?" I asked him when we stopped.

"I just wanted to ask you about your performance," Hendrix said, frowning. "You're not doing bad or anything, but I have noticed a shift in the past couple of games."

"My performance is declining?"

"You've just seemed a little... distracted," the coach said. "I just wanted to know if it's something at home, or with the lineup you're in..."

"No!" I said quickly. "No, it's nothing like that. Don't worry Coach, I'll fix it. I'll be in top shape in practice tomorrow and Monday's game."

"Great," said Hendrix. "That's all I needed to hear."

He clapped me on the back and I walked back over to Wesley.

"What'd he say to you?" asked Wesley as we walked over to the concession table.

"Basically that I need to step my game up for Monday," I replied as Wesley fished his pockets for change.

Wesley handed the guy behind the table a crumpled up dollar he'd found and came away with a candy bar. "That's crazy. It wasn't your fault we lost the game."

"Ah, maybe he's right," I said. "I should be giving the team more of my attention. I am a starter, after all."

Wesley just shrugged and followed me as I headed toward the locker room. "So, what're your plans?"

I unlocked my locker and grabbed my bag, slinging it around my shoulder. "I gotta get home so my dad doesn't get all suspicious again. Then I'll spend some time on homework and maybe get some practice time in."

"I can join you if you'd like."

"Thanks, but I need to do it on my own," I told him. "Anyway, I'm off."

"Alright, see you tomorrow."

An hour later I laid on my back, trying to get the new vocabulary into my head for English class tomorrow. After going through all the words on the list twice, I decided to switch gears and work on memorizing the new plays the coach had emailed me. There were two games left until the playoffs, and so we weren't really focusing on new plays as much as switching around the old ones for teams we'd already played. We were now facing teams we'd already faced, and they'd already know our previously plays and so we just needed to change them around enough to keep them on their toes.