Airball

Chapter 27 - Team Dinner

February 27, 2020.

I dribbled the ball around at the top of the court, keeping it away from the opposing team as the clock winded down. I watched as the time ran down and my team won what could be the last scrimmage game of the season.

"Okay, bring it in, bring it in," Coach Hendrix said, and we gathered around him. "Good practice as always everyone. As you know, it's only the JV team playing tomorrow night, so I'm mainly talking to my JV players here. We're facing Southridge, which is the number 1 team in the league, so it'll be a tough game. If we win it, we make the playoffs, but if we lose we're out. So this may be our last practice together for this season, and if it is I want you all to know how proud I am of you and how far you've all came. It wasn't a perfect season and there were definetely some bumps along the way, but I think it made each of you mature and reconfigure yourselves as a team. We're going to do everything we can to win tomorrow but whether we do or not, it's been a pleasure coaching you all. I can't wait to see you all again next season. Alright now, Blake, I'd like you to lead the chant for us."

"Yeah, Blake!" said some of my teammates, since it was the first time I would be leading the chant. Usually Gavin or Jackson would do it.

"Cobras on three!" I said, kneeling in the center of the circle as everyone stacked their hands on my head.

"One, two, three, Cobras!" everyone echoed, lifting their hands up all at once.

I waited for everyone to disperse before standing up and entering the locker room. I opened my locker, slipped on my sweatshirt, and slung my bag around my shoulder. I closed the locker back and was heading out of the locker room when Cam stepped in front of me.

"I was hoping we'd catch you," he said as Nathan and Max joined him.

"We're going out to a team dinner at Shake Shack," Nathan explained. "Care to join us?"

"I'd love to, but I was just going to—"

"Go home and be lonely?" Wesley guessed, coming from behind me.

"Or spending the whole night practicing too much and pushing yourself too hard?" Max added.

"It's a team dinner," said Jackson, who also walked up from behind me. "You're part of the team. This is mandatory for you."

"Besides," said Wesley. "We all know how good of a team Southridge is. Chances are we get blown out of the water, and so this might be our last chance for a team dinner."

"You guys have got to stop cornering me and group peer pressuring me into stuff," I told them as I tried to suppress a smile.

"Or you could just agree to come with us, and we wouldn't have to put forth the effort," Cam said.

"Fine," I finally gave in. "Let's go."

My teammates congratulated each other on successfully convincing me to come, and then we were off. Jackson managed to convince his dad to come along, who in turn convinced Coach Myers to come as well. That way, we had two cars which meant that everyone going could have a ride. Hendrix's car could fit seven people while Myers' could fit five. I went with Nathan, Cam, Mac, and Coach Myers in Myers' car while Jackson, Maia, Wesley, Xavier, Finn, Chance, and Coach Hendrix went in Hendrix's car.

"Oh man," said Fred when we walked into the diner. "I don't know if I have enough food to feed all of you lot.

Hendrix and Myers both looked as if they didn't know whether to take him seriously or not, so I stepped up.

"My boy!" Fred exclaimed, seeing me for the first time. "So this must be your team here."

"Sure is," I replied, gesturing to everyone behind me. "So, is the big booth available?"