Twenty-One

Weeks later, Mr. Eric called a meeting before we start our classes. This time we went to the room where the first meeting was held. The room where Mr. Eric recruited me to be part of their team.

Where it all started.

"I know Asher already told you about today." he started. Mr. Eric and I were at the front of the team.

"Wait." Jason popped. "Asher, you told us something?" he asked. Mr. Eric looked at me, confused. I glanced at him before looking back at Jason.

"Yes, Jason. I told you, all of you, that we're about to know your first opponent."

"Ah." he realized.

"Alright. As I said, or what Asher said, your first opponent will be revealed now. In fact, I already received it." Mr. Eric continued. He puts out an envelope and gave it to me. I was stilled for a moment and he told me that he would let me announce it.

I nodded at him and opened the envelope. My eyes squinted while I read the words out loud. "Brixton Course Academy.." I said. I confusingly looked at Mr. Eric.

"What's a Brixton Cord?" I asked, confused. He shook his head and grabbed the envelope that I was holding. "No, it's Brixton Course." he corrected and read also the name in the envelope.

He gave the envelope back to me and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Basically, that's um...the powerhouse school in our town." he gulped.

"The powerhouse school?" Roller repeated. I looked at Mr. Eric before he answered. He took a breath first then leaned back to the table behind him and nodded. All of them exclaimed and worried that they might lose this year's match.

It's our last year here at this school and of course, my classmates also wanted this year to be memorable to them. Since this is the last time they'll have each other as a team, they don't want to waste any moment that will pass.

They want to grab the opportunity of fighting as a team for the last time.

It is our last year here and some of them are my classmates since I was a freshmen. They joined this club ever since and they've been a part of this team for almost 4 years.

Now that I am a part of it, I also wanted them to have the greatest time. I want them to have fun and enjoy their last moments together. Mr. Eric dismissed the meeting and we all went to our designated classes.

In class, my mind is thinking about something.

Something that can boost the team's confidence, so that they will not worry or be frustrated anymore. And so that they can focus on training without their minds bothering them.

"Mr. Elcarpe." I heard Mr. Cole calling me. I got out of my deep thinking and looked at him. "Are you with us?"

I didn't realize that I wasn't paying attention in class. "Yeah, sorry." I responded. He nodded and proceeded on teaching us history. I took a deep breath and looked at the window.

Thinking again.

The team cancelled the training today because Mr. Eric had an emergency. So, I thought I could come home early because of the cancelled training. And that is where Archer called me while I was on my way to get the hell out of the school.

"Hey, Mr. Manager lover boy!" he called out. That quickly got my attention and looked at him. I unplugged my earphones and he was running towards me.

"What?" I asked, putting my earphones in my pocket.

"Can you go with me at the court?" he offered. I squinted my eyes and looked at him with suspicion.

"Why?"

"I need some company and there's literally no one else here around but you."

I looked at him for a moment, my eyes are still squinting. "No." I shortly answered then turned my back to walk away. He then ran in front of me to stop me and block my path.

"Come on, please. I just need to train." he begged and pressed his hands.

I shook my head, "But, Mr. Eric cancelled the training and we don't have the keys to access to the court."

He then grabbed something inside his pocket and showed it to me. It is the keys to the padlock and the door of the court. "I have the keys." he said, grinning while the keys are jangling on his hand.

I was dumbfounded "How did you-"

"Just please, Asher. Come with me." he begged again. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"What about your foot?"

"Well, do you see any cane around? None. I'm fine now."

I went silent for a moment. "Alright, fine. But, if we get caught, I promise you that I will definitely leave you behind." I warned. He smiled and quickly ran to the court. I then followed him afterwards.

Archer opened the door and went to switch the lights. He threw the keys at me and ran straight to the locker room. I went to the bench where I usually sit and dropped my bag to the floor then laid down, pretending that the bench is my bed. I looked up to the ceiling and sighed.

Moments passed and I didn't know I fell asleep. I was woken up by a large bounce that I heard. My eyes immediately opened and saw Archer in front of me. I got up to sit and rubbed my eyes.

"What?" I said then stretched my arms. Archer bounced the ball he was holding and shot it to the ring. Then he went back and sat beside me.

"I need help." he smiled at me. My eyes widened and looked at him.

"Help?" I repeated, my eyebrows raised.

"Mm-hmm." he nodded.

I stared at him for a moment. "What help?" I asked. He stood up to pick the ball he shot earlier and ran to me while dribbling it.

"It's just simple. You pass me the ball, I shoot it, then you pick it up, pass it to me again, and I'll shoot it again. Understood?" he explained with actions. Dumbfounded by what he said, I was speechless and just looked at him.

"You want me to pass the ball to you?" I confusingly asked. He chuckled and repeated the whole thing. I then agreed to do it. I mean I have no choice, like literally.

I stood up beside the ball trolley, where the balls are stocked and Archer stood inside the small circle at the court. It's like that is where they stand, sometimes, when doing the free-throw thingy.

"Alright, pass me one ball." he ordered. I took one from the trolley and throw it at him. He caught the ball but he didn't shoot it at the net. Instead, he glared at me.

Confused, I just stood in the spot and stared at him too. "What?" I shrugged. He threw the ball back to me and I caught it also, but his pass is faster than mine.

"Throw it again." he ordered again. I threw it at him again and he caught it. Still, he didn't shoot the ball. He threw it to me again.

"Why do you throw it like a dodgeball?" he shook his head, glaring at me.

"Then what throw do you want me to do? Like a grenade throw? Am I supposed to yell 'Incoming!' then cover my ears?"

Now he got mad. "Seriously?" he asked, still glaring at me. He took a deep breath like he was holding his anger and put his hands on his waist.

"This is basketball, alright? You pass the ball like a bullet. Hold the ball with your both hands, and then you throw it forward or depending on where your ally is." he explained.

"I don't-" I stuttered.

"Alright, fuck it." he said and walked towards me, shaking his head. He grabbed the ball that I was holding and showed me how the passing is done. "You hold it like this." he explained while holding the ball with his two hands on each side.

"Then if your teammate is at your front, you can pass it to them quickly." he said then thew the ball. It was fast and straight, like a bullet.

"Got it?" he asked. I didn't respond and just looked at him, I'm amazed, to be honest. "Okay, get another one."

I picked another ball and gave it to him. He explained it again step by step while I carefully watch. "Your turn. Do it." he said and gave me the third ball he is holding.

I held the ball with both hands on each side, just like what he said. I can see him nodding his head while looking at me with his hands in front of his chest. I then threw the ball straight forward. We both looked at the thrown ball.

Surprised, we both laughed, and then he went to pick up the ball. Now we went to real training. After he thought me how the passing is done, we continuously did it for 30 minutes and took a break.

Drinking the water bottle that I have left, I can feel Archer looking at me hilariously. I sighed and looked at him too. "What the serious-looking-hell is your problem?" I annoyingly asked.

He laughed hysterically while I am glaring at him. Still laughing, his water bottle dropped to the ground. Then he stopped laughing and turned to me.

"You-" he stopped and laughed again. "You just drank that water like you're the one who did the work." he said then laughed again.

I glared at him again. "You're laughing because of that?"

He nodded at me as an answer then laughed again. I shook my head and finished my drink. This guy is completely insane. I swear, if Archer entered a relationship, he'll do nothing but throw jokes or laugh. Or even murder his partner in his mind.

After that break, we went back to the training, but this time we did different kinds of it. He taught me a how to guide or support him while he does the training. We did it for 2 hours before leaving the court.

After closing the door behind me and locked it, I gave Archer the keys and we walked to go outside the school. Luckily, no one is around.

While walking, I saw the volleyball team also walking on their way outside. I stopped and looked at them.

"Hey!" I greeted them and waved my hand. They noticed me and they also waved their hands and greet me.

"Hey, Asher!"

"Hi, Ash!"

"Hey, shithead!"

I smiled at them and turned to walk outside. Archer was at the gate already. He is leaning at a wall and is busy with his phone. I walked to him and tapped his shoulders. "Let's go." I said.

Before completely walking, he glanced at the team at our back. He saw the volleyball team and looked at me. "Isn't that the girl that gave you the note?" he pointed with his thumb.

I looked at him and then peeked at the back. "Who? Candice?" I turned to him.

"I don't know a Candice, that's why I'm asking you." he said.

"Well, yeah. She is the girl who gave me the note. Candice."

He nodded as an agreement and proceeded walking. "So, you like her?" he then blurted. My eyes widened and I gulped before answering.

"No." I chuckled. "Of course not."

He squinted his eyes.

"Don't look at me like that." I said, annoyed at his teasing look. He chuckled, "You do like her." he said, still squinting his eyes.

"No, Archer. I don't. She's not my-my type."

"You don't have to deny it, Asher. I can see it in your eyes but, you don't believe me."

"How can you say that?"

He put his hands inside his jacket's pockets and sighed. "If you like a person, your body and your eyes will show it." he started. "That definite feeling that you are experiencing. I could see it while I was staring at you while you two talk that your smile is different."

"My smile?" I stopped him from talking. "How do you know about my smile."

"Why do you think I glare at you for the past few months."

And then that is where I realized why he was glaring at me during meetings. "You were observing me?" I unbelievably asked. He nodded and grinned.

"Seriously? Why?"

"Well, you're kinda different from the others. I mean all of them are like enjoying their beautiful last moments here at school, and you're just like chilling. It's like you're not bothered or anything." he stated.

Not bothered? If this guy only knew. Of course, I am bothered. My friends had a huge impact on my life, I quite changed ever since I met them. They are my source of happiness. They make me comfortable. They are like my second family. I treasure them a lot.

"I need you to help me again." he added. I looked at him, surprised. "By making friends."

"Making friends?" I repeated. He nodded again and I chuckled. "If you wanna make friends then you might want to hang out with nice people." I said, air quoting the word 'nice'.

"That's why I'm hanging out with you!" he blurted. "I mean, you're pretty easy to get along with."

"Well, of course. That's true." I smiled. "I'm pretty sure I am nice and also...handsome." I confidently said and winked.

He hilariously looked at me. "You are so fucking cocky." he said. I shook my head and chuckled.

"So, are you gonna help me?" he asked. I stayed silent for a moment before answering. I sighed and looked at him, "Okay." I said and nodded. "I'll help you make friends."

A smile painted his face while we are still on our way home.