Chapter 11 - Lone Stars Part.3

As the crowd screams the Monarchs, the right corner tunnel lights the fog up in a red tone. A shadow of a man illuminates in the tunnel as he ominously walks toward the court. Despite the crowd yelling, to the King's players, it's like you can hear each individual step he takes. It strikes fear in each step. Meanwhile, while he ominous steps, the announcer yells out the team name: The Carter High Knights. The rest of the players enter the court with excitement and holler, while the shadow casually jogs out the fog, it's Thomas Mallory with a confident smirk smitten on his face. To him, this is all but certain Carter High's victory.

Jonathan looks with a serious look in his eyes. He's prepared for this moment for the past three weeks. He was gonna make sure his effort was not in vain. Without hesitation, he heads to the center of the court to meet up with the referee. Mallory heads eventually, much to the Referee's annoyance.

"Alright, gentleman. You know the rules and I expect them to be followed. Shake on it." the referee says.

The two reluctantly shake each other's hands. Any other game, sure, but this is a rivalry. History that surpasses their parents and will surpass them eventually. This is more than a game to them. They gaze into each other's eyes. Nothing but hatred for one another.

"Then the Lone Star Classic is underway!" the Referee exclaimed. The crowd erupts as both captains head back to their respective benches.

"Okay, let's go win this game guys!" Jonathan says.

"Right!" the rest of the team says. Teddy takes a seat down on the bench. Meanwhile, Marcus, Veronica, and the rest of the squads, look down at the game happening underway in the VIP lounge suites. The room is filled with a buffet, an non-alcoholic bar, and multiple TVs showcasing the game being broadcasted regionally.

Marcus places his food of chicken and veggies on his table. He's focused on Veronica as she has not gotten anything since they arrived at their seats. He of course sat next to her, but ever since the Raymond event, he's seemed to have attracted attention for hanging out with the eccentric Teddy Walker who also built a reputation from that. Most people are very respectful of him and he even has some acquaintances. Out of fear of Teddy or something, who knows? He's glad to be treated as a normal student and not someone with a constant target on their back for kicks.

"You okay, V?", Marcus said which ended up startling her a bit.

"Ah, yeah Mo. I'm fine, just not hungry."

He hands out a water bottle. "Then at least not be thirsty."

She accepts it. "Thanks, Marcus." She looks away from his direction quickly after glancing at his face.

"No problem. Just let me know if you need anything. All games we are best of five, right? Meaning our team needs to win three to win."

"Right. We just need to trust that Teddy's plan will work."

Meanwhile, in this first game in this match, King's Academy is plumeeling the mess of Carter High's defenses, leaving them to win the first game. The King's Academy bench looks very happy with taking the first game. Three of the Starting Five that we all know: Jonathan, Amelia, Taigen, look happy with the result.

"Guess we should never doubt Teddy the Tactician," a bench player playfully states. However, Teddy is not smiling. You would think with how well that game, you would've thought you could get a smirk out of the man.

Marcus and Veronica see Teddy's face and then both look at each other in agreement that he was not happy with the result. "Knowing him, he's not entirely happy with it." Marcus states. "I got to talk with him and I think he stated something to me about his thought process with the game plan."

There are three main factors to his process: teamwork, randomness, and the mental game. Dodgeball is as much a reactionary game as it is a game where you have to adapt, improvise, and survive. Survive like you have to fend off against a hungry lion naked.

"He didn't expect me to understand at all, but after spending a while with him. I can understand why he thinks the plan is lacking." Marcus states.

"How so?" Veronica asks. Marcus begins to break it down for Veronica to understand.

"Teamwork is lacking. I can understand why but Taigen is not in sync with the rest of the team despite his skill, even towards his sync with Jonathan. I think I heard he has beef with Jonathan, but I'm not sure. Next, randomness, we all know our friend, Teddy is very…..different. But I think that's a part of his charm, you can never know what he's fully thinking even if you are on the right track. If the game plan doesn't switch up, sooner or later, Thomas Mallory will catch up." Marcus points toward the Carter High bench.

Thomas Mallory, despite the overwhelming first game, seems more than confident he has this in the bag. He is seen talking with his teammates, seemingly giving them a pep talk. A devilish smirk arises from his face. Sounds like a problem.

"Anyway, continuing to the last one, the mental game, I'm not so sure what he wants. But knowing him, I think he just wants to get into the opponent's head. We will see it through."

"Yeah." Veronica pauses for a moment. "Hey Marcus…"

"Yeah, V?"

He looks at her with expectancy. She thinks about the convo she had with Teddy not too long ago about her growing feelings with Marcus. How she wants to get to know him even more, how she wants him, and how she wants him to want her back as well.

But would this really be the best time?

"Hahaha, sorry Marcus. It slipped my mind, I'll ask you again when I remember ...."

"It's no problem, Veronica. You can ask me anything, really."

Anything? Seems too good to be true. For now, she will enjoy the game with him. If anything else, this would feel like a date. One day, she wants to have an official one that's mutual on both parties. One day.

Meanwhile, the second game is spicing up as each is neck and neck. Both team coaches and captains put their first foot forward to ensure their team's success.

Teddy, however, is fast asleep. Knocked out cold. And no one seems to notice. Like a master of the background, he does not stand out. However, he is abruptly woken up by Coach Juggernaut, furious by his seemingly lack of care in the game.

"And you wonder why you have so few minutes to play in the game!" the coach yells.

"Because I almost risk a finger and sight at a shot in this roster?"

"Because when it's time to show up, someone else does the dirty work! The plan may have been yours, but who do you think has found the best implementation of it huh?

Teddy unfazed says, "It's to you, Coach, besides focus on the game, look."

As he says that, Jonathan, the last player standing with only one chance left, is hit with a ball. That's a game win for Carter High. It's one-to-one.

"Predictable." Thomas says slyly. "You Kingsmen and Women are all so predictable. Expect this for the next two games, don't even count on game 5." He then walks away to his side of the bench.

This next game comes as quickly as it goes as with the plan patterns being analyzed by Mallory, any futile attempt King's Academy tried on the third game never worked out. For the first time in 20 years in the Lone Star Classic, the Monarchs are the ones not in the lead.

"Heh. We're boned it seems." Teddy chuckles. It's time to start adjusting the strategy. They've adapted to the plan quickly and have started a counter-attack. Teddy expected this to happen, however, as a smirk is placed on his face. The smirk of victory.

"Jonathan, Coach." The two look at the bench boy. Teddy wrapped his arm around Taigen's neck, bringing him closer to the man. "He is our ticket to success."

Taigen looks around as the rest of the team looks at him as he appears shocked. "...ME?!"

"Dude, you're the number one youth player in Japan."

"...T-That's more of a title than anything. It's all fluff! The country is in the middle of the pack for this sport!"

Teddy pushes Taigen forward in front of the circle surrounding him slowly.

"N-No….Teddy stop this." Teddy slaps him. It wasn't a particularly hard slap, but a slap that you could almost feel the anger from.

"I need you to get into game mode! Don't you wanna impress Amelia?" Amelia overhears this and is taken aback. It felt like she didn't have a say in this. She almost feels hurt from this. Taigen's gaze diverts from her as Teddy puts his hand around his shoulder. "See what happens when secrets like this are kept, team chemistry is grinded to a halt."

Since Co-Ed Dodgeball came into play in league and sporting organizations, one topic always came up, dynamics between male and female players. How would that affect the game? Sometimes negatively and positively, but ultimately it's best to figure it out with somebody on your team and talk it out. It's never okay to bottle your feelings up.

"Taigen, do you like me? How long have you?" Amelia looked with a hint of disappointment.

"Hold on, Amelia," Jonathan interjects, "We should save this for another time, we are far too deep into this game and we are facing defeat if we don't pull it together."

Suddenly, another bench player shows to Coach Juggernaut, "Coach put us five in the next game, to give the starting five to recuperate."

Teddy nods. "I agree, besides they think we are good enough to put substitutions in."

"Fair enough, you two."

Everything rides on this next game. It's either go big or go home. The crowd roars for the ultimate potential comeback. So much is at stake. Everyone on the team knows this.

Mallory knows this. Which is why he's preparing to bring total despair onto the King's Academy.

"It's finally time, Knights! Time to usurp the throne once and for all!"