Chapter 40: Breaking Point

The fifth day at The Peak had arrived, and Alex was beginning to feel the full weight of the camp's demands. His muscles screamed from the relentless pace, and mentally, he was running on fumes. But there was no room for complaints or rest. This was what separated the players who would make it from those who wouldn't.

The morning session began like clockwork, with intense drills aimed at honing every aspect of their game—shooting, defense, footwork. Coach Keller's voice echoed across the court, urging the players to dig deeper. His piercing eyes never missed a misstep.

"Parker! Faster footwork! You're too slow on that cut!" Keller yelled as Alex finished a defensive drill.

Alex's chest burned, his lungs aching for air. But the coach's words pushed him harder. He couldn't afford to slip now. Not when he felt he was finally starting to find his groove. Yet, as the day wore on, the fatigue became harder to ignore.

By mid-afternoon, during their scrimmages, Alex found himself matched up against Trey again. The animosity between them had only grown, fueled by Trey's constant needling and Alex's determination to prove himself.

"C'mon, Parker, show me what you got!" Trey taunted, dribbling the ball near the top of the key. His confident smirk was infuriating.

Alex crouched low, focusing on Trey's every movement. He anticipated Trey's drive, his legs moving quickly as he mirrored his opponent's steps. But Trey was crafty. He feigned right, then crossed over to his left in one smooth motion, leaving Alex a step behind.

Trey exploded past him, leaping into the air for a layup.

Without thinking, Alex lunged after him, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. His arm shot out to contest the shot, but as his hand swiped downward, he made contact with Trey's forearm.

The sharp whistle from Coach Keller cut through the air. "Foul!" Keller called out, glaring at Alex. "Too aggressive, Parker. Keep your head in the game."

Alex clenched his fists in frustration, biting back a retort. Trey made a show of rubbing his arm, exaggerating the contact.

"Easy there, Parker," Trey said, his grin mocking. "We all know you're trying, but maybe take it down a notch."

Alex's blood boiled, but he kept his mouth shut. He couldn't let Trey get to him. Not now. Not with so much at stake.

---

Later that evening, the exhaustion hit Alex like a brick wall. After hours of scrimmaging and running drills, he barely had enough energy to drag himself back to the cabin. His bunk had never looked more inviting, but even as he lay there, staring at the ceiling, sleep wouldn't come.

The weight of the camp pressed on him—his mistakes, his near-misses, the constant pressure to be perfect. It was relentless. The competition was fierce, and no matter how hard he tried, he felt like he was constantly playing catch-up.

He rolled over and grabbed his phone, scrolling through his messages. Mia had texted him again earlier, asking how things were going. He wanted to tell her everything—the frustration, the exhaustion, the doubt that was starting to creep in. But instead, he just typed: "Still fighting. It's tough, but I'll get there."

As soon as he hit send, he felt a surge of guilt. Mia believed in him, Coach Harris believed in him, even Coach Keller had seen potential in him. But was that enough? Was he enough?

The door to the cabin swung open, and Trey walked in, whistling to himself like he hadn't just spent hours battling on the court. He caught sight of Alex lying on his bed and chuckled.

"Tough day, Parker?" Trey asked, kicking off his shoes.

Alex didn't respond, turning over to face the wall. He wasn't in the mood for Trey's gloating.

"Look," Trey continued, his tone surprisingly less cocky, "I get it. This place is brutal. But you've got to toughen up. No one's going to give you anything here. You've got to take it. You want to be a star at Oregon? You've got to start acting like one."

Alex turned back to face him, narrowing his eyes. "I don't need your advice, Trey."

Trey shrugged, unfazed. "Suit yourself. But trust me, if you keep playing scared, you're not going to make it."

With that, Trey pulled out his headphones, popped them in, and lay down on his bed, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts.

The words stung because there was truth in them. Alex had been playing cautiously, second-guessing himself at every turn. And at this level, that hesitation was fatal.

---

The next morning, Alex was the first one out on the court, determined to change the narrative. The early morning chill hung in the air, but Alex welcomed it. He needed to clear his head before the rest of the camp woke up.

He spent the next hour working on his shot, perfecting his form, and pushing through the fatigue. He knew the drills they'd be running later that day, and he was determined to be ready. He couldn't afford to let Trey—or anyone else—outshine him again.

As the sun started to rise, more players began to trickle onto the courts, and soon the day's training began. But Alex was ready. From the first whistle, he attacked every drill with a renewed focus. His movements were sharper, his decisions quicker, and his confidence surged with each success.

When the scrimmages started, he found himself matched up with Trey again. This time, though, Alex didn't let Trey get in his head. He stayed locked in, playing smart and aggressive without overreaching.

Trey drove to the basket, just like he had the day before, but this time Alex anticipated the move. He slid his feet quickly, cutting off Trey's angle. When Trey tried to pull up for a jumper, Alex was right there with him, contesting the shot without fouling.

The ball clanged off the rim, and Alex leaped for the rebound, ripping it down with authority. He pushed the ball up the court, scanning for an open teammate. When no one was open, he took it himself, driving to the basket with a burst of speed that caught the defense off guard.

He powered through the contact, laying the ball in off the glass. As the whistle blew, signaling the end of the play, Alex felt a surge of adrenaline. He had beaten Trey. Fair and square.

"Nice play," Santos called from the sidelines, giving Alex a nod of approval.

Trey, on the other hand, was uncharacteristically quiet. He didn't have a snarky remark or a cocky grin this time. Instead, he just gave Alex a curt nod and jogged back on defense.

The rest of the day followed suit. Alex was playing with more confidence, more aggression, and it showed. He wasn't perfect—there were still mistakes, moments where he missed a defensive rotation or took a bad shot—but overall, he was holding his own.

By the end of the day, Coach Keller pulled him aside again.

"Better, Parker," Keller said, his tone less harsh than usual. "You're starting to figure it out. Keep this up, and you'll be ready for Oregon."

Alex nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment he hadn't felt in days. The pressure was still there, but for the first time since arriving at The Peak, Alex felt like he belonged.

---

That night, as he lay in his bunk, sore and exhausted but satisfied, Alex checked his phone again. There was another message from Mia.

"Keep pushing, Alex. You've got this."

This time, his response was simple but honest: "I will."

With a small smile, Alex put his phone down and closed his eyes, ready for whatever tomorrow would bring.