Jacob’s classes before lunch seemed to inch by. When the bell rang, his nerves were nearly shot. He grabbed his backpack, ran to the locker room, changed into his gym clothes, then raced to the orange gym. He hesitated before entering and took a deep breath. Tani, Gus, and Josh spotted him and waved for him to join them. He did, scarfing down the food he’d brought from home as quickly as possible.
Jacob looked around the room, getting an idea who was there. His pulse quickened when he saw Coach talking to Mr. Coolidge. The entire varsity team lounged against one of the walls. It looked like all the junior varsity guys were there as well. Oh, boy.
Tani followed his gaze. “Don’t sweat it, Jacob. You’ll be fine.”
Gus clapped Jacob on the back. “You’re about to blow all their minds with your mad skills.”
Jacob nodded, putting his things down. For just a moment, he entertained the thought of leaving, but quickly pushed that impulse away. He’d looked forward to this day for a long time. He grabbed a ball and stepped out to join the others in quick warm-ups.
He bounced his basketball, waiting for the admin-ref to assign him to a team. No one paid him any attention, until Kevin spotted him.
Jacob groaned when the tall blond came toward him, bouncing his ball, an incredulous expression on his face.
“Yo, Clark. Do you think you’re actually going to play?”
Jacob pulled his shoulders back and looked straight into the eyes of the taller freshman. He wasn’t about to let Kevin push him around this time. “Yes, I do.”
“Now, Jake, how ‘bout we not repeat last year?” Kevin took several steps forward, forcing Jacob to back up.
“You mean, when you elbowed me, then said I’d elbowed you?” Jacob got benched for the rest of the game because of that, and his team had lost.
Kevin snickered. “Yeah, something like that.”
Jacob glared at him. “There won’t be a repeat. You know I’m a better player than you.”
Kevin flushed red, hands forming fists at his side, the ball forgotten near his feet. “Say it again, Clark, if you want me to kill you.”
“You can’t push me around anymore, Kevin. Just ‘cause you’re Coach’s son doesn’t mean you walk on water.” Even though Coach acted that way sometimes . . .
A few students noticed what was going on and watched curiously. Kevin glanced at them and laughed as if he and Jacob were sharing some joke. He put his arm around Jacob’s shoulders and walked him to the corner near the drinking fountain. The kids, bored, looked away. None of the admins were paying attention—they were talking to the players.
Jacob half wanted them to see what was going on, but then again, wanted to resolve this himself. Why hadn’t they started the game yet? He shook Kevin’s arm away. “Keep your hands off me.”
Tani and Gus joined them. “What’s going on, Kevin?” Tani asked. “Can’t take the competition from someone far better than you?”
Kevin glared at her. “Keep your trap shut, Tani. No one wants you here.” He spoke to Jacob. “Go back to the benches with your sissy friends.”
Tani folded her arms. “You can’t tell Jake he’s not playing. You don’t have the authority, and he won’t listen.”
“Wanna bet?” Kevin shoved Jacob up against the wall, holding him there. “Stay out of this gym, boy.”
Jacob struggled out of Kevin’s grasp. His back pinched uncomfortably against a light switch. “No.”
Gus jumped to pull Kevin off Jacob, but without warning, Kevin’s right foot hooked Jacob’s ankle and Kevin pushed him, pulling with his foot at the same time. Jacob’s face slammed into the drinking fountain and he fell to the ground. Ouch. That would bruise. He turned to get up, but Kevin grabbed his arm and swung him up, smiling at the few students who’d turned at the noise.
“He’s clumsy,” Kevin said. “Gotta always have someone around to help him to his feet.”
The kids looked at Jacob, and he avoided eye contact. He felt his cheeks flushing. The desire to disappear flowed through him, along with the desire to hit Kevin as hard as he could. Jacob’s arms trembled.
Kevin looked at Jacob again, shoving him hard against the wall. “Go. Now.” Then he pushed Jacob toward the benches.
“What’s going on over here?” Principal Williams asked, walking over.
“Nothing, sir. Jacob just wanted to wish me luck and tripped. He’s going back to the bleachers now.”
“All right,” Mr. Williams said. “Be more careful, Mr. Clark. Kevin, you’re in the game, right? Would you mind playing forward?”
Kevin agreed and followed the principal.
“This isn’t over, Kevin,” Jacob hissed low enough for the principal not to hear him. Kevin looked back and sneered.
Jacob’s jaw stung from hitting the drinking fountain, and he held his hand over it, returning to his things on the bench.
“I can’t believe that jerk!” Gus said.
“You hit the fountain really hard. You okay?” Tani asked.
Jacob grunted in reply, turning away from her to scowl at the game. Mr. Coolidge looked at Jacob, his eyebrow raised, and Jacob focused his attention elsewhere, not wanting any sympathy from a teacher who should’ve done something if he’d seen the exchange between the boys.
“We leaving?” Josh asked. Jacob wasn’t surprised he hadn’t gotten involved. Josh rarely did. He preferred to stay out of sight.
“No. I want to watch.”
The game was short, since they’d started so late, but Jacob still gleaned useful information from it. Coach doted on his son so much, it was sickening. He practically ignored the other players, except the occasional student who kissed up to him. No wonder Coach had never paid attention to Jacob. With his son there, he’d never notice anyone else’s talent.
Jacob sighed in exasperation and shifted his focus to Kevin instead, sizing him up, watching his playing habits, searching for a weakness. Unfortunately, Kevin really was good, and everyone on the court acted like they knew it. Jacob scowled. Kevin made every shot he took and was one of the best forwards Jacob had ever seen play. Aside from the NBA, of course. And the fact that he was a freshman really didn’t seem to matter to most of the other players.
The bell rang, and Jacob and his group of friends grabbed their things and left the gym.
That night Jacob lay in bed, contemplating his two biggest dilemmas—basketball and Aloren. How was he ever going to get Coach’s permission to join varsity with Kevin around? And about Aloren—it was difficult to take his promise to the Makalos seriously. He flipped the Key back and forth in his hand.
The Key would make things easy. In, then out, from the town hall.
He sighed and rolled over, determined to put the dilemma out of his mind for now.
Kilenya Series Books 1, 2, and 3 Page 60
