Operation: KYLE

"So, we just gotta win, right?"

That's what I said, but...

... Isn't he just too tall?

I peel off my jacket, and wrap it around my waist. I stare at Trent from afar, watching him as he's talking to Samuel with an up-tight expression. My lips turn in to a thin line. I'm probably just imagining this, but Boyett has this overwhelming aura around him, it's almost quite disturbing, like I'm facing a deadly animal I'm not supposed to pet... like a 'big ass wolverine' vibe...

... That sounded even more absurd in my head just now, I don't even know why I just said that. But, for some reason, this 'fear' feels... familiar. Like, I experienced this kind of level of scariness.

I vaguely shake my head, picked the basketball back up from the floor, and dribbled it approximately three times. Knock it off, Kyle, you're just nervous– don't be. It's just one guy... one, big, guy... I scratch my forehead timidly, feeling my stomach beginning to ache. I'm gonna die. Somehow, David sensed my anxiety, and rubbed my back gently.

My eyes trailed towards David's face, who looked even more nervous than I was, then smiled. He smiles back warmly with a hint of scarlet hovering his cheeks. But then, his smile subtlety falters. Mine does, too. He then sets his bag down to the floor, and pulls out the same medicine bottle he used to give us. He shakes the bottle at me, and I just stared at it until I noticed that he was was asking if I needed some. I gave my 'thanks', and took some as I chugged it down. He takes in a deep, hitched breath, like he's the one doing a match against Boyett. "Dude, you know you really don't have to do this, right? You're doing this for your sake, and not ours, right?" He questioned deeply.

I blink twice, feeling taken aback. "Dude, chill, why are you so scared about this?" I joked, keeping on a confident facade, but then I saw that he, and Tolkien weren't really laughing, anxiously sharing glances with each other. I furrow my eyebrows. "What– what's up?" I hesitantly asked. Tolkien sucks in his teeth tenuously, wincing. "Kyle, dude, I know how much you like basketball, I do, too- but, I'm not sure if it's a good idea for you to go up against Trent Boyett." He proceeded to explain calmly. My eyebrows narrow agitatedly. "Why not?" I dared to ask, placing my hand on my hip.

"From what I saw in practice, Trent's really– and I mean, really– really tough on his opponents. It doesn't matter who, he just is." Tolkien worriedly frowned, taking a small glimpse at Boyett. "Well, is he any good?" I questioned. He takes a minute to answer. "He's better than the most of us here if he tries hard enough, but, usually?" He takes a small pause. "Er, not really...?" ... Is that it?

I recall back when their team was playing against the girls' basketball team, and it didn't seem like Boyett was doing much, except yell at his own teammates. The wave of stress is slowly starting to subside. "Then, I'll be fine," I say. "Stop worrying. You guys will get wrinkles." Tolkien, and David gave each other a look. Then, they both slightly smiled at me. The stress on their faces seem to ease up a bit. I let out a sigh of relief, when I felt a heavy tap on my shoulder. I turned my head around to see Trent Boyett, expression very firm. I silently die a little by surprise.

He gestures me to get in to position, and asks if I wanted to play defense, or offense. Just to get a better look at his play style, I chose defense. He blinks, expecting me to choose the other option, but quickly shrugs it off while muttering a short 'sure' under his breath, then struts away. Smitty, who was behind us, then leans on to me with his whole body weight, making me stagger a bit. My brain stops working. "I still don't get why I don't get to play against that 'Trent', man." He says, folding his arms to his chest. I frown.

"I don't care, dude. Get off of me." I growled, trying to stop him from latching on to me. He still doesn't move, he just stood there bitterly, and nearly toppled me over with a pondering look on his face, obviously wasn't hearing me. Mikael sighs, like he's used to his behavior. "Come on, Smitts. Get offa him." He says, crossing both of his arms. Jacob appears behind Mikael, grabs Smitty by the back of his collar, and pulls him away, causing a choking sound out of him.