Chapter 40
#ItsNotYourFaultAriana

A/N: I heard about Ariana Grande's concert incident. This isn't as much as helpful as helping those families who were affected. As much as I want peace to be an awareness
advocacy, I know this little message won't do much.

Young people died because of the incident and to think they were affected because it is how terrorism works and how it should work. The way how crucial the incident is also how much attention it is needed for this to be outgrown and be 'solved' as soon as possible.

Prayers to those who were affected. Each year it becomes more and more bigger and larger considering how quickly the events occur and last.

I am sorry for those who were affected. If you happen to know someone or either knows who were affected I hope you give out a prayer.

Anyways, sorry for the rant. I'm just affected to those who died.

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A smile appears on my face as I sent a message to Matt.

Coach wants all of us to have training all week for next week's game. So it means there are no gadgets or any form of distractions for us to acquire during training. I quickly informed Matt about the game. As much as I wanted to him in my game, I also want him to know everything about the game. I really wanted him to attend. I just wanted to see him.

To see what I can do and what I am able to do. I'll give him something to see in me. I come to conclusion that I am trying to impress him. I'm trying to convince him how much I can do. It's so weird how I say it but it is what it is.

"Davis, get your ass in the court! Keep that phone because you are wasting precious time!" Coach scolds me.

I roll my eyes. I put my phone inside my bag and walk my way towards the court, joining the defending team.

"Okay! Just like we practice before! Defending team you will be playing against the opposing team! Remember the strategies that I taught you! We can't afford losing to Alter High!" He screams with determination.

Seconds later, the gym door bust open only to reveal Xander and Kevin. My eyebrows twitch as I saw Kevin behind Xander like some kind of dog. Since when did Xander and Kevin become close? Is Kevin trying to replace me as Xander's best friend? I hope the fuck not!

"Sorry I'm late." Xander's voice echoes across the gym as he walk towards the bench and place his bag on top of it.

"Yeah, we have something to take care of." Kevin said as he looks at Xander with a mischievous look.

"Shut it jackass." Xander annoyingly said as he pushes Kevin away from him.

Kevin just laughs and places his bag besides Xander's bag.

"Just get over here. You two should know better than wasting time! Mortin you belong on the defending team with Davis and Kingston in the opposing team!" The coach commanded.

The two of them nods. Kevin walks towards my way and stand beside me while Xander walk his way towards the opposing team. Kevin looks at me with a hard look.

"Play well. Davis." He whispers across my ears.

I look at him with a threatening look.

"I think we all know that I play well. More better than you ever do." I whispered back.

I heard him chuckle

"We'll see about that."

He whispers back then chuckles deeply.

I fucking hate Kevin to the core. He thinks he's the one who can get the attention. He is always showing off to everyone that he can do better. Makes me wonder why he and Xander are buds.

"We'll see it alright." I muttered bitterly

After that, we started playing. I quickly made my move as I took the ball from the offending team and dribble it across the other side. But with bad luck, one of the players caught the ball and pass it to others. I growl in anger.

I quickly run towards the opponent and try to snatch the ball away from him but with another bad luck happens, snatching didn't work. I really hate it when something happens and it won't work the way I wanted it to work.

"Fuck." I muttered lowly.

The opponent was shock when Xander stole the ball from him and dribbles it to towards the opponent's side. Xander notices how well guarded the other court is so he instead, he passes the ball to another member and catches it and try to dribble to other court. I quickly turn around to see an opportunity of an open area for me to go to and try for another player to pass the ball towards me.

When I had an opportunity, I raise my left hand up to gain attention. It also means that I am open and free to dribble and shoot. He quickly passes it to Kevin and the next thing I knew was a ball hitting me right in the right eye.

"Zac!" Xander suddenly cries out as I hit the ground.

"TIME OUT! MORTIN THATS A FLAGRANT FOUL!" The coach screams in anger and blow his whistle.

I winced in pain as I cover my right eye while lay down on the floor trying to hold my pain back. Shit. It fucking hurts. For fucking fuck sakes!

"Sorry, I didn't see him there!" I heard Kevin speak loudly.

I slowly open my left eye and I saw him smirking like a devil. I heard him a let out a chuckle even though it isn't that audible to hear.

"Fuck off with your non-sense excuses Kevin! We can all see him clearly standing there!' Xander screams in anger.

"Help Zac get back up on his feet Xander and take him to the nurse!" Coach commanded Xander.

Xander nods and walks towards me and helps me get up. I look at him with a odd look.

"I can stand on my two feet. Don't touch me!" I said as he helps me get up on my feet. I tried pushing his arms away but he won't budge.

"Oh please, stop acting like you're still well and undamaged." He says with annoyance.

He puts my left arm besides his left shoulders and guides me towards the gym exit door. I close both my eyes trying to hold back the pain. This is so embarrassing!

"Mortin! One more screw up from you and you are banned from playing next weeks game!"I heard Coach screams.

"You can't ban me! I am one of the best players that this team has!" Kevin talks back.

"Your potential isn't even close to what Zac has. Don't you dare underestimate your other team mates!" Coach screams back.

"Whatever. I'm out of here." Kevin said.

He walks towards to one of the benches and grabs his bag and walk his way towards the exit door but stop to look at Xander then at me. The way he looks at me with so much hatred has had me wondering.

"This training is over. I can't believe this." Coach says and sighs in defeat.

"So much for training hard." Xander says.

I didn't say anything. Xander took me towards the nurse's office as we got there, the nurse gives me an ice pack and tells me to put it against the bruised area and let it do its job. Xander stays for awhile as he watches me as I rub my right eye with an ice pack.

I look at him with a glare as he continues me watching.

"What's up with Mortin? You two have been hanging out lately." I say with full of annoyance.

He looks me with an odd look then sighs and shooks his head.

"I really don't know. He was the one who keeps hanging out with me all the time." He responds as he looks away from me.

"Then why can't you just push him away and tell him to stop bothering you. I swear if I knew that this going to happen, I would totally punch the lights out of him!" I stated with anger as I points my bruised eye.

He looks at me again with worried look like somethings bothering him.

"Just forget about it. Okay?" He says with disappointment.

"What do you mean that I should just forget it? He fucked up my eye! You know how eyesight is important when playing a game!" I talk back with so much anger.

"I know. I know. I'll talk to him later about this." Xander says.

I nod with agreement.

"You better be!" I retorted.

He sighs and breathes in heavily. I look away from him as questions starts to invade my thoughts.

'Why is Kevin so mad at me? Did I do something that made him mad?'

And most importantly...

'Why was he looking at Xander earlier?'