Chapter Twenty-Five:

The Day

________________

The last bell of the day rang and I spring from my seat, rushing towards the door to get out if here. It was Friday and we had the big game later this evening. I was hoping to get a bite to eat before the game so we wouldn't starve and then rush back here so Adam and Cameron could get ready with their team.

People we rushing through the hallways and bumping into each other like crazy. I was squeezing through the tight spaces with my books in my hands when I finally spotted an open spot up ahead. I'll be able to breath!

I tried so hard to get up there, and I was making it, until someone charged into me so hard that I tumbled to the ground. My books luckily landed right in front of me and weren't spread out. I groaned and realized I had banged my elbow pretty hard when I fell backwards. I rubbed it and got to my knead so I could gather my books up when a familiar pair of sneakers were in my vision, right beside my books. Looking up through my lashes, I saw Cameron looking down at me with his eyebrows raised. I gave him a frown and accepted his hands. He pulled me up with ease and bent back down to pick up my books for me.

"Rush hour get to you?" He asked with amusement playing in his voice. I smiled a little at him and nodded.

"Yep," I told him, popping the "P".

We made it to my locker without running in to too many people on the way and Cameron shoved my books in my locker. I went hands on hips and cocked an eyebrow at him. "Since when did you know my combination?"

"Since I watched you put it in everyday." He said in a mock tone. I rolled my eyes playfully and grabbed his hand in mine. "Ready to hunt down Emma and Adam and get some food before the game?" I asked him. He nodded his head and we searched for their heads in the crowd. Of course, we heard Adam before we saw him. I haven't hung out with him outside of school before, but I'm guessing he's always loud and crazy. He's not like that in school, though.

After we found both of them, we got our bags and ran out to our cars. Adam and Emma in Adam's shiny red Dodge Dart and Cameron and I in his truck. He still hasn't fixed the radio.

We stopped at a Subway since we decided it would be the healthiest for the boys to eat. I waited with Emma to order while the guys got our seats. We decided to pay for theirs too, no arguments allowed.

Once we got our sandwiches and drinks, Emma and I sat down beside the guys and sorted the food. It was really delicious and I couldn't understand why I haven't eaten here more often.

"So, Danielle brought that guy with her that plays on the opposite team... Seth? Was she trying to prove something or...?" Emma asked to start a conversation.

"Who knows with her. She was being a brat that night." Adam piped in. His eyes flickered to me when he said that. She always aims her wrath at me.

"Amber's no better." Cameron added. That was almost off topic, but I knew what he was talking about. Emma's eyebrows raised.

"What? I thought you two were like... best friends?" She directed her question at me. I blushed and shook my head furiously.

"We used to be. Until she helped Danielle take my name off the all stars team list after tryouts." I muttered and averted my gaze toward the doors. I heard Adam scoff.

"Why didn't she get in trouble for that?" He practically demanded. I shook my head.

"Because I don't really care anymore." There was an edge of anger to my voice. I tried not to get worked up about this topic, but every time I thought about it, I wanted to just take my anger out on something.

"You know, one day, you're just going to snap." Cameron said from beside me. He was sipping on his drink and looking at me from the corner of his eyes. I leaned my elbow on the table and looked at him innocently.

Of course I knew I would. But it wasn't any time soon.

"Hello, fellow classmates," A female voice spoke. I jerked my head to the right and saw Danielle standing there. She was alone. I bet Amber and what's-his-face were waiting in the car.

No one answered her. She kept her smug smile intact on her perfect full lips.

"I wanted to say good luck to you guys. I'm routing for the Tigers this year since Levi plays for them." She stated the obvious. I shifted my eyes to look at the table to keep them off of her.

Still, we all stayed quiet. The silence wasn't awkward, but it was intense.

"Well, I guess I'll see you at the game. Bring your A-game, boys." She winked in Cameron's direction and I had to rolled my fingers into a fist to keep from yelling. Not that I would, since I couldn't hurt a fly. Pathetic, really.

"Are you guys ready to leave?" I asked as soon as she was out of earshot. They nodded and we made our way back out to the vehicles.

"Can you drive? I have to have my uniform on by the time I get there. We're already running late for warm-ups." Cameron quickly explained to me. He tossed me the keys and I'd managed to catch them in mid air. He jogged to his truck and grabbed a duffle bag off the back of it.

I climbed into the driver's side and started it up while he said something to Adam before hopping in the passenger side. I noticed Emma was having to drive this time, too.

As I drove down the highway, Cameron started to get his uniform out. Before I even realized what he was doing, he ripped his shirt up over his head and shoved it into the duffle bag, leaving him shirtless for a second. I had to bite my lip to keep from giggling out of nervousness. If he noticed me blushing and acting all weird he'd never let me live it down.

"Are you... blushing?" Cameron asked in fake astonishment. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. He was such a tease.

He took his pants off and slipped his shorts on quickly. It's a good thing I was driving and had to force myself to pay attention. He could have had us killed and then where would we be? Hell, probably.

I was more than relieved when we reached the school and Cameron and Adam bolted into the school. Emma and I took our time. I was grateful that I didn't have to take pictures or notes during this game. Our teacher assigned that job to someone else this time.

We found some seats on the bleachers for the two of us and watched as the other people packed the gym. The players were all running across the court in big hurries, practicing with their teammates. I noticed when Levi darted across the floor. He went up for a layup and swished the ball. I noticed how big he really was. The muscles were so big, I swore he must've been on steroids.

Danielle and an anxious looking Amber sat on the opposing team's side with their school colors on instead of ours. I wondered silently why Amber wanted to be her friend so bad. Why did she want to be her friend, go to every length to do what she wanted, and then look so guilty about it later? She literally looked like she was dying inside from the guilt. I knew Amber as nice and caring person. I could still see that person in her, I just don't get why she would turn in an instant.

What really surprised me was that Danielle was a senior and was hanging out with Amber, a junior, like me. It was never like Danielle to hang out with people younger than her unless they were a cute boy that she could get a hold of like many others. I mean, who knows how she got Levi to agree to go out with her. She must think she's doing Amber a charity case.

*

With ally jumbled thoughts about my friends set aside, I was able to focus on the game. I watched Cameron move swiftly on his feet up and down the court, his sweat-soaked hair flipping in his face. His expression serious the while time, though you could tell he was feeling a bit smug when he could dribble around his opponents. He really had potential.

Only a few minutes remained in the third quarter and right now the other team had the ball. The boys had their best defense faces on and were on that basketball like white in rice. Coach did a wonderful job coaching them.

I looked over at the other bleachers consciously and saw that Danielle was staring at me. She had a smug grin on her face and kept her eyes locked with mine. Amber, on the other hand, looked like she was about to have a panic attack. She was rocking back and forth, biting her nails with anticipation while her eyes were glued to the game. A few seconds were left in this quarter and if the boys scored, they'd be six points ahead. I almost jumped out of my seat when I saw Cameron jumping up towards the hoop with the ball in his hands now. He was really going to do a slam dunk. He didn't quite get his hands all the way up to hoop as he would if he was doing a slam dunk, but the ball did go in. I shot up and clapped my hands together, a loud cheer escaping my lips.

It wasn't until I saw the look of horror on Emma's face that I knew something was wrong. I snapped my head around towards the court, right under the hoop. My hair smacked me in the face but I couldn't feel the slight sting of it. The only thing I noticed was Cameron laying on his back, hands clutched around his throat. He almost look like a fish out of water the way he was gasping for air.

"What happened?!" I asked Emma with so much demand in my voice that if I were her, I would have flinched.

"H-he hit him in the throat." She pointed towards the one person that wasn't standing near the wall to give the coaches some space. Levi was standing there, his yes locked on Danielle up on the bleachers, a small smile playing at his and her lips. They had succeeded in destroying me. Almost. I darted out of the bleachers, anger building inside of me that was ready to come out at any second. I saw paramedics swarm around Cameron and they were talking to him calmly. He was still squirming. I felt my heart crack a little as I ran over to him, ignoring the yells I was getting from he referees.

Cameron's eyes locked with mine for a short moment. He was turning blue from the loss of oxygen. How sick can you be to do this?

I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt a salty tear touch my tongue. I quickly wiped it away and reached up to touch Cameron's sweaty hair, pushing it out of his eyes. I didn't care if his sweat was on me or that people were pushing me out of the way.

He suddenly stopped moving just as the paramedics had him on a stretcher. I felt my heart beat quicken and I could only the thumping of it in my ears. Emma was suddenly by my side. She was gripping at my arm and I realized I was trying to follow the paramedics out of the back entrance of the gym. That's probably where the ambulance was. I was thankful for the hospital being a minute's drive away. How did someone call them that fast, though?

I jerked my arm out of her reach and followed them out the door.

That's when my phone rang. I pulled myself together quickly and pulled it out of my pocket with frustration. The time read 7:30 and the caller ID said it was my mom. She must have the results. I quickly composed my shaky voice so she wouldn't suspect anything bad and pressed answer.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Sophia?" My mother's voice was heavy with exhaustion and even through that cover up, I could hear her heavy breaths. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"What, mom? What is it?" I demanded. I was still moving my feet outside of the door. And as far as I knew, the game was going to go on for now.

"Matt had a relapse" was all she had to say for me to sink to my knees and allow the tears to flow freely.

_____________

Oh my goodness. Such a sad chapter. It's probably really short.

I don't really know what to say here so...

Oh wait! now I do.

Please be patient with me on the small details. I've done my research on what happens when you get hit hard in the throat and I'm going to try and keep it as real as possible. Don't get worked up if something doesn't sound right.

Tell me if think it's wrong - nicely.

Thanks you guys!