Chapter 3: Go Jaguars!! Go!!

"Okay, guys. This is it. Today we need to show them who we're because this is our last chance to make this school proud and to call ourselves Jaguars. This should be our win because this is officially our last game. I've been more than happy to be your captain and it's because of you guys and your never ending determination we were able to win all these years! It has been fun with you all and let's make tonight memorable! Tonight should be our victory party!" I finished with a determined look on.

The entire team cheered.

"Alright, guys. We've got to be in the open in a minute. Not a second to lose. Go and give your best shot! It has been a pleasure to be your Coach! You worked hard for this very moment! Show them that! Now get away with all the emotions and concentrate on the game! C'mon!" Coach encouraged.

I nodded.

"Alright then! WHAT TEAM PEOPLE??" Riley bellowed; excitement evident in his tone.

"JAGUARS!!"

"SCREAM IT OUT LOUDER!! WHAT TEAM??" He screamed.

"JAGUARS!!" We yelled together.

"C'mon, kids! Go!" Coach ushered us towards the exit of the changing room. I led the way. "Shout the name till we reach the court!" I demanded.

"JAGUARS!! JAGUARS!! JAGUARS!! JAGUARS!!..." and the rant continued. We shook our heads while cheering, looking all intimidating. The Knights had been our school rivals since forever! They were indeed tough to defeat making the matches more intense! I admired their dodging skills.

"There're plenty of people watching us and the Deans of both the schools are there too. I'm pretty sure Mr. Gosling is betting on you!" Riley whispered. I nodded. I looked over at the Knights as I heard the sound of them approach and my team circled behind me with me in the centre. We looked really tough and intimidating and I liked that!

"Welcome everyone to the Basketball Senior Year Finale! Today's match is the most awaited Finals between the Knights of St. Mark's and the Jaguars of Beverly High!!" The crowd grew crazy as soon as the commentator paused. The drums and trumpets slowly began to play and I could hear the cheerleaders practicing their cheers for the match.

"We've the captains of both the fierce teams. Andrew Smith from the Knights..." The crowd burst into a huge round of applause and whoops as he stepped in front. "...and Kevin Sanders from the Jaguars!" The crowd's reaction was tremendous. Almost everywhere my name echoed the most and the teams'. It was very rhythmic with claps and whoops. I heard someone scream "We love you, Kevin!!" Yeah...she was obviously from our school. I could almost feel Andy's [Andrew] glare boring into me. I smirked in satisfaction. I always called him "Andy" mockingly.

"We'll show you this time, Sanders!" He threatened.

"Oh yeah? What will you show, Andy? The talent of how you guys lose? Nah! Don't show us that. We don't want to come to your level." I sneered.

I was sure he raised his fist at me when I felt the referee stop him. "No violence. No intentional fouls. Understood?" He ordered.

We nodded our heads and grudgingly shook hands. "Alright!! The game begins in 5...4...3...2...1..." The referee whistled, throwing the ball upwards and I felt a hand grab it. Darn it! Andrew had gotten hold of the ball and his team was now one up. I told you! Their dodging skills were really good!

"Okay...the game's already getting intense!! Andrew is with the ball...He's dodging the Jaguars...but he hasn't passed the ball to any of his mates yet...seems like he's pretty confident! Whereas Kevin is following him up like a magnet...woah! He almost got hold of the ball...but now Andrew has passed it to his mate, George. George is now taking the ball with Riley running for it as well. And...Riley's trying to stop him...but...oh wow!...That's a BASKET!! 2 points to the Knights!!" The commentator bellowed.

It was a 45 minutes game and let me tell you, the game was damn difficult for us! The ball was always with the Knights and no matter how much we tried; we couldn't get hold of the ball! 20 minutes of the match had passed and we had only 25 minutes left with us. The Knights had already scored 3 baskets and we Jaguars were showered with "Oohs" and "Boohs".

Score: 6-0

This was so not happening!! I had to do something! The first half would get over in 3 minutes and till then we just had to keep trying. "Kevin!!" Riley suddenly yelled. I ran towards the voice and jumped when I heard the ball whizzing towards me. Woah! Riley had got hold of the ball!! Now that the ball was with me, I wouldn't let anybody take it away. Just like I had said, "Nobody takes the ball from Kevin Sanders no matter how exceptionally well you can play basketball!"

Andrew huffed in annoyance and followed my lead. I dodged the ball from every single player. Left to right...right to left. The ball was in my control. It followed me gracefully. "Kevin Sanders is doing just way too good...look at that move...his skills are like a pro!! Let's hear it for Kevin!!" The commentator cheered. I smirked. "C'mon, Kevin!! You're close enough!!" I heard Christopher scream. I jumped up and swish! Down the ball went and into the basket.

I raised my arms by my side and ran around the court in delight with Riley jumping on me in a hug of victory. If I had dreamed this cup to be in my hands, it would be in my hands only! We got our break for 2 minutes and our Coach thumped us on our backs. "Great job, buds! Now listen...It's our turn to continue. Keep passing the ball to Kevin and dodge the ball well, got it?"

"Yes, Coach."

The game continued.

Second half.

My skills remained the same, my tactics different.

The Knights were so dead! They couldn't take the ball from us. Guess our dodging was not that bad!

And then...in the next 15 minutes...

Score!

Score!

We were now even.

6-6

5 minutes more for the match to get over. Andrew dribbled the ball in front of me, my focus unwavering. They had got the ball and I wasn't going to stand there doing nothing! I had to give my all to take the ball from that guy!

As he was going to dribble again, I bent low and snatched the ball. Tossing it above my head and spinning it around my finger, I showed the world that I could take the ball from the Knights captain!

The crowed screamed, "GO! GO! GO!" and plenty of the girls were gushing over what I was doing. "Okay...And now...the ball is with the Jaguars..." I just wanted to stay there and contemplate on what to do. I knew I was surrounded. Everyone was urging me to go ahead but then, a voice different from the others, encouraging me louder than the others built up a surge of victory and my brain as quick as lightening built up a strategy.

"Go, Kevin...Go!! You make Beverly High proud!!" The female cheered. I wanted to look at her. See her face. Why did her voice out of all voices stand out?! Why did her encouragement create a surge of determination in me amongst all the others?! Why did her voice calm me down?! Why was that simple sentence, "Go, Kevin...Go!! You make Beverly High proud!!" affecting me so much?! Why was her encouragement the clearest sentence I had heard?! Why?? This was weird!! Hell!! I didn't even know her!! What the...?!

Well, I totally didn't know what was happening! But I knew one thing for sure. My team was counting on me. The Coach was counting on me. The Dean was counting on me. My school was counting on me. And everyone else hoping for the best was counting on me. I didn't really know what I was doing now!! Without even thinking, I called out to Riley. "Riley!!" I called out. "What?!" He yelled, sounding confused. Even I was confused with this sudden response of mine.

"Take the ball!! I'm passing it to you!!" I explained while running and dribbling. "What the fuck?! Are you out of your bloody mind?! You've never done that!! You're risking our victory, Kevin!!" He explained, exasperatedly as he kept running parallel to me. "Just trust me and take the ball, okay? Do as I say." I stated flatly. I really didn't know where all this sudden confidence was even coming from!! How could a blind guy like me even do that?! What was wrong with me?!! Along with being blind, did I become insane as well?!

I threw the ball at him. "Got it!!" He sighed, his voice still quivering with shock as the crowd kept gasping. My teammates were gasping too. I was behaving demented!! We ran towards the D, the commentator commentating rapidly. "Pass me the ball, Riley!!" I yelled. He did as he was told and I caught the ball perfectly. I jumped up and put the ball in the basket. It went round and round and round the hoop. The crowd watched in silence and anxiety. Even a drop of a pin could've been heard!

It swooshed and went down the basket. Game up! The whole crowd burst into hysterics! Tears filled my eyes. We had won!! It was our victory!! Our last year of basketball at school was going to be memorable! My teammates rushed towards me and picked me up. "Kevin!! Kevin!! Kevin!!" They kept chanting. The cheerleaders were dancing to the victory song as the instruments began to play. I was brought down and we shook hands with the Knights. "You're an extremely talented player, Kevin. I'm sorry for being harsh towards you." Andrew caught me off guard while shaking hands.

I gave him a genuine smile. "You're an awesome player too! I love your dodging skills! We should definitely play some other time!" I suggested. "That'll be great!" He responded.

Both the Deans then came forward and handed us the trophy. I held it in the air like how I always imagined I would and beamed at the camera along with my teammates. I kissed it with great joy, tears rolling down my cheeks. It was while the crowd had gone wild that Riley ruffled my hair while bending my head down after I got down from being carried. "Woah, man!! You didn't have that confidence in years!! You passed me the freaking ball!! Can you believe that?! That was super amazing!! It's the talk of the match, you know!!" He exclaimed, proudly.

I grinned at him. But there was one thing Riley didn't know. No one actually did except for me.

The trophy wouldn't have been ours if it weren't for that voice that stood out for some odd reason! I know it sounded weird! Hell! It sounded very weird! I wouldn't have gotten the confidence to pass the ball to Riley and the dodging trick wouldn't have worked if it weren't for that girl to say that simple line to boost enough confidence in me!! I would still have been the guy who feared to pass if it weren't for her to indirectly give me a chance!!

Who was she?? Why did she affect me so damn much?! If only her voice could work such a miracle, I wondered what would happen if I actually got to know her!

Because...I wanted to get to know her. That voice stood out!! That voice not only encouraged me but it was also filled with care and hope...weirdly...

And no matter where I was, that voice would always be recognized by me because it was extremely special and unforgettable!

I was determined to meet her and I would do anything for that to happen!

Why??

Because that girl...whoever she was...gave me achance and uplifted hope when I wasn't even looking or asking for it...