In Between the Lines

ens finally caug

l duo. They didn't talk, they didn't smile, and they barely looked at each other but on the hardwood, they channeled all that restless, frantic energy straight into

onizing, both of them constantly aware of the other's presence, their minds still haunted by the phantom touch of the locker room. But the fru

mandatory team meeting at The Nest. The atmosphere

rtists are doing out there, it's working. You're playing fast, you're playing angry, and you're actually sharing the damn ball. If yo

he room, eager to enjoy a rare night off. Kael lingered by the dry-erase board,

ve gym bag, his posture stiff as

id, striding over and shutting the

rting to the closed door before locking onto Kael with a defensive glare. "W

letely devoid of his usual mocking smirk. "Look at the facts. Before we snapped in the showers, we were a total

g up his neck as he realized where this was g

y. "We're burning off steam. I've got

terally dropping open in sheer dis

th know we haven't been able to stop thinking about it anyway. It clears the air, i

kind of twisted basketball good luck charm? No. Absolutely not. I don't believe in any of that stupid superstition shit, Kael. Last time w

forcefully pushed past Kael's shoulder, and stormed o

oved itself true faster

ent, desperately trying to prove he didn't need Kael. He held onto the ball too long, ignoring Kael when he was open on the block. Kael, frustrated by Xavier's rejecti

disaster. Xavier choked on three crucial possessions in the final minutes, his hands shaking o

vastating two-game skid. The locker room after the Ridgecrest loss

the empty Rosewood parking lot. The players scattere

he dark, quiet baseline of the outdoor practice courts to catch h

nov

is tracks. He tur

y loosened, and his dark hair was a messy, frustrated ruin from where his fingers had been tearing through it all night. The untouchab

ool, polished facade was completely gone, shattered by th

ercely, his voice cracking

g a sudden, heavy thud against his rib

dark eyes flashing with absolute desperation. "I can't take the losing. I can't take the noise in my head anymore. If this is wha