Chapter 3: He Needs a Good Twenty Minutes to Warm Up!
I should be over it by now, but I'm not, it still bothers me every second of the day. I'm stuck in the same spiral stairway again. It doesn't even matter if I go up or down, I still manage to end up right where I started. A lightbulb dangles above me catching my attention because it's the only light in this place. If I even attempt to place my foot at the stop of the stairs, the light would shut off leaving me in complete darkness. But then what would I bring myself to do? I could either try to get back to my place or try to walk up the next flight of stairs only to be trapped and bound in the same spot I already managed to reach over a million times. I can't escape this place, I tried too many times, so there's only one thing left for me to do, sit still and wait for this nightmare to be over. I can feel this is a nightmare because I've had it come to me multiple times except in the presence of reality. She would always appear out of the shadows and try to grab my hand and I could never move and I would become frightened, but not because of her. I would become frightened at the fact that my body would always fail me and I would always get caught by her and she would take me away into the darkness.
A threatening boom startled me out of my dreadful dream, my cheeks were wet and my body was drenched in sweat. The covers were wrapped around my limbs most likely from all the twisting and turning in my sleep. My heart was racing rapidly against my chest causing me to tremble. The room was filled with complete darkness, I looked around, but found no one. I was completely alone, with no light anywhere. I still had some bits and pieces of my nightmare lingering around haunting me. I heard it again, the loud thunder and then I saw the light coming from the window and the flash brightened the room just a little. But I was scared that I had to bury my face into my pillow.
Then I felt it, a big splash of water falling over me soaking my whole body in water. I got up and gasped for air. "Cissy, finally you're awake." Hailey was holding onto me for dear life and I was confused at what was going on.
"Hail, what's wrong?" I grabbed Hailey's shoulders trying to get her to talk to me.
"When Nate and I left the bowling alley we tried calling and texting you to let you know we were on our way, but we got no response. We figured you were sleeping. After Nate dropped me off you weren't in the living room, so I came to the room and I was scared because I saw the pill bottles on the floor. I tried shaking you and yelling in your ear, but you wouldn't wake up. I ran downstairs and got Nate and he came upstairs and he did the same and still nothing, no response. Nate checked your pulse and it was moving, but he said that we should take you to the hospital just in case. I didn't want to take you to a hospital so I told Nate to let's wait for a few and maybe you would wake up. After waiting and waiting it finally hit me, water. All I needed was water." I looked down and saw that I indeed was drenched in water.
"How long was I out for?" I did need to sleep, but my intention wasn't to scare Hailey into thinking I was dead. I was just tired of not being able to get enough sleep because of the fact that I'm always waking up from terrible nightmares.
"Just a few hours, but if you ask me it felt like an eternity." The room door slowly opened and Nate walked inside with his head slightly down never making any eye contact. "Nate, she's finally awake."
Nate's head immediately popped up and he had a big smile on his face. "Oh good, I thought we were going to have to take you to a hospital and honestly I was scared, my goodness Cissy, don't ever scare us like that again."
"I'm sorry, I just want to sleep for a couple of days. I'm so tired." I don't even think it matters how much sleep I get, I would always be tired. I put in so much a day, honestly more than I should, but I can't even complain because if it's keeping Hailey safe it's worth it. "I want to feel like myself again. Because trust me five years is a long time to feel like someone else."
"I know you need to sleep, but don't take pills, I do not need you overdosing on me. My heart was broken because I thought I lost you." Hailey lectured me waving her little fingers in my face.
"I honestly didn't mean to scare you like that, I already told you that you mean everything to me so I'm not going anywhere." I felt really bad that I frightened Hailey like that, I really never meant to. I just hate it so much when I make her worry accidentally.
"Oh. Cissy?" Nate called out to me from the end of the room.
"Uh, yes?" To be honest I'm surprised that Nate is here because who knows when my father is coming back and I just don't want Nate to accidentally meet him, then he'll really want to get me out of here. I'm kind of frightened of how that would turn out, I'm sure it won't be pretty.
"I know, its none of my business at all, but what's with the blood on the floor across the hall." I opened my mouth in shock because I totally forgot to clean up the floor. After my father had hit me, I only cleaned myself up and went to sleep, I was too much in pain to remember that I even got blood on the floor. I don't want to lie, but I don't think its best for me to tell the truth either of what actually happened.
"Um, I was being clumsy and tired and fell and hit myself on the table and started bleeding. I was too tired to even remember to clean it up." I lied, which now that I think about it, it was a pretty terrible lie and by the look on Hailey's face, I know she wasn't buying it.
"Why are you lying?" Hailey asked with an angry expression on her face. "He hit you, didn't he?"
I didn't want, to tell the truth, but Hailey knows me too well and I know she won't let it go until I tell her the truth. "Yes." I sighed heavily not looking Hailey in her eyes because I didn't want to see the disappointment in them.
"Why?" I bit down on my bottom lip. "Chelsie Victoria Gray, you better tell me why now." I hated it when Hailey called me by my full name because then I would always give in to her. It's crazy how my little sister could be so intimidating sometimes.
"Because I told him your birthday was coming up and wanted him to act like a father and pretend to care about you." I should've never gone to him about that because I knew how he gets and look at what it led to, me getting a bloody nose.
"Cissy, why? You go through this same issue every year, stop, just stop, I don't want him to pretend to care. If he can't show his love and care for me all year round what makes you think that I want the phoniness from him on my birthday. I don't care about him and don't want him pretending to care just to make me feel good about myself. I need you and only you, so please stop trying to get him to act like a dad because Cissy, he lost that privilege." I wish that I had the same mentality as Hailey, she seems very wise for her age and I love that about her because it shows how strong and independent she is. That's a trait I or nobody else could take away from her no matter how hard we tried.
"Hail, I just hate that we only have each other. I want us to be happy again, I want him to care for us and stop hurting us." I said as tears filled up my eyes and Hailey brought me in for a hug.
"You can't make him do anything he doesn't want to, we can't make him care, we can't make him love us. You and I would always have each other until the end and in all honesty, I don't need him in my life at all. Sometimes I wish you would understand that he doesn't faze me and I don't need him so that I can live my life. Ever since I was nine I had you and only you, I'm about to be fourteen, why would I ever need anyone else." This is what I mean about Hailey she doesn't let anything affect her, she lives day by day like if she doesn't have any worries. Why, why can't I be just like that?
"It's just so hard to stay strong when nothing is right and everything is wrong. I don't know how you do it day in and day out, but it's impressive and I need that kind of motivation and push." Even though I don't like to admit it to Hailey, she can sometimes be my biggest inspiration.
"Oh Cissy, we almost forgot to tell you." Hailey jumped off the bed excitedly and was clapping her hands while I looked at her waiting for her to continue, but she never did.
"What did you forget to tell me?" I asked when Nate walked closer to Hailey and me from across the other side of the room.
"There's a basketball tournament going on not too far from here and I know you love basketball and they might need people to participate, so I was wondering if you would want to go." My face lit up, I haven't touched a basketball since my school won the championship last year. This is definitely something I need to do.
"Are you kidding me? Of course, I want to go, I don't know if I want to participate in the tournament, but just watching will also do me justice." I jumped up and down and started going through my closet to look for something to wear.
"I told you she wasn't going to say no," Hailey said to Nate and she also went to her closet and started looking for something to wear as well. "Now get out, we have to get dressed."
***
When we got to the basketball tournament, there was already people lined up to sign up to play and watch. I was excited because basketball is really my favorite and would always be my favorite even if I never make it to the WNBA. There was a group of guys there that came up to Nate asking him questions and giving him a five. "Nate, what are you doing here? I thought you were all about football." A slim guy around 6'3 said to Nate.
"Oh please, Theo you know football would always be and Tommy's thing," Nate said to the guy, who I'm guessing his name is Theo.
"My man, you made it." A guy that looked a lot like Theo said running up to Nate from across the gymnasium, but this guy had more of an athletic build and had to be 6 feet exactly.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Hailey coughed behind Nate and he turned around and started smiling. "Fellas this is my best friend Hailey and her sister, Chelsie." Nate introduced us to the guys and walked away.
"Wow, best friend what an introduction," Hailey said sarcastically and ran after him leaving me there with the two guys.
"Um, are you two brothers?" I asked shyly trying to make conversation.
"Yes, we are, by the way, my name is Tommy." Tommy said.
"Hello beautiful, my name is Theo." Theo kissed my hand flirtatiously. Tommy and Theo looked somewhat identical, but Theo's eyes were a lighter brown than Tommy's but they both had dark brown hair.
"You are such a flirt." Tommy rolled his eyes at his brother and punched his arm.
"Shut up, I'm just giving Chelsie a compliment." Theo punched his brother back and I laughed at their immaturity because they had to be in their early 20's yet they act like teenagers.
"Cissy?" Hailey walked back towards my direction looking nervous and I started to get worried.
"What's up?" I said walking closer to her and Tommy and Theo followed behind me.
"Nate signed you up to play, I told him don't do it, but he kept insisting that this is what you need." I started laughing and Hailey looked at me like if I had two heads. "Why are you laughing?"
"It almost sounded like you said Nate signed me up to play."
"That's because he did." This time, my mouth opened in shock because I had already told Nate I was only going to be a spectator, sometimes I hate that when Nate puts his mind to something he just won't give up.
"I'm going to kill him." I walked towards the direction where Nate was and Hailey, Theo, and Tommy followed behind me making me feel like we were playing follow the leader. "Nate, why would you sign me up to play?"
"Because you need this and you're really good." Nate stuck his bottom lip out for forgiveness and I couldn't resist his adorableness.
"Fine only because I have no choice." I folded my hands in an attitude, but inside I was actually happy because I was finally going to play basketball after almost a year of no basketball.
"Wait, you play basketball?" Tommy asked me with a surprised look on his face like if he couldn't believe it or something causing me to chuckle.
"Yes I do, why do you?" I asked more like if it was a challenge except a question.
"No, he plays football, but me I play basketball," Theo said shooting a fake ball in the air, and I chuckled and shook my head. "I doubt you're any good."
Hailey and I looked at each other and started laughing hysterically causing Theo and Tommy to look at each other as Nate stood there enjoying the entertainment. "Don't underestimate this one, you'll be surprised," Nate said and Theo still had a look of disbelief on his face.
"Yeah, my sister got full ride scholarships to Duke and Stanford to play on the woman's basketball team," Hailey said with the biggest smile on her face. "Don't say I didn't tell you when you see her playing in the WNBA."
"If that's the case, why are you here?" Tommy said not rudely, but with concern. If only he knew, why I was here.
"Yeah, why are you here?" Theo asked, but unlike Tommy, he was rude causing me to roll my eyes at him.
"Theo, you should start warming up if you're going to play," Nate said changing the topic and I was grateful because I can get emotional when I talk about why I'm not in college playing basketball right now.
"Yeah, the game may start in an hour, but he takes about twenty minutes to warm up," Tommy said to me making me put a smile on my face.
"Shut up idiot," Theo said with an attitude.
"I wonder why it takes him so long, he probably doesn't even put that much work in." I teased and Theo got annoyed and walked away from us making us laugh at him.
"Good one, I like your vibe," Tommy said. "I should go check up on him." Tommy ran off after his brother leaving Hailey, Nate and I standing there.
"Chelsie, don't be mad at me. I just really wanted you to have fun and I remember going to your basketball games and how excited you were about it." I did enjoy playing basketball in high school that had to be the best time of my life.
"Nah, I'm not mad. I'm actually pretty excited, thanks, buddy." I gave Nate a little hug and smiled happily at him.
"Well, then go on get ready so the tournament can begin." Nate softly pushed me towards the other players and the coaches so that I could have all the instructions and rules and everything else read to me.
When I made my way to the teams, I saw my old high school basketball coach standing with a notepad and pen in his hand. "Coach Dave?" He quickly looked my way at the sound of my voice.
"Little missy, what are you doing here?" I giggled at the nickname I was called by coach and everyone else on the team.
"I'm here to play," I said half excitedly.
"That's not what I meant, but we'll talk some other time, it's time to start." Coach Dave blew his whistle and all the teams and spectators went to where they had to go.
"You're on my team sweetheart," Theo said winking at me grabbing me towards the section of where he and the other teammates were.
"Attention everyone, I am here to go over the rules of conduct." A woman said and everyone got quiet waiting to hear. "First, all participates, coaches and spectators should refrain from using profanity or verbal abuse towards other players, coaches, spectators, referees and the tournament staff. Second, this is a drug and alcohol-free event. No alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed on the premises. Any coach or players engaged in the use of alcohol or drugs will be disqualified from further participation in the tournament. Third, team coaches will be held responsible for the conduct of their players. Teams and spectators shall abide by the tournament rules and regulations. Fourth, no food or beverages are allowed in the gymnasium. Only water and sports drinks are permitted. Lastly, the tournament director and the tournament staff are not responsible for any personal items that are left behind, lost or stolen. Let the tournament begin, enjoy."
All the teams huddled in a circle and got ready to play. "Okay, listen up here ladies and germs, Chelsie here will be playing today since Jessica can't make it due to a family emergency." Coach Dave said to the team and I. "I want you to be nice to little missy because trust me she's one of the best players I ever taught."
"Wait, you were her coach?" Theo asked with his eyebrows raised.
"Yes, all four years she was in high school." Coach Dave said with a smile. "But to hurry up the process, we are the green team and we are going against the blue team, on the other half of the gym is going to be the red and the yellow team, you know the rules now go out there and kick some butt." Coach Dave said sending us out to the floor.
"Okay, I'm the point guard, Larry is the shooting guard, Chelsie here will be the small forward, Susie you're the power forward and Anthony you'll be playing Center," Theo said and I looked at him with an attitude. "What?"
"Nothing, I usually play shooting guard, but I know how to do small forward so I'll get over it." I rolled my eyes not really caring, but I felt since I haven't played basketball in a while I should play how I usually play.
"Too bad, I assign the plays and I doubt you're as good as everyone claims you are." I rolled my eyes and I felt them tearing because I hated it when people put me down I get enough of it and for someone I barely know or who never even watched me play is just a bummer.
"Whatever, I don't know what your problem is with me." I looked far away from him and mind my own business, I'm just going to play, enjoy myself and go home.
"You don't have to act like a douche towards her," Larry said to Theo, but Theo ignored him.
"It's fine Larry, it's not the end of the world and this isn't even my team so it doesn't matter," I said politely.
"Exactly," Theo said arrogantly.
"The game starts in five minutes." It was announced on a speaker.
***
The first game was over and we almost lost to the blue team, if it wasn't for my last second three pointer we would've had to go to overtime. I'm blaming Theo for our almost lost because he was being a ball hog and he wouldn't pass me the ball, it's not even like he was made most of his shots, he totally kept missing, but when you want to be a showoff it always comes back to you in the end.
"Theodore Pierce, what were you doing out there?" Coach Dave asked as soon as the game ended.
"Chelsie here was throwing me off." Poor Theo doesn't even know how to take accountable for his own actions.
"I don't even want to hear it, Chelsie was carrying the team, while you were trying to be a ball hog. Chelsie, I'm putting you as the shooting guard, Larry you're the point guard and Theo you're going to be the small forward and the rest of the positions are the same." Coach Dave said assigning new positions and a smile spread across my face.
"Coach, but that isn't even fair." Theo tried to complain.
"I don't even want to hear it, I need you all playing great when you're up against yellow team next to win the tournament." Coach Dave said putting order, not letting Theo be in charge anymore especially since it was Theo that almost cost us this game.
"If that's what you think is best for the team, then whatever coach." Theo walked away with an attitude and I gave the coach a look to let him know that I was going to try to talk some sense into him.
"Theo?" I called out to him, but he ignored me.
"What do you want?" Theo asked when I finally caught up to him and turned him around to face me.
"Look, I don't know what your problem is with me, but you need to put your pride aside at the moment just so that we can win this game. I know that I'm not a part of your team, but if you're supposed to be captain you have to act like one. The team's motivation and drive reflects off of your attitude and if you're going to act the way you're acting at the moment, that's the exact same way everyone is going to play. So are you in this or not?" I was the captain of my basketball team in high school, so when it comes to talking and motivating I know how to get the job done the proper way.
"I'm in, I don't really think I have a choice, though." Theo plastered a smile on his face while looking down at me.
"You don't." I winked at Theo and turned on my heels. "Now let's go, the next game starts soon."
"Mr. Pierce, are you ready to join the team." Coach Dave asked with a concerned look on his face once we got back to where we last left him and the rest of the team.
"Yes, Coach," Theo said with a smile on his face and he secretly winked at me when no one was looking.
"Nice to know." Coach Dave gave us the rest of the gameplay and what he expected out of us for the next game. Theo wasn't too happy at the fact that Coach made me give some calls, but once Theo saw that I knew what I was talking about he was more understanding and by the look on his face I could tell that he was impressed. It's just too bad that I don't play basketball to have people be impressed, I play because I enjoy it and I sure am good at it. When I'm on the court playing basketball, I feel like me and I can be myself.
The whistle blew for the start of the next game, we are going to be playing against the yellow team for the first and second place and on the other side of the gym, red and blue are going to be playing each other for the third and fourth place. Anthony stood in the middle and got ready for the jump off. The referee threw the ball in the air and Anthony tipped it over to me and I dribbled the ball around a girl around my height and passed the ball over to Theo and he quickly passed the ball over to me when he saw I was open. I positioned my body and I stood by the three-point line and shot for the basket and made it, the first basketball of the game.
Nice shot. Theo mouthed to me. Nice assist. I mouthed back and started playing defense on the same girl who was trying to guard me earlier. She tried to dribble around me, but she tripped and Susie was able to steal the ball and passed it over to Larry and he tried to make the shot into the basket, but he missed but then Theo came up behind him and made the rebound.
As the time was going, the yellow team managed to get 16 points in and we were at 18, but we had to do much better than that because this could still be anyone's game even though there were only a minute and a half left on the clock. One of the boys on the yellow team had the ball and he was jumping in the air to make a three and Theo went to block him, but it was a fake so the guy stepped around Theo and went for it again making the basket. The score was now 19-18 and the yellow team was winning. Coach Dave called a timeout and we all ran over to him.
"Coach, I'm really sorry about that I should've been aware that he was going to fake that shot," Theo said apologizing to Coach Dave before he could even say something.
"You didn't know that was going to happen." Coach Dave said waving the apology off because I knew he had a plan. "Listen up, Theo and Larry I need the both of you to keep an eye on Chelsie and the minute she gets under the basket I need you to throw the assist to her. Chelsie, make sure you don't hesitate and make that shot, there are twenty-two seconds on the clock and we can still win this game. I don't want anyone forcing a three-pointer because we just need two points." Coach Dave instructed us on what to do when we got back on the court and we all smiled in agreement at what was going to happen.
We got back on the court and Anthony stood to get ready to pass the handoff, the very second the referee blew the whistle Anthony passed the ball to Susie and Anthony quickly ran to the opposite side of Susie causing everyone to guard him leaving Larry open. Susie threw the ball to Larry and he looked around for Theo passing him the ball, Larry and Theo passed the ball to each other back and forth to kill time. When there were eight seconds left on the clock, Susie ran out and I made a cut in towards the basket to confuse the other team when Larry noticed me under the basketball he quickly passed me the assist and I went up for the shot not hesitating.
The shot clock reached zero and the ball was knocked out of the basket causing me to sigh in defeat. I was immediately brought back to reality when the referee blew his whistle and called goaltending on the other team. Since yellow team defensive players interfered with the ball when it was on its way down the basket, they gave us the two points which mean that we actually won. My feet were quickly picked up the floor and someone was spinning me around in a circle. "We won, we won." I looked down at who was picking me up and saw Theo with a huge smile on his face. The rest of the team quickly gathered around us and started celebrating our victory, I haven't been this excited since I won my high school championship game.
Coach Dave walked up to us with a smile on his face, "Good job, that was an awesome game." We all gave each other high five's and Theo finally put me down.
"We have to celebrate," Theo yelled at the top of his lungs. "Coach, I know Chelsie isn't a part of the team, but can she come to the celebration dinner tomorrow with us."
I was flattered that Theo actually thought about inviting me, but I'm not too sure if I want to go. "I don't mind, but it's up to her if she wants to go." Coach Dave said, and Theo and the rest of the team were looking at me waiting to see what I was going to say.
"Thanks for the invite, but I can't leave my sister Hailey at home by herself tomorrow night." I could always ask Nate to take her to his house, but I haven't spent much time with her since she's been hanging with him this past couple of days.
"You could bring her," Larry suggested and everyone else agreed and I smiled at how happy they all looked and I couldn't resist.
"Cissy, I can't believe you won. You were amazing out there, you still got it." Hailey jumped on me in excitement and I caught her and kissed her cheeks happily.
"Thanks, and Hail we're going for a celebration dinner tomorrow and you're invited," I told Hailey the good news and her face lit up happily.
"Yay, food is life." Hailey yawned. "We should get going, I've had a long day."
Hailey was right her day was long, she went bowling earlier with Nate and she didn't get to take a nap because she was worried about me. "Everyone, I'm heading home. My sister needs to get some sleep."
"Have a great night beautiful and see you tomorrow." Theo placed a kiss on my cheek and I blushed but was also confused because he had an attitude with me before the game.
"Little missy, tomorrow I would like to talk to you." Coach Dave mentioned to me and I said ok and said my goodbyes to the rest of the team.
Nate walked Hailey and I home, which I told him he didn't have to but he kept insisting so I gave in because I knew there was no way that I could say to change his mind. We walked in silence, but it was a sweet silence, mainly because everyone was tired and didn't feel like talking. When we got in front of the door, Nate said his goodbye and walked back to the gymnasium because he said he was going to have Theo and Tommy take him home.
"Hailey, thank you for this," I told Hailey once we were up in our beds after I took a thirty-minute shower.
"Anything for you."