Chapter 10 - THE FIRST START
Midseason, Denise Parker started Noah.
Not because of the scandal.
Because the regular point guard was sick and Noah had earned backup.
Noah heard whispers in the stands.
Cole.
That kid.
The coach case.
His hands went cold.
First possession:
turnover.
Second:
missed jumper.
Then Tyler slapped his shoulder.
“Wake up.”
Noah glared.
Tyler grinned.
“Too soft?”
Noah almost laughed.
Then the game slowed.
He saw spacing.
Hit a cutter.
Made a floater.
Took a charge.
Hawthorne won by four.
Noah finished with:
eight points,
six assists,
two turnovers.
Not movie-star numbers.
Good.
After the game, a reporter from the school paper asked about Coach Blake.
Noah said:
“I’m here to talk about the game.”
Ethan smiled from ten feet away.
That answer was his.
No one else’s.
Then Greg Mason approached Ethan.
“You happy?”
Ethan frowned.
“With what?”
“You got what you wanted.”
Ethan looked at him.
“No.”
“Blake’s gone.”
“I wanted him to stop touching my son and rigging scores.”
“Same result.”
Greg was angry because Tyler’s name had become tied to donor favoritism.
Understandable.
Then he said:
“My kid earned his spot.”
Ethan nodded.
“Yes.”
Greg stopped.
He expected argument.
Ethan continued:
“That’s why Blake hurt him too.”
Greg stared.
“How?”
“Because now Tyler has to wonder if every good thing was his.”
That landed.
Greg looked toward his son.
Tyler laughing with teammates.
Then down.
He had wanted security for his kid.
He bought doubt instead.
That was the adult version of favoritism.
Then Greg did something useful.
He stepped down as booster vice president.
Not because donating was wrong.
Because the appearance of control mattered.
He remained a donor under new rules.
Good.
Then Tyler found Noah after practice.
“My dad says you think I earned it.”
“You did.”
Tyler looked uncomfortable.
“Why say that?”
“Because it’s true.”
Tyler nodded.
Then:
“I’m sorry I shoved your bag.”
Noah stared.
“And me.”
Tyler winced.
“And you.”
“Why?”
“Because I liked being bigger.”
There.
Honest.
Noah said:
“I still don’t like you.”
Tyler smiled.
“Fair.”
May you like
They became teammates before friends.
Maybe that was healthier.
