FOUR MORE WEEKS before the Basketball game. The Red Panthers verses the Rangers. The school's presumptive record of trophy winning, year after year was remarkable.

  The award winning great record was recognized as being the fourth best school with Basketball sportsmanship champions in the country. They hardly ever lost a match. Tino told me all about last's stupendous Match, he enthused about one of the school's best athletes, the prodigious Anthony Andrew Thomas. He was the captain of the Red Panthers last year. Tino elaborated, saying he was an incredible shooter, generous with his footwork, one of a few who'd mostly ever score more points than anyone else, concluded by giving, a brief synopsis of him simply being one of their best players, Tino also went as far as saying that he was infact the best basketball player for the previous year, sophomore year and last year, senior year.

  Right in the heart of the gym room the guys enthused on about the big game, everyone talking over the other, it was the second loudest noise I ever heard in this school, and I was amongst this noise.

  Listening to Tino gush. Though he was more excited to be on the team, he had made it as one of the players during prior trials. I and Federico watched him rant, we both weren't on the team. Federico's excuse was him proudly rejecting all things sporty. He'd prefer something less sweat involved, to something more relaxing and smouving wherever he was getting to didn't imply sports, for me I would have loved to be apart of the team. But unfortunately I was three weeks late.

  Coach Coleman stood infront of All the guys as he blew his whistle loud enough for the entire school to hear. It left everyone partially deaf as we quiet down. Coach Coleman was taller than all of us, presumably six foot seven tall, tremendously defined, he looked like some NBA player instead of a high school coach. He stood with his legs apart in his gym charcoal grey tiny shorts. Yelling like we weren't five feet away from him.

  ''OKAY! I NEED ONE LAP AROUND. SCRATCH THAT MAKE THAT THREE! DON'T NEED ANY GIRL SCOUTS HERE I NEED REAL MEN HERE! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!"

  And all the guys stood as if we were out on a military basis.

  ''SIR. YES. SIR.'' They answered like soldiers. Including Federico. He had us Enthusiastically jogging around the gym room, and every time we'd finish a lap he'd yell.

  ''WHAT ARE WE!"

  And they'd respond. ''THE RED PANTHERS!"

  The last time I ran like that was back in Rome. I liked jogging most of the evenings, sometimes with Dad, when he was free. And we'd work out at our Home gym together, sometimes do a work out routine together; he'd help me with the weight lifting and I'd help with the bringing of fresh bottled water. And at times, he'd box me, taught me how to throw punches and defence. But as usual a different or new scenery I got a different shade of Dad sometimes more diverse from the other sometimes more aloof and at times the I wanted him to be, certainly not this one

  I was tiring, ahead of me was Tino, who prided himself ecstatically, registering like he had just started running. As he chanted with all the other guys. I turned to my left then right, wondering where Federico was, but I didn't know.

  As Mr. Coleman yelled out for the last chant. I responded with Tino and Everyone else. As Tino and I stood exhaling heavily. I finally noticed Federico with the last set of guys; mostly chunky looking and alittle out of shape, pestering as they returned to the starting position. Federico was shuddering, gasping out of breath.

  ''I Hate Running!" He's voice grisly, paddling up to us.

  Federico was as thin as a twig, you'd think he'd run much but he didn't he was already covered up in sweat and exhaustion. Mr. Coleman noticed him, because he was dramatically exhaling like he had just run a Track race, six times.

  ''Freshman, take the bench.'' He said with much contemptment, and in between sarcasm.

  ''I'm not a freshman, I'm a sophomore. .'' Federico stuttered.

  ''Really?'' Mr. Coleman raised an eyebrow, curling his lips from his teeth as if to refrain a cringe.

  ''Yeah. And I'm fine coach, I'll stay right here.'' He said trying to stand up straight.

  He didn't although look fine. But he presumptously refused. I handed Federico my water bottle. After a five minute break coach Coleman was back infront of us.

  ''THIS YEAR WE ARE HOSTING THIS UP COMING GAME! AND WE'VE BEAT THOSE SUCKERS THREE TIMES IN A ROW!" He yelled.

  ''And lost twice. Let's not forget.'' Federico muttered, the back of his hand connected with his mouth as he rubbed the last beads of water out.

  ''WE TAKE THIS YEAR'S TROPHY! ARE YOU WITH ME BOYS?!"

  I was about to yell 'Yes' at the top of my lungs like everybody else but my voice failed me as I was waiting for everyone to go then I'd chip in, I was forgetting he'd referred us to Men not so long ago, the crowd was silent. It was as if we were no longer present, all that was missing was a cricket chriping. I glanced around at the people who looked like zombies staring at the single Human in the room. Then back at the coach.

  ''Okay. I see you learnt from the last time.'' Mr. Coleman said speaking normally, moderately nodding at us.

  ''There's no forgetting, he made us run five times for agreeing to the term 'Boys'.'' Federico grumbled, his breathing nearly tamed.

  ''WE TAKE THIS YEAR'S TROPHY! ARE YOU WITH ME MEN?!" He resumed his yelling.

  And so did we. Our thrive was twice as stronger than the last.

  ''Listen up! Now that your team captain's transferred, Brody Winkley. We are going to have second trials out for the captain's position!" He raved.

  ''Why can't his vice just take up that spot.'' A fellow from the back said that, quite loudly and immediate.

  I saw Mr. Coleman's face shift off from luke warm to cold. His features quirked all at once into brutal cuts of irk mixed with indignation.

  ''Who in Jordan's Shorts said that?'' Mr. Coleman snared, slow and measured, his thick inky brows neared to his deep brown eyes.

  And I felt a hand instantly grisp my arm, tightly. It was Tino pushing me aside as everyone parted like the red sea before Moses, to the guy at the back. And like we were all mechanically wired, we stared at the guy. He was a lean, tall boy.

  Coach Coleman leered at him as he plodded toward him, we all recoiled like his mere touch could scald us too, we prowled at coach Coleman as he reached the boy. The boy expression dropped, expiring all flustery and jarred with infused terror, his light brown eyes moving left then right. The boy waried ahead, never on to reaching Coleman's gaze, you could see the fear and turmoil trapped in his eyes.

  ''WHAT WAS THAT YOU SAID?!" He spat.

  ''It was just a suggestion.'' He said only this time his voice sounded alot uneven and edgy, lacking the confidence it had at first.

  ''NOW WE BOTH KNOW THAT WASN'T WHAT YOU SAID.''

  He was quiet he made no attempt to speak.

  ''ANSWER ME!" He spattered.

  But the guy remained quiet like he had reached the full freezing point right about now. With the room pin drop quiet, he looked like he had shrunk beneath Coleman's gaze, I mean both literally and figuratively, like he was praying for the ground to just swallow him whole. It was as if we were at a campsite and we were training and we actually needed the act of humiliation to boost our ability to improve, this was beyond shitty.

  ''WHAT KIND OF MAN DOESN'T OWN UP TO HIS OWN WORDS?!"

  The kind that was terrified to go down to principal's office and have their parents called for speaking out of tongue. I stared at him I was sure he had had enough, but coach Coleman didn't think so, he narrowed the distance between him and the guy. You could see the guy's skinny legs tucked under charcoal gray shorts shaking by now, he looked like he'd shit his pants any moment.

  ''It was just a suggestion. Sir.''

  A voice left the crowd, firmly and an unbelievable. Hence, why I couldn't believe I said that. The words seemed to escape my mouth. I took a deep breath in and told myself I'd regret nothing, I didn't think he deserved all that for merely suggesting. So if he was going to be humiliated for saying that I might have well joined him.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Coach Coleman's back was to everyone, he rigidly paused, as though he's heart just stopped, but he's shiny bald head rose, in the next second. His neck turned and he looked at us. His face colder than before. Tino nudged my elbow, his eyes had pity absorbed in them with his mouth drawing a thin line of dismay his dark brows curled to eyes, causing a small frightful ominous feeling to coil in my insides as everyone's focus had been reversed on me.

  ''Who decided on Answering what girly over here was supposed to?''

  Without any hesitation I stood forward.

  He scoffed, coming down my way, I wasn't the least bit of afraid all I saw was a bitchass bully trying to intimidate the people inferior to him, feeding his shitty ego.

  He squinted at me suddenly, with a knowing look, as he got to me.'' You look familiar.'' He had his finger pointing at me. ''Where have I seen you?'' He said, his voice breaking the hostility. ''Nicky is that you?''

  And the chain continued. I wondered who hadn't watched that stupid series here, everyone seemed to have. They was alittle rumbling of awareness at the back.

  ''Lil' Nicky here, you don't know how many times my princess made me watch that scence with you and that co-star of yours." He said and everyone seemed surprised by his tone. The tightness loosening it's bond.

  ''You've been here the entire time?''

  I nodded slightly not hidding my confusion.

  He chuckled. Looking around at the eyes turning at him lostly.

  ''What's everyone looking at let's get back to what we were doing! We have a leader to pick. And listen up I don't just Let anyone at any chance become captain just because you were vice. I choose the captain according to talent and if I don't think the vice is it. Nobody does!" He said, then he turned to me. ''But Nicky you did steal my shot. To be fair. I need two laps after class. And that doesn't just go to Nicky but everyone else.''

  As everyone groaned and muttered.

  ''You're a pack and Panthers stick together for the better or for the worst.''

  He walked back to the front as I noticed people glaring at me and a stubby guy at the corner giving me a death stare. I felt a slight tap on my back, followed by a grin, Tino's features had winded into something softer, with his eyes brighter than ever.

  ''Bud. I thought you were dead for sure.'' He's full smile had all his straight teeth showing, with that wide smile glinting of mirth.

  ''So did I. Word of Advice don't ever do something as stupid as that.'' Federico uttered warningly with a tang of ire in his tone, he had a stern frown on.

  ''No, it wasn't. It'd take a hundred years of Fedde courage to do something as drastic as that.'' Tino agrued, narrowing his dark brows to his eyes, with the hue of them deepened with every word, and his face practically glowed hostility.

  ''Tou?he Dude it's not like you'd have done it.'' Federico protested, lessening the distance between them, with his chin arrogantly up toward Tino, in spite of that Federico was atleast a generous five foot eight, which was palpably too shorter than Tino, who was taller than the both of us.

  Tino narrowed his eyes at Federico, his jaw ticked tightly, furious daggers in form of a stare sent toward Ferderico. He looked like he wanted to punch that little smug smirk off Federico's face.

  ''Um. . . Guys. Listen.'' I tried to lessen the tension between them. ''Fedde. Tino's right, I didn't think it was either.''

  ''Yeah right.'' He rolled his eyes folding his arms, tightly toward his chest. ''It will get you killed.''

  Notice I said '

  ''By who?'' Tino scowled at him like he was blabbling the most senseless thing ever.

  ''Those guys over there they've being eyeing Hercules over here, since Coleman finished his last word.'' Federico's eyes merely indicated at the group standing infront of me and Tino.

  I was about to look back when Federico stopped me.

  ''Don't turn now, trust me you don't want to make any eye contact with the Dark swan or his boys.'' Federico advised, his face shrewd and something else in his eyes not really annoyance or alarm more of fear.

  I was already on Branden's bad side that I knew after that look he gave me during our little fence practice for uncertainties. Now, I was pretty sure he hated me for getting him and his friends several minutes of exhaustion. But I brushed it off, that last part of him hating me.

  Coach Coleman stood up front, as he blew his whistle for the third time to catch every one's attention. We stood before him, only this time we weren't in a line but a crowd.

  ''It is here we put down our skirts and pull on our Real Men pants. Alright?! Real men don't cower in fear! Real men face their fears!'' He proceeded yelling. ''My old man used to say Everything worth dying for requires sacrifice, he told me when I was lying on my Ass, didn't want me home when I turned twenty. He said I needed to get my head out there in the real world. Where meals were sour and hard to have one bite of it.

  ''And what I say to him, I say 'My dream was to become a soldier and to become a commanding officer with time' and he told me 'With your mother cleaning out your room and opening your food packets who you goin' lead?''

  I heard Federico mutter. ''Not this again. This marks the Fifth time his telling us this.''

  ''He said if I didn't let my Mama stop treatin' me like I was some fat lazy cat My Dream was going to waste, he said it was either I sacrificed that pampering care or my dream'd be the sacrifice. I swore it got to me. I tried to do things differently, by myself, I'd make my old man proud of me but to be honest I just wanted to prove to him I could do it, I wasn't some Mama's boy. I could and I would I grumbled that night.'' He scoffed alittle.

  ''Later that year, my old Man was diagnosed with Prostate cancer. He was a goner and I didn't even make it to the graduation- I didn't do nothing. I was just as stubborn as he's old Ass refusing to take medicine with every cold he got. Saying real men don't take the simplest solution for every problem. I knew he just hated them medicine but he never said. He rather have his pride up his ass, up there in the cold than at the warm fire. He Died two months later, right when I thought nothing could kill him not even Hell. He'd actually make it to graduation as he had promised me after his first visit to the hospital. But I knew deep down.

  He paused before continuing. ''Man's no immortal they're instead a tender soul waiting to be consumed by the ''. And in a life of no international achievements, No one'd remember you in the next fifty years.''

  ''Yep. We know the inevitable, the obvious actually. 'Live like you'd never die and die like you never lived'. '' Federico sarcastically recited quietly.

  At that moment I saw that iron born Man vulnerable. A sight of how much he missed his Dad. When I looked at him I guessed he was the type of teenager who trivialized everything around him, fatalistic to only know a value of a precious time when it become an idyllic distant memory. It was only for half of twenty seconds I suppose, before his wall came back up, he blinked and it was like it was never there it irritated me because I had to try to recollect or imagine if it were ever there.

  ''Story times over three minutes and I have you all lookin' like your at some puppy auction.'' A crooked smirk, slid on, his brutal yet decent features, were softer.

  I glanced at him. It was a good story. I wondered how it ended. I leaned to my left to Tino, but he wasn't in the happiest of moods, he looked like the saddest story you'd ever seen his light brown eyes balling into tears, in every time he blinked them away a new layer would cast in.

  I noticed that coach Coleman was in fact right, half of our team looked like they had just seen some final tragic scene, the saddest you'd ever watch enough to put you in a state of grave sorrow. I gazed to my right and there was Federico, looking absolutely cheesed~ off. Yawning.

  ''I take it he's dream of becoming a solider became his sacrifice, isn't he supposed to be some commanding officer by now?'' Whispered to him.

  ''Dude I'm just as clueless as you. He's said it five times now and he never gets to the ending it's like his some book that has its pages ripped out by some- I dunno pig or goat.'' Federico slightly shrugged, dragging his voice in a leisurely manner.

  ''Hmph. And his Mom what happened to her?'' My features folded into bafflement.

  ''No idea. He isn't a book author were you get to ask some questions. He's private.'' He's eyes were lazily, and his voice bore more ire and boredom the more questions I asked.

  ''Why aren't you as teary eyed as half this team?'' I teased, half smiling, amused strangely by the lack of care in his response.

  ''I just said it was the fifth time. I got over the urge to tear down during the third time. He always recreates the story more emotional every time. Strange he didn't include Gibert his actual cat this time.''

  ''They're twenty four of you here. I'll ask you all one simple question. How many think they can qualify in the team going against those devilish Rangers?!'' Coach Coleman asked, firmly tucking his thick arms to his broad chest.

  ''Wow we have a choice?" Federico briskly, choking in a mid- scoff, the line on his lips curling into a cocky smirk, the undeniable mirth in his deep brown eyes actually caused them to glow.

  Almost half of the crowd took the right side signaling we were going to make the team. I thought it be all of us, considering how glacial and stern coach Coleman was, how could you even consider the (misgiving) latter. Tino and I took the team side, while Federico with his unquestionable confidence took the left with nearly all the guys he came in with last during our jogging session.

  Coach Coleman looked at them with much disappointment on his face. Well, he didn't seem disappointed. He folded his thickened toned arms, even more inhaling then letting it out with one breath through his nostrils.

  ''Great. At least you have the decency of being honest with yourselves and taking the wide road.'' He's thick brows slashed upward, staring directly at them. ''Though Imma need like two substitutes from you pack of lost boys. Any volunteers?''

  They were as quiet as the wind. Staring amongst themselves like they'd lost their way home and wondering if there should ask the first stranger they'd see for a cellphone to call their mothers. I saw coach Coleman's eyes look more dread. He's face gave a whole new meaning of the two somewhat similar brothers; disappointment and boredom.

  ''Typical.'' He heaved out a weary sigh, lowering his gaze at them. ''You leave me no choice but to pick, since none of you will do the scariest thing of your existence and pick.'' He declaimed.'' So whose it gonna be?''

  Some guys tried not to make eye contact with him in fear he just might pick them while others did the opposite.

  It looked like he was having a hard time choosing, that he just happened to resort to the most creative way.

  ''Innie~ Minnie ~Minee ~Mo catch a Red Panther on his toe if he cries he's Not a Man Innie~ Minnie ~Minee~ Mo.'' He sang pointing his finger at them, as they idiotically moved with his finger, gingerly watching who'd it end at. Fortunately for most, it ended at the last skinny guy.

  And the others sighed collectively in relief out of their great peril. I saw Federico mouth the word. 'Yes'.

  ''Don't count your whiskers before they come out Panthers.'' He snickered.'' I still have one more to pick.''

  ''Does he always have to make everything about Panthers and being a tough standardized man.'' I whisper to Tino, fully furrowing in ire.

  Who barely shrugged looking at the terrified lost boys of Red Panther clan.

  ''Who'll it be Innie ~Minnie~ Minee---- freshman.'' He's crafty eyes leered on Federico, who didn't look so surprised.

  ''How original.'' Federico uttered, frowning keeping his tone and features folded into lazy mirrors.

  ''Great. Now the rest of you piglets can pick, I'll be generous this time, fifty push ups with sit ups at the side or Running with push ups at the side. Now that is breakfast, don't you think so boys?''

  Groans and grumbles left their crowd. I thought it was a fair fit. Regarding they were so afraid to join the team, the Red Panthers this was their exclusive way out.