Memories

LXXXV

SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING

'Oh, don't give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Oh, Saturday night's alright for fighting
Get a little action in'

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"I want you to close your eyes and think about why you're here tonight," Wymack said as the team huddled around him. "Don't tell me 'revenge' because you've already gotten that by being here tonight. This isn't about Riko anymore. This isn't about the Ravens. This is about you. This is about everything it took you to get to this point, everything it cost you, and everyone who laughed at you when you dared to dream big and bright. You're here tonight because you refused to give up and give in. You're here where they all said you'd never be, and no one can say you haven't earned the right to play this game."

"All eyes are on you. It's time to show them what you're made of. There's no room for doubt, no room for second guesses, no room for error. This is your night. This is your game. This is your moment. Seize it with everything you've got. Pull out all the stops and lay it all on the line." Wymack continued, looking around the circle, catching each players eye. "Fight because you don't know how to die quietly. Win because you don't know how to lose. This king's ruled long enough - it's time to tear his castle down."

Thalia smirked. "It looks like we're rubbing off on him, Neil." she said. "Dramatic speeches and all." Wymack glared at her and it made her smirk grow wider. A warning bell sounded and Wymack clapped his hands.

"Let's go!"

The starting line-up headed for the door, and Thalia walked to the bench with her head held high with the other subs. The Ravens walked onto the court first took their places. Riko was among them - the first name called out - like Thalia knew he would. Riko played first and fourth quarters of games. Kevin was first called out for the Foxes, followed by Neil, and they both headed for their positions on the half-court line.

Thalia took a deep breath in and closed her eyes. She let it out, and when the buzzer went off, she opened them and watched the game unfold under her gaze.

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The Ravens were ruthless, as Thalia assumed they'd be. Riko was angry that the Foxes had made it this far. To the finals. That they were rivalling his position as the best. The Foxes were fierce, the challengers in this position. They knew they could do it if they really tried, and they were really trying. It was amazing to watch, and when Thalia finally stepped onto the court as Kevin jogged off, clenching and unclenching his left fist, she felt the heat and the excitement of the moment.

The buzzer sounded and Allison passed the ball quickly to Thalia, who caught it in her right hand and took seven steps before bouncing it off the wall to head back in Allison's direction. The two sped up the court with Neil on Allison's other side. Thalia had a clear shot at a goal, and she took it. The lines lit up red behind the goalie - a man she hadn't even bothered to learn the name of in her months at Evermore - and Thalia cheered. Allison side-hugged her and the two jogged back to their positions.

Everyone was a pile of heavy breathing and dripping with sweat by the time they were let off the court for half-time, and Thalia headed over to Kevin when they were in the locker room. He had his gloves off and a bandage tied around his left wrist. Thalia frowned at it. "You okay?" she asked him. Kevin responded with a nod. 

"Abby gave me some painkillers. I'll be fine," Kevin said. Thalia nodded and turned to where Wymack had entered. Everyone was anxious, and Renee stood in the middle of the room, frowning and looking apologetic. The Ravens would have a new line-up once the buzzer rang again, and the Foxes weren't looking good, with the score seven-three in Ravens favour.

Renee opened her mouth and closed it again. She blinked a few times and cleared her throat. She was clearly trying to apologise, but then she just said "Are you sure?" Thalia was confused, but looked at Andrew, who was sure to understand.

"Yes," he said. Renee nodded.

"Okay. Excuse me." Renee said, leaving to go to the bathroom. Dan stood to go after her, but Thalia shook her head and Wymack put a hand out.

"Leave her," Wymack said. "She didn't want to play tonight after USC's game. We talked her into it." Thalia flicked a look at Andrew, but he was stretching and not looking at anything but the floor in front of him. "Andrew said he could control the score if she showed him how they played." Thalia knew he could. She'd seen him do it on her own playing. He'd picked up patterns and techniques quickly, and Thalia knew that he could apply that knowledge here. He'd watched the Ravens the whole first half, and now knew how they played. Thalia smiled. They had a chance.

"You should've let her step down," Aaron said. "She'd've been more useful as a fourth backliner. It's not a good gap."

"And whose fault is that?" Kevin asked, a deep frown on his face. Thalia knew he was deep in thought and was angry at himself, mostly, for being put out because of his wrist. But he'd be playing with it in the next half, and Thalia knew, even with it being banged up and the anxiety of being injured again, that he could do it.

"How are we supposed to stop them if they won't carry the ball?" Nicky said after a shaky breath.

"You have to drive them back," Thalia suggested. She'd spent months with them and knew how they played. So did Kevin, and he nodded in agreement. "Keep them past the fourth-court line so they can't take short range shots. Make them shoot from further out. It'll give Andrew more time to block their shots."

"Great idea," Aaron said, sarcastically and out of breath. "But we can't stop them if we can't keep up with them. They're almost as fast as your brother."

"Find a way." Kevin said with finality that no one argued with.

Thalia sat down on the bench again as the line-up headed to the doors. This time Andrew joined them. Before Kevin walked on, he tapped the butt of his racquet against the ground and switched it to his left hand. He strode to half-court with his head high and left-handed. The crowd went wild. Thalia smiled with pride.