Game Above Game

The Ironwood gym buzzed with energy as the team gathered for their first full practice since Jaden and Tyler's suspension ended. The polished hardwood gleamed under the bright lights, and the faint squeak of sneakers filled the air as players ran drills across the court.

Jaden stood near the sideline, gripping a basketball tightly. His jersey clung to his back, still damp from the conditioning drills Hale had thrown at him earlier that morning. Tyler was on the opposite side of the court, stretching out his shoulders, his face set in a scowl.

Coach Hale's sharp whistle cut through the noise.

"Alright, listen up!" Hale's voice boomed as the team huddled in the center. "The season opener is in two days. This isn't the time for ego, drama, or excuses. Out there, you're not stars, you're not streetball legends, and you're not your daddy's golden boy. You're a team. And if you can't act like one, you'll watch from the bench. Understood?"

"Yes, Coach!" the team answered in unison.

Hale's piercing eyes scanned the group before landing briefly on Jaden and Tyler. "Good. Pair up. Hunter, Crane—you're together. I want passing drills. Tight. Controlled. No tricks."

The tension in the air spiked. Players exchanged uneasy glances as Jaden and Tyler walked toward each other without saying a word.

Tank clapped Jaden on the back as he passed. "Keep your cool, Silk. Show him what you got."

Jaden nodded once, exhaling slowly as he and Tyler squared up.

---

The ball bounced back and forth between Jaden and Tyler in sharp, rhythmic passes. Jaden's movements were crisp, precise, but every time their eyes met, he could feel Tyler's irritation simmering beneath the surface.

"Eyes up, Hunter," Tyler said through gritted teeth as he fired the ball back harder than necessary.

Jaden caught it cleanly, his jaw tightening. "I'm here to work, Crane. Not trade insults."

For a moment, Tyler's glare softened, as if he was caught off guard by Jaden's calm response. But before either of them could speak again, Coach Hale's whistle cut through the air.

"Enough! Get on the baseline. Full-court scrimmage. Hunter, you're running point for the second unit. Crane, first unit. Let's see who wants it more."

Jaden's blood buzzed with adrenaline as he jogged to his position.

---

The scrimmage was fast and brutal. Tyler led the starters with sharp passes and aggressive drives to the basket, while Jaden commanded the second unit with his signature flair—sharp crossovers, no-look dishes, and lightning-quick ball movement.

But it wasn't perfect. Tyler's physical defense kept Jaden second-guessing his moves, and every time Jaden tried something flashy, Tyler was there to smother it.

The tension between them built with every possession.

On one play, Jaden drove hard into the paint, Tyler guarding him step for step. At the last second, Jaden spun, faked a pass, and pulled up for a jumper.

The ball sailed cleanly through the net.

Jaden let out a breath, his eyes locking onto Tyler's.

"Can't stop everything, Crane."

Tyler's face twisted with frustration, but before he could respond, Coach Hale's whistle blew again.

"Enough! Bring it in!"

Both units jogged to the center, sweat dripping, breathing hard.

Hale's cold gaze swept over them. "You two are poison to this team right now. And if you can't figure out how to work together, neither of you will play in the season opener. I don't care how talented you are."

The words hit like a sledgehammer. Jaden's stomach churned, and even Tyler seemed shaken.

"Hit the showers," Hale said curtly.

---

The locker room was filled with the sound of running water and faint murmurs. Jaden sat on the bench, a towel draped over his head, staring down at the floor.

The locker next to him creaked open. Tyler sat down, dropping his bag beside him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence felt heavier than anything Hale had thrown at them.

Finally, Tyler broke it.

"Do you even know what it's like, Hunter? To have everyone expect you to be perfect? To look at you like you're supposed to carry them because of who your dad is?"

Jaden blinked, lifting his head slightly. Tyler's voice wasn't sharp this time—it was tired.

"No," Jaden said softly. "But I know what it's like to have people expect you to fail. To think you're just some street kid with flashy moves and no brains."

Tyler's jaw tightened, but he nodded faintly.

"We're different, Crane. But we're also the same," Jaden said. "We both want to win. And we're both tired of people telling us who we are before we've had a chance to prove it."

For the first time, Tyler didn't have a snarky comeback. He just stared straight ahead, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing.

"Let's stop making it harder for each other," Jaden added. "We've got enough people trying to drag us down already."

Tyler nodded slowly. "Yeah. Alright."

The faintest hint of a truce hung in the air as the two sat in silence.

---

That evening, the Ironwood outdoor court was empty except for Jaden. The floodlights overhead hummed faintly as he dribbled, the sound echoing in the quiet night.

He moved with precision—crossovers, spin moves, pull-up jumpers. Every movement was sharp, focused, deliberate.

Footsteps approached behind him.

"Still out here, Hunter?"

Jaden turned to see Ethan walking toward him, hands in his hoodie pockets.

"Couldn't sleep," Jaden said, catching the ball and tucking it under his arm.

Ethan stopped a few feet away. "Tyler talked to me. Said you two… came to an understanding."

Jaden nodded. "Something like that."

Ethan smiled faintly. "Good. Because we're gonna need both of you for this season opener. Coach isn't wrong—the two of you together could be unstoppable."

Jaden smirked. "Yeah. Guess we'll find out soon enough."

The two stood in silence for a moment, the night air cool around them.

"Get some sleep, Hunter," Ethan said, turning to walk away. "Big day tomorrow."

Jaden nodded, watching Ethan disappear into the shadows.

He turned back to the hoop, spun the ball in his hands, and lined up one last shot.

The ball arced perfectly through the air, swishing cleanly into the net.

Jaden let out a slow breath, his eyes locked on the rim.

Tomorrow, the real test would begin.