Badass in Disguise
<b>Chapter </b><b>213 </b>
…
The referee’s whistle pierced the air, and the basketball game between Princeton and Randview College officially began. The gymnasium buzzed with energy, students from both schools decked out in their respective colors, creating a sea of orange and ck on one side and blue and white on the other. Chase Astor bounced on his toes, eyes narrowed with determination as his tall teammate won the jump ball, sending it straight to him.
86
Chase smoothly passed it to another yer before positioning himself under the basket. Within seconds, he received the ball back and leapt into the air for a thunderous dunk that had the Princeton students erupting in cheers, stomping their feet against the bleachers.
“Princeton draws first blood!” the announcer’s voice boomed across the gymnasium as Chase ran back down the court, shing his trademark grin at the crowd.
Chase’s moment of glory was short–lived. Randview responded with three consecutive baskets, pushing Princeton into a defensive scramble. Their tallest yer, a six–foot–seven transfer student with arms that seemed to stretch forever, easily shot over Princeton’s defense. With each point surrendered, Chase’s expression darkened, his jaw clenching tighter as he barked orders at his teammates.
In the bleachers, Jade Morgan slouched in her seat, already regretting her decision to attend. She stifled a yawn as she watched the yers dart back and forth across the court. Basketball wasn’t exactly her idea of entertainment. The scoreboard’s digital numbers changed again: 7-13, Randview’s favor.
“You look thrilled,” Julian Sheldon said, appearing beside her with a cardboard container in hand. His wire–rimmed sses caught the harsh gymnasium lights as he settled next to her. “Popcorn?”
Jade took a handful without enthusiasm. “Is this what passes for excitement in college?”
“Better than calculus,” Julian quipped, settling into the empty seat next to her. “Besides, Chase has been telling everyone you’d be here. I think he’s ying extra hard to impress you.”
Jade rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to the court where the action had suddenly stopped. A Randview yer had collided hard with Chase’s teammate, sending him sprawling across the floor. The crowd gasped collectively as the yer clutched his ankle, his face contorted in pain.
“You motherfucker!” Chase shouted, shoving the Randview yer with enough force to make him stumble backward. “Are you here to y ball or break legs?”
The referee rushed between them as yers from both teams converged, tension crackling in the air like electricity. Coaches from both sides hurried onto the court, pulling their yers back before the situation escted further. The Randview yer shrugged, feigning innocence despite the smirk ying at his lips.
The injured Princeton yer was helped to the sidelines, limping heavily with his arm draped over a teammate’s shoulder. Jade could see the swelling in his ankle even from her seat.
“Chase, my ankle’s screwed,” he said, grimacing as the team medic examined him. “I don’t think I can go back in.”
8:00 Fri, Sep 26 T
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<b>86 </b>
“Where the hell am I supposed to find a recement?” Chase ran a hand through his sweat–dampened hair, ncing at the scoreboard: Princeton 7, Randview 13. The sight of the opposing team’s smug expressions only fueled his frustration. He scanned the bench, but there were no more substitutes avable.
To make matters worse, Randview’s cheerleaders chose that moment to perform another routine, their perfectly synchronized movements drawing appreciative whistles from their supporters. Their captain executed a wless series of backflips, ending in a split that had the Randview section roaring.
Sterling Huxley, who’d been watching from nearby, stepped forward. “I could sub in.”
Chase scoffed, looking at him like he’d suggested they forfeit. “Are you forgetting you’re from Randview?”
Sterling shrugged and stepped back, rejoining the Randview supporters whoughed at Chase’s predicament.
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