Since the game was so far away we got a charter bus for the ride. We hit the road and started driving to the other school. The ride was quiet and I caught a quick nap. We arrived and off loaded and went into the gym. It was just about 5 so the JV girls started warming up and got ready to play.
Sam and I bought some food from the concession and talked about the game plan. It passed the time quickly and before we knew it the game was over and we were in the locker room discussing last minute prep.
"Guy coming in the room," I called as I came in. I didn't want to see naked girls other than the two I had been with. All the girls had good looking bodies but I wanted to remain as professional as I could.
"You're good," Sam called.
She started talking as the JV girls cleared out and headed to the seats to watch the game. I added some pointers and told them to play hard and play for each other.
They took the floor and warmed up. The game began and they all played hard except for Teagan. She was playing sloppy and not helping the team. She wasn't sealing out and getting good looks. The girl that was guarding her wasn't that good but it didn't show at the moment.
"Pull her out," I snapped at Sam.
"I'm letting her work through it," Sam quipped.
"In the meantime you're letting your team work themselves out of contention. You need this game. It don't matter what your overall record is, it only matters what your district record is. You can make the playoffs if you win these games."
"You don't think I don't know that," she huffed. "Two more minutes isn't going to kill us."
I walked away from her and sat at the far end of the bench. Sarah, a short little redhead, looked at me and smiled a soft smile.
"I've never seen Teagan play this way," she said. "Normally she is more focused. Something is bothering her."
"She needs to get her head out of her ass," I sighed.
"You should talk to her," she said. "She listens to you."
"Don't worry I'm going too."
The buzzer sounded and not a moment too soon. We found ourselves down by ten at the half.
Sam started barking out orders in the locker room. Yelling mostly about this and that.
I piped in near the end. "This is just like the last game. You don't need to go out there and get it all back at once, chip away at it and play for the last two minutes again."
They started out of the locker room, Sam leading them back out. I grabbed Teagan and pulled her aside at the door.
"What's wrong with you tonight?" I asked.
"Nothing," she said not looking at me.
"Bull shit. Talk to me."
"I'm just distracted."
"About what?"
"Everything."
"Sam and me I assume."
"Yeah, something like that."
I grabbed her by her shirt right between her breasts and balled it up in my fist as I pushed her against the wall. Got right in her face, so close I could taste the air she panted out as she looked at me now. I could smell her slight odor of sweat as she stood pressed against the wall. Her hands trembled a little as they lay flat against the cold bricks as her chest rose and fell.
"Forget about Sam and me," I snapped. "Focus on what you are doing on the court. Don't worry about what I'm doing, worry about the game."
Her hands curled into fists like she was going to hit me. "I've kept my word. You're assuming things that didn't happen. Get your head out of your ass and play like I know you can."
She licked her puffy lips as she continued to stare and me. Green eyes cold with fear as she blinked. I leaned forward the remaining five inches and kissed her softly. She melted and kissed me back. Hands pulled my tie as she wanted me to press into her. I pulled away from the kiss.
"Get out there and play." I let her go and stepped back. She looked at me with relief as she pushed away from the wall. Kissed me on the cheek before turning to head out the door. I slapped her ass as she pulled it open.
"Sorry," she said.
"Just play the game, your team needs you."
She sprinted out the door and got back in line with the team. I went back to the bench and watched them shoot.
"What was that all about?" Sam asked.
"Getting her head back in the game," I said.
She rolled her eyes at me as the horn sounded. They took the floor and started the second half. Teagan refocused and started hitting shots. The game was tied at the end of the third. They pulled away in the fourth when they started using the wrinkle we had worked on Sunday. Sam was confused when they first went to it.
"What the hell is that?" she asked.
"I created that on Sunday, works good don't it?"
"For not liking this gig you sure are putting a lot of effort into this."
"Bite me," I laughed.
"What else did you work on?" Had a serious undertone to it as she asked.
"What kind of question is that?"
She grunted her annoyance and walked off.
They cruised to a ten point victory and their first district win. They were one and one now in district play with a few more district games left to go. If they could win three of them they would get a berth into the playoffs. That would be a big boost for Sam.
We boarded the bus and got settled. Sam was not talking to me now and sat way in the front. I sat in the very back as we started rolling down the road again. I got up after we got on the highway and worked my way to the front. I sat next to Sam to try and figure her out.
"What's wrong now?"
"Justin is being an ass again," she sighed.
"That's nothing new," I said. "That's guys a douche."
"Filter Jake, filter," she hissed. "I still care about him."
"You're better than him," I said bluntly. "You deserve better."
"What, like you?" she sneered.
"I'm not having this talk right now," I whispered.
I stood and walked to the back of the bus. Went to sit down and thought I had the wrong seat until I saw it was Teagan sitting there.
"What are you doing?" I asked sitting quickly without making a scene.
"Thought we could talk," she smiled.
"You want to talk or do something else?"
"Kind of bold being on a bus surrounded by all these people," she said slyly.
"Wouldn't be the first time."
