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Monday rolled around and Troy found himself and the rest of the East High basketball team in the gym, working out together as an official team. Today was the first official practice of the Winter season and Troy never felt better about being part of this group of guys. Troy nodded at Chad, who gave him a thumbs up sign from across the court where he was running the team through some drills while Troy and his dad talked about strategy.
"What do you think of the guys this year, Troy?" asked Coach Bolton.
"I think there is a lot of potential and a lot of good talent out there. I'm glad to see it's not dominated by seniors so that you will have some sort of team after we graduate," kidded Troy.
"Haha," replied Coach Bolton. "You know you guys will always be my boys, even if you do all leave me at the end of the year. I know it's tough with college choices coming up, but I want to remind you that you don't have to go where everyone else is going if you don't like that particular school."
Troy nodded his head in understanding. "I know Dad, but I'm also keeping in mind the scholarship factor. I'm working hard this year to keep my grades up and play as hard as I can in hopes of getting noticed by scouts this year to help financially, but I'm not letting that dictate the decision either. Strategy for college is to go with what feels right in my gut."
"Well, as long as you keep in mind finances somewhere in your head, I think we'll be okay then with your decision. I just want to make sure you don't fall into the trap of going to a school for the sake of being with your friends, no matter if it is Chad or even Gabriella," stated Coach Bolton. "I know you and Gabriella are heading down those lines of rekindling the relationship which is fine but don't make the mistake of following her."
"Relax Dad, we aren't even at the dating stage. I think it's a bit early for this talk. Besides, I've reviewed all the best college hoop teams and their academic programs already. I'm continually looking at that list, promise," vowed Troy.
Coach Bolton nodded his head satisfied with the answer. "Good, I'm glad to see you aren't resting on U of A's prospect."
"No sir," replied Troy. "So, you mentioned earlier to me and Chad about having new plays. Want to share them?"
Coach Bolton flipped open the binder in his hands and proceeded to show Troy the new plays and signals. Troy nodded his head as he followed along but also put in his two cents on a few plays he felt could better capitalize on the team's talents. Chad joined the father and son pair after he sent the team outside to run laps. He seemed pretty impressed by the plays and the three agreed that these would serve to be a solid foundation for the team to play off of.
"Good, I'm glad we're all in agreement," said Coach Bolton. "How does it feel to be co-captains of the future champs again?"
"Great," replied Chad. "Then again, I am also a bit overwhelmed."
Troy chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll get used to the overwhelmed feeling. I'm just glad I can share that feeling with you now. Remember when we first started even just trying out for this team in freshman year? How intimidating that was?"
Chad thought back and laughed. "Oh boy, do I ever!"
Chad and Troy had just stepped through the doors of the East High gymnasium for tryouts for the Wildcats basketball team when they were nearly run over by three much taller guys. "Hey, watch where you're going," one of them muttered as they kept going.
Chad sarcastically commented, "Well, that was a friendly greeting. Remind me to sign up to be part of that welcoming committee later."
Troy laughed at his best friend. "Come on Chad, let's go get changed before we're late for tryouts."
"Dude, it doesn't matter if you're late, you are the coach's son!" exclaimed Chad.
Troy shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Dad specifically told me I would not get any special treatment and I prefer it that way. I'd rather not have any of the guys here know that I was his son right off the bat. I know there would be a huge outcry if they knew. That's just the way it goes for the son of Coach."
"Umm Troy, I hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure these guys know you are Coach Bolton's son. Same last name not to mention the fact that you have been going to the games he has coached since you were little," stated Chad. "I don't think these guys are the brightest bunch necessarily, but I'm sure they'd recognize the resemblance if nothing else."
"Saying I'm a mini of my dad, huh?" asked Troy as they walked through the doors of the gym and laid their bags down on a bench that was empty.
"No, just saying, it's a bit too late to hide you are his son if that's your intention," replied Chad.
The two changed into sweats and headed out of the locker room just in time for Coach Bolton to start his welcome speech and to thank everyone from coming out. He split the guys up into eight teams and had them scrimmage against each other for the next few hours. Chad and Troy ended up opposing each other a few times but it didn't matter much as neither really got the ball. Both were frustrated by this because they weren't being given their fair shot against the juniors and seniors, who were already part of the team in previous years but then again, watching their skills on the court made both Chad and Troy reconsider their own. Since they were given no real choice but to watch as the others played while trying to get the ball every now and then, the two friends saw how talented most of these guys were when they were doing flawless dunks, layups, and stealing.
'God, I have so much to learn,' thought Troy as he miraculously stole the ball from an opposing member and attempted to make a shot only to have it blocked and then stolen by a taller guy. 'ARGH!'
Chad shook his head at his friend completely understanding his frustration. 'These guys aren't giving us any breaks but then again, I guess I wouldn't either if I was trying to prove myself to the coach that I deserved to go from JV to Varsity like some of these guys are,' inwardly admitted Chad.
After a few hours, Coach Bolton blew his whistle signaling the end of tryouts. "I'll have the results posted at the end of the week in the locker room. Thank you everyone for coming out this year."
Chad and Troy showered quickly and then changed before they began their walk home together. "Was it me or were we being completely ignored out on the courts?" asked Chad.
"Not ignored, just not deemed able enough to handle the ball well or something," returned Troy. "I have never felt that inadequate on the courts before, not since elementary school."
"Me neither. Not since we started to learn how to play. Kind of sad," stated Chad. "Oh well, live and learn right man?"
"Right," agreed Troy.
Troy and Chad both shook their heads as they finished thinking about that particular day of their high school basketball career. "The older guys were definitely brutal," commented Chad.
"True but it only made us play that much better, right?" replied Troy. "It's just sort of what we are doing to the newbies now, well minus the intimidation factor I think. Besides, being on the JV team freshman year wasn't that bad."
"I guess. We did get to play starting lineup on the JV team instead of fillers for the Varsity. Besides, it wasn't like it took you long to prove your worth and become Varsity sophomore year, Troy," pointed out Chad.
Troy shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, but look at the team now. Everyone tries so hard and is putting in so much effort. I can just feel that this is going to be an amazing year for the Wildcats."
"Hopefully so, man," replied Chad. "Wouldn't hurt any of our prospects to get another championship to add to our names and applications."
"Hate to break up this moment guys but I think you should head on out to the track and join your team," stated Coach Bolton. "I don't want them thinking you are punishing them for something by you not joining them."
"Right Coach," both replied before running outside to join the team.
"Hey Gab, I don't have a student in the next hour, do you want me to take Troy for you so you can go home and work on your application essay?" offered Taylor as she came over to sit down next to her best friend. "I know you have been worried about it all day."
Gabriella nodded her head. "So have you though. Why don't you go ahead and head home? I'll walk home, no big deal."
"No way, I always give you a ride home."
"Taylor, I appreciate the offer to stay but I know that you have a lot on your plate right now. It's the second week of November and neither of us are exactly ready for the world of college applications yet. Go home and work on your own essay. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," replied Gabriella. "Now scoot before I change my mind."
Taylor laughed at Gabriella's tease. "All right, I'm going. I do have quite a lot of work to do for that application. None of our senior friends last year told me that it was going to be this hard and this involved to apply to colleges! The applications, the essays, the grades, the extracurriculars, the interviews, and the campus visits? That's a lot!"
Gabriella let out a sigh. "I know, it is a lot, but we still have some time. Remember, we are going on a few campus tours in late winter before decisions are made. I think that's the best so that we can do the interviews at the same time."
"I agree. All right, I'm out. Give me a call if you need a ride though, promise?"
"Promise," agreed Gabriella before Taylor headed out. Just thinking about the college application process worried Gabriella more than she would let even her mother know. She pulled out her notebook she reserved for her college application essay and reviewed what she had written so far. It was just her general statement but she realized two weeks ago when she started on this that even general statements were hard to do since she had to summarize who she was and what she was in only one page or less depending, on the school.
Troy entered the library after a good shower and smiled as he saw Gabriella busily writing at their usual desk. "Someone's working hard and furious," said Troy as he sat down opposite her. "Essay for AP English?"
"No, college application general statement," replied Gabriella. "It's so hard to summarize oneself for someone else to read when one doesn't know herself who she is, right?"
"Aww, is Gabriella going through an identity crisis?" teased Troy.
Gabriella let out a dry laugh. "Right, like you are one to talk, Mr. Scholarship Quest Hotshot."
"Ouch, kick me in the vulnerable spot and that was this summer, by the way, not now necessarily. Seriously though, you are probably worried to death over these applications without just cause," said Troy.
"What do you mean?" questioned Gabriella.
"Just that I know you are stressing out over being accepted into the right college but that I know that you are going to have no problem with your grades and personality. Who you are will show through the applications and interviews. Any school would be stupid not to roll out the red carpet for you," stated Troy.
"You seem to have a much higher opinion on me than I have of myself," returned Gabriella. "There's nothing that would separate me from any other academically focused student out there really."
Troy shook his head. "That's where you are wrong. Yes, you are intelligent and a bit of a brainiac, but you aren't the nerd you paint yourself out to be. You have a large heart, one that lends itself to the tutoring you do here as well as the volunteer work you do at the homeless shelters and the elderly homes on your own free time. Gabriella, you aren't the type of girl who is doing all this just for the college look but also because you want to do it. Your heart and your sweet personality is what separates you from every other 1500 plus SAT scoring student out there."
Gabriella blushed at this. "You know Troy, you are very good at the ego boost. I only wish that all that was true."
"It is, you just have to believe in yourself, as you always told me before," reminded Troy. "Speaking of, do you want to maybe help me start mine? Unlike you, I am evidently way late on doing my general statement."
"You mean they require jocks to go through the same thing as us lowly students that are below the jock status quo?" teased Gabriella. "I might just faint at that idea."
Troy laughed. "Shut up, Gabriella. You know you would never ever be beneath any jock, especially me. So is that a yes we can use this session for you to help guide me through the requirements? I don't expect you to write it for me."
"Sure, we'll brainstorm ideas. Do you have any of the applications to use as a guideline?" asked Gabriella.
"No. I actually came in to work on the history paper due next week," admitted Troy.
Gabriella thought for a moment and then offered, "Well why don't we work on the history paper here now and then later, we can work on your general statement for a bit tonight. We can swing by your house to pick it up and work on it at the city library near my house. How does that work?"
Troy smiled at her. "Brilliant! Are you sure you can spare me all this time though?"
"I wouldn't offer unless I was willing," she answered.
Troy picked up her hand that was resting next to her notebook and kissed the back of it. "You are simply the best Gabriella, simply the best."
Gabriella shyly smiled back at him before she gently pulled her hand away from his grasp. "Well, if we can get you into a college based on the essay and not your basketball skills, only then will I admit I'm the best. Until then, I am just a friend helping a friend."
Troy grinned back at her. "Whatever you say."