Game Above Game

The Ironwood gym was alive with the sound of sneakers squeaking, basketballs bouncing, and Coach Hale's sharp whistle cutting through the chaos. Morning light streamed through the high windows, casting golden beams across the polished court.

Jaden sat at the edge of the bench, elbows on his knees, watching as Ethan and Tyler led the starters through offensive sets. His chest burned—not from exhaustion, but from frustration.

He wasn't on the court.

"Hunter!" Coach Hale's voice rang out, sharp as glass. "You waiting for a personal invitation? Get in there!"

Jaden shot up, grabbing his jersey and jogging onto the court.

"Run the set, Hunter!" Hale barked. "No solo acts. We're playing basketball, not street magic!"

Ethan jogged past Jaden and gave him a quick nod. "Just play your game, but keep your head in the system."

Jaden exhaled slowly. Alright. Play smart.

Tank set a hard screen, giving Jaden space to drive into the lane. Tyler was on him in a flash, arms wide, his smirk practically taunting Jaden.

"Where you goin', Silk?" Tyler hissed.

Jaden hesitated for half a second—long enough for Tyler to close the gap. Panic flared in Jaden's chest, but then he saw Ethan open on the wing.

Without thinking, Jaden fired a crisp bounce pass right into Ethan's hands. Ethan rose smoothly, his shooting form textbook, and the ball sailed through the net with a clean swish.

"Nice pass, Hunter!" Ethan said, jogging back on defense.

Coach Hale's voice cut through the air. "Better. Now keep doing that!"

For the next fifteen minutes, Jaden stuck to the script—tight passes, controlled drives, and smart plays. But every time Tyler's smug face got in his way, Jaden felt the itch. The itch to break loose, to hit a flashy move, to remind everyone who he was.

The opportunity came when Tyler slipped up, leaving Jaden just enough space.

In a flash, Jaden snapped the ball through his legs, spun, and launched a no-look pass across the court. The ball soared—too fast, too risky—and smacked the padded wall behind the baseline.

The gym fell silent.

Coach Hale's whistle screamed through the air.

"Hunter!" Hale stormed onto the court, his voice low and venomous. "You think this is some kind of circus act? You're done for today. Bench. Now."

Jaden froze. Every set of eyes in the gym was on him. Tyler smirked as he walked past, patting Jaden's shoulder.

"Tough break, superstar."

Jaden clenched his fists and turned toward the bench, his ears burning as whispers rose around him.

---

The locker room after practice was quiet except for the hiss of running showers and the occasional sound of lockers slamming shut. Jaden sat on the bench, staring at his sneakers.

He felt someone drop down beside him.

It was Tank.

"You alright, man?" Tank asked, his deep voice soft for once.

Jaden shook his head. "I don't get it, Tank. I know I can play. I know I'm better than half these dudes. But Hale's got me locked down like I'm some kind of liability."

Tank leaned back, arms crossed over his massive chest. "Look, man, Hale's old school. He don't care about mixtapes or street handles. All he cares about is winning. You gotta earn his trust, Silk."

Before Jaden could respond, Ethan walked over, towel draped over his shoulder.

"Tank's right," Ethan said. "Hale's not gonna hand you the keys until he knows you can run his system. You gotta show him you can do it his way first. Then, and only then, will he let you do it your way."

Jaden nodded, but the frustration still bubbled under the surface.

"Look, let it sit for a while," Ethan added. "Don't let one bad play get in your head. You'll get your chance."

Tank clapped Jaden on the shoulder. "Come on, man. Lunch is on me today. You need fuel if you're gonna keep carrying that chip on your shoulder."

Jaden managed a smirk. "Bet. Let's go."

---

The cafeteria buzzed with the lunchtime crowd. The basketball team had their own corner, a collection of pushed-together tables surrounded by loud voices and trays piled high with food.

Jaden, Tank, and Ethan sat together while Leo quietly typed away on his phone nearby.

"Yo, Silk," Tank said, pointing his fork at Jaden. "You ever been in a game where you had to drop, like, forty points just to prove a point?"

Jaden grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Man, you don't even know. Back in Pinehill, there was this one dude—Darius something. He came into our court talkin' all kinds of smack. Said I couldn't shoot."

"No way," Ethan said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah. I hit him with five straight three-pointers. Dude left the court holding his knees."

The table burst into laughter, but Jaden's smile faded slightly when he caught sight of Tyler across the room. He was surrounded by a group of other seniors, laughing and talking loudly.

Just then, Ava Martinez walked into the cafeteria, her camera bag slung over her shoulder. She glanced briefly at Jaden before sitting down at a nearby table, pulling out her laptop.

"Yo, Silk," Tank said, following Jaden's gaze. "You lookin' at Ava?"

Jaden smirked. "She's interesting, man. Got this… vibe about her."

Ethan chuckled. "Careful with that one. Ava's sharp, bro. She'll read you like a book."

Leo finally spoke, his voice calm. "She's also the only person here who's not impressed by basketball players. Good luck with that."

Jaden laughed, shaking his head. "Y'all act like I can't handle myself."

As if on cue, Ava glanced over, her sharp eyes catching Jaden's for a brief moment before she turned back to her screen.

Tank grinned. "Oh, she clocked you, bro."

Jaden ignored them, focusing back on his food. But in the back of his mind, a plan started forming.

---

That evening, Jaden stayed late in the gym. The lights cast harsh shadows on the hardwood as he dribbled alone, his sneakers echoing with every step.

He worked on everything—passes, layups, deep threes. Over and over until his arms burned and his legs felt like lead.

As he finished his final shot, the ball bounced lazily off the rim. Jaden bent over, hands on his knees, sweat dripping onto the polished floor.

"You still here, Hunter?"

Jaden's head snapped up. Coach Hale stood in the doorway, arms crossed.

"Couldn't sleep, Coach," Jaden said quietly.

Hale stepped onto the court, his shoes barely making a sound. "You've got talent, Hunter. But talent isn't enough here. You need discipline. You need control. If you want to lead this team, you better start showing me you can play my game."

Jaden nodded, his throat tight.

"Good," Hale said before turning to leave. "Practice starts at six. Don't be late."

As Hale disappeared into the hallway, Jaden stared up at the championship banners hanging from the rafters.

He was going to prove himself—on Hale's terms if he had to.

This wasn't Pinehill anymore.

This was Ironwood Academy.

And Jaden Hunter was just getting started.

---