Rivals by Tommy Greenwald (top 100 novels of all time .txt) 📕

boys teams have their traditional season-ending games against Walthorne North. The girls team is having a great year, in first place, while the boys team will be fighting it out with North for the last playoff spot. But the good news is that Carter, who has not been with the team for most of the season, will be back for this final game. Janeece, let’s start with you. Congratulations on such a great year.

JANEECE:

Thanks, Alfie. It’s really been a dream season. All the girls have pulled together and it’s so fun to go out there and compete as a team.

ALFIE:

What do you think your secret is?

JANEECE:

I think we believe in each other and just love the game. I mean, we take it really seriously, don’t get me wrong, but we’re also loose, we have fun together.

ALFIE:

Winning is always fun, right?

JANEECE:

That’s for sure.

ALFIE:

What about you, Carter? How does it feel to be coming back after such a long layoff?

CARTER:

It feels great. I’m so excited. But can I . . . can I just say something to your listeners?

ALFIE:

Sure.

CARTER:

I—I want to apologize to everyone in the school for what I did. I broke the trust of my teacher and everyone around me, and it was a terrible mistake. But, uh, also, I want to apologize to Alfie Jenks. Because she did nothing wrong. She didn’t tell on me, or tattletale, or whatever you want to call it. I thought she did, and I wanted to believe she did, but I think part of me knew she didn’t, I just wouldn’t admit it to myself. So I just want to say to everyone, and especially Alfie, I’m sorry.

JANEECE:

Whoa. That was intense. Respect, Carter.

CARTER:

Don’t respect me. Respect Alfie.

ALFIE:

Thank you for saying that. It means a lot.

CARTER:

It’s the least I could do.

JANEECE:

Carter, are you coming to our game?

CARTER:

Uh, um . . .

JANEECE:

Are you serious? We’re 16–3, dude! We’re leading the league!

CARTER:

I know that, I was just, you know, so excited about coming back that I haven’t thought that much about anything else, you know—

JANEECE:

It’s Thursday night. The night before your game.

CARTER:

Uh . . . yeah, of course, I’ll be there. I’ll bring all the guys, too.

JANEECE:

Sweet!

ALFIE:

Okay, great, well, thank you both for coming on, and thank you Carter for saying what you said. I have to go because it’s time for Social Studies. Be sure to tune in to both games on WWMS Radio, they’re going to be great! This has been Alfie Jenks, Talking Sports!

AUSTIN

I can tell the second Carter walks in that he’s never been in a house like mine before.

“Whoa,” he says. “This is like something you see on TV. I didn’t think houses like this actually existed in real life.”

“Well, yeah, they do.”

We go into the kitchen, where my mom is making herself a smoothie. She welcomes Carter with a big smile. “Hello, it’s so good to meet you! I’ve heard you’re back on the AAU team, which is wonderful! Why don’t you two grab a treat?”

We walk over to the cupboard, which is filled with all sorts of healthy snacks. Carter stares, and I can tell that he has no idea what most of them are. My mom helps him decide. “Here, try one of these power bars. They’re healthy but delicious.”

Carter smiles. “I didn’t know healthy but delicious was a thing.”

My mom laughs way too loud. “You’re funny! I gotta run to pilates. Austin, be sure to give Carter the full tour. He’ll probably get a kick out of the house.”

As soon as she’s gone, I say to Carter, “You don’t really want a tour, do you?”

He gives me a look. “Uh, based on the looks of this place, it might take the rest of the day.”

“There are rooms in this house even I’ve never seen,” I tell him. “Let’s skip it.”

We end up on the basketball court, of course, but we barely play. Instead, we mostly talk.

“So, how long have you been working with Coach Cash?” Carter asks.

He flips me the ball, and I go in for a lazy layup. “Yeah, um . . . kind of as far back as I can remember, I guess.”

“Whoa. That’s a long time.”

“Tell me about it.” I realize I’ve never really talked about this with anyone before. “I mean, the guy is like a total basketball genius and an amazing coach, but it’s been like, all basketball all the time, and after a while you start to think, like, is it worth it?”

“Yeah, I get that,” Carter says. “You’re a really good player, though, for real.”

“Ha, thanks. I’m pretty good. I’m not great. Despite my parents’ best efforts. Especially my dad’s. If I don’t play in college, it’s going to break his heart.”

“Will it break your heart?”

I laugh. “Absolutely not.” It feels good to say that out loud, once and for all.

Carter casually palms the basketball, which is something I can’t do. “So why do you keep doing it? I mean, the way you were talking at practice the other day made it sound like you don’t even really like playing that much. So what gives?”

I think about that for a few seconds, then say the only answer that seems to make sense. “I don’t know. I love basketball. There are just things about it I don’t love.”

Carter looks around the full court. “I guess your parents are really into hoops though, huh.”

I laugh. “Yeah, you could say that. My dad thought he had a shot at the NBA. Didn’t happen for him.” I cock my head at Carter. “You might have a chance, though.”

“Don’t say that, man,” Carter says. “That’s what got me in all that trouble in the first place.”

I have a sudden urge to get off the court. “You want to check out my video game set-up?”

“Oh dude, you know it.”

We go inside and head toward the rec room, which is downstairs. When I get to the basement door, though, I realize Carter’s not