Chapter Three (Part One)

Matt Peters

A silver Lexus rumbled into the woods, the swanky vehicle being pulled to a stop among the array of vehicles parked scrappily in between the lofty oak trees.

Eighteen year old Matt Peters emerged from the vehicle seconds later. A half-smile began shaping over his features when he noticed the familiar silhouette slouched against the trees.

‘Dude,’ Simon Nichols said, acknowledging the captain’s arrival with a raised palm; one that was returned instinctively with a high-five. It was an ingrained lingo of the team. ‘You’re late. Everyone’s waiting for you, hotshot.’

‘I know. Let them wait. Good stuff’s worth waiting for.’

Simon guffawed, throwing a light punch at the captain’s shoulders.

Matt shoved his friend back playfully, as the two began rambled up the dirty trail leading to the cabin. Over time, the route had been seasoned into a well-worn path by the footsteps treading upon it every year.
Before each annual basketball season, it was a Gexcell High tradition to throw a wild party in desolated Candlelight Woods.
The location promised no interferences from the authorities, and only the elites of Gexcell High – the jocks and the cheerleaders – are invitees to this exclusive bash.

This year’s pre-season party was different from the others Matt had attended the past few years.
This year he was the limelight. He was captain of the basketball team.

Matt’s shining blue eyes sped up the moonlight-illuminated path, landing upon the wooden cabin reverberating with pure adrenaline.
Against the tranquility of the off-city milieu, the loudness and light from within stuck out most condescendingly.
Even at their distance, the two could make out the wild hollers, punctuated occasionally by high-pitched girly shrieks.

‘Looks like even the entire pep squad has turned up before you,’ Simon commented, a smirk forming on his face as the two guys stopped before the wooden doors.

Matt smiled and ran a hand through his honey-blonde hair. He knew without validations from a mirror that he was looking way past fine.
The girls were going to have the hell of a trouble keeping their hands off him tonight.

‘Here we go,’ Simon announced, reaching for the rusty doorknob on the wooden door.

Throwing it opened in a gaudy fashion, he cleared his throat dramatically, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you captain of Gexcell High basketball team, Matt Peters!’

At Simon’s loud call, the entire party turned their heads in unison towards the latecomers. It took them barely a second before they registered the information, erupting into deafening cheers and wolf-whistles. The volume was so high Matt thought for a second the entire wooden structure would fall through and collapse under its intensity.

It didn’t, of course.

It was his big night after all. The night before the first game of the season – one which everybody was confident would land Gexcell High into their undefeated seventh consecutive state title.
And as captain of the team this year, Matt was going to be the one who would receive the grand trophy from the mayor.
He couldn’t wait for that moment.

‘Matt! Matt! Matt! Matt!’ The crowd chanted; eyes glued adoringly upon their handsome captain.
Matt felt like a god as he scanned the crowd hustled before him.
There were his fellow team mates – all donning the same blue-and-white varsity jacket with the school’s initials emblazoned proudly across their left chests.
There were the cheerleaders – pretty faces that shone brightly with admiration and desire at the sight of their number one jock.
It certainly felt good to be so popular.
Hell, this was everything he’d wanted.

Raising both his arms in acknowledgement, Matt walked slowly into the heart of the pulsating crowd. Somebody pressed an opened bottle of Vodka into his hand along the way.
Hoisting the full bottle up with his left hand, the captain fisted his right and thumped it twice heartily upon his chest, where the initials of Gexcell High were embellished upon the fabric.

‘Gexcell High, Seventh state basketball title!’ He hollered, before downing the alcohol in a drawn-out gulp.
The crowd echoed his actions amidst muddled but thunderous cheers.
When their mouths and clothing reeked of the same stench of alcohol, the pre-game party fever raged back out.
Matt danced and drank like everybody else.
He mingled with the cheerleaders; flirted with leggy head cheerleader Shayna Bern, of whom he had a crush on for quite some time now.
If she weren’t seeing Simon, Shayna would definitely be his to call now.
Not that Matt had totally eliminated the idea of hooking up with her behind his friend’s back: he’ll just have to wait for the season trophy to be secured before pulling such a team-breaking stint.

It was a sinful thought.
But then again, Matt was never an angel. Angels and good intentions would never bring a person far.
Though useless, his family had taught him this much.

Matt didn’t spend much time that night thinking about his family. They were the last thing he’d enjoyed musing about.
Besides, he had something important to do. Besides partying and getting wasted, that is.

He checked the time on his wrist watch: 11.30pm. It was getting late.
Time for the Gexcell ritual.

*
Flanked by the usual handful – ex-captain Marcus Shafer included – Matt exited the cabin, having to tear himself away most unwillingly from the booze and the partying.
The chilled air outside hit his senses almost immediately, mocking the unwise decision to leave the warmth and body heat raging back in the small hut.

‘Come on, Peters,’ Shafer interjected impatiently. ‘We don’t have all night to do this.’

Matt nodded, slightly soured, wrapping his jacket tighter around his trembling body. He stepped ahead and took the lead down the trail to his parked Lexus.
Personally, he didn’t like Marcus very much. Yes, he respected him as the captain of the team during Shafer’s reign.
But he was captain now, not Shafer.
Marcus Shafer has had his own share of glorious days, but they were now overdue.
Matt loathed the way he sometimes throws his weight around, acting like he was still captain of the team. He loathed the way his team mate obliged Shafer’s words – almost as if respectfully – even more.

But after tonight; after the proceeding of the Gencell basketball tradition at Candlelight Lake, Marcus Shafer would have to step away from Matt’s limelight once and for all.
An announcement from the coach made Matt captain of the team.
The continuation of the tradition would make him full-fledged captain in his team mates’ eyes.
Shafer wouldn’t have any more reasons to stay on and meddle in the team’s affairs after tonight.
This bit, Matt was looking forward to.

‘Remembered the ball?’ Marcus asked, slicing through Matt’s thoughts with an invisible blade.

The boot to the Lexus flew open automatically at the car key’s bidding. Reaching in, Matt pulled out an orange Spalding and threw it in at Marcus’s chest.
The ex-captain reacted swiftly with a flawless catch, sandwiching the ball steadily between both his palms.

‘Okay, Peters. No time to show off your throwing skills. Let’s go do this.’

Matt slammed his car boot down hard, before jogging ahead to keep apace with Marcus and the guys. He can’t wait to do this either, if it means he won’t have to behave like Marcus’s lackey anymore.

(to be continued)