Danny was still grinning as he walked to the center of the mat. His swagger was oozing.
“One more round, boys!” the ref called. “Scrap!”*
“Time to put you away, little bro,” Danny smirked, bouncing on his feet.
Larry didn’t say anything. His face was cold. Focused.
Danny shot immediately. A lightning fast blast double — textbook. His shoulder drove through Larry’s waist and BOOM, they hit the mat hard.
“Takedown! Three points, blue!”*
The scoreboard now read:
Danny Harold: 18
Larry Balls: 5
“HA!” Danny cackled as he popped up. “Too easy, man! This ain’t even a fight anymore!”*
But then… Danny did it again. He let Larry up.
“Escape! One point, red!”*
18-6.
Coach Doug’s face twisted with rage. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING, DANNY?!”
“Relax, Coach!” Danny laughed. “I’m puttin’ on a show! I’m gonna hit somethin’ crazy for the finish — like a flying armbar or somethin’!”*
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“Danny, END THE MATCH!”* Doug roared. “You’re playin’ with fire!”*
Danny waved him off. “Bro, chill out!”*
Danny jogged back to the center, his hands loose at his sides. “Alright, bro, you still in this?”*
Larry said nothing. He just stared.
Danny grinned. “Aight. Watch this.”*
He faked a shot, then — for no reason at all — did a cartwheel.
The crowd cheered at the flashiness. “OOOOOH!”*
But in the same instant — BAM! — Larry exploded.
A perfect blast double right through Danny’s gut. Danny HIT THE MAT hard, his back instantly exposed.
“WHOA!”* the crowd gasped.
“Takedown, red! Three points!”*
Danny tried to turn his hips — but too late. Larry was already hooking his arm and scooping his head.
“NO! NO NO NO NO—” Danny panicked.
Larry ripped him over.
Danny’s shoulders hit the mat.
The ref dropped. “PIN! PIN! PIN!”*
The whistle screamed.
“MATCH OVER!”
The arena exploded.
Danny’s face went ghost white. “NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.”*
The ref waved his arms. “Winner, Larry Balls! By pin!”*
Danny didn’t move. He just stared at the ceiling, completely frozen. He was 18-5 — and just got pinned.
“NOOOOOOOO!”* Danny screamed, pounding the mat. “NOOOO! I HAD HIM! I HAD HIM!”*
Coach Doug didn’t say a word. He just shook his head and walked toward the tunnel.
Johnny was frozen. “…he just blew it.”*
“I HAD HIM!”* Danny screamed, grabbing his hair. “I WAS GONNA STYLE ON HIM! I HAD HIM DEAD!”*
The crowd was losing their minds. Larry jumped to his feet, pumping his fists. “LETS GOOOOOO!”*
Danny finally got up, his face pure horror. “Wait — WAIT! I WANT A REMATCH! I WANT A REMATCH!”*
The ref ignored him. “Winner by pin — LARRY BALLS!”*
The crowd was deafening. Danny looked like he saw a ghost.
And Johnny?
He just realized what Coach Doug meant.
Overconfidence kills.
Danny walked toward the tunnel, his face completely broken. His mouth was moving, like he was talking to himself. “I had him. I had him. I had him.”*
Doug was waiting at the tunnel.
Danny froze when he saw him. “Coach, I —”
Doug didn’t say anything.
WHACK!
Doug smacked Danny upside the head. Not hard — but enough.
“You’re a moron,” Doug said coldly. “Go sit down. We’ll talk later.”*
Danny’s mouth opened — but no words came out. He just hung his head and slumped past Doug.
Johnny watched him walk away. “Damn…”
“He deserved it,” Kent muttered beside Johnny. “He had him dead. Started playin’ around. He deserved it.”*
“Yeah…” Johnny mumbled. “But it’s still hard to watch.”*
Doug turned toward the rest of Team Juice. “Let this be a lesson to all of you — I don’t care how much you’re winning by. Don’t ever — EVER — get cocky in a match. Because it can be taken from you in an instant.”
He looked dead at Johnny. “You understand me, Blood?”
Johnny swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”*
End of Chapter 5.
