The last weekend before Foundation Week arrived. It was already late at night, but Dylan was still at the gym for their extended training session. They were putting in extra hours because in just three days, Foundation Week would begin, and that meant their preparations had to be on another level.
The sound of sneakers on the court was relentless as the players sprinted up and down the floor, continuously practicing their shots and defense drills. Even though Dylan was deeply focused on his training, his mind kept drifting. He couldn't stop thinking about Flynn.
He kept glancing at the clock, restless and impatient, eager to pick up Flynn from his practice with Jacob. Dylan found it increasingly hard to concentrate, especially when he couldn't shake the thought of Flynn spending time with Jacob, just the two of them in that room, practicing together.
Once their training session ended, Dylan immediately headed toward the room where Flynn and Jacob were practicing. As soon as he arrived, he saw them laughing together. Jacob was incredibly close to Flynn, correcting his notes and even placing a hand on his shoulder.
Dylan's face darkened with a wave of jealousy, but he quickly pushed the thought aside, telling himself it was all for the contest, that it was just business.
He stood by the door for a moment before knocking, which broke the moment between them. Flynn and Jacob quickly gathered their things and left.
Saturday started early. Dylan's basketball team had a morning session, and he needed every ounce of energy. He ran drills, made layups, and worked on his defense. Sweat streamed down his face, and his muscles ached, but there was a part of him that couldn't stop thinking about the time he'd have to wait before picking up Flynn.
Their basketball practice ended earlier than expected, so Dylan decided to drop by Flynn's practice room to check in on him. Before he even reached the door, he could already hear Flynn's voice singing inside. He didn't want to interrupt, so he decided to quietly peek through the window.
As he stood there, watching them, Dylan couldn't help but feel irritated seeing how close Jacob was to Flynn. Come on, what's wrong with you, Dylan? It's just practice. It's just work. Nothing else. He repeated the words in his mind, trying to calm himself down.
The weekend dragged on. On Sunday morning, another round of basketball practice awaited. This time, Flynn would join Dylan on the court.
Flynn and Jacob had finished their music practice, and now they only had one last rehearsal left, just the day before their performance.
Dylan was practically mirroring every move Flynn made, from their stretches to running drills on the court. Flynn couldn't help but notice Dylan's sudden surge of energy.
"Good mood today, huh?" Flynn asked with a curious grin as they finished a sprint.
"Of course," Dylan replied, his tone playful but sharp. "I'll finally be at ease now, and I won't get tired just thinking about you when you're with that Jacob."
Flynn raised an eyebrow at the sudden mention of Jacob. "Why are you so worked up about him?"
Dylan shrugged, trying to keep his tone casual but failing to hide his irritation. "It's nothing. I just don't like how close he is to you. After the event and your performance, I don't want to see you hanging out with him anymore."
Flynn chuckled at that, clearly amused. "And who are you to stop me?"
Dylan smirked, his voice dripping with humor. "Didn't you say we're like family? Well, I'm just being protective of my little brother." He emphasized the word family with a playful smile.
Their training ended early today to give them some time to rest. Tomorrow marks the first day of Foundation Week, and the basketball eliminations are also set for tomorrow.
As soon as they got home, Flynn and Dylan quickly cleaned up and headed straight for bed. The moment Flynn lay down, Dylan tried to hug him.
"Dylan... We have an early start tomorrow. Stop being so clingy and go to sleep," Flynn said, trying to pry Dylan's arms off him.
"I just want to hug you. It feels like I haven't seen you much lately with all your practice with Jacob. Then by the time you get home, you're already asleep. I miss you," Dylan replied.
"Miss me? You miss me even though you're practically living in my shadow. I'm with you 24/7, and you still miss me? Here, hug this. This is probably missing you too," Flynn said, grabbing the SpongeBob plushie beside him and handing it to Dylan.
Dylan chuckled. "First day of Foundation Week tomorrow. Just in case you can't play, you better stay on the court, okay? I still want you there watching."
"Where else would I go? Even if I'm just sitting on the bench, I'm still part of the team, and my presence still matters," Flynn answered.
"Still, I just want you there," Dylan said, his voice softening.
Flynn laughed at Dylan's words. Despite his tough exterior, there were times when he acted like a child. Flynn didn't respond but just turned over and drifted off to sleep.
Even though Dylan didn't get a direct answer, he knew that Flynn wouldn't be able to resist him for long.