Kai's P.O.V.:

I was with my family, including Nya, Jay and their twins, at Blake's basketball game. It was the Ninjago City Dragons vs. the Jamanikai Jaguars. They were deep in playoffs and if they won this game, they would get to go to the championship. The score was tied 22-22 and there was only 11 seconds left in the game. I'll admit that I don't know much about sports, but between Blake and Jay explaining it to me I caught on enough to pay attention in my son's games.

The ball fouled and Blake had the chance to take the shot for the win. The entire crowd was silent. He jumped up and took the shot and the ball went in right as the timer went off. The whole gymnasium was cheering for him. I was so proud of him.

That night we took Blake to his favorite restaurant the Longhorn's Stake Hut to celebrate his big win.

"We're really proud of you son." Skylor said.

"Thanks Mom, but now that we're in the championship, I've got double the practices, so you might have to pick me up two hours later everyday this week." Blake told us.

"Alright but remember you gotta keep your grades up too." Skylor reminded him.

"I remember the deal mom." Blake rolled his eyes. "I'm passing all my classes."

"That's great." I said.

We finished our dinner and went home. Later that night after we all went to bed, I heard someone in the backyard. I looked out the window and saw Blake by the basketball hoop we got for him when he first made the team.

"Blake Raymond?!" I said stepping outside. "What are you doing up? It's like two o'clock in the morning."

"Sorry dad... but I gotta... keep practicing." He said out of breath.

"You can practice more tomorrow, it's a school night and you need to rest."

"No I don't... I need the... practice." He took a deep breath. "Besides, the game was so close today. We're playing the Stixx County wallabers in the championship and they're the only other team to go totally undefeated the whole season."

"I understand that, but you can't focus if you don't get some sleep." I said. "You don't want your coach to see you falling asleep at practice do you?"

"I guess you're right." He sighed. "Fine I'll go to... sleep."

He yawned and collapsed on the ground, using his ball as a pillow, and started snoring. I smiled as picked him up and carried him to his room. I tucked him into bed and went back to my bedroom, being careful not to wake Skylor up.

I was worried about Blake. He usually keeps a pretty good balance of sports, school and taking care of himself, but lately all he's done is practice. I wonder if the only reason he's been practicing so much is because of all this pressure he has of being the best player on the team. He was probably afraid of letting everybody down. I just hoped he had his emotions in check.

The next day...

Skylor and I already gotten the kids up and we were with them eating breakfast. Although Blake could barely keep his eyes open. He fell asleep in his cereal and immediately looked up with milk and bits of cereal all over his face. Amber and Trent were laughing their heads off.

"Alright alright, that's enough you two." Skylor told Amber and Trent to calm down and handed Blake a couple napkins. "Blake honey, did you get enough sleep last night?"

"I'm fine, I'm just worried about the game next week." He sighed and wiped off his face. "The whole school is counting on me to pull out a win."

"Blake remember, whether you win or lose, we'll always be proud of you no matter what." I said to him. "So don't let all that pressure go to your head, ok?"

"Ok, thanks Dad." He smiled.

"Alright hurry up guys you'll miss the bus." Skylor said.

All the kids grabbed their lunches and backpacks and headed out the door. I just hoped that Blake payed attention to what I said and wasn't letting the pressure get to him.

Blake's P.O.V.:

I had just gotten to class and I sat beside my friend Noah, who I met on my basketball team. I was so tired I couldn't pay attention to anything Mrs. Fowl was saying and I started dozing off and I fell asleep.

"Mr. Smith!" I heard someone say as they smacked a ruler on the corner of my desk, waking me up. It was my teacher.

"Y-yes ma'am?" I stuttered as I quickly set up.

"I know you have basketball practice after school, but if I find you sleeping in class again, you'll be going to detention instead. Understand?" She threatened.

"Yes ma'am, it won't happen again." I promised.

"It better not." She walked back up to her desk.

"That was close." I turned to Noah.

"Too close, I hope you studied for that science test today."

"Wait what?" I whispered. "I was so focused on the team I guess I didn't notice anything about a science test."

"Well you're not looking off my paper." Noah said.

"Don't worry I'm not going to, if I got caught they'll kick us both off the team. I'll just have to do my best and hope I pass."

"The test is after recess so maybe you should go to the library and look over your notes instead of going outside today." Noah suggested.

"And miss valuable practice time?"

"Relax we have an extended practice today, you can make it up." He assured me.

"Yeah you're right." I sighed. "Thanks."

So when recess came around, I went to the library and started to look over my notes for the test. It was so quiet in there and I was so tired I started to doze off again and fell asleep...

>>>>>•••••••<<<<<

I was in the game with ten seconds to spare. The team was down by one point and I had the ball, I was wide open, I took the shot and... it missed. The buzzer sounded off and that was the game. They won.

Almost immediately the crowd's cheering turned into booing. The whole school hated me, even my parents and siblings were disappointed in me. They never let me back in the family. My friends never talked to me again, and I became the laughingstock of the school forever.

>>>>>•••••••<<<<<

"Ahhh!" I woke up at the sound of the bell.

It was time for class and I didn't get any studying done at all. I had no choice but to just do my best and hope I got a at least a B on the test so my parents wouldn't bench me.

>>>•••<<<

It was a few minutes until the last bell rang, so we were pretty much done with school. Mrs. Fowl handed us our tests back.

"A C MINUS!" I exclaimed as I looked at the grade on my test.

"Considering you didn't study, a C minus really isn't that bad." Noah said.

"No it's terrible, when my parents find out about this they'll know I didn't study and tell coach to bench me for the game." I frowned.

"Then just wait till after the game." Noah suggested. "Then you'll have already played and they won't be able to bench you."

"You don't know my mom." I sighed.

"Well we really need you on Saturday so I hope you work it out." Noah said.

"Yeah me too." I sighed.

The bell rang and school was over. But before I went to basketball practice, I talked to Mrs. Fowl about my test and she said I could come in early tomorrow to retake it. So now I had to stay up and study tonight meaning I still wouldn't get much sleep.

Kai's P.O.V.:

I went to pick up Blake from basketball practice and he looked so tired when opened the door to my car. He looked like a zombie and he was catching his breath.

"Did coach push you too hard today?" I asked him.

"Nah, I'm just... tired." He took a deep breath and I saw him take out his science book.

"Are you doing your homework in the car?" I looked in the rear view mirror.

"Why waste time?" He shrugged. "The sooner I get this done, the sooner I can get back to practice."

"Nice to see you using your time efficiently." I said.

"Oh by the way, my teacher wants me to come in early tomorrow." Blake said.

"I guess your mom can drop you off before she goes to work tomorrow." I suggested.

"Great thanks." He said not looking away from his book.

"Why are you going in early?" I asked him.

"I have a test that I didn't finish so my teacher wanted me to get it done." Blake told me.

"That's fine, just don't forget to stop and smell the roses once in a while ok?"

"The roses will still be there after I  win the championship." He stated softly.

"Just don't beat yourself up over this ok?"

"I know dad, I won't." He assured me.

I was kinda worried about Blake. He wasn't himself. I got him home and he took his backpack with him to his room.

Later that day Skylor came back with food from the noodle shop for dinner.

"Come on kids, dinner time." Skylor yelled.

Amber was the first at the table, followed by Trent, but Blake wasn't coming.

"Guys, where's Blake?" Skylor asked.

"I don't know." Amber shrugged.

"He's been in his room all day." Trent shrugged. "He said he's too busy to eat."

"I'll go check on him." I said as I picked up his dinner and went to his room. I knocked on the door. "Blake?"

"It's open." He yelled.

I entered my son's room and found him at his desk. He was so tired he was barely able to keep his eyes open.

"You ok buddy?" I asked.

"Yeah, just tired." He yawned.

"Blake you look exhausted. Why don't you take a little break?" I suggested.

"I can't, after I'm done with my homework I have to work on perfecting my moves for the game on Saturday." He said.

"You can't work on an empty stomach." I insisted.

"I'm not hungry Dad." He rolled his eyes.

"Ok fine, I'll just leave these at your desk in case you want them for later." I put the noodles on his desk.

"Thanks dad." He said.

"No problem." I smiled.

Later I went back into his room to check on him. The box of noodles was still where I left it completely full and Blake had fallen asleep at his desk. I picked him up and carried him into his bed and tucked him in. I hoped that he would stay there this time, he really needed his rest.

I went back into the bedroom where Skylor was getting ready for bed. She noticed how frustrated I looked.

"What's wrong?" She asked me.

"It's Blake, ever since he won the game he's been working too hard and he's not taking care of himself." I sighed. "I'm really worried about him."

"You know how Blake gets." She said. "Once he wins he'll go back to normal."

"I know but this is different." I frowned. "He's not getting enough sleep and he's hardly eating. All he does is practice and study and practice some more. He needs to take a break."

"I'll talk to him tomorrow when I drop him off." Skylor said.

"Ok." I said. "Good night."

"Night." She kissed me.

The next day...

I picked up Blake from practice and as I saw him walking up to the car I noticed that he looked exhausted and he was limping a little.

"Hey Blake." I said as he got in the car. "How was practice?"

"It was fine." He answered quickly.

"Are you alright? I saw you were limping."

"Oh that? Yeah I just tripped and hurt my knee a little, but it's no big deal, it's feeling fine now." He said.

"Did they bench you for the game on Saturday?" I asked.

"No, they said I could still play as long as it doesn't get any worse." He said.

"We better put some ice on that when we get home." I suggested.

"Relax Dad, I'm fine. Besides I don't have time, I had to sit out for like the half the practice so now I have to make up for lost time."

"If you don't take care of that injury they might not let you play at all." I told him.

"I know but I'm fine." He defended. "I probably just pulled a muscle or something."

"You definitely inherited your stubbornness from me." I laughed. "Just take it easy ok? I would hate for you to seriously hurt yourself and not be able to play."

"Alright fine." He rolled his eyes.

Blake's P.O.V.:

My dad drove me home and helped me limp inside and put me down on the couch. He ran into the kitchen and came back with an ice pack and placed it on my knee. It honestly felt really good, but my knee really didn't hurt that bad. Besides it only has to hold out until after we win, then I'll get it taken care of.

"Woah! What happened to you?" Amber walked in on us.

"I just tripped ok? It's nothing." I crossed my arms.

"Doesn't seem like nothing." Amber said looking at my knee. "Are they still letting you play Saturday?"

"Of course I'm still playing, I'm the best player on the team." I reminded her.

"Good because the whole school and my social life is counting on you." Amber said.

"Don't remind me." I sighed. "All that hard work for this?"

"Blake, don't let this get you down ok?" My dad said.

"Can I please go practice now?" I begged. "I'm feeling better, honest."

"You've been practicing nonstop and your knee is pretty swollen." Dad said. "You better take it easy for tonight at least."

"But Dad I..."

"No buts Blake, you need to rest." Dad insisted.

"Fine." I sighed.

Ugh I hate this so much! I wanted to win the championship but I had to be stupid and trip on the floor.

Later that night my mom came home from work and she saw me icing my knee.

"Hey sport, your dad told me you got hurt." She said. "Let me take a look at that knee."

"Mom, please I'm fine." I said.

"You seem upset." Mom said. "What else is going on?"

"They said it if gets any worse they won't let me play." I frowned.

"Let me see." Mom insisted.

She touched my knee and I screamed in pain. I guess it was hurt more than I thought.

"This looks serious." Mom frowned. "We better take you to the emergency room."

"No!" I exclaimed. "If they find out I won't be able to play, we'll lose. I'll let my team down, I'll let the school down, my family, my friends, everyone."

"Blake, you could never let us down." Mom smiled. "You're over exaggerating."

"I just don't want anyone to be disappointed in me." I frowned.

"We could never be disappointed in you son." Mom cooed. "Especially over something you can't control."

"Thanks Mom." I smiled.

"Now come on, let's get you checked out ok?"

"No please!" I panicked.

"We're just going to get it looked at." Mom frowned. "Are you afraid?"

"I'm not afraid."

"Then what is it?" She asked.

"Fine." I sighed and looked away. "What if they say I can never play basketball again? What else am I supposed to do? I'm not good at anything else."

"Blake don't say that. You're good at all kinds of things."

"Yeah, but it's my passion mom. It's like my destiny." I looked at my knee. "And it's all down the toilet."

"We don't know that for sure." Mom said. "The sooner we find out what it is, the sooner we can get you well again."

"Fine but can we at least wait till after the game on Saturday?" I begged. "I promise I'll be careful and the nurse already said it was safe for me to play."

"Alright fine, but you have to wear a brace on that knee and we're going straight to the hospital after the game." Mom bargained. "And if at any point during the game, you feel like your knee won't hold out, be sure to tell your coach you need a break. Deal?"

"Deal! Thank you thank you thank you!" I hugged her.

"You're welcome." Mom returned my hug. "Now we'll see how your doing in the morning. Do you need help getting upstairs?"

"I think I'm going to rest here for a while, if that's ok."

"Alright, but don't stay up too late." Mom said.

"Ok Mom." I said.

I waited until everyone else went upstairs and then I made my way to the backyard. I picked up my ball and started trying to perfect my shots again. I know I wasn't supposed to be practicing but I couldn't help it.

I was really exhausted and my knee was still killing me, but nothing was going to get in the way of winning the championship.