CHAPTER 3
Right after breakfast the next morning, Owen and Max jumped on their bikes and took off for Splat Arena. Jace and the other team leaders, along with Stan, the league manager, were the only ones there when Max and Owen arrived.
“You guys are early,” Stan said.
“We were too excited to sleep!” Max said.
“Good to hear. But remember, we’re just scrimmaging today,” Stan reminded them.
“I know,” Max said. “The coaches need to see what they’re dealing with.”
“And you kids need some practice,” Jace said with a grin. “Most of you haven’t been in matches in almost a year.”
“Owen and I have,” Max said. He ran his finger along the barrel of a yellow-team marker. “We were in the winter league while you were away at college.”
“I said ‘most,’” said Jace. “Now grab a jumpsuit and get ready to scrimmage.”
* * *
Thirty minutes later, everyone else had arrived and gotten dressed for the scrimmage. Stan gathered all the players and went over the rules.
This is taking forever, Max thought. I just want to start already.
“Today’s scrimmage will feature two teams with four players each,” Stan said. “We’ll put new players in when someone on the field is eliminated. Everyone will get plenty of play time.”
Stan went on, “Grab a marker, but don’t fill your hopper yet. You’ll get paintballs when you rotate in. Let’s play!”
“Finally,” Max whispered to Owen. “I thought we’d never get to play.”
Owen smirked and pulled down the goggles of his mask. “Let’s get this show on the road,” he said in a gruff voice.
Owen was picked as one of the first eight players on the field. Max and the others moved to the observation area to watch.
“Make sure to stay lined up so we know who rotates in next,” Jace reminded them.
Someone shoved Max from behind. “Oops,” Alex muttered.
Great. He’s right after me, Max thought. That means we’ll almost definitely be playing at the same time.
Max watched as the teams moved onto the field. Down below, the ground was covered with obstacles, mounds of dirt, and plastic barrels.
The other players hid among the shields and barricades in the middle of the field, no-man’s land. Max watched Owen move around the back, staying low. No one spotted him until he had his marker up and an opposing player in his sights.
Owen managed to mark two players on the other team. He hit the ground to avoid being eliminated as the players fired back.
“Nice going, Owen!” Max shouted.
“Next two in,” Stan shouted. “Load up with red, please.”
The two boys in front of Max hurried to fill their hoppers. Then they entered the arena behind the red team’s barricades. There, they would be safe for a few seconds as the scrimmage continued.
Max shuffled forward. He was next.
Jace put a hand on his shoulder. “Remember, this is just a scrimmage,” he said. “No winners or losers. Just play.”
“I know,” Max said. He pulled down his goggles. Owen was in midfield now and sitting with his back against a plastic barrel. He was playing a slow style. He’d sit and wait for an opportunity to mark the other team. That way he avoided a shootout.
Meanwhile, another player on Owen’s team ran across no-man’s land, firing wildly at the red team. He missed with every one. But one red paintball struck his arm.
“Eliminated!” Stan called over the loudspeaker.
Jace gave Max a friendly shove. “Get in there,” he said.
Max grinned and loaded his hopper with blue paintballs. He sprinted onto the blue side of the field, making sure to stay well hidden. Stooped behind some green netting, Max raised his marker. He spotted a member of the red team, aimed, and fired.
“Eliminated!” shouted Stan. “Next player, red team.”
Max looked up at the waiting area. Alex stood there, grinning from ear to ear.