Junior POV
I had just put on my pads and cleats. I grabbed my helmet and got ready to head out to the practice field. I had been bombarded by many people the last several days with people giving me their condolences. I wanted to fly under the radar but Lonzo had made that impossible. I was so looking forward to practice today. I just wanted to work up a sweat and shower. The locker room was mostly empty when I arrived. I didn't question it. I was usually early anyway. I was walking to the field when I saw something that I didn't want to see. The whole team gathered holding two different jerseys.
Junior: What's this?
Our QB, Tommy Matthews, walked over to me with the two jerseys. One number had the number 8. While the other had the number 24. By just looking at those numbers, I could already tell where this was going.
Tommy: We wanted to offer our condolences and give you a chance to change your number.
I currently was wearing the number 17. It was just the luck of the draw. I didn't have a look of happiness on my face. It was a look of disgust. No matter where I went, his shadow followed me. It even followed me here.
Junior: Who put you up to this?
Tommy: No one. We all just thought that...
Junior: Well, you thought wrong. You guys already know how I feel about him. I thought I made it very clear when I arrived. Most you even asked me why I don't play basketball anymore. Some of you are friends with Lonzo. Well, I'm not him. He has nothing to do with me.
I sighed after I finished my little rant and headed back to the locker room. I knew that I couldn't practice with focus that day. I changed and headed home.
Next Day
It's free period. I'm currently sitting in the library. I'm currently watching Sabrina's speech on my phone. Besides the speech, she looked amazing in that dress. I've had crushes on her and Paige as long as I can remember. I can't remember who was first though. Speaking of Paige...
Paige: (Sits down) What's up?
I look up at her concerned face. I turned off my phone and got ready to have a chat.
Junior: Nothing much. The football team made a big deal and offered to let me change my number. They said no one put them up to it.
Paige: It was Lonzo.
Junior: Thought so. How are you and Sabrina handling those rumors?
Paige: We've tried to get him to take the rumors back. He won't. Girls won't believe anything we say.
I sighed. I was struggling to come up with anything to talk about. I was struggling so hard I couldn't even look her in the eyes. I heard her stand up.
Paige: Come on.
Junior: Huh?
Paige: Let's go clear your head.
I sighed again but followed her to the gym. The old basketball court. I thought that I would be playing on it but decided to play on the gridiron instead. I heard her dribble a basketball. She passed it to me.
Paige: I can see that you still have those hands.
Junior: I'm a WR. Of course, I do.
I took the ball and walked straight to the free-throw line. I could make a hundred of these in row in my sleep. I did my routine and got set to shoot. I was about to when Paige shouted distracting me. I missed.
Paige: That's not good. When was the last time you hit the gym?
Junior: It's been a while.
We heard the gym doors open and close. We look over and see Sabrina walking towards us.
Sabrina: Too long. What the hell, Paige? I thought we were going to do this together? You trying to get ahead of me?
I sighed and zoned them out. I decided just to focus on shooting. I had already hit ten straight by the time they finished.
Paige: I won't lose to you.
Sabrina: You got some ground to make up.
I sighed.
Junior: You girls done?
Paige: Yeah.
Sabrina: How about a game of TIPS? First to 21?
Paige: Any safe number?
Junior: No. You go all the way back to 0.
Paige: Fine. You have to land even on 21 then.
Junior: Winner gets the other two to do one favor no questions asked.
Sabrina/Paige: You're on.
The game started. I won easily. The two were so focused on each other that they didn't even know that I had 19 and then scored an easy layup to win. I didn't tell them the favors yet. I was probably not going to do anything. They did help me out of funk, though. After the game, we headed home and called it a day.
