Chasing You

6

BRADEN

I bring my shirt up to my face to wipe the sweat away. Lifting is kicking my ass this season or maybe I am just pushing myself harder than before. I have one more set left and then I finally can leave. Coach is being brutal with his off season workouts. After this, I am meeting up with Carter and Tori for lunch. The two of them are close to where I am lifting since Tori has a Kinesiology class and Carter had some type of gym class. I honestly have no idea.

"Braden, can you come spot me? This is the last thing I have to do," a freshman, Sanders, calls me over. I nod my head pausing my music on my headphones. He's a blonde kid from Arizona who looks like he belongs on surfboard and not the court. But fuck we were wrong about thinking he only belonged on a surfboard. He is one of the best basketball players I have ever seen. I walk over to him and stand behind the bench press.

"Move your arms out," I instruct him. He follows my direction and begins his set. It's just Sanders and I working out. I missed when the rest of the boys went before hand but honestly I have gotten a much more heavy duty workout. We always fuck around and I never get the workout I need to for the season.

"Are you going to the bars this weekend?" Sanders asks as he places the bar back onto the rack. I make sure its in. I shrug my shoulders leaning my back against the wall. He sits up shaking his dirty brown hair out.

"Probably Friday, the first football game is Saturday right?" I ask him as I run a hand over my hair. He nods his head grabbing the green Gatorade bottle for water. "Or Thursday or every day. Who know with my friends but I can text you?"

"Yeah that works, none of the other freshman want to go to the bars or don't have fakes," Sanders responds standing up from the bench press. I understand his pain, that's how I became close with Asher, Trey, and Robbie. They were only a year older than I was and I only wanted to go to the bars.

"Bro, you're more than welcome to come out with us whenever you like or even come to Basketball House if you need to get away. We do have an extra room," I suggest to them. Next year, when Trey, Asher, and Robbie leave, Jeremy and I are running the house and need new people in it. We have already discussed Sanders moving into the house. I get Asher's room since I'll be a senior and Jeremy get's Robbie's since he'll be a junior. We just need to find two other players who are willing to live in it.

"Thank you man, I appreciate it," he says dapping me up. I nod my head at him as we head towards the locker room. I decided to ditch the last workout because I just know I will already be sore. The two of us head into the locker room talking about the weekend and seeing what we could do. Basketball is having a tailgate near the football stadium so we have that on Saturday but other than that I think we are just going to wing it. I reach my gym bag and check my phone. Carter texted me saying they were outside sitting on a bench. I texted them I'd be out in ten, I left my car at home so I hope one of them can take me home after this. I strip off my sweaty shirt and throw on a new one with a new pair of shorts. I plan on showering after I eat because I have to do some stupid syllabus quiz anyways.

Sanders and I walk out of the weight room together and he heads towards his car while I head towards the benches. I spot the two girls before they even see me. Carter is sitting on her feet typing on her laptop wearing all black while Tori sits beside her arms crossed leaning her head back on the bench. I grab my athlete tag from the side of bag and whip it at Tori. It hits her right in the neck and she whips up. She pushes her sunglasses down with narrowed eyes. Her bouncy curly hair falling into her eyes.

"You ready to get some burgers?" I ask them rubbing my hands together. I am starving after that workout and really need a fucking burger. Or anything with substance. Carter closes her laptop shoving it into her backpack.