High School

Chapter 24

All dance choreographer credit to The LAB. 🕴🏼💃🏽🕺🏽🕴🏼💃🏽🕺🏽🕴🏼💃🏽🕺🏽🕴🏼💃🏽🕺🏽🕴🏼
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*Friday at School*

(August's Point of View)

Today is game day and I'm in my head again. I was practicing my layups and threes. They were all going in but something just felt off. It was about five o'clock and the game starts at six. Coach had water and gatorade in the team cooler for everyone. Today the guys and I were starting. It was gonna be Chris, Josh, me, Jack, and Mason. Blake was gonna switch with one of us in the second and third quarter. I'm hoping everything goes well though.

It's now five thirty and a crowd was forming in the stands. I could smell the different concession stand food around the gym. Our opponents were throwing up shots on the court as coach talked to us about the plays. After all the girls came to wish the team luck but I noticed Arica wasn't with them. I wonder where she's at. There was no time to ask questions, they was starting.

(Arica's Point of View)

My mom let me know she was here waiting by the dance locker room door. Coach let me talk to her before we had to met in the gym stands. She was staying the whole game but wanted to give me another check for twenty-four hundred. I told her thank you and put the check in my purse, locking my stuff away in my dance locker. I grabbed the sign I made in class earlier today and left the room. Mom and I walked to the gym and set with the team. Of course we were right behind the basketball players.

The game had just started and we were up two points. I was cheering for our starters, which happened to be the guys. The score was now thirty to twenty-five and we were down. August missed two shots and was looking a bit off in the game. That's when coach took him out and put Blake in.

Halftime came around and our coach announced the dance team for the performance. We were now positioned on the floor for the routine and waiting for the music to start. Everyone was quiet for a moment but when we started dancing, the crowd went wild. I was feeling myself in the outfit and I know I was hitting the moves spot on. I had a few solos here and there, so I had to have all the confidence in the world right now. At the end of the dance I had the last walk off hearing the gym booming. It made me super proud to be a dancer.

I got back to my seat and put my letterman jacket on. I was out of breath but my mom gave me a water. I was cheering again for the guys. The game went into the third quarter with us having a seven point lead. I looked over seeing August with a aggravated expression on his face and decided to talk to him.

Arica: Boy if you don't fix ya face and play right.

August: Gurh what you mouthing about?

Arica: You out here looking stupid all upset. Get out yo head and focus on the game. I know you can do better than this.

August: Man Ight I got it.

Coach put him back in the game for fourth quarter. He was shooting threes back to back. Everybody was balling and I guess because they had chemistry. There was five minutes left in the game but we were already up twenty points. By time the game ended we won eighty-nine to seventy.

The teams went to their locker rooms to change and celebrate as the dancers went to change or grab their bags. Everyone was going to eat at the Burger Spot. I asked my mom for a ride and we stopped at the bank first. I put my check in the ATM machine in the drive thru, seeing that I had thirty-nine hundred eighty-two in my account. She then dropped me off at the Burger Spot with the group.

I ordered myself some fries and a all-American bacon cheese burger dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, and mayo. My food came out fresh ten minutes later and I cut my burger in half. The group was all talking as I ate half my food and drank my sprite. It was a light celebration but I was busy enjoying my food to pay attention to the conversation. I could hear the girls speak on a party tomorrow, which I have no intentions on going to. I'll be busy decorating my new apartment. I finished my burger and threw away the trash, getting up to refill my sprite cup.

I was getting tired and i was ready to leave. I let everyone know I was going back to the house before I walked out to the bus stop. By time I got inside, it was nine thirty. I took a hot shower and slipped into my black love pajama romper. I cleaned the bathroom and put away my mess. I decided to do some laundry, since the basket was full of dirty clothes and towels. I was back upstairs searching on the Walmart app for food and adding it to my cart. I plan on ordering pickup for the food so by time I get whatever I need from inside the store, I can just leave. I had four hundred dollars worth of food and drinks scheduled for pick up tomorrow around four.

I text DeSean and let him know to meet me at my apartment for ten fifty tomorrow morning. He was helping me arrange furniture and decorate. Also he's my shopping buddy because I need kitchen pot sets, bathroom towels, wash room baskets and detergent, and etc. Tomorrow finna be a long ahh day. I have three thousand five hundred and eighty-two dollars to use.

I grabbed the clothes from the dryer and folded it all. Everything was put up in their right spots and I could finally relax. Aunty came home around eleven and the guys were still gone. We were talking down in the kitchen and I let her know I got a apartment.

Aunty Brown: Aww baby that's good. I'm proud of you.

Arica: It really does mean a lot that you opened your home to me aunty.

Aunty Brown: Baby look at me child. You are a blessing sweetheart. You can live here whenever and I'll never get tired of you.

Arica: Awe aunty you know we may not be blood but I love you like family. I have so much respect for you.

Aunty Brown: I told myself you'll make a great daughter in law to someone one day. I hope Chris finds someone as amazing as you.

Arica: I don't think I've ever seen Chris with any girl around school. Well that's actually a good thing cause them girls be on one aunty. He must have good taste in girls and waiting for the right person. He seems like a very focused person.

Aunty Brown: He is and I'm happy but momma wanna know if he at least has a type. I wanna see my baby going to dances and have somebody I can trust to have his back when I'm not around. The special young lady that puts a smile on his face that lights up both our worlds.

Arica: We'll meet her one day aunty. And we'll love her like family too.

We said our good nights before going back to bed. I was comfy under the blanket watching Moana when Chris and August got home. August came in the room and took a shower before coming out in a pair of basketball shorts and a white shirt. He threw his clothes in the basket and got in bed.

August: Thank you for the pep talk at the game. I appreciate it a lot to know you got my back even when we not close.

Arica: It's no big deal

We went to sleep at the sound of nothingness. At peace with ourselves.