Rivals : Nothing But Net

Chapter 6

Right hand. Right Foot. Left Foot. Jump. Shoot. The basketball sprung from Isaiah's slender fingers, falling through the net easily, like a hot knife slicing butter. He'd shot layups countless times, but the simple satisfaction it gave him never got old. The precise, carefully executed movements gave him a sense of familiarity, like he had control over what he was doing. Sure, he'd been practicing his layups since he was 8, and he wasn't learning anything new by doing them, but layups were the one thing that made him feel like he was good at something. He didn't want to leave that bubble that shielded him from trying new things, not being afraid to fail the first time. Isaiah didn't want everyone else on the team to think that he was a rookie, or vulnerable, or anything that made him look weak. It was the same way at home, trying to show his youngest sister that he could be a strong older brother, a good student and devoted son to his mother, and a helping hand to his eldest sister. He was nervous about practicing one-on-one with Aadit, because it meant that he would have to show him all of his weaknesses and blind spots. But, Isaiah knew that he would have to get over his fear of slipping up if he was going to play in the Chicago game.

As if on cue, Aadit walked into the gymnasium, wearing a neon orange tank and shorts, and a pair of leather Air Jordans, ever the spoiled rich kid. His gait was confident and swaggery, and Isaiah wondered how one could carry themselves like that while looking like a human highlighter. "Let's play a 1v1, Isaiah. You know, like a test run to see where we're at." Isaiah raised an eyebrow at his words. Where we're at? Does he think that I'm like, his student or something?

"Ok, I guess we can play. Coach opened the gym early for a reason."

Isaiah passed the ball to Aadit, taking a few strides away from the other. Aadit bounced the ball a few times, crouching down and peering up at Isaiah from under his eyelashes. Isaiah walked a few steps closer to him, letting him know that he was there, but not threateningly so. He inched closer, nearing his hands towards the ball. Aadit smirked, a self-assured, assertive smirk that was sure to intimidate any other player that stepped on the court. But Isaiah wasn't just any other player. He'd spent four years observing the other's pattern of action and moves, and knew what to expect, and how to fight back. He let Aadit dribble a bit longer, until he felt comfortable in what he was doing. Then he struck.

With lightning-fast speed, Isaiah swatted the ball out of the boy's hands, angling it so that the ball bounced away from Aadit. He knew that Aadit did't have the fastest reflexes, but he would need to get the ball farther away from him if he was going to have a chance. The thump thump thump of the basketball on the vinyl flooring resonated inside of Isaiah. He sprinted to the ball, bouncing it away from Aadit, and before the other had time to steal it from him, he shot. The ball slammed hard on the backboard, and with the angle that it had hit, Isaiah was worried that it would ricochet off the rim and lose him the point. He stared up at the net, and it was as if the ball was moving in slow-motion, with no indication on what would happen next. For a few seconds, the air was still. Like a spell had been cast on them both, and willed them to stay frozen in their positions, with no command on their movements. Isaiah almost wanted to stay in the motionless state he found himself in, as if he was the spectator instead of in on the action. Watching the game from a distance, acting like it wasn't the present, just an old memory. But the spell broke, and the ball flew straight down into the net, and he was back in the game whether he liked it or not.

The ball bounced loudly, once, twice, then lazily bobbed on the gym floor until finally going silent, rolling to the edge of a wooden bench leg. The two boys stared at each other, both confused. Why isn't he going for the ball? Aadit clearly had the same question in mind, but neither made a move. Isaiah quickly glanced at Aadit, and went to get the ball.