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Third Person   -  A month later
Trigger warning ❕

Loud cheers filled the arena sweat pouring down Harlem's face as he dribbled the ball down the court. "Use your head, boy! We've come too far for you to throw it all away now." Coach Berry's loud ass voice thundered past the cheers straight into Harlem's ears.

He was so very right. Ever since that night Harlem had been on autopilot, he could remember bits and pieces of the event itself but he chose to shove it all into the darkness parts of his head. At least until basketball season was over.

It's been three months in counting since he last saw and spoke to Capri. The thought alone was enough to make sharp pains prickle at the backs of his eyes.

All the nights he had spent feeling utterly disgusted in his own body, the nights he wanted to scrub his skin so hard that it skin would bleed just so he could get rid of the feeling of her hands on him, he wasn't there.

One do the most trying times of Harlem's life Capri wasn't there.

Harlem didn't have to time think about that right now though, he drilled down the court eyes flicking between players trying to strategize the best way to get these two points they so desperately needed.

20 seconds glared back at him in red bold font. They were down two points, he needed to make this. His mouth became necessarily dry with nerves, he wished he had drank the gatorade lonzo was trying to give him at half time.

Sucking in a deep breath Harlem powered forward skillfully fighting his way into the paint, turning his body to avoid the big ass nigga trying to block him Harlem jumped up slashing his hand down onto the rim of the hoop pushing the ball inside before falling back to his feet. The second he touched the ground cheers erupted through the gym but Harlem couldn't relax just yet the other team had the ball and were making their way back towards the other goal.

Down to 5 seconds the player with the ball paused mid stride shooting the ball from mid court. Everyone in the arena's breath seemed to catch in their throats, Harlem's heart dropped watching the ball with his lips slightly agape.

The ball circled the rim exactly 3 times before tipping off the side and dropping back to the floor. A wave of relief washed over Harlem although he didn't have the chance to bask in it, his teammates rushed over all cheering loudly with big ass smiles on their faces.

Lifting Harlem off his feet they hoisted him onto their shoulders bouncing around like kids on Christmas morning.

In the moment all the pain and heartache he'd felt in the past few months didn't seem so bad. The gaping hole Capri had left in his heart seemed a bit smaller.

-

"Baby can you rub my stomach." Yasmine's soft voice tickled Capri's ears as he laid against his pillow half asleep. He'd just gotten back from a solo night on the corner, his feet hurt from standing, his head was throbbing and he was lowkey coming down with some type of cold. He wanted his stomach rubbed and to be wrapped up in big arms that certainly didn't belong to Yasmine.

Opening his right eye he glared at the side of her face, she was beginning to get on his nerves. After that night at her house she had somewhat decided she would be attached to his hip until further notice. While Capri didn't seem to mind again first his folks and Sonnet absolutely did.

Eleni was currently upset with him for even having her in the house and by default Malik was with his wife. He had learnt his lesson a long time ago about biting the hands that feeds him. Heaven was definitely giving him the silent treatment, not that Capri cared that much. She hardly had time for him as it was, her silence wasn't effecting much.