VALERIE RIVERA and PAIGE BUECKERS, best friends since they learned how to dribble. They had the same dreams of being basketball stars, even having a promise to go to UCONN together. They were inseparable leading Hopkins to an undefeated season their...
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"cause I don't even know what we are, I don't even know where to start but I can play the part"
valerie
past- January 1st 2020 ; narrative
"Who's the best dancer on the team?" The SLAM interviewer asked us. I looked at Amaya who was sitting right next to me and we all immediately responded.
"Savannah." We all said in unison, well except for Paige that interjected.
"I think it's me." She looked at us confused and I started laughing in her face. She pushed my shoulder, making me almost fall off the stage we were all sitting on. Everyone disagreed with Paige but she didn't give up. "I'm definitely the best dancer."
We all just laughed at her before the interviewer turned his camera off and walked away. I was nervous about the series, it was the first time we were all being recorded, not just Paige. Don't get me wrong Paige is fantastic. I've been playing with her since elementary school, she was my best friend and one of the best players in the country but the rest of us lived behind Paige, almost like her entourage.
Paige got up, going around while I stayed on the stage with Amaya. Amaya was like my younger sister on the team. Other than Paige, Amaya was definitely my closest friend. All the girls joined us back on the stage, Paige starting to talk about Maya while I stayed quiet. Paige was the talker.
"Val is the smartest person on the team." I looked to my left while Paige patted my back.
"She's got eyes on the back of her head." Maya added and I just laughed. I wasn't good with compliments and thankfully after me we would just start talking about Paige. I hit her leg and Paige went pink, also hating praise right to her face.
"She be doing too much." KK said and we all laughed.
"Plan P." I said, wrapping my arms around the girl's shoulder.
"What's plan P?" The guy asked, Amaya responded for me, mostly because this guy was getting on my nerves. He turned his camera off once again and walked away.
"I wonder what coach is saying about you." I teased my best friend, laying my head on her shoulder. It was media day but now because of this series we were being interviewed and having everything recorded, it was tiring.
"Guys we can go home, we're done for today." Amaya ran up to us, jumping on us. Most of the girls liked to joke around and say Amaya was Paige and I's child. I mean sometimes it felt like it.
We got off the stage, I went to grab my bag and all of Paige's stuff while Paige stuffed her arms full with all the snacks laid out for us. She jogged to the door with me, an opened Capri Sun, almost spilling from her hands. I passed her the car keys and she jumped into the driver's seat.
