On and Off the Court

VII

Expected encounter

—

Imani

The gym buzzed with energy as the boys crowded around the bulletin board. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and electric, as everyone jostled to see the list of names.

My heart was hammering in my chest, and palms were sweaty as I stood on tiptoe, craning my neck to get a better view. This was it—the moment I'd been working towards for.

Congratulations to the talented players who have earned their spot on the 2024 boys basketball team. A meeting will be held at 12:30 for the team in the boys locker room. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

"Imani, do you see your name?" Aaliyah's voice cut through the din, her tone a mix of excitement and nerves.

I swallowed hard, my eyes darting over the list . Adonis Sterling was, of course, at the top. No surprise there. Then Ethan Williams, Alec Whitlock, and a bunch of other familiar names. My pulse quickened as I moved down the list, and then—I saw it.

Imani Okoye.

I stared at my name, hardly believing it. I'd made it. I had actually made the team.

"Fuck, yeah!" I shouted, drawing a few curious glances. Aaliyah grabbed me in a tight hug, both of us laughing, but I nearly cried from the overwhelming happiness I felt.

"You did it! I knew you would!" She said, her eyes sparkling with pride.

"Yeah, I did," I replied, more to myself than to her. It felt surreal.

As the crowd began to disperse, I felt a presence behind me. Turning, I saw Adonis, looking charming as ever, though his expression held a mix of annoyance and something else—something I couldn't quite place.

"Congratulations," his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But let's be real here. Just 'cause you made the team, doesn't mean you're one of us." 

His words hit me like a slap to the face, stinging with their harshness. I felt a surge of anger bubbling up inside, but I pushed it down, refusing it to let him see how much his words hurt.

"Thanks for the warm welcome," I shot back, my tone sharp with bitterness. "But I don't need your approval to prove myself."

He smirked, the expression oozing with condescension. "We'll see," he said, his smirk turning into a sneer. "But don't hold your breath. You'll always be an outsider."

He turned and walked away, leaving me with a swirl of emotions. Seeing my name on that list felt amazing, but I knew it was just the beginning. Being the only girl on the team was going to be challenging, especially with Adonis's attitude. But if he thought he could intimidate me, he was in for a surprise.

Later that day, I headed to the locker room, my mind still buzzing with excitement. The idea of stepping into the boys locker room made me feel uneasy, but I pushed those thoughts aside.

As I walked in, i could hear the guys talking, their voices full of banter. The moment they saw me, the room fell silent.

Shit, maybe Adonis was right.

Ethan was the first to speak up, flashing me a grin that could light up the whole room. "Hey, Imani. Congrats on making the team."

"Thanks, Ethan," I said, followed by a grateful smile. He'd always been the friendly one, and I appreciate it now more than ever.