Form of You

Chapter 1: Practice

Chapter 1: Practice

I ran up the court, sweat dripping from my body as I dribbled the ball. I swerved around a defender and passed it to my teammate. I swiftly moved down the court dodging defenders and protecting my team. My hands trembled as I called for the ball. I attempted to steady my breathing as my lungs tried to fill with air. My eyes began to water as my teammates swirled in motion around me, seemingly in slow motion.

"Get a GRIP, TY!", I thought to myself as I shook off the nerves.

"Ball up!", I called for the ball. My teammate passed it to me. I faked my opponent to the left and went right. 3 points, score. Game over. "That's more like it. I got this!"

Coach Freeman blew his whistle to signal the end of the game.

"Aight fellas. Good scrimmage. Great practice! Next time, I want to see more D on that formation.",he yelled ending varsity basketball practice.

My teammates and I started heading for the locker room and water table as a few players started gathering equipment from the gym floor. A huge Lion logo lay center court on the floor as my Jordans squeaked across the hardwood.

"Everyone be on time for Friday's game! If you're late, you don't play! Tyler, wait up!", Coach Freeman called out to me.

I jogged over to him to hear what he had to say. "Sup Coach?".

"Hey Ty. You ok? You looked a lil...shaky on that last play", Coach remarked as his brows furrowed in concern.

I shook my head yes to reassure him. "I'm good Coach. No worries", I said as I plastered on a slightly fake cheesy grin. "Damn, he saw me!"

You know since Andrews left we have an open position", he said. I shook my head, "Yeah, so?"

"I found someone to fill it, which means you get a new roommate. His name is Jace Adams, he's transferring from NAU", he told me.

My former team/roommate graduated leaving me an campus apartment for two to myself until we got a replacement. I didn't think it would happen this fast. A nigga was enjoying the extra room, plus the peace & quiet. As long as he stayed out of my way, I'd be good.

"He'll be coming in on tomorrow morning, so make him feel welcome", Coach told me.

New Albany University was one of our conference's toughest schools, so if ol dude played there, then he was good. Prolly not better than me though. As starting point guard for the championship Los Angeles University Lions, I prided myself on my skills on the court. Being a junior, I hoped this year I could repeat last year's triumph for my team. No more riding the bench. I had to make this year count!

I made my way to the locker room to shower and change before my date with my girl, Ashlynn. In the locker room, my teammate and best friend, Carson made his way out the showers. "Sup Ty, you coming out tonight? It's Funday Monday. Time to turn up!"

Opening my locker, I pulled some clean clothes and towel from it before replying. "Naw man, I gotta get up with Ash tonight. Next time tho", I told him. I flexed my fingers as a habit to release stress as I took a deep breathe to compose myself.

"Man ya lil sprung ass, always under that girl", he laughed. "You good, T?", Carson asked as he noticed my demeanor quickly change.

"Yeah man, I'm straight. Why you worried about me anyway? You can barely get a girl!" I joked with a hearty laugh. "Oohh! He got you", yelled a few teammates as I made my way past their lockers.

"Aye man, can't no one girl handle all this", he said while doing a body roll.

"Oh god, from what I heard, it ain't much to handle", I laughed.

"Shut up dude", he chuckled. "I gotta go man, holla",we dapped before parting ways.

I silently entered the shower, hands still trembling as I let out a deep breathe. "He saw me too. I gotta get it together!"

My mind raced as I let the hot water cascade across my sore muscles. "How am I gonna make it through the season, if I can barely keep it together in practice?" As far as I was concerned, life was supposedly perfect. I had good friends, a fine girl, was a star basketball player and was on track to being drafted to the NBA. "I gotta figure out how to manage, can't keep letting people see me sweat! Gotta keep my cool." I guess I needed a lil more practice.