One-on-One

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Amira strolled across campus, her camera hanging from her neck, ready to snap some dope shots of her new surroundings. The sunlight was hitting just right, and she felt the excitement of discovering new moments.

As she rounded the corner near the student union, she spotted a group of students gathered around a makeshift basketball court. Curiosity got the best of her, so she wandered over, camera ready.

"Yo, check out this shot!" one of the guys yelled, tossing a basketball toward the hoop. It swished right through, and the crew erupted in cheers.

Amira couldn't help but chuckle, her lens focusing on the hype. Then she spotted a tall guy with a confident smile—Zyair. He was sinking shots like it was nothing, and damn, he looked good doing it. The way his muscles flexed and the sweat glistened on his skin had her heart racing. He had that kind of charm that made it hard to look away.

Captivated, Amira raised her camera and clicked just as he leaped for a dunk, the sunlight hitting him perfectly. She felt that familiar rush of inspiration.

"Nice shot!" someone shouted, breaking her focus. Startled, she turned to see a tall guy with curly hair and an easy grin approaching.

"Didn't mean to sneak up on you," he said, extending his hand. "I'm Jordan. You got an eye for capturing real vibes over here."

"Amira," she replied, shaking his hand. His grip was warm and friendly. "I love taking pics of moments like this."

"Yeah? You got a good eye! Mind if I check out your work?" he asked, nodding toward her camera.

"Sure! I've got some from last week's game," she said, scrolling through her gallery. "I used to play, but now I mostly focus on photography."

Jordan's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you used to hoop? For real?" he asked, clearly intrigued.

"Yeah, a little," Amira said, trying to downplay it. "I mean, I haven't played in a while."

Just then, Zyair walked over, wiping sweat from his brow, looking fresh as hell. "Who's this?" he asked, giving Amira that playful look.

"Jordan was just saying nice things about my photography," Amira said, feeling a little shy under Zyair's gaze.

"Ah, so you the one behind those dope shots! Nice to finally meet you," Zyair said, turning back to Amira with that easy smile. He turned to Jordan, clapping him on the shoulder. "You know I had to bring you into the mix, man. This girl's got talent."

"Yeah, for real," Jordan replied, still processing. "When I heard she used to hoop, I was surprised. Didn't expect that!"

Zyair grinned wide, clearly impressed. "Wait, you can hoop? That's dope! You should come play with us sometime."

Amira felt a flutter of nerves at their expectations. "I don't know... I haven't played in ages. I'm probably not that good anymore," she admitted, biting her lip.

Jordan leaned in, a playful glint in his eyes. "Nah, don't sell yourself short! You gotta show us what you've got."

Zyair leaned in closer, a playful grin on his face. "And who knows? You might just show us how to really turn this shit up."

As Amira laughed, she felt that spark between them. Little did she know, this was just the start of a wild ride filled with choices, feelings, and the search for her true self.

--

Amira sat across from her best friend, Jada, in their favorite corner of the busy coffee shop. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as they sipped their drinks, the chatter of students creating a cozy vibe.

Jada leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Alright, spill the tea! What's up with you and this Jordan dude? Y'all been vibin' a lot lately, huh?"

Amira shrugged, a small smile creeping onto her lips. "Yeah, we've been hanging out. He's cool—really into photography, too. We've hit up a couple galleries together."

Jada's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait, Jordan? From our class? The one always snapping dope shots online? Girl, he's fine! What's the vibe when y'all are together? You feelin' any sparks, or is it just a friendly flicker?"

Amira chuckled, but her heart felt a little heavy. "It's fun, but... sometimes I catch myself thinkin' about Zyair, especially when I see him practicing."

"Zyair? Oh, snap!" Jada leaned forward, her intrigue piqued. "You mean the basketball star? I've seen him play—he's fire! So you've got a thing for both of them? What's going on?"

Amira sighed, running a hand through her curls. "I don't know, Jada. It's complicated. Zyair makes me feel alive when I watch him play, but it's scary. He's all about basketball, and I'm trying to focus on my photography."

"Focus on your photography? Girl, you better focus on your happiness! Life's too short to be messin' around!" Jada crossed her arms with a playful pout. "Jordan likes you, and he's cute! But if you keep thinkin' about Zyair, you gonna end up in a whole love triangle, and nobody got time for that drama!"

Amira stared into her coffee cup, swirling the remnants of her drink. "It's just hard. When I'm with Jordan, I feel like I'm movin' on, but then I see Zyair, and all my basketball dreams come rushin' back."

"Maybe that's a sign, girl," Jada suggested, her tone lightening. "What if you can have both? You can do your photography thing and still ball out on the court!"

"Yeah, but what if I'm just fooling myself? What if I'm not as good as I used to be?" Amira bit her lip, her insecurities bubbling up.

"Please, you got more talent in your pinky than most folks got in their whole bodies! You be out here makin' magic with that camera. And if Zyair is really feelin' you, he'll appreciate all of you—photography, basketball, and all that good stuff," Jada encouraged, placing a hand on Amira's arm with a grin.

Amira sighed, her mind racing. "You're right. I just... I don't want to mess things up with either of them. But I feel this pull to get back on the court and see if I still got it."

"Then do it! Show up, show out, and let both of them see the real you. You're a whole vibe, girl!" Jada said, her excitement contagious. "And if you need backup, you know I'm down to cheer you on—maybe even get a lil' game in myself!"

"Okay, I think I'm ready to hit the court," Amira said, a spark of determination lighting up her eyes. "I just gotta figure out how to balance everything."

"Take your time, but don't sleep on what's right in front of you! Life's too short for all them 'what ifs,'" Jada winked. "And if you don't get it together, I might just have to step in and claim Zyair for myself!"

Amira laughed, shaking her head. "No, you won't! He's mine, remember?"

"Fine, but I'mma be right there with the camera, ready to capture the drama!" Jada teased, and they both burst into laughter.

As they chatted, Amira felt a mix of excitement and curiosity. She wasn't worried about making a decision just yet; instead, she wanted to navigate her feelings for both Jordan and Zyair. It was about exploring who she was and what she wanted. She knew she had to step back onto the court and reclaim that part of herself—before she lost both.

--

Heyy ya'll, you've reached the end of chapter one!!! how yall feeling about this chapter??

Thank you soooo much  for taking an interest in my work! I'm looking forward to ya'll comments in the coming chapter.

word count :1237