Basketball Diaries.

Chapter 34 - "Leave Me."

The coach was furious. He called a time out and told all of the other players. He walked in the locker room, only to see Craig sitting on the bench with his jersey over his head. The coach stormed over to him and grabbed him up by his arm.

"What the hell was that, Craig?" The coach barked. "Do you think you can just storm out of games when you feel like it?"

"I'm sorry, coach." Craig panted as he covered up his face. "I'm just......going through marriage problems."

"I don't give a rats ass about your marriage problems when we're in the middle of a game!" The coach shouted in anger. "You leave all of your personal shit out of the games. Play now, cry later! Do you understand me?"

"My fault, coach." Craig said. "Something inside of me just kicked off."

"Your ass will be the next thing that'll be kicked off the team next time you bail out on a game, do you understand me?" His coach demanded in a serious tone.

"Yes, sir."

"Get out there." The coach growled, pushing him out there.

Craig walked outside, listening to the crowd cheer him on. He didn't care, though. He was pissed. He stood at the free throw line, making the first shot. The second shot however, he missed. As the clock ran out, the Warriors made a 3 point shot that buried the game. The Raiders were down 0 - 1. They walked off the court in a depressing fashion as Craig stood out, frustrated from everything. He crouched down on the ground, listening to everyone cheer.

"You don't hold a candle to us, nigga boy!" A white boy chanted as he stood over him.

Suddenly, Craig lunged up and grabbed the man by his neck. He started to stumble back as Chad, Mannie, and Peter rushed up to him and held him back.

"Craig, stop!" They all chanted in a quick tone. "Stop it, man!"

Craig grasped onto the mans neck, then snatched his hand off of it. He shoved past everyone, leaving his teammates to wander in the large gym.

"Learn how to take your little jungle nigga." The boy winked to the Raiders as he walked off.

Then, they seen the coach storm off after him into the locker room. They already knew what it was for. Suspension.

The next day, Rose walked downstairs in her nightgown. Nicholas still didn't want her and Violet to see each other, so he ordered that the guards keep her down there. She walked in front of him as he watched TV in his living room. He muted it, then looked up at her. She had a little bit of tears running down her eyes.

"Why are you crying?" Nicholas snarled.

"I had a dream that I lost my baby girls in a car crash." Rose sighed as she closed her eyes, rubbing them as well.

"It's not real, Rose." Nicholas chuckled. "Just go get some more rest."

"I want to see my babies." Rose said in a tired, yet demanding tone. "I haven't seen them in a week. I want to see my girls."

"Rose, go to bed."

"I want to see my girls!" Rose repeated in a sharp tone. "I don't care if your guards have to take me. I want to go pick them up."

Nicholas scoffed and turned around to his guards.

"Aye Rick, can you go take her to go pick up her daughters?" Nicholas snarled. "I'll pay you an extra $5 for it."

"Sure." Rick said as he made his way towards the door. "Come on. Let's go."

Rick drove Rose to Craig's mothers house as she led him there. It took a rough 20 minutes to get there since Craig's mother lived in the city. Once they arrived there, Rose got out of the car and knocked on the door. Craig's mother opened it, giving her a grim look. Rose's cheerful face shifted into a blank one as she stood there for a second, then put on a smile.