Elements of Us /// Jimmy Butler

Chapter 24

Disclaimer: I ONLY own the plot and characters that I have created. I don't own anything related to the Bulls, thank you.

"I don't know..." Allison responded, a little unsure, through her cell phone, "I need to think it over; I have to talk to my boyfriend and stuff."

"Your boyfriend..." Marcy said apprehensively, "You're back together with...Connor?" she asked, with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Oh my god," Allison cringed with disgust, "absolutely not." She shook her head, and head Marcy let out a relieved breath on the other end.

"Well, good." Marcy nodded, "You can do way better, really, you didn't deserve all that shit he put you through." She said, "Anyways, if you're not with Connor anymore, then why does your new boyfriend need to make your decisions for you, shouldn't you be making them on your own?"

Allison let out an annoyed sigh, "He's not going to make the decision for me, I'd just want to talk to him about it before I say 100 percent yes." She explained, "He's gone for a couple weeks on the road, and so I'm off right now too, so I'll probably just call him later."

"He's out of town for two weeks?" Marcy questioned, "Well then perfect, how about this?" she said, "Me and the girls come down to Chicago and we can practice for these two weeks, and then at the end you can make your final decision?"

"Hmm," Allison thought out loud, "alright, I guess since it's not anything permanent yet, just to see then I don't think there's a problem with that." She said, "When will you guys be here?"

"By tomorrow." Marcy said definitely, "I'll let the girls know today and we'll meet at the old space tomorrow at 6, on the dot."

"Okay." Allison agreed, a little anxiously, "I'll see you guys tomorrow then, I guess."

"Yes you will." Marcy nodded, "Hopefully we can make your mind up, see you tomorrow."

"Bye." Allison said, as she hung up the phone and started to think over the conversation she just had. Life seemed to always throw her curveballs, and she wasn't sure if they were good or bad. To make a run with her team again could be there second chance to finally get the gold this time, but she didn't want to sacrifice the life she'd begun to make for herself based on something that wouldn't pan out. She decided she'd just wait and talk to Jimmy about it, or maybe Kelly.

She texted the both of them and just said that she wanted to talk to them and to call her whenever they got a chance. Jimmy texted back that he had practice all day but would call her tonight, while Kelly immediately called her back.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Alli, what's up?" Kelly asked

"Well, I got a call from Marcy today and she asked me to-" Allison started

"Wait a sec, hold that thought." Kelly interrupted her, causing Allison to roll her eyes. Every time Kelly was dealing with something she would always listen, no interruptions, but Kelly was exactly the opposite. "I feel like this is gonna be a long story, and I wanna know all the details so meet me coffee?"

"Um, okay, I guess." Allison muttered, grabbing her jacket and keys preparing to leave, "I'll see you in a few."

She walked a couple blocks down the street and walked into her and Kelly's favorite coffee shop to see Kelly already there sipping her latte at their table. Allison ordered a quick cup of coffee and then went to continue telling Kelly her dilemma.

"Hey." Allison said, sitting down with a warm cup of coffee in her hands.

"Hey!" Kelly replied, enthusiastically, "Okay so..." she began, "You were saying, something like Marcy called you?"

"Yeah," Allison nodded, "She called and basically asked me to rejoin the team for the summer Olympics, and I just don't know what to do, that's why I wanted to talk to you."

"Wow," Kelly said, "That's...a lot. And pretty sudden too, I mean...what did you say?"

"Well, I told her I'd think about it," Allison explained, "Her and some other girls on the team are coming here tomorrow and she said we'd all train for a couple weeks and then I'd have to make a final decision."

"Okay, well that's good." Kelly said, "I mean at least she's giving you some time to get back into it before making a final decision. I don't know, A, if I were you, I'd go for it. You obviously have a talent that they could use, and why not go for it one last time?" She supported, "But that's just what I think." She continued, putting her hands up in defense, "What did Jimmy say?"

"I don't know," Allison shrugged, " I haven't talked to him about it yet."

"Well, I'm sure it's not gonna be a big deal." Kelly predicted, "If anything, he'll probably tell you that you should do it."

"Yeah, I don't know," Allison sighed, "I just don't wanna lose what I have right now, you know?"

"You won't." Kelly confirmed, shaking her head, "It's gonna be your thing, he has his basketball, and yeah sure you help with that and you're great. But, this talent is yours and you have to show 'em what you got."

"And it's not like I have to travel much, so I won't be gone when he's here or vice versa." Allison thought out loud to Kelly, "I mean i'm still going to talk to him but, I should just do it?"

"You should." Kelly nodded, "Regardless of what he says, you have to make decisions for yourself, A." Kelly said, "This isn't Connor again, it's me, it's Jimmy, we're not here to control you. We're here to help you."

---------------------------------------------------

"Hey baby," Jimmy said as his last ring went through and Allison had picked up on the other line. He'd been waiting all day to hear her voice, "What's goin' on, everything okay?"

"Oh,"' Allison said, "Yeah everything's fine, I just wanted to talk to you about some stuff." She explained, "But, first tell me how you guys are doing over there?" she asked.

"It's okay," he shrugged, "It's fine, it would be a lot better if you were here though, Taj is already getting on my nerves." He laughed, causing her to smile on the other end.

"Already huh?" She giggled, "You too just can't get along for long, can you?"

"It's not my fault..." He chuckled, defending himself, "He's just...well you already know."

"Please play nice," She laughed, "You're only gone for two weeks, I don't want the two of you to come back here with some drama that I'll end up being in the middle of."

"I will," he sighed, "You know I'd do anything, for you."

"You're even cheesy over the phone," she joked, "Who would've thought?" she asked, "I miss you like crazy."

"I know," he replied, "I miss you too, these two weeks can't go fast enough." he admitted, "What about you?" He asked, "What did you wanna talk about, your text seemed kinda serious earlier."

"Oh, um," Allison started, clearing her throat, "My old coach, from the Olympics called me this morning, and, uh, well she kinda, sorta wants me back on the team for this summer." She managed to get the sentence out.

"Oh...wow." Jimmy said, he was sort of stunned. He wasn't expecting anything like this, "So, what did you say?"

"Well I told her maybe." She admitted, "I said I wanted to think it over and talk to you and stuff."

"Huh." Jimmy responded, he wasn't sure how to take this news. It wasn't like he didn't want her to do it, he just wasn't sure what would happen to them if she did.

"Basically, her and some of my team are coming to Chicago tomorrow for a couple weeks and she said I could make a final decision by then." Allison said, "And all the training would be here, like until the actual games and one training that's in California right before the games."

"That's not so bad," Jimmy said, "Look, baby, I'm not gonna hold you back. Actually, I think you should do it." He responded, thinking it over. What could be so bad anyways? It's not like she'd constantly be away, in other cities. They still managed even when he was on the road, so why would this change anything? It wouldn't. At least, he hoped it wouldn't.