If you say so. (Austin Rivers)

game day. (part 1)

As I made my way down the hall, I studied all the trophies and banners that hung on the wall's. It's crazy how sports can bring together people from all over the world. Whether its soccer or football or even basketball, people can take an hour out of their day and just chill with some homies and watch the game.

"You're leaving already?" Anthony asked as I picked up my jean jacket and laced up my shoes.

"Yes, but I can sneak in the locker room later and come wish you good luck." I said while picking up his hand and intertwined it with mine. He smiled lightly and then brushed his lips onto mine and gently kissed it. Anthony and I weren't exactly rushing into a relationship, but we were close.

"Make some points for me." I yelled to Anthony as I made my way out of our dorm.

The arena wasn't that far away and I highly doubt that people would be coming this early anyways, so I decided to just walk to that part of campus.

It was a chilly evening, and the sun looked like an artificial light bulb in the sky. I admired the trees and flowers as I walked through the campus and thought about my life would be like if I didn't come here. I would probably be wallowing in an antisocial rage back home, and would most likely be attending the Community College we have there.

I guess thats the thing about me though: No matter how crazy an idea can sound or be, I like to do it. I like to take up the challenge and risk losing everything rather than being stuck in the same frosted daily routine.

-

"Valerie, glad you could make it!" My professor called out as I entered the locker room.

There was at least 50 staff members back here. Either setting up, cleaning up, or checking out something to make sure the game went smoothly. There was so much behind the scenes work that had to be done to guarantee a smooth game that I never truly realized until now.

"This is the opportunity of a lifetime, I wouldn't miss it for the world." I breathed out nervously. My professor just smiled and then motioned to follow him.

"This," He said while pulling me into a room that was adjacent to the away locker room, "is going to be your area."

"So wait, I'm going to be doing what again exactly?" I asked, confused and a little terrified of why I was on the away side.

"Well Cynthia Applegate, the head of all broadcasting media for Duke, called me earlier and said that she needed a reporter for Duke. She couldn't find anyone that met he standards, so I told her about you." He smiled, showing his dimples, and then continued. "That's alright with you, right? I mean I don't want you to feel overwhelmed by all this, especially with all these boys."

He and I shared a light laugh.

"Not at all."

"Always up for a challenge, I like it." He said exuberantly, "Well this is yours." He handed me a microphone, notepad, pen, camera and tripod.

I stood there awestruck.

"Thank you so much Professor Jones, it means alot."

All of a sudden you could hear the tumult from the locker room, and that's when I realized they were here.

"You can start off by interviewing some of the players, and at halftime interview Coach K to get his take on the game." He reached for the door and then stopped, "Good Luck!" And with that he walked out.

-

Shit Shit Shit.

The door to the locker room opened, as I stood awkwardly in the hallway. A tall man who looked shy but intimidating at the same time, had emerged.

"Hello, Valerie Simpson. I was assigned to get some interviews by the players." I showed the man my media pass and then he laughed.

"I'm Coach K, the boys should be done changing in a bit. I can send them out in the hall for you, it might be quieter."

I nodded my head and set up the tripod and camera.

I breathed, oh mean did I breathe.

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

A tall, built guy with the smuggest smile on his face had walked out of the locker room and greeted me.

"Ayee." He said, high-fiving me. "Quinn Cook, but you probably already knew that."

"I'm Valerie, haha, I'm here to interview you."

"Cool cool." He said and then politely answered a series of questions I was given on my notepad. The interview was easy and short, and kinda fun to be honest.

As I wished Quinn a good luck, another guy had revealed himself out of the locker room.

He staggered over to me and then through an arm around me in a type of bro hug.

"Mason Plumlee front and center." He said, doing a set of jumping jacks, I guess to warm up or something. "Let's get on with this interview."

This Mason kid was something else, he was all smiles, jokes here and there, and just overall crazy. My mind hadn't forgotten completely that this was even an interview, because it felt so much like I was talking to my best friend.

But my smile snapped into a frown, like that.

Mason had crept back into the locker room by now, and the camera had been turned off. There was so much silence, but I've never heard any sound louder.

My breath hitched and my pulse quickened, everything told me to run away and go get lost somewhere in the crowd.

But I stayed.

He looked unreal, but his voice pulled me closer to him somehow.

"Valerie." He slowly dragged out my name and it felt like my whole body was an ice cube dipped in warm water.

The old me would've ran to him and yearned for him to keep me safe, but nah, not this time.

It felt like it was an eternity that we stood there, and as Quinn called Austin's name to run out, I was content in my decision.

A/N;
There's a part 2 to this chapter, but whoa. That was um ? Nice, awkward, extreme.