Homecoming Pt. 1

Khalil 2

 When I stepped off the plane I thanked God that I didn't die, I fuckin hated flying with a passion, well at least I wasn't noticed by anyone. I went to Enterprise and got the most normal looking car I could find it's not like I didn't have the money to get a nicer car I just wanted to be as inconspicuous as possible, I settled for an 07' Impala and drove to the Crowne Plaza . I limped into the hotel with my head covered, I didn't want anyone to know I was home yet. The woman at the front desk I walked up to the front desk and after waiting for like ten minutes for the clerk to look up I cleared my throat even after all that she still didn't look up.

"Excuse me I would like to get a room." I said trying to keep my anger in check, when she did finally look up she had this super fake smile on here face that I instantly didn't trust.

"Hello welcome the Crowne Plaza how can I help you?" She said her voice sounding like sugar coated venom.

"Yeah I would like to get a room, the biggest suite ya'll have." I said looking her in the eyes. I could tell she was getting nervous so she looked down and started typing.

"I'm sorry sir it seems we're booked to capacity, you might wanna try the Red Roof Inn." She said smiling. I already knew what she was getting at so I smiled back and grabbed a piece of paper and pen.

"Alright you said Red Roof Inn can you tell me how to get there?" I asked still smiling, then someone from the back came and stood next to her they didn't look at me either.

"Nancy is there a problem?" The man asked he was clearly the manager.

"No Richard I was just explaining to this gentleman that we were all booked up." She said as if they were speaking in code. The man looked at me and as soon as our eyes connected his got as big as golf balls.

"You.... you're..... I mean...... holy fuck you play for the Texans..... you Khalil Cunningham." He said getting really excited. The woman just stood there looking at me confused. "Nancy check again and see if we have rooms available." He said to the clerk.

"But.... I.... I......." She stammered.

"You know what it's fine I'll just head over to the Red Roof Inn." I said smirking at both of them as I turned and walked out, leaving Richard standing there yelling at Nancy.

Later that night I was standing in familiar territory the cool September wind, the smell of freshly cut grass, the chatter of waiting families, the sounds of people walking up and down bleachers, and the lights........ the lights of Friday Night Football. I pulled my hood over my head and sat in the corner sections of the bleachers. I sat there waiting for the game to start when a group of lil niggas walked up on me.

"Ayy bruh you're in my seat." The smallest of the group said. I smiled slightly I was already comfortable and I didn't feel like moving besides my leg was starting to hurt so I damn sure wasn't about to move for this fuck. "Nigga didn't you hear me?" The dude said getting loud.

"I heard you loud and clear, the only thing is I don't give a fuck." I said looking him in the eyes. Don't get it twisted I could bring out the old me in a heart beat if I had to. After an intense stare down he got the message and decided I wasn't worth the problems. A few minutes later he came back with some older dude.

"That's the nigga right there." He said pointing at me, I stood up because I'll be damned if I got caught off guard, I looked at the older dude and he just stared at me.

"So what's this I hear you got a problem with my little cousin?" The dude said looking me in the eyes.

"Well maybe he should learn to respect his fucking elders." I said sitting my crutches down and taking off my hoodie once I did that there whole group looked at me in complete awe, except for the older dude.

"Or maybe you should know by now that section is for basketball players and not scrub ass football players. You should also know what happens to you when you do." The older dude said walking into my face.

"And you should already know I'm not the type of nigga to back down from anybody. So know I'm going to ask you what the fuck are you going to do about it?" I said stepping in his face, the dude stepped back and smiled at me.

"MY NIGGA!" He said pulling me into a brotherly hug. "Fuck man when'd you get in? I take it you're here for the reunion?" My best friend Lorenzo Gonzalez asked smiling at me.

" Yeah I'm here for this reunion and I got in this morning I didn't think you'd show up last I heard you were playing basketball in what was it Spain?" I asked smiling at him .

"Yeah well if you'd pick up a damn phone and call you'd know I was moving back to the states I'll be playing for the Bulls third string but hey it's a start." Enzo said still smiling.

"I'm sorry about that Enzo, I had a lot going on." I said sadly I hadn't spoke to Enzo since I've been in the NFL and he went to play for FC Barcelona in Spain six years ago.

"Ayy Ricardo go grab me and Khalil something to drink." He said handing Ricardo a hundred dollar bill.

"Wait a minute this is Lil Ricardo? Damn lil dude you've gotten shorter. Hell the last time I seen you, you were still trying to figure out what side of the bed to piss on." I said laughing, I could tell he was embarrassed because all his little friends started laughing too.

"Ayy remember when we used to make him and Devin fight for money?" Enzo said laughing, then stopped when he saw my reaction at the mention of my little brother Devin. I got up and walked away so Enzo couldn't see the pain in my eyes. "Aww damn my bad bro, I forgot........ have you heard anything yet?" Enzo asked.

"Nah I got a private investigator trying to find him but so far nothing man." I said trying to hide the tears in my eyes.

"So who do think will all show up?" Enzo said trying to change the subject.

"I don't know man but you already know it's going to be crazy." I said smiling.

"Hell yeah so...... uh.... do you think Marcus will be here?" Enzo asked quietly and I turned and looked at him, Enzo was the only person in the world who knew how deep me and Marcus's relationship really went.

"If I'm lucky then he won't." I said pretending that I wasn't dreaming about him last night and all this week.

"Yeah right you were probably dreaming about that nigga last night weren't you?" Enzo said even though no one was around I still double checked because I didn't need the world to know my darkest secret.

"Man that was just a phase. Now let's watch some football." I said walking away.

"If you say so Khalil." Enzo said knowing the truth.