The Lights (Kelly Oubre Jr.) ON HOLD | NEEDS WORK

Prolouge

Aiya

I watched Kelly as he walked up to me wondering if tonight would finally be the night I broke the ice. He had on his Jayhawk pajamas along with his glasses that was just missing last week. This was the way I liked him... Kelly, nothing more nothing less.

"You good A?" He asks looking through his bag of food. I nodded as he handed me what I ordered. He sat across from me and smiled unwrapping his burger.

"Did you do your comp homework?" I ask taking a sip of my lemonade.

"Haven't even started honestly."

A group of girls walk by and they had their eyes on Kelly. Thirsty much?

"Hey Kelly, good game last night." One girl with long blonde hair says. He smiles and thanks them and they went on their way.

"You the man now huh?" I say rolling my eyes and he laughs shaking his head.

"Nah, not at all. You the one who's phone keeps buzzing."

"It's Twitter." I say showing him my notifications and he side eyes me making me laugh.

"I'm going to Vegas with you for Christmas right?" I ask and he stops eating, rubbing the back of his neck making my eyebrows furrow in confusion. What the hell was that for?

"Right?" I snap and he looks into my eyes.

"I have something to tell you... I was going to wait bu-"

"Go 'head."

He takes a deep breath and looks down and back up at me, no emotion in his face.

"I got picked to be in this years draft."

I paused for a second feeling my body get hot meaning I'm about to cry.

"And? What are you trying to say?"

"I won't see you for a while.. Maybe not for a few years, but I promise every chance I get to visit the first person I'm going to see is you."

I got up from the table and grabbed my things quickly.

"I might as well say my goodbye now. It was nice knowing you." I say and I walk off before he saw the tears stream down my face. Ten years of friendship basically down the drain.

I walked all the way to my room since Kelly drove me and as soon as I got there he was sitting on the stairs waiting for me.

"Excuse me." I say sniffling as I wiped my tears away.

"Where you going?" He says grabbing my hand, pulling me next to him. I buried my face into my hands not wanting to make eye contact with him.

"I know this is hard for you, but you 'gotta understand that this is what I've been working towards.. You know my story better than anyone else because you're in it and there's no way you're getting out either."

I lift my head up and look at him, a slight smile across his face.

"Well let me do myself a favor and end our story short." I stood up and climbed up the stairs and went to my dorm, slamming the door behind me.

Kelly

I finished loading up my car preparing my mind for this hour drive back home to visit family before training starts. Something I've been dreading but looking forward to all week.

I checked the time and remembered I forgot one thing.

Aiya

Even though we haven't spoke since I broke the news I still wanted to say goodbye so she knew I still cared. I walked over to her building which wasn't too far from mine and climbed up the steps, knocking on her door soon after. She answered wearing a sports bra and some pink shorts kind've catching me off guard.

"What are you doing here?" She says yawning and I snap out of my daze and held out my arms for a hug but she only shakes her head and crosses her arms.

"I just came to say goodbye." I said and she waves carelessly and tries to shut the door but I catch it.

"You're kidding right?" I say seriously and she laughs.

"You got me fucked up Kelly. Remember that."

I grabbed her arm tightly my temperature rising from anger. She looked at me surprised and tried to get out of my grip. I push into her room and back her up against the wall looking down at her with a clenched jaw.

"You're selfish as fuck to try to make me feel bad about something I've been working towards since I can remember. Do me a favor and forget we ever had a friendship, forget I was planning on marrying you, and forget the promise ring in my pocket I was going to give you at this very moment. I had love for you Aiya but you gotta give to earn."

I let her go and walked out of her room and went to my car trying to get in the right state of mind. I took the box out of my pocket and threw it in the back seat ready to start my new life.