It's A Cole World

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Chardé

Five months later...

"One, two, three, Lady Poets!"

The other starting four girls and I walked out onto the court. There was thirty seconds left in the fourth quarter and we were up by three. The other team had possession of the ball and as they passed it in, I gave my team the last of my encouraging words before we all dug in and played the best defense we possibly could.

Monica's man got past her and she set for the three point shot. My man passed her the ball and she shot it at the same time the buzzer went off. The whole gym went quiet as the ball rotated around the rim, then fell in. The opposing team's fans cheered while ours just stood there with the same look that was probably written all over my face.

We did not want to go into overtime.

The ref blew his whistle and ran over to the spot that the girl had just shot from, that's when I realized that she hadn't been behind the three-point line when she shot.

"No three-point basket, two!" The ref signaled to the score table. The other team's face dropped as my team's lit up.

We just won the championship game!

We all ran into a circle, hugged, laughed, jumped, celebrated. You know, the usual basketball celebration stuff. I was so proud that all our hard work and dedication had finally paid off. We deserved this win.

"Chardé! Over here!" I walked over to the news reporter and smiled as she congratulated me in our win.

"Now I hear you're supposed to be going to UCLA to play college basketball so you can be closer to home, is that true?" She pointed the mic towards me.

"I don't know. I have a lot of colleges offering me scholarships and promising me things, so I guess everybody will just have to figure out where I'm going on my signing day," I shrugged.

"Okay, now how do you feel about your big win tonight? Coach Andrews has been searching for that final piece to complete the puzzle for years now and you've finally came along. How does it feel to lead your team to victory?"

I held up my hand, "First off, don't say my team like I own them or something. We're a family, which means we're each other's keeper. So, how do I feel about our big win tonight? Amazing, because I wouldn't have rather do it with anybody else, but these eleven wonderful girls, plus Coach Andrews. They were the missing pieces to my puzzle and I'm glad I found them."

"Well said Washington, can't wait to see you at signing day," she said before they wrapped everything up and left. I smiled at went back to celebrate with the team.

"Yes mom, I know how sorry you and dad are for missing the big game," I laughed as she told me for the 500th time. After celebrating until about two in the morning, Coach made us come back to the hotel and take our butts to sleep, we had a huge team interview at noon tomorrow and then we had to be on our way back to Fayetteville, which I couldn't wait to go back to because I knew the town was ready to throw a huge party.

"I know sweetie, but we'll definitely be there for your signing day with loads of gifts, even if I have to drag your dad away from this damn movie he's working on."

I laughed and there was knock at the door. My roommate got up to answer it and a few seconds later she came back saying it was for me. I sighed, "Mom I gotta go, but I'll call you first thing tomorrow."

"Alright baby, be safe!"

We hung up and I threw my phone down on the bed before running to the door. I snatched it open and looked into those familiar brown eyes.

"Mal?! What are you doing here?"

He gave me a small smile and pulled me into a hug before releasing me.

"Wow Angel, I thought you would've been more excited to see me," he chuckled.

"I am! I just wasn't expecting it. Aren't you guys supposed to be Durham?"

"We were, but we played yesterday and went back to Fayetteville last night. When we realized that half of the town was in Raleigh supporting you guys, we turned the bus around and came here. Congrats on the win by the way."

"What about you? Did y'all win?" I asked.

"Lost by three points."

I frowned and pulled him into a hug, "Aw Mal, it'll be okay. One game doesn't take away all the colleges that still want you."

He smiled as I let him go, "Yea, you're right. Speaking of colleges, who are you signing to?"

I smirked, "Can't tell you that Mally Mal. You'll just have to find out when we get back to school on Monday."

"What?! I'm your best friend!"

"But you haven't told me where you're going so why should I tell you? Plus, we haven't spoken or hung out in the last month. Some kind of friend you are," I rolled my eyes, even though us not hanging out was partly my fault too.

Because of everybody's busy schedule and other personal related issues, everybody decided to cancel the Christmas trip and just plan it for next year. We all still hung out from time to time, but it just wasn't the same. I guess everybody was trying to keep themselves busy to keep from facing reality.

"Hey, a cell phone works two ways Angel. If you missed me you should've called," he bit his lip.

"You ain't shit," I said while muffing him.

He smiled and pulled me into a hug before silently whispering, "You just don't know how much I love you Angel."

I opened my mouth to say the words back, but closed it when I realized why it would mean if I said it. For the last few months, whenever Mal and I had the opportunity to be around each other, he made his feelings about me very clear, but I made myself believe that the only reason he was doing that was because he was missing Maleek and needed someone.

I wasn't ready to cross the line with him yet because I was too afraid to lose the friendship that we had. I was too afraid to lose him like I lost Leek and the absence of both of them would literally crush me.

"Mal..."

"I know. I know, but every time I'm with you, I can't help but remind you."

I took a deep breath and prepared myself to speak, but he interrupted me, "If you turn me away tonight, then I will never ask you to be anything more than my best friend, ever, but Angel, please think about this before you answer, because I don't want any mistakes to be made...

I looked into the millions of emotions running through his eyes: sadness, hope, love...but I didn't want to tell him that I loved and wanted him too, just to lead him on in the future.

I'm not ready and I don't know when I will be, so I don't want to drag him down in the process, waiting for me to love him the way he should be loved. As much as it hurts to think and say this, I'd rather him find another woman that will.

"I can't Malachi," came my shaky reply.

He gave me a small smile and kissed my forehead, "Okay Angel, but that doesn't change my feelings about you."

He let me go and I watched through unshed tears as he disappeared down the hallway.

I shut the hotel room door and leaned against it as I closed my eyes and let the tears fall.

What had I just done?