Nobody's Business (BOOK ONE)

Chapter 50

"Lets go, hustle hustle!" Coach Mathers yells at his players. The squeak of sneakers and the rubber bang of the basketball hitting the floor echoes through the gym. "Watch him Daniels! H1 get your butt over there!"

He watches his players, studying and scrutinizing them closely. He keeps a blank expression on his face but on the inside he's smiling. His varsity team consists of some of the best players he's ever had at Marian Parker. He watches his seniors, Ty and Malcom, who he calls H1 and H2, Shaun and Jackson. He met them when they were tiny 8th graders, now they're grown seniors. They've come so far from the high voiced, immature kids he used to coach. Now he sees the potential shining through them and he knows they'll make it far in life. Whether it be in basketball or another career, his boys will do great things.

He blows his whistle loudly just as Ty sinks the ball into the hoop. "Circle up!" He exclaims. His players jog over to him, sweating and slightly out of breath. "I can feel it." He says looking around at his players. "I can feel the determination and energy in y'all. Y'all want a ring this year, I know my seniors want a ring real bad. But y'all getting a little sloppy. This is the first practice of many to come. I'm gonna work y'all to the bone because I know y'all want to make it to the championship this year and sport that big ring on your finger. I want that too. But to get it you gotta work for it."

The players nod, drinking in everything Coach is telling them. "I believe in y'all, but do y'all believe in yourselves?"

"Yes sir," Malcolm speaks for the whole team.

Coach eyes him, "Really? Then prove it. Cuz I want a ring just as much as y'all do. It's your last year seniors, then the juniors are taking over. Leave your legacy on the court, make your mark on the school. Got it?"

Malcolm puts his hand into the middle of the circle and soon the rest of the team does the same. Coach puts his hand on top and shouts, "BULLDOGS?"

"BLUE PRIDE!" The team shouts back. Coach nods and grins at his team. "Good practice y'all, have a good night."

The team scatters and heads to the locker room to grab their belongings. Jackson takes off his jersey, feeling it slide against his sweaty body. He heads over to his locker besides the twins and Shaun.

"Is your sister at home or did she go with Monica somewhere?" He asks Ty.

Ty shrugs and slips on a t-shirt, "I don't know, her lazy self probably at home knocked out. You know she go to sleep before the street lights come on." He jokes.

Jackson fights the smile on his face. If only the twins knew that sometimes Sevyn and Jackson don't fall asleep until early hours of the morning, talking,laughing and asking each other dumb questions. The worst they've ever done is stay up until three even though they had to wake up at 6 for school the next day. They learned never to go that far again.

"Nah she's with Corey," Shaun says. "He said he didn't feel like going home for some reason so I saw them head out together."

"I thought she had to babysit today." Malcolm says.

Jackson laughs, "Y'all giving me all different stories. Let me just text her myself." He says shaking his head and taking off his shoes. The boys shrug as he takes out his phone and quickly sends Sevyn a text.

"Wyd?"

A minute later she responds. "Babysitting my moms friends baby. Why?"

"I wanna come thru ;)"

"As always. I'll text you when I get home :P"

Jackson grabs his gym bag and puts on his extra pair of sneakers before closing his locker and and locking it. "I'll see y'all tomorrow."