The Boy Next Door | LaMelo Ball

|14|

Later on, I go to school.

I'm nervous for after school because Melo told the basketball coach that I'm good at basketball.

The coach asked me to come to their practice so he could see how I play.
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After school I get ready for my first practice.

As I change my shirt, I feel somone looking at me.

"So, you play ball?" I hear the voice say.

Ew, Zuri.

I look at her as I put on my shirt.

"Yes, I've been playing since I was five." I reply.

I put on my knee pads and my basketball socks.

After that, I lace up my shoes tightly and I tie them.

"Well, your not making the team, I get final say on who gets in andbI don't like you...so yeah." With that, Zuri flips her hair and walks away.

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During practice, Zuri makes things hard for me, as I expected.

She is on offense and I'm playing defense on her.

She shoves me forward a bit but I keep my defensive stance stong.

Zuri dribbles to the right and I move with her.

She goes in for a layup and I jump up blocking it, earning an 'ooh' from girls watching on the sideline.

I dripple away from the defenders and I keep my eye on my target, the hoop.

I keep dribbling down court and I go in for a layup.

I make it and my team cheers for me.

"Good job newbie!" Someone yells.

Even with Zuri trying to mess me up, I'm still too good for her...and she's afraid of me being better than her.

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After practice the coch makes us sit in a circle.

"Okay ladies great job today, I really loved the hustle from you guys today, keep it up!" Coach says, I see her look at me from the corner of her eye.

"Now, I think it should be decided as a team if we should add Joslyn to our team for the reminder of this season and next year too, so, who thinks she has what it takes to be on the team?" The coach asked.

"Excuse me coach, but don't I usually get to make the final decision?" Zuri asked.

"Not this time," the Coach replies.

Zuri crosses her arms.

Zuri zero... Joslyn one.

I smirk to myself.

More than half of the team vote for me to be on the team!

"Okay Joslyn, welcome to the team!"

Everyone cheers pulling me into a group hug.

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We walk back to the locker room and I change my basketball shoes to my sliders.

After that, I walk to the front of the school and I wait for my mom to get here.

I continue to wait along with this other girl on the team.

"Dude, your like really good!" She says.

I smile at her. "Thank you, your good too!"

"How long have you played?" The girl asked.

Is it bad that I don't remember her name?

"Since I could walk, basically." I reply.

I grab my phone out of my pocket and I look at it.

There is a message from my mom.

Mother Dearest 💕 A bunch of traffic. I'll be there soon.

I text her back saying 'okay' and I put my phone away.

"Your parent's running late too?" The girl asked.

I nod my head yes.

"Same," she laughs, "So, what number do you want to wear next year?"

Hm, I haven't really thought about my number yet.

"I'm not sure," I reply, "Mabey like twenty four or eight."

"Your a Lakers fan or a Kobe fan?"

"Both," I laugh.

A car pulls up next to us and I'm guessing it's the girl's parents.

"Bye Joslyn, it was nice talking to you!" She walks over to the car and then she stops. "I'm Giselle by the way!"

"Nice to meet you!" I smile and I wave goodbye.

"See you tomorrow!" Giselle gets inside of her car.

New friend?

Mabey, we'll see.

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