The Boy Next Door | LaMelo Ball

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A few days later the second part of tryouts take place.

"After this practice, I have to pick thirteen girls to be on the team. There are twenty of so, unfortunately seven of you have to be cut." Coach says while looking at everyone.

"I'll have the final list up after today's practice, ladies."

_____

During practice everyone seems nervous.

Once practice is over most people stay and wait for coach to put the list up.

"If you didn't make the team, do not let that discourage you. Come back next year and try again!" Coach Carter stands on the other side of the gym watching the guys play.

Everyone walks to the list.

Giselle goes before me and she searches for her ID number.

She turns around with a smile.

"I made it!" Giselle says happily. 

"Congratulations!" I smile at her and I hug her.

I walk up to the list with my heart beating fast.

6006648, I think to myself as I look down the list.

I keep on looking and I don't see my ID number.

I look at the list again to make sure I didn't skip it, but I do not see it.

I look down at the floor and I walk over to Giselle.

"Why the sad face?" Giselle asked unlacing her shoes. "I know you made it!"

I shake my head no.

"My number's not- it's not on the list."

"Why don't you go talk to Coach?" Giselle asked while putting on her slides.

I walk over to Coach Carter and she looks at me.

"Hey Coach," I say to her.

"Hello Joslyn. What's up?"

"Well, I wanted to know why I- why I didn't make the team."

"Huh? You did make the team!" Coach Carter says.

"My ID isn't on the list!" I say to her.

Coach Carter facepalms herself.

"Oh gosh, did I put up the wrong list?" She jogs over to the list and she looks at it.

"Ladies!" Coach yells.

Everyone looks up at her.

"Someone put up the wrong list!" Coach laughs.

She looks on her clipboard and she grabs another list.

"Sorry about that ladies," Coach walks away.

Okay, let's try this again.

I walk up to the list and I look at it.

6006648?

I get to the bottom of the list.

6006648!

I smile to myself before I walk to my duffel bag and put on my sliders.

"See, I told you you'd make it!" Giselle laughs before running off.

She turns around and waves goodbye to me, I wave back.

I put on my sliders and I spray perfume on myself.

I wait for LaMelo to finish practice.

When his practice is over, he walks over to with with a huge smile on his face.

"I made it!" He does a little dance.

"See, I told you you had nothing to fear!" I smile at him.

"You made it too, right?"

I nod my head yes.

"Good job!" LaMelo says.

One of LaMelo's friends James walks over to us and he has his shirt around his neck.

Damn, that body.

LaMelo smacks my arm and I smile at him.

"Me and a few friends were thinking about going to celebrate making the team. You guys wanna come?"

I look at LaMelo and he looks at me.

I shrug. "It's up to you!"

"Nah, man. I'm kinda tired...I wanna go home and crash."

"For sure." James says.

LaMelo and the guy do a bro hug and while they do LaMelo whispers something in James's ear.

James let's out an 'ah' sound before walking away.

_____

LaMelo and I make it to my car and he grabs my car keys from my pocket.

"What the hell!" I say.

LaMelo laughs and holds the keys over his head.

I reach up trying to grab the keys from him but I can't reach.

"LaMelo!" I punch him playfully in the stomach. "Quit playin!"

"Say you'll let me drive?" He sticks his toungue.

I roll my eyes. "Fine, I don't wanna drive anyway,"

I walk to the passenger side of the car and I get inside.

LaMelo drives off, but instead of driving towards our house, he drives somewhere else.

"Um, where are you going?" I asked LaMelo.

"It's a surprise,"