The Patient.

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A BLENDED SMELL of popcorn and hot dogs was fresh in the air of the gymnasium. The audience cheered along with their handmade fan signs and the coaches stood on the sidelines. Watching closely to see which team would take home the championship for tonight's game.

Aaliyah Haughton dribbled the bright orange ball around the court landing a score for her team, the Detroit Lioness.

Although she wasn't as tall as half the other girls on the team, she was still one of the best players. Her height had allowed her to maneuver around her opponents unnoticed.

She caught the ball into her manicured hands for the second time then glanced at the scoreboard.

Two girls of the opposite team blocked her way towards the rim.

"Give it up, Haughton." One of them taunted.

Her brown eyes reeked of determination as she stared them both down. Moving by them and over to the rim where she scored again. Which caused the loud buzzer to sound off.

"The Detroit Lioness are tonight's winners!"

The team all huddled together proudly cheering as their coach Mr. Kortez walked over to join. "We. Are. Lioness!" The audience chanted with the team.

Their victory was short-lived because soon the team was rushed to the back towards their locker room. There, going out to the nearest nightclub to celebrate was on the minds of many. But not Aaliyah who couldn't wait to get home, so she could relax.

"Great game, Haughton." A teammate complimented on the way to the showers.

"Please! I could've done better, but the ball-hog was hogging up the ball as usual; we are called the Detroit Lioness, not Aaliyah and the Lioness." Denise Michaels hissed.

"Dang! Just be glad we won, why you always trippin' for?"

"You should be the last one talking about tripping with all that falling you do out on the court," Denise replied to Torielle Brown.

"Ladies, enough!"

Aaliyah stood after tying the laces to the jordans she changed in. "A'ight, Denise, next time you can prove yourself," she said after putting on her bag and walking to the exit.

"Ain't gon be no next time." Denise snapped while stepping in Aaliyah's way as they stared each other down sending the coach over to separate the two.

Aaliyah realized she wasn't worth it.

"Keep the baby warm," she spoke referring to the championship before leaving the locker room.

"Great game, baby!"

"Awe, G, you got me flowers." Aaliyah cooed as the young couple locked lips in a passionate kiss.

"It's the least I could do, ma." He smirked before wrapping his arm around her while they walked to the exit of the gym. Only to be stopped by a talent scout in a gray suit. They stood there talking for hours about her future in basketball.

"G, I'm telling you it feels like my dreams are finally becoming real." Aaliyah smiled as they got inside his ride where he sat at the wheel.

"Mine too." Ginuwine agreed while turning on the car radio to 90's r&b. He was in final training to become a firefighter which would make him the youngest in the department. They continued talking. "Look in there..."

"What?"

"Inside the glove department."

Aaliyah clicked open the glove department and her eyes latched onto the velvet jewelry box. "Awe, G, you shouldn't have especially since you already got me flowers."

"Open it."

"I-" she was so hesitant to do so, but she knew Ginuwine wouldn't allow her not to, so she slowly opened the box to a diamond bracelet. "This is... beautiful."

"Glad you like it cuz it's yours; and as long as you're my girl things like that are gon keep popping up. I know you not the type to want for nothing. But you're my girl Liyah and as long as you are. You gon have to get used to these types of gifts, now put it on." He told her.

"Okay..."

She slid the bracelet on her wrist then stared at him.

"They have a matching ring to it too; that I wanted to eventually get for you cuz I want this lil thing we got going to last forever. Believe it or not. But I really do mean it when I say ion want no other lover but you."

She never heard him speak like this before, sure, they've talked about their dreams every now and then but it never led into a conversation about marriage.

A wide smile crept on her face as she stared at the beautiful soul seated beside her. But something outside the window had now caught her full attention. "G, look ou-"

A vehicle came hurling towards theirs instantly smashing the driver door in and pushing their car into the others that were on the road that dark night.

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A/N: New story alert🚨🚨 I wanted to try something new so I wrote in the third person anyway don't forget to comment, vote, and share with your followers and friends.