Distrust//Kyle Kuzma

T H I R T Y N I N E

*November 11*

Alivia's POV

"I don't like this," Mili told me as she drove to UCLA.

"You don't have to like it. Coach just has to believe it." I told her making her roll her eyes.

"Alivia you can miss a game because you don't feel good," Mili told me making me look at her like she was crazy.

"Yes, because the starting point guard that is going to the league next year missed her game because she had a headache sounds great." I shot back angrily.

"Alivia this is the same headache you've had since you went to Flint. You're not ok and need to go to the doctor Alivia." Mili lectured me as she parked her car.

"Mili, I'm fine. Can we please drop it and go get this dub?" I asked as I grabbed my basketball bag.

"Yes, if you don't feel good during the game you better get a sub." She warned making me roll my eyes.

"Yes, mother," I replied making fun of her.

We grabbed our stuff and walked into the Pauley Pavillion. Reporters asked us questions as we walked through the locker room but we just kept walking. We walked into the locker room, where our teammates had music playing. Mili and I talked to people as we walked to our lockers. I smiled as my white jersey and shorts were hung up in my locker. I stood in my locker and changed into my uniform. I fixed my sports bra and hair before I started putting on my sleeves. I was pulling on my knee sleeve when another wave of pain hit me. I groaned as my head pounded and I took more Excedrin. Ever since that night if Flint these headaches started getting worse and more frequent.

"You ok Rooney?" Coach Cori asked as she down on the bench by my locker.

"Yeah, just a headache," I told her as I put my Excedrin up.

"And you're taking Excedrin for it?" She asked giving me a look.

"It works faster," I told her as I pulled on my shooter's sleeve.

"Rooney, if something is wrong you need to tell me." She told me as she leaned closer to me.

"I'm fine. Thanks, Coach." I told her making her sigh and walk away.

I finished putting my sleeves on before I put my shoes on. I slipped on my long sleeve before Coach called us to go warm up. Mili and I jogged out to the court beside each other. Balls were passed to us as we ran onto the court. The girls and I started our warm up. I groaned as I came down from a layup. I was passed another ball and shot a perfect three. I was about to shoot another three when I spotted my best friend in one of my courtside seats. He smiled at me before I went back to warming up. After warmups, Coach called us up to the bench. We did our chant before the starting lineups were called.

"Standing at 6'1, Bruins please welcome your starting point guard, number 5, Alivia Rooney." I smiled as I jogged through the tunnel of cheerleaders.

I high fived the refs and the opposing players before I met the girls at halfcourt. We cheered before Ally stood up to take the tip-off. I stood back and waited for the whistle. The whistle blew and Ally hit the ball back to Mili. Mili passed me the ball and I dribbled up to where the opposing defense was set up.

***

I dribbled down the court as I watched the game clock count down. I passed Japreece the ball before she passed it back and I shot a three on the buzzer. The crowd went crazy as I watched the ball fall through the rim. The girls and I smiled as we ran back to the locker room for half time. The girls and I smiled as we sat in our lockers.