Stay in Your Lane | Lonzo Ball

Chapter 63

Lonzo

When the final buzzer hit, the boys had picked a 15 point win and maintained their rightful spot at number one in the district rankings. With this being the last regular season game, they would be the #1 seed going into their section tournament.

Melo went for 25 pts, 5 assist and 8 rebounds. Gelo went crazy, going for 30 pts, 10 rebounds and 9 assist.

I walked out on the floor and waited for them and our cousin, Andre to come out. Izzy wasn't far, talking to the principal and some of her old teachers. A couple kids came up to me asking for autographs. I signed them and took pictures. When nobody was trying to grab my attention, I was on my phone scrolling through Instagram. Izzy had posted a selfie of her, Kyah and Haile sitting in the bleachers looking gorgeous as always.

Double tap

issa_iz4: when the squad link up! @queenkyah7 @itshaile_12

The sudden clicking of heels and a chirping bird like chatter caused me to look up from the comment I was typing to see Brittany, Daina, Kaliah and Maddie headed towards my direction.

I saw them come in earlier but literally ignored them the entire time knowing they had intentionally sat behind me. It's safe to say that I'm not in the mood for no drama that her crew is known for bringing.

"Zo! Hey!!!" Kaliah said loudly, picking up the pace of her steps to lean in for a hug.

"What's up? How you doin?"

"I'm good. You?"

"Chillin, man. Not too much going on."

"Hey Zo!" Maddie had followed Kaliah into coming in for a hug.

Kaliah was one of Melo's friends from school originally who eventually got cool with Daina from coming over the house and stuff when we were still together. Maddie was a bad chick that Daina had met from round the way who was obsessed with becoming an Instagram model. She was definitely influencing Daina to do the same.

Brittany didn't even look in my direction. I'm guessing she's still mad about earlier. Oh well, it was funny as shit and she deserved it.

"Hey Daina," I said, trying to be the bigger person and get it out the way.

"Oh," she batted her eyes, putting her hand over her heart, "look at you speaking in the presence of your new buddy."

"Aight man. Here you go with that extra shit," I shook my head, "never mind."

My brothers and Andre came out the locker room a couple minutes later. Perfect timing.

I spoke, dapped them up and talked with briefly about the game. As the oldest, I felt it was my duty to shoot it straight and make them better. My brothers were both committed to UCLA upon their respective graduations and they needed to start getting in the college mindset. With me getting this year in Coach Alford's system, it's only right that I started preparing them for what's to come.

Izzy was still talking and surrounded by different people once I started heading out. I sent her a text letting her know I was headed home and would be by to scoop her in a couple hours.

When I walked in the door, the aroma of my mom's cooking instantly hit me. She had elected to stay home from the game tonight to cook the Ball Brothers favorite post game meal. Chicken Alfredo, garlic bread and a glass of lemonade.

"Hi honey," she greeted me, coming into the kitchen from the living room, "how was the game?"

"We won of course. Gelo, Andre and Melo had a good all around game," I said, rubbing my hands together, "you got it smelling good in here."

She went up to the stove, uncovered the pot and stirred, "I took some of that chicken I grilled earlier and made y'all some Alfredo. Figured I'd give you a couple good meals while you're home."

"I definitely appreciate it."

"Are you in for the night?"

"No ma'am. I'm gonna go over to Irvine and see Austen. He's having a little get together."

"You aren't going by yourself are you?"

"I'm gonna take Izzy with me," I said, "and a couple of her teammates."

She smiled, "I really like her Zo. She seems like such a good girl. Don't mess it up."

"She is mom and I won't," I smiled back, "I promise."

"How serious are you guys?"

"Mom-"

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it," she said, "I know how you boys get with those topics."

"Na, it's cool. Um, I really like her, like a lot. I definitely want to ask her to be my girlfriend but I don't want it to seem too soon like I'm rushing or anything."

"Ahhh your father and I were the same way. He wanted to be my boyfriend as soon as I met him," she laughed, "I had to feel it out for a couple of months before I said yes. Your grandparents had to warm up to him. You know how your father can be a little 'much' at times. Speaking of him, did you see him at the game? How was he behaving? "

"Yes ma'am. I didn't get to holla at him cause he was on the other side of the gym. Still trying to tell the coach what to do, but not as loud this time."

"Hasn't changed a bit since the day I met him," she shook her head, "well in regards to you and Izzy, you know you have goals that your father wants you to focus on first but I feel like if anything she'll help keep you focused and in-line. You both have similar goals."

"Oh yeah. She wants to play at a high level in the WNBA and mom, she's one of the best players male or female that I've seen play the game. I can only imagine what she's gonna do in the league."

"Oh yeah, she was a go getter when she was playing here. It was rare that a newspaper would come to the door without her picture on it," she said, "but I'm happy to see her going after what she wants. Life's short, son. If you want something, go after it. You two compliment each other well from what I see. Achieving your goals and being successful in all aspects of life is that much easier with great people in your corner," she explained, "I know of her family and if she's anything like her mother, she's going to be a great woman."

You won't hear my mom speak so open and highly about just anybody. That definitely wasn't the case with Daina. I feel like she just tolerated her. She genuinely likes Izzy.