Stay Down

8

"alright this is the second game of the season." coach spoke in the locker room. "this is not the time to fuck up, it's only the beginning, y'all boys play how y'all do in practice y'all be good."

he blew his whistle. "alright y'all get suited up."

sitting on the wooden bench, i opened my duffel bag to find a pink sticky note laid on my uniform.

i ripped it off reading it.

no one said life was easy
and that's  the thing
you gotta give it all you got
even if you think you're gonna
fail.
               ~k

"fuck you smiling for?" king sat next to me. i pushed the note down in my bag, i ain't want people in my business. things was going good with ha i ain't need nobody ruining it.

honor walked beside us into the now packed stadium. "how'd that thang go down?" he asked king who was hyping up the crowd.

he stopped, taking his seat. "man them pussy ass niggas wasn't bout shit-"

"aye nigga" i cut 'em off , "you ain't gotta curse so much."

"since when was cussin' a problem ?"

"since i said it was." i snapped making the people around me jump. running my fingers through my waves i let out a sigh. "neva mind nigga."

the reff blew his whistle as we walked in the middle of the court, looking up at the people my eyes locked with hers.

"who you smiling at ?" honor asked looking in the same direction.

"nobody man."

he stared at me, confused before taking his position on the court.

the reff threw the ball up making me jump and hit it to our side, the people cheered now that it was our ball.

i played hard, i didn't miss a move. blocking my opponent, stealing the ball, shooting backboard shots and threes.

my adrenaline was running.

"pass the ball to b!" josh yelled to honor who high jumped and i caught the ball, making my way down the court.

eye to eye with this big nigga i started shuffling my feet. right to left then left to right then left again then another right and another right, catching him off guard, i jumped up dunking over his head.

it seemed like everything moved in slow motion as my hand hit the ball and grabbed onto the rim, i only knew i wasn't alone when  everyone screamed as the ball went in.

i dropped myself to the floor, my teammates cheering around me.

"my nigga dunked on these wack ass niggas." king pushed the guy, dapping me up.

i ignored my team, making my way past the crowd. "aye man" the team was quite watching the interaction. the player turned towards me so did his teammates and coach.

"good game." i held my hand out and he looked at hesitant ,nonetheless, he shook it smiling.

a short girl with his jersey number on ran to him smiling.  "im proud of you babe." she turned toward me, "we gon get y'all next season."  she laughed, rubbing his back.