Paths(discontinued till further notice)

16

...here I go, I'm gonna try and make this not so emotional, because I'm not in the mood to cry right now

Aj (btw Ik the date is off, I just wanted to get this chapter out, but it's currently 2019 in this chapter and Kobe passed in 2020... but just ignore it
I woke up to my phone pinging uncontrollably, I reached over and grabbed it. I figured it was just the guys trying to see where I was. It was a Friday and coach gave us passes to come in late so we wouldn't be tired for the game today.

Basketball legend Kobe Bryant has sadly passed away along with his daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash. 9 people we on board.

It was all over my feed, I even checked google to see if it was true. Once I proved wrong that it wasn't a hoax I broke down.

Why? I just talked to him a week ago. He said he was gonna take us to Australia to condition for basketball after school ended. Why Australia? I don't know that man was crazy.

I wiped majority of my tears and grabbed my Champion sweats and a Kobe hoodie that he gave me the day he retired. I grabbed my duffel bag and I took out my shoes and replaced them with my white and black Kobe ADs and I placed a Kobe shirt that said black mamba in my bag too so I could wear it under my jersey.

I went to my vanity and slipped my Kobe wristband and slipped on my slides on the way out.

I walked out with my hoodie and beats on, today was not gonna be my day.

Chris

I sat in 2 period with the crew, this was the one class we all had together.

"Any of y'all heard from Aj?" I asked. "Naw man, I texted her she didn't reply." Ty said. "I've called her 12 times no answer." I said.

"You know coach give them those passes to come in late, she prolly just getting up." Trey told us. "Naw man she would have contacted us by now, but you know Kobe passed this morning and we all cried, so I can't imagine what Aj's doin right now. She actually knew him." Ty said.

"Chris didn't you know him?" Trey asked me.
I shook my head. "Yeah, I went to the Lakers summer camp when I was younger and I took a couple photos with him and talked to him a few times." I replied.

The door opened and we turned our heads to meet Aj walking through the door, she had on a Kobe hoodie and sweatpants. She took her pass to the teacher and she dropped her duffel bag on the floor by her seat and sat down. She rested her head on the table and we heard faint sniffles come from her.

I grabbed her and hugged her tightly. "I know, I know. It's gonna be okay, I promise. You gotta be strong for him. Don't cry please." I said.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled. "Don't be, there's nothing to be sorry about. You're not the only who's crying and you won't be the last." Ty said handing her his water so she could calm down.

I didn't want her to cry, if she was crying she was gonna make me cry and I already cried when I found out. Crying doesn't make you man, at least that's what I think.

She lifted off of me. "I'm fine Chris." She said taking a sip of Tys water. "You sure? Come on let's go sit in the car for a bit."

"I'm good." She assured me. I shook my head and hugged her again. "If you wanna talk you know I'm always here right?" I asked. She rubbed my cheek and gazed into my eyes.

"I know." She kissed me. I love this girl.

Aj

This whole day has been a drag for every athlete and student here. At least half of the girls on the basketball team have came up to me with there phones all in my face telling me the news that I already knew.