Getting It Right (BOOK THREE)

Chapter 6

"Yo, I'm open!" Corey holds up his hands for Ty to pass him the ball. They've been playing basketball at the park for an hour now and his t-shirt is already clinging to his back from sweat. Ty passes him the ball and he fakes left before taking a few steps and shooting towards the basket. The ball goes in with a clean swish and Corey smirks.

"And y'all said I should stick with soccer." He says, slipping lifting his shirt to wipe his forehead. A few girls sitting on the park benches whistle and he gives a sheepish smile towards them.

Malcolm takes a break from drinking from his water bottle to nod towards the gates. "There goes Shaun." The other two boys turn to see Shaun stepping into the court. He's swinging a water bottle in his hand and give nods to familiar faces.

"Wassup everybody," he says giving dap to all his friends.

"Nice of you to show up." Ty remarks. "Where you been at man? Since when are you too busy to chill at the courts?"

Shaun looks across the courts and squints like he's studying something. "I was at the hospital."

"For what, you good man?" Corey asks him.

"Yeah yeah, I'm good. But I was there with...with Carson." He doesn't meet their eyes as he speaks but he knows they're giving him odd looks.

"Umm, Carson. As in big mouth thot Carson? What were you doing at the hospital with her?" Ty asks, then his face changes. "Please don't tell me you got her pregnant."

"Bro, what?" Shaun laughs. Hell nah, I haven't hit that since junior year."

"Good," Malcolm pushes his shoulder. "Now what were y'all doing at the hospital."

"We-" Shaun is cut off when he notices Khalil Newman standing on the other side of the court, leaning against the pole of the basketball net. He's talking with some other boys looking as cool and confident as ever. Shaun forces his water bottle into Malcolm's hand. "Hold this."

His friends don't get a chance to ask him what's going on before he storms across the pavement to Khalil and his group. He shoves two scrawny boys aside to stand in front of Khalil. Khalil looks at him curiously. "Wassup Shaun." He says, raising his fist for dap.

Shaun looks at his hand then back into his eyes with a dark blank expression. "You seem Carson lately?"

"Carson? Nah," Khalil says calmly as he awkwardly lowers his fist.

"Really? She mentioned something about hanging out with you yesterday." Shaun tries again. "But I saw her earlier and she was crying."

"Oh," Khalil nods his head like he's interested but clueless.

Shaun squints at him, "You have no idea why she might be upset?"

"N--" The word can't even leave his mouth before Shaun strikes him across the face. A soft cracking sound is heard and Khalil stumbles backwards, bumping into the pole as he clutches his face. His friends back up a little bit, looking wild eyed at Shaun.

Ty, Malcolm and Corey race over after watching the scene unfold. Corey grabs Shaun's shoulder, "What's going on?"

"Why'd you punch the homie?" Ty asks looking at Khalil who's hunched over, clutching his face.

Shaun doesn't respond, he pulls away from his friends and walks over to Khalil again. He towers over him and watches as Khalil wipes blood from his nose. Khalil looks up at him. "What the hell bruh?"

Shaun grabs Khalil's shirt and roughly yanks him up. "She told me what you did to her." He says lowly in his ear.

"Man I ain't did nothing to---"