Love & Basketball [Book 1]

Chapter 8

Cymphonique POV

I go up in the classroom to have people all up in my face again, and ooh yeah that girl. She in the same class as I and all she did was shrug and roll her eyes then neck. As long as she don't say nothin' it won't be nothin'. She finna keep her distance from me or catch one from me. I'm dead ass wit' it too, so let her gon' ahead and bark up the wrong tree.

If she wants....Ion think she 'bout that lifestyle.

The teacher points me out and asks fo' me to come over to her inna front of the class. I stroll over there to the front and she asks me to introduce myself to the class. I just look at her and err'body in there and shake my head 'cause ion want to. Instead she just calls herself introducin' me anyway, but as August's cousin. Ion need her to do all that like the hell is up wit' her tho'.

"She's related to the August Alsina?!" Bahja laughs too hard. A lil' too damn hard tho'. Yeah, she's definitely gonna get that ass whooped before the school year ends.

"Miss Rodriguez, be quiet!"

"No, no let her talk." I said, lookin' dead at her.

"He's my cousin. At least that nigga is actual known. Ion who the hell you is at all, so choke on that one." Err'body in the room ooh's, leavin' the room now quiet.

"So to answer ya question sweetheart, I am related to him." I said.

"Anyway, my name is Cymphonique Miller. I'm seventeen years old and a basketball player. After this I plan on going into the Women's NBA to become a basketball player." I said and then left to go take my seat inna back.

"Well it's nice to meet you Miss Miller." The teacher said. "My name is Ms. Baxter."

I drag the desk back some then sit while I put my duffle bag down beside my desk. Some light skin girl turns my way wit' a smile on her face tryna get my attention. "Hey, I'm Zendaya Colemam but you can just call me Zendaya."

"Cymphonique," I just say to her and turn away.

"I like how you did that just now. I mean well minus the whole ghettoize attitude..." I cut her off.

"Ghettoize?! Look Zendaya, is it? I'm not tryna be like anybody in this place, so just because I'm not all bougie doesn't make me ghetto. This is my personality, and who I am, if you can't hang them tough titties." I said and she turns away.

"I apologize for the disrespect." Zendaya said.

"No harm done I guess." I said.

***

I get in the house when ain't nobody even home so I guess I can just chill. I go up to my room and change into some gray shorts, black tank top, and my J's. I grab my basketball and go out into the back and start workin' on my shots. The air out here feels hella good I swear on err'thang that it do, that's prolly why people love LA. I still don't see the big ole hype 'bout it tho' I honestly don't.

Or, I'm prolly too damn stubborn to notice. Too stuck on stayin' down to my roots then sellin' out. I kno' my cousin August won't ever do that; he just won't sell out.

I keep on shootin' 'till I get tired and take my break. I go in the house to see August comin' thru the door and sees me and asks how my day was. I tell him 'bout that girl called Bahja on how she finna catch one. August just tells me I needa stay calm, but if she jumps I better knock her down. And, trust and believe, I mostly will and be glad too.

I ask 'bout Nicki when he says that she's gon' on tour again and he was finna be livin' soon too. If he leaves then who's finna be here wit' me tho'? Never mind I ain't even gonna say nothin'.

"So when you suppose to be leavin'?" I ask August.

"Inna couple of weeks, by then Nicki should be back. If not, then A friend of ours is gonna take good care of you." August says, God damn it.

"August," I say his name softly. "I really fuckin' hate that school." I said.

"Watch your mouth Cym." August said, cross eyed.

"My fault, but y'know me August. I ain't like them other kids man. It's gonna be endless problems." I said.

"Cym, there ain't no way in hell that you finna get out of this. You gotta go to school, and besides don't let 'em et to you. You know you wanna play basketball , so focus on that." August said.

"Yeah, yeah, you right. We should play a lil' one on one shall we." I challenge him.

"Ard, lets go!" August said.