Tonight was the first game of the basketball season and practically every seat in the house was filled. Alumni were seen flaunting their university paraphernalia, families and friends alike were huddled together in excitement, and the gym was swarming with cameras and news outlets equipped to cover the eventful night. The energy was high and Samara was proof of that as she loudly cheered Zay on from her seat.
"Girl can you calm down," Mena teased, "you're cheering louder than the cheerleading team."
"Girl don't you know that she is Zay's cheerleading team," Natalie laughed.
"Don't be a hater," Samara said playfully. "Y'all know this my favorite team."
"Any team Zay is on is your favorite team," Zen said butting into the conversation.
Samara playfully rolled her eyes at Zen before giving her a hug. "Hey sis! What are you doing up here? Why aren't you with the dance team?"
"Girl, I'm the captain. I can sneak away for a second," she said hugging Samara back. "Plus we don't perform for another fifteen minutes." When Zen let Samara go she reached over to hug Natalie and Mena. "Hey ladies," she said excitedly. They matched her excitement when they hugged her back jovially.
"Sam," Zen said grabbing ahold of Samara's arm, "my parents are here. They wanted to see you real quick."
"Omg! Forreal," she said giddily, standing up from the bleachers. "Ar'ight. Let's go." She grabbed ahold of Zen's hand to keep her balance and stepped down from the bleachers. "Look out for Jules," she said over her shoulder to Mena and Nat. "He should be coming in any minute now." As Samara exited out of the stands with Zen she saw Jules walk in. "Hold on Zen. There's Jules. I gotta let him know where I'm sitting." She rushed over to him. "Hey," she smiled. "I'm glad I caught you."
"Hey wassup," he smiled back. "You leaving?"
"No. I'm gonna go say hi to Zay's parents real quick. Nat and Mena are sitting up there," she said pointing him in the direction of their seats. "I'll be back in five minutes tops," Samara said grabbing his hand.
"A'ight," he said nodding his head. "Go do ya thang. I see Zen waiting on you."
Samara smiled up at him. "Thanks. See you in a sec," she said before rushing off to catch up with Zen.
When Samara saw Zen and Zay's parents she greeted them warmly. "Hey ma," she said reaching out to hug Mrs. Imani.
"Hey daughter," she said grinning big and hugging her. "It's so good to see you. How ya been?"
"I've been okay,"Samara smiled. "It's so good to see y'all." She reached over and hugged their dad next, Mr. Zayne Adams. Zay was the spitting image of him. "Hey Mr. Zayne. How's business?" she beamed.
"Hey baby girl," he said in a strong voice. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her like she was his own. "Business is never better," he smiled.
"We've missed you," Imani cut in. "Girl, listen. Zay been wantin' ta come home to visit, but I told him he can't come home without you," she laughed.
On the other side of the gym, Jules watched from his seat as Samara laughed and talked with Zay's parent's with such ease. She seemed to fit right in with them as if she was a part of their family.
"So, Jules," Mena said sliding up to the edge of her seat, "You wouldn't happen to have any single friends would you?"
Jules looked back up at Mena and chuckled. "Dang Mena," Nat laughed, "The brotha just sat down. You don't have no shame."
"None," she laughed.
..
Nearing the end of the game, with 97 points on the board, Prescott was in the lead by thirty. The timer was quickly counting down with only twenty seconds left. The ball was in their court. At this point all they had to do was hold it. It was impossible for the other team to catch up to them. One of Zay's teammates tossed him the ball. The board now showed ten seconds. With the encouragement of his teammates and the reality that they had nothing to lose, Zay went for the three-pointer. When the timer buzzed notifying the end of the game, the scoreboard read, 100 to 67. Victorious cheers erupted from the stands as Zay, his teammates, and their coaches took a moment on the court to revel in their win together.
"Oh my goodness! That was such a good game," Samara gushed.
Jules nodded his head in agreement as they headed towards the exits. "Yeah it was. It was a blowout. Them boys startin' the season off right."
"Oh—hold that thought. There's Zay," Samara said looking in the direction of the locker room entrance. "Hold on real quick. I gotta go catch him before the reporters get to him, cuz once they do it's a wrap." As she made a beeline for the locker room, Samara signaled to Jules that she'd only be a few minutes with Zay. Jules stood off to the side once again and watched as she approached him.
"Zaytavious," she squealed as she threw her arms around him. "Congratulations!" Zay, unable to contain how happy he was to see her, picked her up and spun her around. "Thank you Mar," he said grinning into her neck. When he finally let her go he asked, "Did you see my parents?"
"Yeah! During the game Zen took me over to where they were sitting."
"Did they invite you out to dinner with us later?"
"Of course they did," Samara beamed.
"And?"
"Not sure if I can squeeze you in superstar. Sorry," Samara winced as she began to turn away. Zay smiled to himself and quickly grabbed ahold of her hand before she could go anywhere.
"Come. I won'tchu there. You know it won't be the same without you," he said with a faint southern lilt. Samara turned around with a gleam in her eye and a smile that said she was only kidding.
"Don't do me like that," he grinned as he slowly let go of her hand.
"Come on. You know I wouldn't miss it. Plus," she said leaning forward and lowering her voice, "if pops is paying we definitely eatin' good. He don't hold back on no expense."
"I'm sayiiin," Zay cheesed as he dapped her up.
"Isaiah Adams! Isaiah Adams! How do you feel about the win tonight?" Multiple reporters were starting to rush up to him as they had just finished interviewing a few of Zay's other teammates. Samara grimaced at the sight.
"And that's my cue," Samara chuckled. "Text me," she motioned as she turned to leave. Before the reporters completely bombarded Zay with questions about tonight's game, Samara managed to mouth the words "good luck" to Zay. He gave her one last look as she walked away.
..
After successfully dodging the chaos of the reporters, Samara had made her way back over to where she left Jules. When she got there, however, he was no where in sight. She headed outside and pulled out her phone to call him. As she turned the corner he called out to her. "Sam!" Samara turned around and saw Jules standing over by his car. She walked over to him.
"Hey. What happened to you? I came back and you were gone."
"It was starting to get a little hot in there. I had to step out for a minute."
"Oh yeah," she said in agreement with him. "I understand. There were so many people in there. It's always packed during the first game, but the crowd tonight was insane."
"Hey. Sam," Jules said interjecting, "I know you're still on a high from the big win and everything, but can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, what's up," Samara smiled.
"How long have you been in love with Zay?"
Samara tried to fight back a laugh. "Excuse me? What?" she grinned. "Zay's my—"
"—Best friend. I know."
"I'm not in love with him."
"I think you are," Jules grinned, "you just don't realize it yet. You might need to reexamine y'all friendship. I think it's way more between y'all than that."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah," he said nodding his head. "I know what we had going on, so there's no hard feelin's or nothin like that. It just is what it is."
"But Jules—"
"Look Sam," he said interjecting. "I 'on't know what changed between y'all in the last few months, maybe it's because you're really over Rico now, I 'ont know, but what I do know is that you definitely feelin' the homie now. Like, I suspected it before, but tonight confirmed it." Jules unlocked his car door.
"Wait. Jules. So that's it? We're done?"
"I think you already know the answer to that," he smiled. "Look. I see the way y'all look at each other. You deserve a shot at real happiness and if that's with Zay then go getcho man gur'," he said with a southern twang. Samara tried not to laugh, but she couldn't help it.
"You are somethin' else," Samara said shoving her hand in her coat pockets.
"Aye. I've been told that once or twice," he grinned.
"So...see you around?" Samara asked, a hint of hope in her voice.
"Of course," Jules said opening up his arms to her. Samara moved in closer and leaned into his tall frame. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a gentle squeeze. "Take care of yourself," Jules said as they slowly broke away from each other.
"You too," Samara smiled. She turned to leave.
"You may not realize it yet," Jules said from behind her, "but that man luh you gur'. I'm never wrong about these things," he grinned.
A smile formed on Samara's face. "Bye Jules," she said shaking her head.
"Sam!" he called out one final time. "Keep in touch after graduation. Imma text you my address for my wedding invitation. If you finna marry the next big basketball star I wanna front row seat," he teased.
Samara burst out laughing. "Oh my goodness! Go home Jules!"
"A'right. I'm gone," he cheesed. "I'll holla atchu."
..
As Samara made her way back to the gym, she ran into Zen.
"Sam," she questioned. "What are you still doing here? I thought you would've been back at your apartment getting ready."
"Sorry girl. I got caught up, but now that I'm here I can just ride back with Zay. No biggie."
"Nooo," Zen said pulling on her arm and redirecting her away from the front door. "He's still talking to a bunch of reporters and you need to go get dressed. You ain't going to dinner looking like this."
"Uh. Not to brag, but sis this is a fit! I look good," Samara smiled.
"And do! Okay! I'm not debating that sis. All I'm saying is, it's not appropriate dinner attire," she finished. "We're going to some schmancy restaurant that one of daddy's colleagues been raving about."
"Well in that case, do you wanna come help me pick out an outfit?"
"I'd love to, but I can't. I'm sort of pressed for time."
Samara frowned. "Are you sure I can't get you for five minutes?"
"Sis, I've seen your closet. It's impressive. You got this. Now go freshen up, put on something sexy, and bring your ass. You can ride with me and Malachi since I'm sure you'll be leaving with Zay. See you in an hour," she winked.
...
