A/N: RIP John Witherspoon. Very sad, I've been watching Granddad videos all over youtube ever since his death. Rest easy gramps, you are a legend.

Sorry for being gone so long, here's my apology.

*Riley's P.O.V*

Saturday. The big day.

I woke up to the sun beaming on my face through the blinds. I tried going back to sleep but that sun was bright and I was automatically wide awake. I wanted to sleep until noon, but then I remembered that I got to practice.

Today is the community game.

Part of me regretted even accepting the offer to play, but this also gives me a chance to show off and ball out. This wasn't no regular high school game where everyone already knows me so they know what I'm all about, this was a pick-up game at a community college so there was alot on the line. New people seeing me play, and a chance for me to get in the college with a scholarship.

I can't fuck up but I definitely gotta cook niggas.

I already got the confirmation that Cindy, D'Angelo and Tamara were coming, but I haven't told anyone else and I got to tell them soon, since the game is at 5 later on.

I got up and saw Huey in his bed, texting someone. I remembered our conversation from last night, and even though that shit was gay, it was a good ass moment since he is my bro. I wanted to know what happened when he got to Jazmine's crib.

"Yo."

"You got a basketball game today?" He asked.

I raised my eyebrow. How did he know about that?

"Yeah, I was going to tell you but I forgot. How did you find out?"

"Jazmine said it out loud when she was talking to Cindy." He said.

I shook my head. I shoulda known it was some shit involving Jazmine and Cindy. But that also means Jazmine is most likely going since Cindy already told her, freeing me from asking her myself.

"You coming or nah?"

"Yeah, and even if I didn't I was going to get dragged there anyway."

Knowing he was talking about Jazmine, I asked the question. "So, what went down when you went there last night?"

"Jazmine and I are dating."

I stopped whatever I was doing, which was nothing, and looked at him. "You deadass?"

He nodded. "We talked and I eventually kissed her and she kissed me back. Then we cuddled and that's about it."

"I can't believe it. You finally grew some balls." I snickered. "Why did you make the first move though? You shoulda let her kiss you first."

"Shut up, it all worked out didn't it?"

"I guess. Congrats though nigga, what's the next move?"

He raised his eyebrow. "Next move?"

"Yeah, next move. Are you taking her out on a date?"

"I don't know yet, we're going with the flow, we just started dating and we're doing fine I don't want to ruin it."

I shook my head. "You need to take her out. Go to a fancy restaurant."

He scoffed. "I'm not taking your dating advice again, not after when you stole that tuxedo and tried to pawn that thing on me."

"But that was when you didn't have her. Now that you have her, the tuxedo is perfect. I still have it in the closet."

"Why can't I just wear regular clothes?"

I gave him a dull look, not believing he just asked me that.

"Because Jazmine is not a regular girl. She not a girl you gotta wear regular clothes for, especially in a date. You gotta be fancy and shit, bitches love that."

"Tell you what. When the time comes for me to take Jazmine out, then I will. To a fancy restaurant, not a basic fast food place that I always take her too."

"Fine, and will you wear the tux?"

He shook his head instantly.

"Then you have fun paying a grand for a different one."

His face went flat. "Fine, I'll wear your stolen tux, but only once."

"Nope, you gonna have to keep that and wear it to every event. Or you can return it and get arrested for theft." I snickered and opened the door to go to the bathroom.

"Please. I'm not a dumbass like you." I heard him say after I left.

It was noon and I got a ride from Cindy to go to the local gym to practice. She agreed to help me practice before the game.

"You nervous?"

"Nervous? Reezy don't get nervous."

"So I won't see you sweating before you get there?"

"Well I'm gonna be sweating because you gonna one v one me right now. Duh." I rolled my eyes playfully.

She rolled her eyes too. "We aint play against each other in a long time. So I expect you not to be ass."

"Girl, don't do that. You know how I play."

We got to the gym and it was a big gym that had a basketball court one one side of the building, with 4 hoops. The gym was packed but the court wasn't, as there were only 4 people doing their own thing on the other hoops. Cindy and I took a hoop and I had brought my own ball so we were getting ready.

Both of us warmed up by stretching and shooting some hoops before we began. Both of us were wearing the same type of clothes, as I was wearing a plain white shirt, black basketball shorts and black roshe sneakers. She was wearing a pink plain shirt, black shorts and white roshe's.

We decided that Cindy would be the one to take the ball first and I was going to defend.

"We going to 10. 3's count as 2's, and 2's count as 1's." She said and I agreed.

I checked the ball to her and she began dribbling. She quickly moved to my right to get to the rim, but I stayed with her all the way. She shoot the ball and she missed, and I got the rebound.

I ran back to the three point line to clear it and I began dribbling. She started stumbling a little and I found that as my opening to get by her. She recovered and managed to keep up with me, but when I saw this I stepped back and shot the ball and it went it.

1-0.

"Good shit." She said, getting the ball and checking it to me.

This time, as soon as I got the ball, I shot a 3 and it went in.

3-0.

Cindy got the ball and checked it to me again. This time, I drove to the right and tried to go to the rim but Cindy stripped the ball from me. She got it and went to shoot a 3, and it went in.

3-2.

"Not bad." I said, grinning. Cindy smiled and I checked the ball.

The moment she got the ball, she tried shooting another 3 but I contested it and she missed. I got the rebound and brought it back to the three point line. I tried repeating my actions of me driving it to the paint, but Cindy contested my layup good and I missed.

She then got the rebound and started dribbling to get me to stumble, but I was not moving. She tried another tactic by faking a jumpshot, which I almost bit on, but that little jump gave her room to go past me and she made a layup.

3-3.

I nodded as I was impressed of what she did. I checked the ball to her and she tried the fake again, but I definitely wasn't biting and stood my ground. She tried to dribbling to get around me but I prevented her from doing it, bringing her back to the 3.

Having no other option, she decided to shoot a 3. It missed and I grabbed the rebound. I brought it to the three point line and shot the ball. I heard it swish as it went in.

5-3.

"You got way better at shooting. I remember back then you was ass at shooting." Cindy said, grabbing the ball.

"I just didn't practice and take shit serious back then." I said, shrugging.

"Aw, so you taking it serious because i'm playing you?"

"Yeah, you the only one that can beat me so."

After I said that, I swear I saw a blush pop up on her cheeks but it went away. She checked the ball to me and since I was already feeling it, I shot another 3 and it went in.

7-3.

I could tell Cindy knew she was about to lose so she started putting her intense game face on.

She checked me the ball and immediately started defending me close. I created space by doing a jab step which made her move back a little. But with the room she gave me, I began making my drive to the rim with her defending me on my way there.

I went up for the layup and she jumped at the same time I jumped, but I somehow still made the layup over her.

8-3.

"You know that basketball was feeling you so it let you get that bullshit layup." She said playfully.

"Nah, it's just all skill."

"Okay, don't let that head get bigger now." She said, checking me the ball.

I quickly realized that was my biggest issue. Cockiness. Because as soon as Cindy checked the ball, I shot the 3 to win the game, but it missed.

Cindy got the ball and ran it to the 3 and shot it before I even had time to get there, making it.

8-5.

I hope me being cocky doesn't fuck me over.

All of a sudden I heard a swish, and it was on the hop Cindy and I were playing on, and she didn't have the ball.

8-7.

I grabbed the ball and checked it to Cindy. Now the pressure was on as I was about to be on the losing end.

Cindy started dribbling and in a quick instant, stepped back and shot another 3. It went in.

8-9.

Oh shit. I'm about to lose to Cindy. We've been down this road before where it's game point and Cindy usually ends up scoring, pissing me off. However, times are different now and even though I wouldn't get mad anymore, I still wouldn't wanna lose.

I checked the ball to Cindy and she tried faking me out to shoot a 3, but I wasn't falling for it. She tried to drive past me but I stood my ground. She attempted a layup but I blocked it.

I got the rebound and ran back to the 3 point line. I was pondering on what should I do? Cindy can definitely play defense so I was thinking about either shooting a 3 or going up for a layup to tie the game.

But that would've took mad time, so I might aswell try to end it here.

With Cindy staring me down waiting for my next move, I caught her off guard when I rose up, shooting a 3.

Staring at the ball going towards the hoop, I was hoping it went in.

We both stood frozen as the ball spun around the rim a few seconds before finally going in.

10-9.

Both of us fell to the floor panting.

"You know you got lucky with that. If it didn't spin, I would've won." Cindy said on the floor., in between breaths.

"It ain't luck when you a baller." I said, in between breaths.

"Whatever. You ready to show out later?" She asked me. She sat up once we both recovered but I still laid on the ground.

"Yeah, also this could be good for both of us."

Cindy looked confused. "Both of us? What you mean?"

"Remember Rich, that dude that scouted the game out?" She nodded. "He told me he wanted to see if I was lying or not when I said I could ball. So it's a chance to impress niggas and get some future scholarships. And since I pointed you out to him, if I do good, he might try to get you scholarships instantly."

Cindy looked amused at the thought of getting scholarships. "Sound good to me. That means you gotta ball out. None of that shit you pulled when we first met."

I remember the moment she talking about. That game when I talked so much shit about her mom. That was also the game where some autistic kid made me look autistic. That's one of the main reasons why I wanted to play ball again. I never wanted some shit like that to happen again.

"I'm not gonna fold no more."

"Better not." Cindy said, playfully smirking at me and I smirked back. She stood up and helped me up. "Come on, let's get food and bring you back home to get ready."

I nodded and we left the gym.

After Cindy and I went to McDonald's to get some food, she drove us back to my house so I can shower. Since Cindy didn't want to drive all the way to her house, she asked me if she could take a shower in my house. She already had her bag with extra clothes that she brings everywhere, and she surprisingly had a towel. I didn't find any issue with it so I said she could.

We got in the house and it was empty.

"Boy!"

Never mind.

Granddad came down the stairs, wearing one of my old Ball-A-Holics Jersey when I was on Tom's team.

Wait, why was he wearing that?

"Why didn't you tell me you had a game today?" He asked me. He then noticed Cindy. "Oh, hello Cutie-Pie."

"Hello, Mr. Freeman." Cindy smiled and waved.

"I was going to, but I forgot." The same excuse I used on Huey. "Did Huey tell you?"

"Yeah. Lucky he did, I wouldn't miss you having a chance on getting a scholarship." Granddad said, surprising me. I thought Granddad wouldn't care.

Well, he did say he's raising his faith in me, so I shouldn't be too surprised.

"You going to the game?" Granddad asked Cindy.

Cindy nodded. "Of course. I know Jazmine's going but I don't know about Huey."

"Yeah he's going. He told me this morning." I told them.

"Great. Then you can carpool with Cindy and he can carpool with Jazmine. I'll carpool on my own. All that gas for 5 people?" Granddad said.

I rolled my eyes. The nigga never fails to be Granddad.

Granddad went to the living room and I brought Cindy to my room. We noticed Huey wasn't in here, which means he wasn't in the house most likely, since the bathroom door was wide open and we didn't hear anything.

"Huey went out?" She asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders. He probably went to go see Jazmine. I wondered if Cindy knew if they got together or not, but I chose not to reveal it. I was going to wait for them to either come home together or meet us there at the college.

I told Cindy I was going to hop in the shower and she could go in after me. She nodded and turned the TV on.

I came out the shower 15 minutes later and went to the room with a towel wrapped around my waist. Cindy then took her towel and went to the shower. Since I was going to play basketball, I didn't want to wear anything extra so I just wore my black adidas sweatpants, a grey wife-beater, and my black shell toes. I brought a white plain shirt to put on before and after the game.

After about 30 minutes, she came out fully clothed, wearing a black crop top, light blue ripped mom jeans with black combat boots. She had her blonde hair in a ponytail with her edges laid down.

She looked cute as fuck.

"Staring too hard." Cindy said, knocking me out of my frozen state.

"Shut up, you look fine that's all."

Cindy blushed a little. She looked at my fit. "Thanks. You wearing that?"

"What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing, but you don't wanna wear something to impress? Maybe a tuxedo?"

I sucked my teeth. "Girl don't trip."

We both heard the front door open and close. We heard footsteps coming up and then eventually the door opened, revealing Huey and Jazmine.

"Hi guys!" Jazmine said, hugging Cindy tightly. Cindy returned the hug.

"Where were y'all?" Huey asked me.

"We went to practice, where were y'all?" I asked back.

"We went to get food."

"You use the tuxedo?"

"Do you see me in a tuxedo?" Huey asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

Jazmine giggled at us and it was at that moment I noticed something.

They were holding hands.

Huey seemed to catch on to my observation, however Cindy didn't. So I figure I would help them spill the beans.

"Why are you guys holding hands again?"

Cindy took notice after I said that and her eyes became wide in realization. "You guys are finally dating? And when were you going to spill the beans?" She said, directed at Jazmine.

"I'm sorry, I was going to tell you but I was shocked myself and I guess I didn't know how to tell anybody because I didn't want to ramble on and on about how Huey asked me out and how it was the sweetest thing ever, but you're my bestfriend and I should've told you and I'm so sorr-"

"Jazmine, relax. I'm not mad at all. I'm actually very proud, McHater grew some balls." Cindy said, chuckling.

Huey looked like he was going to make a slick comment, but Jazmine pinched him and he held back his words.

"Anyways, Riley isn't your game in an hour? Shouldn't you be heading there now to see what's going on before the place fills up?" Jazmine suggested.

"Shit, you got a point."

Everyone rolled their eyes.

As expected, Huey rode with Jazmine and said specifically that I'm not allowed to come in her car, so i'm assuming that their making out hard or probably fucking.

Sike, that nigga still gay regardless if he with Jazzy or not.

Anyways I ended up driving with Cindy and we got to the place before Huey and Jazmine, since Cindy is a speed demon.

When we got to the place, there were signs directing towards the parking lot and we ended up going. The college parking lot had it's outside basketball court next to it with bleachers for people to sit on. As I stared ahead to the court, I already seen people shooting and playing around. The bleachers were also filing up quick with people.

A few seconds later, Huey and Jazmine appeared behind us. Granddad was nowhere in sight, so I supposed he was going to come after the game or something. D'lo and Tamara texted me saying that they were on their way.

"Wow, that's a big court." Jazmine said.

"What took you guys so long?" Cindy asked.

"Mind your own business. We got here a minute less than you did." Huey asked.

"Is that a lipstick mark I see on your check?" I pointed out and Huey tried rubbing the mark off but it wasn't working. Jazmine giggled while Cindy and I started laughing loudly.

After we were done laughing, we walked towards the court, where more and more people were going. By the time we got to the gate, the security guard closed the gate, not letting us in.

"Hey, I got a game here." I said.

"Sure you do. No spectators, bleachers are full." The guard said. He was taller than all of us and was African American. He was wearing a green security guard jacket, with black jeans and black boots, also wearing a black cap.

"Nigga, i'm not a spectator. I have a game here."

"Sir, if you would like to watch the game, you can simply watch it from the lot. Otherwise, I can't let you in."

"Nigga are you deaf? He has a game here you fucking dumbass. He's playing on one of the teams."

"Right. Like i'm going to be fooled."

"Yo, nigga I'm going to miss the fucking game if you don't-"

"Chris, let him in. He's scheduled to play today." A voice called out.

We saw Rich running towards us and he opened the gate, allowing us in. As we walked in, I sent a middle finger to the guard who just laughed.

"I'm so glad you came, Riley. I was almost starting to think you wasn't going to show up."

"And miss out on balling out? Never."

"Well the game is about to start. Go shoot some hoops and meet the other players. You three can sit on the bleachers. I left open a a spot just for Riley's party." He pointed to the front of the bleachers, where you could see everything clear.

I took off my white shirt and gave it to Cindy, leaving me with a grey wife-beater on. As Huey, Jaz and Cindy went to the bleachers, I went onto the court, where I seen 9 other dudes there.

As I picked up the ball, some dude came up to me.

"Yo, you on my team?"

He was a little taller than me, since I've grown to 5'9, and he was standing at 5'11. He was dark-skin with his hair in dreads. He had on a black plain shirt with black basketball shorts and some Kobe sneakers on.

"I guess? I wasn't told anything."

"Well, I'm the captain and i'm taking you. If you on my team, we winning, no exception. So if you can't ball, tell me right now so I can kick yo ass out."

Now I didn't know anyone here and I didn't want to set a bad name for myself, but who the fuck was this nigga?

"Nigga I can ball and I don't give a fuck what team I'm on, I'm showing niggas wassup and that's it."

"Nah, we playing as a team. I got scouts here and I'm trying to show them how much of a team player I can be. So no hero ball. No iso's, just passing. I'm gonna have the ball majority of the time, so let me do my magic and just get open, i'll pass it to you last second."

I raised my eyebrow. "Nigga, I don't play catch and shoot. Fuck yo scouts, we playing to win and you not ball-hogging shit. If I see a shot I'm taking it. If I see a pass, I'm making it. Don't like that? Then i'm on the other team."

"Then so be it. If you lose, don't come crying nigga." He was about to call someone from the other team, but someone else from the side of the court I was on came.

"Aye, chill. What's the issue?"

"This unknown ass nigga trying to call the shots." He said, directed towards me.

"This nigga came up to me and told me how we playing and I said that shit stupid. Why the fuck would I sit there and watch a nigga ball-hog and pass out last second? Yo scouts won't like that shit." I retaliated.

"Chill out both of you. Why you always gotta do this shit, Leonard? Let's just play the game and win, everyone getting the ball equally."

The dude who was calling the shots, who name apparently was Leonard, looked at me, scoffed and walked away.

"Don't worry about him, he think he big shit because he led his team to the championship. What's ya name?"

"My name Riley but everyone calls me Reezy."

"Bet. My name is Jerome. Clearly you ain't no scrub if you here, so I'm gonna feed you the ball because that nigga Leonard do too much and fucks up the offense. Imma let all the other dudes know to don't be selfish."

I liked the sound of that and dapped him up. I shot a few more shots and as I was doing so, two other dudes from my team introduced themselves. Both of them were at least 6'10, so I just assumed they were going to get rebounds and stay in the paint.

After all the introductions, we were all throwing shots up and warming up before the game started.

"Play great out there, Riley. Don't make me regret giving you an opportunity."

"You won't regret it, man."

The rules of the game were simple. Since there were 10 people, it had to be a full court game. We would only play two quarters that lasted 10 minutes each. Regular fouls would be called, and that's about it.

I went back to the court and waited for tip-ball. When the ref through the ball, one of my teammates got the ball and passed it to Leonard. Me and Jerome were running around screens set by two of the big niggas on our team, and I was the first one to get open. I opened my hands, expecting the ball to come towards me.

But as I looked to where the ball was, Leonard was trying to iso the dude that was defending him, and he wasn't getting by him. He literally dribbled the clock out until it got to 2 seconds, then passed it to me last second, forcing me to shoot the ball, missing.

I looked at Jerome, who had the same pissed off look as I did.

We ran down back on defense and we ended up not getting back there in time to stop the fastbreak layup.

After they scored, one of the dudes inbounded the ball to me and I walked up the court. One of the tall dudes set me a screen and I ran around it, and saw Jerome open and passed it to him. His defender quickly closed out on him, but Jerome slipped by him to go to the paint, but saw Leonard open and passed it to him.

However, still being wide open and no one running to him, he stood there without shooting it.

"SHOOT THE FUCKING BALL! THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?" I yelled out.

It was then his defender came back to him and Leonard backed up, beginning to dribble. Again, failing to get past his man, he took a horrible contested three that airballed.

"YO, YOU ARE TRASH! STOP DRIBBLING AND PLAY TEAM BALL!" Cindy shouted out, and much of the crowd agreed, booing him.

This trend continued throughout the entire quarter. When the quarter ended, we were down 27-11.

When we got to the team huddle, we were all pissed. Not because we were down, but because of Leonard being selfish as hell.

When he got to the huddle, I was the first one to get in his face. "Yo, the fuck is wrong with you nigga? We said no selfish ball and you playing fucking selfish."

"These be shots I stay hitting regularly, I just need to get my rhythm."

"What rhythm? Nigga you didn't hit shit that entire fucking quarter. It's deadass only us putting those 11 points up because you ball hogging like shit." I said, clearly pissed off.

"Whatever, like I said I'm the captain and I get the ball at all times. Now let me go change my shoes." He said and left the huddle.

When he left, the four of us got together and changed the gameplan.

"Yo, we not giving him the ball at all. The ball only gonna be spread for only us. If one of y'all drive to the paint, and he's wide open, don't even pass to him. Find one of us and we'll finish it." One of the big dudes said.

"Yeah, have Riley run point too. He know what he doing. I'll find ways to get open for a shot and we can trade off bringing the ball up." Jerome said. I nodded.

"Let's try feeding the post too, get some of y'all to do damage down there." I suggested. Everyone nodded and we agreed, never letting Leonard touch the ball as long as we're on the court.

We saw the other team going to talk to their friends and families, so we took a page out their book and did the same.

I went up to Huey, Jaz and Cindy. To my surprise, Granddad was there also, with Ebony Brown. I also seen D'Lo and Tamara there as well.

I raised my eyebrow and looked at all four of them.. "How did you guys get in?"

"The gatekeeper is a old friend of mine back when we were in Malaysia, so he let us in."Ebony said.

"The gatekeeper is my dad, so, yeah. He told me how you was giving him lip." Tamara smirked. I shook my head. Of course.

"Boy, you doing good but that one nigga stinks." Granddad said.

"Yo, what's that nigga name that been ball-hogging? I feel like kicking his ass." Cindy said, clearly upset.

"Yeah! He wasn't playing fair and was missing everything!" Jazmine said.

"Don't worry about that nigga, he ain't touching the ball. We making a comeback." I said.

"Good, show them what Reezy all about." Cindy said and I smirked, dapping her up.

I looked at Huey. "Any words of encouragement?"

Huey pondered a second before speaking. "Don't play like trash."

I shook my head and went back to the court, since the last quarter was about to begin.

I said we were coming back, weren't we?

After implementing the new game plan, we were only down by six with two minutes left in the game. The score was 43-37.

Leonard literally has not touched the ball this entire quarter, it was only me, Jerome, and the two other big guys that were running the show, and coming back. We scored 26 points, with 12 of those points coming from me, 10 coming from Jerome, and 2 points each from the centers, but their job mainly was getting rebounds, so they weren't looking to score.

I was coming up the court and waited for one of the centers to set me a screen. After running around the screen, I managed to lose my defender and ran to the paint. With my vision, I saw Jerome open at the 3, but also saw the center, who was bigger than anyone else, running to the hoop with me.

I passed the center the ball, who then dunked it. We were only down by 4.

The crowd was going crazy as the game was very entertaining again.

We went back on defense, and stopped whatever plan they had to put up a shot. But at the last second, Leonard's man was wide open and he shot the 3, making it. I wondered why he was wide-open, but then I realized why he was.

Leonard wasn't even trying to defend him.

We got the ball back and I ran up the court before they had a chance to get back on us, and I found Jerome wide open again for 3. He shot it and made it, putting the lead back to 4.

Running back to defense, one of the centers got a steal and since I was at the half court, he threw me the ball and I ran quickly to the hoop, dunking it.

"YEAH, RILEY!"

"LET'S GO, BOY!"

"YAY! GO RILEY!"

"THAT'S MY BOY REEZY!"

Those were the chants from everybody except Huey. The crowd was cheering too. I looked over to Rich, who was definitely impressed.

Back on defense, the other team ended up getting a good shot after Jerome got screened, and they shot a mid-range, but missed and my center got the rebound.

We ran up the court and Leonard came up to me, asking the ball. I walked away from him and passed the ball to one of my centers down in the post. A few seconds later, he was double teamed and passed it out to me, but Leonard came out of nowhere and took the ball from mid-air.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting my stats up. You niggas ain't let me touch the ball all fucking quarter, now it's my turn."

"Nigga, give up the ball. You ain't do shit all game."

"I ain't giving shit up. I'm the captain nigga, I call the shots." I'm about to do shit right now." He said, and started dribbling. Once again, he didn't get past his man and lost the ball.

"You fucking suck." I said, and started dribbling on my man and got past him and went to the rim for the layup, making it in. The game was tied.

Leonard glared at me and got back on defense. However, his man pulled a page out of his book and started dribbling on him and got past him, pump faked, which Leonard fell for, and hit a mid-range in his face.

"Give me the ball." Leonard demanded the center who was in-bounding.

The center looked at him up and down, and passed the ball to me instead. Leonard was so pissed he walked off the court and sat on the bench, with people booing him loudly.

We didn't care that he walked off the court and just played the game regularly. There were 15 seconds left in the game, and we were down by two. We didn't want the game to extend any longer, so we were all thinking 3. I looked at Jerome, who looked at me with the same thought, and we both nodded. Both centers looked at me, giving me an indication of what they were going to do.

When we got past half court, they began going to action.

10.

One center that was near Jerome screened for him, and Jerome went through his screen.

9.

Since there were only 4 of us and 5 of them, Leonard's defender came and blocked Jerome's path.

8.

With no other option, Jerome ran back to the screen.

7.

This time, both centers screened for Jerome.

6.

Jerome got through both screens and got open.

5.

I passed him the ball and he was about to shoot.

4.

However, both defenders quickly came to him and shut that attempt down.

3.

Quickly seeing this, and seeing how my defender wasn't looking at me, one center screened for me and I ran to the corner that was left alone and was wide open.

2.

Seeing me wide open, Jerome jumped and threw the ball at me.

1.

I caught the ball and shot it as soon as it got to my hands, with no hesitation, my eyes glued onto the hoop.

0.

Swish.

Before I knew it, Jerome and the two centers came and bear-hugged me like this was an actual NBA game. The crowd was chanting my name and cheering loudly. I looked over to my party of people and they were celebrating too. I saw Rich coming onto the court with another dude dressed in a suit.

Showing sportsmanship, the other team dapped us up and congratulated us on having a great game.

A few seconds later, Leonard came up to us. We all faced him and waited for him to say something.

"Good shot. You guys played great."

None of us thanked him. "Nigga, no thanks to you. Boy walked out on the team on the final play of the game, how sad can that be?" I deadpanned.

"You right, and I'm sorry. I realized how selfish I was and I should've played team ball." Leonard stuck his hand out to me, expecting me to accept it.

I looked at it for a good few seconds before walking away from him.

After I walked away, Jerome came up to me. "Fuck that dude. But yo, you really are amazing bro. I hope you pick this college because me and you on the same team would be unstoppable."

"Fasho. I might definitely come here."

"Bet. I'm about to go meet my people and dip. Hope I see you down the road bro." He gave me a quick dap and I dapped him back.

I also dapped the two centers up, whose names I still didn't get but it wasn't even important.

I assumed everyone else on my team did the same because I saw them going to their friends and family. I was looking for my party too, but they came to me instead.

"Riley, that was incredible!" Jazmine shouted, giving me a bear hug.

"Yeah, you was a monster out there!" Cindy said, giving me another bear hug.

"Damn right! Showed niggas who the boss is." D'lo said.

"You never show those moves in actual games. I'm impressed." Tamara said.

"Yup, ya boy Reezy showed niggas who the top dawg is."

"Boy, watch your mouth. But I am proud of you." Granddad said which made me feel weird, but in a good way. Ebony nodded and smiled, and that's all I can accept of her.

"No compliments? Nothing? From my own brother?" I asked Huey, who was quiet the entire time.

All eyes averted to Huey, waiting for what he was going to say.

"You did good." Huey said, smirking.

I smirked back, while everyone else sighed in relief, expecting us to fight.

"Riley!" Rich shouted, coming towards us with some other guy. "You didn't disappoint at all, amazing game. Riley, this is our sports director Isaac Chang at the college. He's in charge of all sports in the college. He appoints new coaches, equipment, players, basically he runs the show."

Isaac was shorter than all of us, except Jazmine, and looked asian with short spikey hair. He looked to be in his late thirty's,and he had on glasses and his skin was more on the lighter tan side.

"Nice to meet you. I loved what I saw out there on the court and I would very much love to have you on the team in a couple of years, once you're ready to enroll with us." He extended his arm out to me for a handshake and I extended mine out, shaking his hand back.

"Most definitely. Thanks for the opportunity." I said in my fakest nice voice ever.

I then directed my sight to someone who was in front of me, with blonde hair.

"Forgetting someone?" I asked Rich, pointing at Cindy.

"Oh we've already met. I already approved her for a scholarship and once she's graduated, she can come here and everything will be paid." Isaac said.

"Word? Shit. We're going to college together." I said smirking at Cindy, who smirked back. Huey looked stunned at the fact I was given a college opportunity, and nodded his head. Jazmine looked like she was the proudest mom in history. Tamara and D'Lo smirked at me, nodding aswell.

"Riley, going to college?" Granddad started sniffling. "I'm so proud of you." Granddad then proceeded to trap me in a hug tighter than Jazmine's.

Struggling to breathe, I spoke. "Granddad.. this is so... gay."

"Shut up, it's not gay. I'm just simply showing how proud I am of my boy."

After Granddad released me, and we got to know Rich and Isaac more, we all decided it was time to go.

Cindy managed to beat everyone again back to my house. We both got out of her car and went up to my front door.

"You coming in? We can play 2K and just chill."

"Nah, gotta get home to moms and babysit my lil sis."

Cindy has a little sister named Carol. I sometimes rarely see Cindy's little sister, or her mom, but then again that's because I barely go to Cindy's house. Her mom actually loves me but I just hadn't found the time to go.

"Tell your moms and lil sis that I miss them and I'm gonna come see them soon."

"My moms actually wanted to come see you play but she had to take care of Carol and she doesn't want her out in a crowded place like that yet." I nodded and understood, not mad at all. "You did really great today."

"You think so?"

"Hell yeah. Not only did you beat me in a game, but you also won a game with a game winner. That's mad good."

Cindy complimenting me actually made me smirk heavy. I wouldn't have done this without Cindy. She pushed me and actually spent time with me on working on my shot and game. For that reason, I gave her a hug. I know this shit gay, but i'm recognizing real.

Cindy hugged me back and I felt her cheeks warm up on my shoulder.

After being like that for a few seconds, we released each other, and her cheeks were bright red.

"Alright, I'm gonna go home. We hanging tomorrow?"

"Bet. Feel safe."

She smiled at me and went to her car, honked at me and drove off.

I went into the house and went straight to my room, taking my shoes off and grabbing my towel for another shower. In the shower, I realized how today was a good ass day, one of the greatest days I had recently matter of fact, and I couldn't ask for anything better.

Not to mention I'm already accepted into college. Yeah, shit's crazy.

A/N: Thanks for sticking through this crazy chapter. Ciley fans, get ready. Leave your reviews and let me know what you guys think. Sorry for being gone for so long, but everytime I disappear I have to give y'all a long chapter, so hope you enjoy.

Anyways, leave your reviews please. I'll see y'all in the next chapter.