Marcus Green, Jalen's stepfather, was standing in front of the basketball hoop in the backyard of their home, acting as a defender.

The two had been training ever since Jalen had gotten home from practice, running drills, playing one on one and practicing jump shots.

Every once in a while, the pressure from the public would mount itself on Jalen's shoulders causing mood swings and an intense and renewed need to prove himself.

Jalen dribbled behind his legs looking for an opening.

Marcus blinked and Jalen took the opportunity to rush at him.

Jalen ran at him, still dribbling the ball, turning his body skillfully to avoid Marcus's reach then drove the ball to the hoop and dunked it in.

Marcus chuckled, "That was good."

Jalen circled his finger, "Let's run it back."

"No, I need a break." Marcus responds, moving to sit on a chair placed by the glass patio table.

"Please, pops? I'm facing Dream City in almost a week, the coaches from Auburn and Gonzaga are gonna be coming and I need-."

"What you need is to take a five minute break." Marcus points to the chair next to him.

Jalen sighed but sat next to him, leaning all the way back into the chair.

"It's good to rest sometimes. Don't forget that."

"I don't want to rest. I want to be the best. I wanna continue to be the best." Jalen responds, leaning his head against the top of the chair so he could stare up at the darkening blue sky.

"Jalen!" Bree, Jalen's mother, strode from inside the house, Jalen's phone in her left hand.

"Your phone has been blowing up." Bree handed him his phone.

Jalen glanced at it before setting it, case first, down on the table, "Can we run it back now?"

"It's time for dinner, so no." Bree responded.

"You heard your mother." Marcus stood and gestured for Jalen to stand and follow him.

"I'd rather work on my jump shot. I'll eat later, I promise." Jalen pleads.

Bree and Marcus glanced at each other, then Marcus shrugged.

"Alright. Two more hours, Jalen. I'm not kidding." His mother stated before following Marcus back inside the house.

Jalen's phone screen lit up with a series of texts before he could pick up his basketball.

The first couple of messages were from his friends, Joshua Christopher, Deon Stroud and Sharife Cooper.

Then a message from Jordan Pope, one of his teammates on Prolific Prep.

Finally, at the bottom of his Notification Center were two messages from Noelani waiting for him to read.

'Hey, I was just texting to check on you. You seemed pissed at school today lol'.

'Just wanted to make sure you were doing okay, kid'.

Jalen's brows furrowed, She wants to check on me?

Jalen opened her text to type a quick response.

'Yeah, I'm fine now. You wanna come check on me in person?'

Her response was instantaneous, making Jalen laugh a little.

'You've got wayyyyy too much dip on your chip, kid'.

Jalen smirked, 'So is that a no?'

'Go ask your girlfriend to check on you🤧'

'💀I'm single lmao'

'Don't let J. Pope hear that😭'

' You're not valid💀'

'Tell that to the bruise on your ribs 🙂'

Jalen scoffed with a smile, starting to type a response.

'Chill on me. Come over'

"I thought you were practicing your jump shot?" Bree stepped outside, a curious look on her face.

"I'm about to. I just-." Jalen's phone vibrated and he dropped his eyes to his phone.

'Lmao can't, I'm drowning in physics homework rn'

Jalen sucked his teeth a little at Noelani shutting him down.

Every time I think I've gotten somewhere with her, I get pushed two steps back.

Nimari and Coleman are clearly in her head.

"What's wrong?" Bree walked closer.

Jalen immediately paused.

There was no way in hell that Jalen could even consider telling his mother about the bet.

He would never hear the end of it.

"Its just a... friend from school." Jalen stated.

"Oh. Is this friend of yours, a girl?" Bree asked in a curious tone.

Jalen gave Bree a look, "Mom. You know none of the girls around here are-."

"Are valid. I know, I know. I just feel like you're lonely."

Jalen shrugged, "I am but it is what it is. You and Jurnee are the only females I want to deal with."

Bree slapped Jalen's bony shoulder, "Stop calling women and girls females. It's disrespectful."

"Sorry, mom."

Jalen's phone vibrated again with another text from Noelani.

'Can you pick me up tomorrow?'

Jalen grinned at the text message then glanced up at his mother when he felt her eyes on his.

"Maybe you should give whoever's making you smile that hard a chance?" Bree nodded towards his phone then walked back inside for the final time.

Jalen tucked both lips in to hide a smile as he typed a response.

'Yeah, you know I got you'.

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