After walk through with the coaching staff, I decided to get some shots up. We had a game tomorrow which meant it'll be my first game of the season. I wanted to get in a little rhythm because I knew I could be a bit rusty. Although I stayed in shape while I sat out a full year, I wasn't in basketball shape.

Basketball has become my sanctuary. On the court, I'm able to be who I am without wearing a mask. I played basketball when one person supported me in the stands to where I had no one in the stands cheering my name. My dad never attempted to show me any support. The only support he gave me was when he held me up in the air one night and beat me until I was unconscious.

It was the second night of my stay after my mother was killed. From that day forward, I vowed to never let him beat me that way again. I kept my promise and the next time he hit me, I hit him back. That would be the story for the next six years in that household. We'd beat each other then he would go on to beat his wife. The deal breaker was when I graduated and he beat his wife to a bloody pulp. I stepped in to stop him, but he pulled a gun on me.

That's when I knew. I knew I couldn't stay there any longer. If I'd stayed, he would've killed me. I hate I had to leave the woman and make her deal with him by herself, but I had to save my ass. I guarantee that he would've killed before he killed her. He hated me for some odd reason. I never knew why, but I really wasn't trying to figure out.

The basketball shooting machine shot the ball out to me and I shot it in rhythm.

Swish.

Swish.

Dribble, drive, dunk. Run to the corner, catch the ball, shoot. Swish. Dribble, dribble, fake, crossover, spin, stepback...Swish. My mind went back to that unforgettable night where my life changed forever. Jaws clenched. Fists bald up. I could feel the tears coming down, but something wouldn't let me. I couldn't cry. Not now.

Sets feet. Shoots. Swish.

The perspiration fell down my face quickly as I looked above the rim. I had been here for over three hours. I walked over to where my things were and placed my hoodie over my head. I took a sip of water from my water bottle, and whipped my bag over my shoulder. Walking out of the gym and into the cool night, I felt better.

As I was walking along the sidewalk, I walked past the boxing gym and spotted Karmen getting a work out in. It was pretty late for her to be working out, but I guess you could say the same for me. I opened the door and walked in. She seemed angry from the punches she was throwing at the bag. Once the door closed, she looked back and stopped.

"I didn't mean to interrupt." I explained.

She shrugged her shoulders lightly. "You're good. It was probably time to stop anyway." I watched as she removed her head gear and gloves. I took a seat on the bench as the silence got louder. I wasn't good in these situations and I mentally cursed at myself for walking in at the wrong time.

Her breathing was hard and her face was red which only proved that I was right. She was upset. She angrily threw her things into her gym bag?

"Yo what up?"

A smile formed on her face as she tried to hold in her laugh. "Your accent is so cute." She looked at me as she placed her bag on the floor and took a seat beside me. "But, Hey Khari. Just a lot going on in this life of mine. I just come here to get away from it."

I nodded my head, understanding where she was coming from. "I understand. I just came from the gym myself ya heard me." I looked around the gym to see if someone else is here. "You here by yaself?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah, the man who owns this gym is my father."

I looked at her to see if I had seen any resemblance, but I didn't see any. She looked fully black to me, but what do I know? "The German man that gave me a contact card?" I asked for clarification.

"Yeah. He's not my biological father. But, he's the only father I've ever known or seen. Well, until yesterday." She said as her voice got shaky, and she held her head down to play with her hand. "My biological father wanted nothing to do with me. He said that to my face. So, that's my mother and father who want nothing to do with their child."

I looked at her again with nothing to say. I could feel her getting ready to get emotional which made me uncomfortable. I didn't understand why she was confiding in a stranger anyway. It was stupid if you ask me. Your parents don't want nothing to do with you. Okay. Fuck them and move on. You have a parent that wants everything to do with you. I could hear her sniffling so I reluctantly patted her back. I didn't say anything. I just patted her back.

After another pause of silence, I thought of something that would probably help myself and her. "Wanna get a bite to eat?"

"I could eat." She said quietly.

I know you can. I stood abruptly, waiting for her to gather her things. Once she was ready, I led her out of the gym and out into the night. I pulled her away from the edge of the sidewalk and into the inside. She looked at me, but didn't say anything.

"What you wanna eat? You from here, baby. Not me."

I could hear her laughing to herself. She looked as if she was in deep thought. "I'm not sure."

I sighed dramatically, shaking my head. "Women."

"Excuse me?" She replied dramatically.

"I said women. Y'all always hungry and don't know what y'all want to eat. You better be glad ima southern nigga ya heard me because you would gets no love." I looked at her as she giggled. "Now, where can we get a Philly cheesesteak? I've never had one of those."

"Ooo." She unexpectedly grab my hand and led me to one of those beat up shacks. We walked inside hand in hand until I pulled away. She didn't seem to notice because she was in a rush to order her food. The man spoke to us both and asked what did we want. She ordered for the both of us since I didn't know anything about it.

"Drink?" He asked.

"Water, for me." I looked at him.

"I'll take a Sprite." She added.

The man totaled up our orders and I pulled out my wallet to pay for the food. I gave him my bank card and once he swiped, I signed my name on the receipt. He reached over, giving us our food. I took it and we found a seat beside the door. As we got settled, we ate in a comfortable silence.

The taste of the Philly cheesesteak was good, but I didn't see the hype. She seemed to be enjoying her food and her mood had gotten a lot better also. Nothing that food cannot cure.

"So Khari.. Tell me something about yourself." She said as she briefly looked away from her food.

"There's nothing to tell. I'm just a kid for New Orleans. I play basketball for Georgetown and that's about it." I replied as I took another bite.

"Basketball? Hmm, I must check out a game. Any game coming up?" She asked.

"We got a game tomorrow at 7pm. It's here."

"I will be there."

"Koo." I said simply. I downed the rest of my food in silence and took a couple of sips of water. I could feel her eyes fixated on me. I looked at her, catching her in the act. "What?"

She shook her head. "I'm just looking. You don't talk much."

"I'm not a talker. I'm just an observer." I looked at her."

She nodded her head, seemingly understanding. "Wassup Karmen?"

I looked up to see a guy with a Maryland jumpsuit on. He was about my height with a low haircut. He had brownskin and a busted lip. I figured that he must have been a basketball player for Maryland. I wondered why he was here in DC at almost midnight. She looked up at him, smiling immediately.

"Duane!" She screeched as she got up to hug him.

"You're looking really good." He complimented. She only blushed and they shared a moment with each other until he brought his attention to me. "Who is this? Your boyfriend?"

I chuckled slightly. After flirting with her, he asks her if she was my girl. I would've let him know a long time ago. I just would've politely beat his ass. She looked at me then him, shaking her head. "This is Khari. And no he's not my boyfriend. We just met like two days ago at the gym."

"Wassup man? I'm Duane." He extended his hand.

"I heard." I ignored his hand and he slowly put it back in his pocket. He examined me long and hard as my eyes never left him. His eyes then wandered off to my basketball bag. He smirked a little.

"You play ball for Georgetown huh? We play y'all next week so I guess we'll meet on the court. That's if you get playing time, of course." He said.

I stood up, throwing my trash in the garbage. That's when I realized that I had a few inches on him. I just ignored him and looked at Karmen. "I got a game tomorrow. You want me to walk you home or you good?"

"I'll take her home. Thanks bruh." He answered for her.

She nodded her head and I gave her a head nod back. I placed my hood over my head, picking up my bag and throwing it over my shoulder. I gave Duane a staredown as I walked out of the shack. I never take disrespect lightly. I would definitely see him on the court next week.

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