chapter eight

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height


Playoffs are a week away and I'm fucking ecstatic that the team got their shit together even though they're still on thin ice with me as well as Coach. "After completing your last round of laps, I need y'all to huddle up, we got something to discuss." This can't be good. In my case, often, surprises aren't good.

After doing our laps, we surround coach in a semi-circle, sweat dripping down our faces and torsos. I wipe my face with the shirt hanging on my shoulder as we wait for Coach Jackson to speak. "I'm sure you guys are familiar Dominic Dominguez?" Coach Jackson asks and the players nod their heads while Luke, Jay, T', Roman, and I look at each other.

"I was just told that he had recently transferred from NYU to UCLA."

That's why I hates surprises.

The person Coach Jackson is referring to is a former USC student and my ex-best friend.

He and I met their first year of college when we found out we were going to be roommates and we were close since that day. We joined at the hip because we did everything together and went everywhere with one another. Everyone referred to us as Mr & Mrs, we were that close.

To this day, I still blame myself. How couldn't I have seen the signs? Jocelyn was naturally flirtatious which was why I didn't think much about it however there was much more going on than I thought. Walking in on your significant other and your best friend having sex has got to be the most fucked up way to find out that the two people who you trusted the most could fuck up so bad.

The image of Dom pounding into her, and the echo of Jocelyn's moans always come back and haunt me when I least expect it. Hence why I stuck to no strings attached purely sexual relationships rather than an emotional one.

The whole ordeal had me fucked for a full year straight. I couldn't focus on anything, ball, and school. That had to be the biggest betrayal of my life that I ever had to experience.

Coach had to take the most drastic but necessary decision and suspend me when I couldn't get my shit together. For six months, I spent on the bench watching my teammates play. Watching Dom play.

To add insult to injury, Jocelyn would come to every single home game in support of her new 'boyfriend'.

My downward spiral nearly made me lose my spot on the team, my position as captain as well as the chance of getting drafted. I beat myself up about how I could've let everything that happened to the point where I was gonna lose something I wanted since I was eight years old.

Hooking up made everything easier, not emotional attachment no commitment. Dom soon transferred for 'better opportunities' and Jocelyn dropped out of college to take a gap year. When they left, I thought it would be the last I would ever see or hear of them, but I guess not.

Now with Dominic coming back to California that means I will be seeing more of him. "Dominic is reckless and unruly but he's a damn talented player and now he's captain at UCLA -" of course, "They won't hesitate to chew us up and spit us out like we're nothing and as long as I'm around I won't let that happen."

Coach folds his bulky arms over his chest, his chest popping out, "that's exactly why I'm pushing you twenty times harder this year. We've gone undefeated for four years straight and I wanna keep it that way."

Coach catches my grin and the corner of his mouth twitches, but he doesn't smile.

"A'ight, USC on three," I say, placing my hand in the middle of my collaborators. The players pile their first hand mine, "One, two, three. . ."

"USC!!"

Coach blows his whistle, "go home and get some beauty sleep. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

Everyone starts walking off the court and I grab my stuff off the bench, throwing on a shirt. Just as I am about to leave, I'm called back.

"Carter, a word."

The guys give me a look of sympathy and slaps on the back in support. When I'm standing in front of coach, he stares me down. The players on average are at least six feet and 6'4. But nobody compares to Coach Eric Jackson who stands at an intimidating 6'8. "I think you know where I called you back, Carter."

I do.

"I know you and Dominguez still got bad blood but for the sake of the teams and the NCAA, don't do anything stupid. The school cannot afford a scandal, and neither can you. You a mere blink away from losing your spot in the NBA. You know very well you can't make a repetition of what happened last year."

What he's referring to is the time when Dom and I went at it in the locker rooms. It was after a match with Michigan State. After seeing his cocky ass on the court and Jocelyn in the stands cheering on her dick of a boyfriend, stirred the anger buried deep inside my soul.

Dom egged shit on by constantly taunting me from the moment the game began until we got to the locker rooms. The last straw was when Dom said the reason why Jocelyn left him in the first place was because he was never able to satisfy Jocelyn the same way he can.

I saw red and lost it. Dom did manage to get in a couple of punches, but it was the obvious when Dominic came out with a broken nose, black eye, and dislocated jaw.

"I won't, sir," I promise. On the day of the fight, I went to see a therapist, after about a month I felt like I was back to myself. Almost.

"As belligerent and aggressive he may get, ignore him. He wants a reaction from you and, do not give it to him. You need to stay on top of your game if you wanna get drafted this year."

I nod, "I know sir."

Coach scrutinizes me before releasing a deep sigh, patting my shoulder leaving me with more pressure on my shoulders than before. I exhale through my nose and jog to catch up with the guys.

"Where's your girl?" Roman nudges Jay in the side.

Jay looks at Roman before smiling widely, "she's actually doing a shoot today."

Roman gives him a toothless grin, "why don't you go see her in action?"

James gives him a bland look, "unless you finna buy me a ticket to Paris then yeah." Roman's eyes widen, "oh shit, she in Paris?"

Travis, Luke, and I chuckle at their exchange before reaching the parking lot. They all separate to their respective cars but Roman stands by Devontae at his car, "so what was Coach talking to you about?" He asks me. I pop open the trunk, throwing MY stuff in the back before shutting it, "Dominguez."

"Oh, He gave you the whole 'I don't want you to fuck up' speech?" Roman asks as he leans against my car.

Wordlessly, I nod running my hand over my closely shaven scalp. "Yeah, like I haven't gotten enough of those." Roman rolls his eyes. "It's for a reason, dude. Between you and Travis it's kind of essential." I say blandly.

Travis and Roman are not only A-class idiots but also love talking with their fists. So obviously coach would talk their ears off. Travis, who's inside of his car, overhears us and rolls his window down, flipping me off. I remain silent and Roman furrows his eyebrows at my lack of words, "you good, D'?"

I mumble a noncommittal 'yeah'. Roman sighs heavily, "how's the fam?" The question lifts my spirits a little, "they good, Dez is freaking out about being in junior year."

Roman narrows his eyes at me in confusion, "why? That girl is smarter than all of us combined." Destiny is Albert Einstein smart. She plans on becoming Valedictorian next year and I have no doubt in my mind that she'll get the spot. She's deserving of it.

I snort at that, "tell me about it."

Roman chuckles then a serious look inhabits his face. "How's. . .your dad?"

I scoff, "still a non-existent entity, what's new?" Roman winces then nods, "Devontae, I know how your dad can be but give him a chance, he cares about you."

I exhale harshly through my nose, not exactly sure the amount of times I should give him a chance, "Thanks, man." And we bro hug. "Are y'all about to kiss now? Jeez, get a room." Travis yells from the driver's seat of his Jeep.

I roll my eyes while Roman throws his empty shaker bottle at him that hits him square on the side of his face and lands in the car. Travis makes a grunt in pain and picks up the bottle from the bottom of his car. Lucas sniggers next to him and Jay shakes his head at their childishness.

"You ain't getting this back!" Travis yells at Roman as he starts the car. Roman rolls his eyes and gets into his car that parked right next to mine.

"You know he's right though," I say, opening his car door. Roman looks at him with a bored look, "he better pray to whoever it is that he prays to cause I'm getting it back from him, and not in a nice way."

...

I decided to wait for Kiana while she works her shift, and I didn't feel comfortable with her catching a cab, so I just found a seat in a booth by the far corner near the window. I ordered a cup of coffee as I worked on our assignment, in a booth near the window and I've been staring at her ever since I got here.

Kiana looks unbelievably beautiful in her uniform, as much as she complains about it being too small and too tight, to me, she still looks great. The pink dress has white accents on the collar, the arms of the short sleeves, and a white apron which she puts her notepad and pen in. Her curvy body fills out the uniform perfectly, her full ample breasts strain against the buttons that I wish I could undo. The skirt of her dress hugs her thick thighs, which jiggle with every movement she makes.

Her locks are tied up in her usual bun, she's got a single gold hoop in her nose and bare faced. She's more beautiful than she could ever know.

Ever since we had sex, I haven't been able to think of anyone else but her. She invades every single one of my thoughts. She's always been of interest of mine but since I know what it's like to be inside her, what she tastes like...I can never look at my bed the same ever again. She attending to a young couple in a booth in the corner, with a bright smile on her face.

I have considered how much of a natural she is at the whole waitressing thing. The way she interacts with people, her genuine interest in the regulars, and she never complains. Sure, she complains about her feet being sore and back pains but other than that she never breathes a word.

I hear the chair opposite me, pulled out and my head snaps up looks up to see Kiana's tired but smiling face. "Hey." She unties her hair and gathers it up into a bun.

"Hey, you done?" I ask, closing the laptop. She sighs, "yeah, thanks for waiting up for me." I shrug, "It's cool, I touched upon a few things anyway."

"At this rate, we'll be done before three weeks." Kiana laughs. I don't know whether to like or dislike that idea right now. "A'ight, let's go."

...

I click away at the keys, making a mental note to do research tomorrow. Kiana collapses onto the bed next to me and looks up at the ceiling then scrunches up her nose and blows at the lock that fell into her eyes using her mouth. She repeats this at least twice before giving up and moving it manually.

Just then little Nala waddles into the bedroom from the bathroom doing God knows what in there and I pick her up. Kiana sits up again and when she sees Nala, she loses it. "Oh my gosh, you have a puppy?" She squeals. "Yeah. . .for about four months now," I say.

"Can I hold her?" She asks, practically vibrating with excitement. I brows furrow in worry, "uh, she doesn't really like new people but ─ " I gently set Nala in Kiana's lap, and I break into a cold sweat, hoping that Nala doesn't do what she normally does when she meets new people. She's still incredibly young and her experience with people wasn't that great. The place where I got her told me she tends to bite when she feels threatened.

"Hi, baby." Kiana whispers. Her movements are slow, so she doesn't scare her off or freak her out. Nala looks at her with curious eyes and the total opposite happens. Nala smells her and then licks her hand while her other hand strokes her head. I am shocked. I gets even more surprised when Nala goes into full-on attack mode and licks her face repeatedly to which Kiana falls back onto the bed again as she laughs. "I think she likes me."

"She does like you." I say, still processing the shock. Kiana finally gets Nala to stop licking her face and strokes her belly. "Why doesn't she like people?" Kiana asks, not entirely sure how a cute thing like Nala could not like people. I shake my head, "The lady at the pet store said she had been abused before, so it makes her very cautious of people. So sometimes she growls at them or runs and hides." Kiki looks from me to Nala to me again, "you're a big softie, you know that? I glare at her, "I am not a softie."

She laughs at me and Nala barks as if agreeing with her. I glares at my pup now for taking the side of someone who she's barely known for ten minutes. "She's only known you for two minutes and she already likes you more than me," I say my thoughts aloud and Nala barks again.

"Aww, Devontae wants some attention." Kiana teases me and I respond by scowling at her which makes her cackle. "Yo, D where's the other. . .oh, hey Kiana."

Travis and not knocking the fucking door. "The controller is on the coffee table where we always leave it. How do you even miss it? And why don't you fuck knock?"

Travis sucks his teeth, "man, shut up. Are you come to join us or are you nerds still busy?" He leans against the door frame.

I'm about to say something snarky back but Kiana sits up and arches a brow at him, "I suggest before calling us nerds you should try open a book sometime, you look like you need it."

I cough to stifle a laugh that threatens to escape as Travis stares at Kiana dumbfounded but then it's soon replaced by a grin, "you're lucky I like you." Kiana gives him a smirk, "Everyone does. " I cough again, "so what you are guys playing?"

"2K. You in?" Kiana shrugs, "sure."

...

For as long as we've have known Travis for being a sore loser, I personally have never seen T' act like such a big baby when losing in a video game. I think it's because he lost to a girl that's half his size.

"Rematch!" Travis yells and all four of us groan. "Bro, you've played four games already, give it up." Lucas groans from the kitchen. T' flips him off over his shoulder. Kiana checks the time on her watch before standing up, "aight, boys I gotta go." Travis groans, "can't you stay? We could have our rematch and you'll sleep in D's bed." And he wiggles his brows at her.

I glare at him while Kiana gives him a funny look, "yeah, no professionals don't play with amateurs."

Jay lets out a low whistle while Roman cackles loudly and Lucas snickers. At this point, I'm my stomach hurts so bad from holding back laughter. Kiana hasn't been going easy on Travis at all and he knows it.

Travis nods in defeat, "well played, girl. Well played."

Kiana ruffles his hair to which he scowls at her but does nothing to her. Lucas calls her over to show her something on his phone and they both begin laughing, making Roman and the others run to the kitchen to see, and they start laughing all together.

I watch their interaction with a proud look and an indescribable feeling of bubbles under my skin these are the same guys who opposed to having chicks as friends or let alone having them hang around the house.

Kiana jumps over the back of the couch and plops next to me, catching me off guard, and drops my phone in my lap. She lies her head in my lap as she watches the basketball game on the TV.

She turns onto her back, looking up at the ceiling. I can feel her staring at me even though I'm not looking. "Stop staring," I mumble, covering her eyes with my hand. "I'm not." She lamely replies. "Sure. You're just looking at me intensely." Comes my reply and Kiana bites her lip, her cheeks turning immediately red, "ready to go?"

She nods. She moves her head from my lap, and he stands up grabbing her stuff from the large wooden coffee table, "aight, boys she's leaving'." "Do you have to?" Travis asks, with a pout on his lip. Kiana laughs, "I'll see you guys tomorrow, I'm not going forever." She says, hugging them all one by one.

I lean against the wall near the front door, a small smile on his face, and goes in to help Kiana when Roman refuses to let her go. "A'ight, that's enough. Let's go."

"Bye, Kiki!" They say and Kiana waves goodbye to them as I open the door for her. I go down the two steps and joins Kiana as they head to the car parking, she elaborates further, "When I'd see you on campus, and I always thought you cocky jerks. Roman still is and Travis but they're cool."

When they reach his car, he opens the car door for her and she slips in, he puts her stuff in the backseat and slides into his seat.

"You know I find it ironic how people say that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but it's become a natural reflex. Not that judging is good but it's a thing we do. It turns on automatically." Kiana says, looking out the window.

I reverse the car and stop as I wait for the blue Ford to pass by. "Who are you talking about? Me?" She nods, smiling, "to be honest I thought you were a little broody." I look at her a little offended, "what? Why?"

"You always had this permanent look on your face that makes you look like you're in your feelings. It can be putting. You have an RBF."

"A say what now?" She laughs, "A resting bitch face, Carter." I grunt, "Jay is the one with a resting bitch face, not me."

"Nah, he's just quiet and observant than most. Broody isn't the word I'd use to describe him." I mull it over and realise she's right. I shrug in response. "So, when you'd see me on campus you thought I was mean?"

"Not mean exactly, just standoffish."

"So, you was watching me?" I tease, my eyes not diverting from the road momentarily to look at her. Her cheeks taint a faint red. "no."

"Oh?" He teases her further and it gets her cheeks to a flaming red, he looks at her for a short while before backing to the road where they stop at a red light. She narrows her eyes at him, "Carter."

I gently nudges her in the side with his elbow, "I'm just playing." She rolls her eyes at him, her cheeks still flaming red, but I'm not done. "I'll never forget the DM you know."

Her eyes widen, "I seriously thought you'd forgotten about that." I shake my head, "Nope I'd never forget that. It's a classic." She buries her head in her hands, "God why me?"

"Where'd you even get that line from? I mean it was pretty ─ risky."

Kiana drowns out the sound of my voice by turning up the radio and sending me a glare that shuts me up. But there's no guarantee I won't bring it up again.

...

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐊𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃evontae 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐝.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net