𝟎𝟐𝟕, 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗆𝗉𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌
𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐈𝐍': 𝗌𝗎𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗉𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝗒 beyoncé ft. (frank ocean)

𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐚'𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

Losing wasn't something i took lightly when it came to anything, but when it came to basketball it's a whole different level. Losing was like having a bad day then you step into a pile of shit with ya new forces on or however you took it.

But winning, oh how sweet it felt. It meant so much because it showed how hard i worked for it. It didn't matter if i won by a point it still was a huge win to me because i know what i did to get there.

With the big 10 championship game just around the corner. I was in and out of the gym working with the mindset of winning this conference game. "I don't even think you've seen the light of day since we've came back from Georgia", Imani scolds me twirling the basketball in her hands.

Here and there I would drag her with me during my sessions, it wasn't the best way to spend quality time with each other but she didn't mind nor complained about it. "I will when I win this game", I tell her bouncing the ball up and down the court just to get a feel of the ball before I started to get into sets of my workout.

She hums still fiddling with the ball watching as I go up and down the court, "it'll be a lot more funnier for you if you actually tried to understand basketball", I tease her. "I do understand basketball, the team with the most points win and as always that's USC", she shrugs and I laugh a bit at her.

"When we were kids I let it slide but now you're my girlfriend and you should know what im doing when im playing not just anticipating for me to win", I still egg on the idea.

Imani turns her lips to the side which I've learned she does when she starts thinking hard about something. "Okay, I'll learn only if after this, we can go outside and get real fresh air", she suggests.

"Okay deal", I say, "but you actually have to learn it and not play around", I add onto the deal. Mani nods her head in agreement, "alright deal".

When she said deal I immediately expected her to start playing around and already backing out of the deal but she was actually paying attention and getting the hang of the moral concepts of basketball.

"This is the free throw line, three point line, baselines and foul line", she tells me she walks to the lines. I smile at nodding holding the ball in between my arms. "Do you want to try shooting from these lines?", I ask her and she nods with a hype yes.

I giggle at her walking over towards her, "you shoot so I can see your form and then we'll adjust as needed", I hand her the ball, she dribbles the ball a couple times at the free throw line before releasing it into the hoop.

"awlll shuckssss now girlll", I squeal hyping my baby up making her laugh as she turns around and looks at me. "You ate that one lil thing", I continue and she waves me off still me hush.

A few more giggles leave me as I hand her another ball, "a few more and then we can leave... to get real fresh air", I mock her and she playfully flips her hair before shooting the ball.

Imani suggested that we went out and get some ice cream, so that's what we did because whatever my baby wanted she was going to get.

"What flavor are you gonna get?", Mani asked with a big smile on her face leaning back and forth on her heels holding her twenty dollar bill tight in her hands with excitement.

I shifted her in front of her by her waist pushing her out of people's way scanning the menu that rested high on the walls, "im thinking maybe vanilla or sum", I said and she sucked her teeth.

"You're so basic Ju", she insults me, "all these ice cream flavors that you're blessed with and you're gonna pick vanilla", she shakes her head in disbelief.

I playfully roll my eyes at her, "girl you always got something to say about what im eating", I nudged her a bit with my hands still resting on her hips. "I'm just saying", she shrugs as we move closer to the front of the line.

"You talking a whole lot, what you gone get?", I asked her. She hums still looking at the menu, "maybe birthday cake, butter pecan or mint chocolate chip...", Mani answers still haven't decided.

I smile slightly, "baby you too indecisive", I tell her and she whines a bit. "I know but all of em are good, it's hard to just pick one", she defends.

When we got to the front of the line to order, I ordered my vanilla ice cream and Mani had to get mini taste test scoops to see what ice cream she wanted. "Talking all that shit just to end up with vanilla", I laugh at her as we take a seat outside of the parlor. "And imma still talk my shit", she rolls her neck filled with attitude.

"Are you ready for the game?", Mani asks scooping her spoon into her ice cream. I nod my head at her squinting my eyes because of the bright sun, "yeah, I think im more than prepared for it. It isn't much I can do but play the game like I know I can", I tell her.

She smiles, "and you will, you're gonna be a champion baby", her smile grows bigger at the thought. To have somebody like Imani in my corner was nothing but a blessing. It was never a dull moment she made me feel like I couldn't do nothing because her love and support was so much. With her love and support I could damn near fly to the moon

"Are you gonna be there?", I ask her. "Of course, don't ask no dumb ass questions now", she scolds me and I laugh. "I'm sorry, I was just making sure", I say and she shakes her head.

It was time, another battle for LA but with even more purpose. The only outcome tonight was winning and I meant that.

Still dressed in my travel suit with my beats over my head i walked into the bruins blue and yellow court, the rush feeling my bones to just get started and do what i know best.

As always, ucla was petty when it came to usc so they played juju on that beat as i scanned the court. yeahhh finna show yall some shit .
Fans from both usc and ucla was now arriving to the arena in a sea of cardinal and gold along with the yellow and blue.

I walked over to the visitor side talking with my parents who sat in the front row of seats, "you ready?", my mama asked me adjusting my bun from which she did earlier. Nodding my head at her with a soft hum she smiled at me.

"they being petty by playing this song but they don't even know they feeding themselves they own pile of shit", my mama laughed and i shook my head at her.

The competitiveness ran in the family, we hated to lose so we was definitely talked shit like no other and it was even worse when we won.

"Ma", I scolded her. Since I've came into NCAA it was way different from high school, if you were too cocky or not humble then everybody hated you. It's not that I cared but it was all for the image of my school and teammates.

"You can't talk shit but I can", she waved me off chewing on her gum. "That don't mean you should", my daddy joins in. He was always and forever humble and I think that's sort of where I get it from; it was always a blessing.

The time was ticking which meant I needed to get back to the locker room with my team, I kiss my parents on the cheek goodbye and head to the locker room until im stopped by an ucla player. "Just know, Imma be playing real good tonight... ya know... for ya girl", she laughed before walking off.

I was too stunned to even clap back at the time. I know damn well on gods green earth she ain't just say that. A bitter chuckle comes out of my me with a slow nod as I continue to walk into the locker room.

Fuck all that humble shit.
Run it.

Call me a bully or what, I honestly didn't give a damn what you called me because as soon as I stepped out on that court I had now two goals.

To win and to mop the girl from earlier to the floor. Every shot she tried to make I blocked it, when she had the ball I was guarding her hard and used every chance to smack the ball out of her hands or some form of attack without getting fouled while all still playing fair.

"Yo you been on my dick since the game started, move around", she snapped at me. I laughed at her licking the sweat from the corner of my mouth before I speak, "and it gone stay that way, should've kept that mouth close earlier", I spat at her.

She scoffed at me, "that was just a joke bruh", she cried and I hummed at her still guarding her. "A joke ian take lightly, now shit up and play ball", is all I said before smacking the ball of her hands making this the fifth turn over just in the first quarter.

It was like that for the entire game, the fuel and fire I had plus with the work I had put in for this was clearly showing. It was the last minute of the fourth quarter and coach subbed me out.

"GOOD SHIT JU", rayah dapped me up as I walk down the bench. I laughed at her thanking her grabbing a water bottle and towel before I sat at the end of the bench.

As the time went down, the crowd started to yell "TROJANS, TROJANS, TROJANS", repeatedly but the only voice I heard was Mani's. Snapping my head behind me there she was sitting with my parents screaming Trojans.

A big smile grows onto my face as I stare at her, she finally stops shouting and looks down at me. "JUJUUUUUUUUU", she screamed with excitement clapping for me.

Damn, I love this girl so much. I laugh at her and she erupts into jumps as the time on the clock beeps at 0:00. "BABYYY YOUR A CHAMPION", she squeals. I step over the bench chairs reaching over the blue barricade hugging Imani tight into my hold.

"I love you", I whisper into her ear before pulling away and giving her a kiss on the lips then I hug my parents quickly before going out to the court celebrating with my teammates.

As always, I was snugged into post game media instead of spending time with my loves one after this big win. "Juju, you always have a big crowd of fans supporting but tonight it seemed your biggest fan was your girlfriend... how did that feel?", a reporter asked.

I smiled at the question only because I was being able to talk about my baby, "I love all my fans and all their support, but having Imani there for me cheering loudly was meant so much to me. We've had a rocky history and it just feels so good to have her in my corner again: the words I have for is just indescribable and im forever thankful for her", I answer.

Rayah and Kiki let out an series of awe's and so does coach, "I haven't met miss Imani yet but I can't wait, she's been doing my girl juju right", Coach Gottlieb adds and I laugh a bit. Media goes back to asking basketball related questions and then we finally get to leave.

I met up with my parents and Mani since I was riding back home with them instead of the bus. I swiped the big 10 hat off my head and snapped it onto Imani's as I walk up to them. She smiles at me fixing the hat to adjust to her head right.

My mama think she slick but I saw her snap a picture at us before stuffing her phone into her purse. I hug my mama tight and then my dad as they compliment me on the game and my performance.

Stuffing my bags into the truck while my parents sit in the front waiting and Imani hangs out with me helping the girl from before comes out crying.

I couldn't help but laugh but Imani smacks my arm. The girl looks over at us noticing me with Imani and only starts crying harder making me laugh harder.

"Ju", Imani scold me. "Nah, she know wassup", I said as she girl walked off with her head down still crying. I don't explain to Imani what happened only telling her she got what she deserved before we get in the car and go home.

and like I said,
I was taking nothing lightly.

Im a champion.

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞
this fanfic is coming to an endddd 🥲
but im already making visuals for my new oneeee