I find myself working harder than I’ve ever worked. Everything I’ve ever wanted is at my fingertips, friends that actually care about me, a girlfriend that really cares about me, and a team I feel like I belong to. However, I could lose all of it if Coach cuts me. I’d rather die than lose it. In fact, I’m going to succeed, or I’m going to die trying.
That spot is mine. I’ll do whatever it takes to make the team. Run extra sprints, wall sits until my legs give out, shoot threes until I can’t miss, whatever it takes. Of course, having Kennedy, Cat, Sarah, Usha, and Maly there to help me doesn’t hurt. I spent most of the week working with one or all of them. Kennedy and Usha push me on defense. Trying to defend either of them is like trying to stop the rain from falling. And yet, I can feel myself getting better with each attempt.
Sarah, Maly, and Cat help me develop my shot. I’ve taken so many shots, shooting the ball is starting to fill my dreams. The ball has become a natural extension of myself, and shooting is as natural as breathing.
Before practice, Salenna pulls me aside. Before I can say anything, she hugs me. “Thanks.”
“Of course, if there’s anything I can do for you, just please let me know,” I tell her earnestly.
She pulls away with a half-smile. “Just don’t tell anyone. I don’t want anyone to know about it. I just want to put it in the past and forget that night ever happened.”
“Are you sure? I don’t think you can just forget about it, Salenna. You need to talk to someone who can help.”
“I’ll be fine. I just need to focus on basketball,” she insists. I nod, hoping that she will be okay, but knowing the reality of emotional pain, I doubt it will be that easy. She walks away, her eyes looking down and her shoulders slumped, her demeanor a shadow of the friend and player of just two days ago.
During practice, I push myself to the limit. I’m even giving Kennedy a run for her money during sprints, but she still manages to beat me.
Salenna, on the other hand, is transformed into a girl possessed. She goes at it with intense anger. I ache for what happened to her. For it to have created such a major effect on every aspect of her life. She’s normally so carefree, and she always has a smile. It breaks my heart to see that smile fade away.
Come scrimmage time, Danielle’s natural talent can’t save her. She has to fight me tooth and nail just to get to half court. Her moves are starting to get predictable. Her stutter crossover doesn’t fool me and I knock the ball loose for the steal, taking the ball in for an easy layup.
Seeing her frustrated gives me the biggest joy ever. I know that’s kind of sadistic, but she’s always been such a thorn in my side. It’s so nice to finally be able to wipe that cocky smirk off her face.
I was even able to sink a three over-top of her. That was so satisfying. Of course, I can’t get too overconfident. I still have to remember to put the team first, but I can’t lie, it was bittersweet to completely and utterly defeat Danielle.
Sarah gives me a subtle slap on the butt, making my face flush in heat. The way she smiles makes my legs turn to jelly. After practice, Maly, Sarah, and I work on drills.
“Do you girls mind if I join?” Vishay asks.
“No, not at all,” I say.
She smiles. “Thanks. I definitely have a lot to work on and see you three working hard is plenty of motivation for me to get my ass in gear.”
The four of us spend over an hour, working on drills and we even get a little game of two on two before we call it quits. “Are you girls hungry?” I ask.
“Yeah, I’m starving!” Vishay says.
“Want to grab a bite to eat at the cafeteria?”
“Sounds good to me,” Sarah replies.
We head over to the largest cafeteria in the towers and all of us end up with a mountain of food on our trays. “So, are you all as worried about cuts as I am?” Vishay inquires.
“For sure,” I say. “I can’t help but ask if I’m doing enough to improve. I’m always afraid that the day will come and I’ll get cut because I wasn’t working hard enough.”
“I feel you,” Vishay says. “But I don’t think you have anything to fear.”
“Are you kidding? I’m one of four point guards.”
“Yeah, but point guards are pretty versatile. Coach could easily shift you into a different position,” she insists.
“That’s true, I never thought about that, but still, I’m not going to be cut because I didn’t work hard enough,” I clarify.
“Totally,” Vishay agrees.