This dude is a trip. He always shooting three’s like it’s nothing. I’m sitting over here on the bench watching this ball-hoggin’ show off; he think he’s running something. Coach Cannon lets him, too. Whatever happened to team work?
            Coach was coming Jay’s way and the thought of addressing him came to mind. “Coach I need to talk to you.” Jay said as he approached. Coach eyed me flatly, obviously busy.
            “Uh…” Coach mustered.  “After the game Jay.” He continued passed him. Wow, no time for the star of the team? Jay reflected. So he continued looking at the action on the court. Their school, Richmond Heights were up by ten and Black did all the damage.  Jay would think of running up there, shoving him off the court, and reclaiming his position. Let me calm down before my thoughts become my actions, Jay thought as he balled his fists. After grinding his teeth Jay relaxed and continued to watch his team beat the crap out of Chapman high, all without him.
            Later on that night after a huge win, the team hopped on the bus and headed to Charlie’s, a local Pizza Parlor. Everyone at Richmond Heights High always ate there, so it was the first choice for their victory meal.
            Coach chose a booth by the window, but before the team could even take a seat everyone headed for the bathroom.  Jay noticed Coach wasn’t moving, so he decided to stay with him. This was the perfect opportunity to talk.
            “Yo, Coach honestly…“ Jay started but paused to think of how he was going to phrase it, “Yo Coach, why’d you let Black take my position?”
            Coach didn’t say anything at first.  He simply sat there tapping his pen on the table. It was silent. Jay watched him contemplate on it. “I must do what’s best for the team.” He finally replied.
            “The team?!” Jay shrieked. “The team!”  He whispers, “You let this Black dude ball hog and you call that, ‘what’s best from the team’!”
“It’s what’s best for the team.” Coach repeated flatly.
“But what about me?” Jay continued to debate, just above a whisper. He didn’t want any attention from onlookers.
“Jay it’s not all about you.” Coach voice picked up, “You sprained your ankle badly. How do you expect for me to put you out there in those conditions?”
“But it’s healed Coach!”
“That’s great Jay but honestly right now we are doing fine.”
Jay stared at Coach, finishing his sentence, “Without…me”

            During the ride back home Jay sat in the back of the bus and watched the team chit-chat about random topics. It went from basketball, to the weekend, to the team, to girls, to shoes, to school and to that party that Kevin was throwing next Friday.
“Who’s going to that party next week?” The infamous Charles Black asked, turned in his seat. The boys talked all at once in an uproar while Jay stayed silent, watching Black. He’s mind ran wild, thinking of all sorts of crazy things. I wish he can just shut up…I wish he never even came here…If he just not be here everything would be back to normal.
            Jay eyed aside him to see Henry, the water boy, popping some vitamins in his mouth. It caused something strange to pop into Jay’s head. He would think negatively sometimes but what he thought at that moment was something really strange. Drug him. Jay dismissed it from his mind. He felt uneasy thinking things like that. But it kept popping up, drug him, drug him… Then someone tapped his shoulder. Jay looked over to his right to see his friend Gary.
“Man,” Gary started, “That Black dude needs to shut the hell up.”
Jay couldn’t do anything but giggle, “That’s what I’m saying. All he does is talk. Nobody wants to go to that lame party.”
“Yeah. But he’s whatever. He put us on a winning streak.” He noticed Jay’s frown, “We put ourselves on a winning streak.” He revised. Jay then gave him some dap.
“That’s what I’m saying.” Jay said. They stopped their conversation to watch Black mingle with the other players. Gary eyed Jay and noticed his down some face. He sighed.
“You alright?” Gary asked him. Jay nodded lightly shrugs.
“I’m not getting that scholarship.” Jay said, looking at Black. Gary stayed silent, thinking.
“Don’t let that dude stop you from getting yours. You were meant to play that position.”
“Ahh whatever.”   
“Naw man. He has enough going for him. Black’s hella smart and he’s hella proper. He’ll get any job. Why he need yours?”

            Next week came by faster than Jay thought and for him it was a new attitude about this whole Black situation. Over the weekend Jay discussed something’s with his homeboy Gary. It was daunting stuff, like how were they going to dismiss Black. Gary brought it up while playing Halo.
“I bet that Black dude gonna get your scholarship.” He commented. Jay narrowed his eyes.
“Yeah right. At long as I’m on that team, ol’ boy never taking what I deserve.”
“Okay so how you’re gonna get back ya’ spot?”
“I don’t know. I thought of one thing but that was too drastic.”
“What it was on some death stuff?” Gary asked.
“Sort of. I was thinking about drugging his Gatorade.”
Gary burst out laughing and dropped his joystick all in one motion. Jay eyed him a bit frustrated. He was serious about all of this and all Gary could do was joke and laugh. Gary saw Jay’s scowl and stopped laughing.
“My bad Jay.”
“Whatever man. Look, I think it might work.”
“Hmmm… like how?”
“I don’t know but your Pops always taking sleeping pills and he’s usually knocked out in a couple of minutes. Steal some for me.”
“That strong stuff man you’re crazy. That’s prescribed.”
“So! You want me to get my spot back don’t you?”
“Alright man. I got you next week.” Gary said and continued playing the game.
            So Jay had it all planned. Thursday was the game before state so he wanted to drug him on that day and claim a comeback for old time sake. If he was to accomplish this, Jay needed to befriend him in some way because there was no way he could accomplish this when Black and him didn’t have any rapport.
            Before Jay headed to his locker on the third floor, he headed on the second floor to Black’s locker which was in the middle of the hall. He saw Black standing there rubbing the creases in his jacket. His glasses glistened from afar and his face was mellow. Jay then spotted Alana, his crush. She was walking towards Black from the opposite side. Jay felt himself become nervous, wondering if she was going to pass so he could do his job.
But Alana didn’t. She actually stopped at Black’s locker flashing him a sweet smile. Jay felt his heart drop when Black gave her a hug and they started to speak in a playful manner. Every part of Jay’s body felt stuck. Jay honestly couldn’t grasp what she saw in him. See Black was the loner type. He’d hang with people if he had to but other than that he’d be alone doing school work. While Alana was on the cheerleading team, into volleyball, valedictorian, and a outgoing girl.  Jay never knew they were together. It was strange.
Alana and Black joked while she tossed her books in his locker. Jay’s mind ran. He was confused. Should he step up to Black and continue his mission? Or should he just wait another time. Should he continue or leave? Continue, leave?
Jay continued down the hall towards Black and Alana. His goal was to show up, show off, and take Alana off Black’s arm and all at once build some rapport. It seemed tricky but Jay thought he had it in him to handle it.
“Alana! My boo!” Jay shouted making her take notice of him. Alana smiled lightly at him while Black just stared. When Jay arrived he scooped Alana in his arm, moving her away from Black. Black didn’t do much but stare and scooted his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. “You good Black?” Jay asked.
“Yeah.” Black said simply. “Just um…getting ready for class.”
“Em, right. Yo, look how about after school you and I go shoot some hoops. Maybe some of that winning streak magic can rub off me.” Jay suggested. And I can take my position back, fool.
“I have a track meet. But maybe afterwards you know?”
“Yeah let’s do that.” Jay said. He noticed Alana was moving a lot. He looked at her to see her itching to get from out under his arm. “Alright girl I’m gonna let you go hold on?” He said making Alana giggle. He gave Alana a warm hug and then let her go.
“Bye Jay.” She said, blushing.

“We can make money off this Jay.” Gary said bouncing the ball around him. They were in the school’s gymnasium for the afternoon playing some hoops and relaxing. It was Jay, Gary, Fredrick their center, and Marlin their forward.
“Money off of me playing one on one with Black?” Jay questioned, “People don’t care that much.”
“Yes they do.” Fredrick jumped in, “According to this text I just got back from a couple of sweeties, they would love to see y’all battle it out.”
“Really? Alright then.” Jay said.
“We’ll set the price to two dollars.” Gary said, tossing the ball towards the hoop. It swooshed in and bounced on the waxed floor. Jay collected it.

It was around 6 pm when Jay arrived at the neighborhood recreation center. He stepped into the gymnasium and seen a crowd on the bleachers sitting and chatting. Those must be all of Gary’s people, he thought eyeing familiar faces.
Alana was in the middle of the crowd next to her friend Felicia. She had headphones plugged in her ears and was giggling. Jay then caught her eye and she smiled at him. Something inside made him reconsider what he thought earlier, that she was dating Black. They way she stared at him just seemed as though she wanted to get to know him. Like she had no ties, like she was single.