14 Surprise

*Sound Effects*

**Language**

'Thoughts'

"Dialogue"

The memories of our first AAU game continued to echo in my mind. I can still feel the rhythmic bounce of the ball and the satisfying swish as it found nothing but the bottom of the net.

Our Wednesday AAU games have become a regular occurrence, and we've played five games since that first encounter. Luckily, we still stand undefeated, often securing victories by no less than 20 points. With the December break approaching, there's currently a hiatus in our games, set to resume after New Year's.

Reflecting on the past five games, I find myself smiling. While the competition mostly comprised local teams and didn't pose a significant challenge, I managed to maintain an impressive average of 27 points and 11 assists. Overcoming initial hurdles related to my height and enduring trash talk, I swiftly earned the respect of both opponents and spectators alike by showcasing my skills on the court. The camaraderie among my teammates also blossomed, as we bonded over shared interests, discovering Elijah's unexpected enthusiasm for bowling. It was surprising, considering his intense demeanor, but having a guy like him in our corner was always a good thing.

I rose from bed and went through the routine of brushing my teeth before preparing for school. Stepping outside, a shiver ran down my spine as the cold December air enveloped me. 'Why is it so cold?' I pondered, considering the unusual chill for the South. 'At least today is the last day before winter break,' I mused, exiting the apartment and ensuring my brothers didn't miss the bus engrossed in video games.

As a senior, the approach of December prompted reflections on my future. It was time to apply for colleges, a step some took earlier, but I held off, hoping basketball would illuminate my path. Despite this, I had taken the SAT, scoring a decent 1200 out of 1600. My intellect had always been present, but I directed it more towards dissecting NBA games and utilizing it on the court to seize opportunities rather than emphasizing academics.

*hissssssssssssssss*

The bus screeched to a halt, jolting me out of the daydream I was lost in. "Let's go," I urged my freezing brothers who were standing beside me. Boarding the bus, we each found our own spots; my brothers sat with their friends while I opted for a solitary seat. Without any close friends on the bus, I didn't mind the solitude. I usually plugged in my headphones, immersing myself in music and enjoying the ride.

Before I knew it, the bus had arrived at school, and a rush ensued as everyone hurried off, seeking refuge from the biting cold. Heading to my first-period history class, I couldn't help but revel in the thought of a two-week break from that particular class. Climbing the stairs to the room, I overheard a conversation.

"Have you heard about the basketball team?" a guy exclaimed. My curiosity immediately piqued; I had always been interested in the team, and from what I gathered through the morning announcements, they were struggling. Their school record lingered at one of the lowest points in the district, a mere 2-8, while the top school, Rivercreak High School, boasted a flawless 10-0 record in basketball.

"No, what happened?" a curious female voice inquired.

"So, you know Trevor?" he asked. "Yeah, I know him. He's starting for varsity, right?" she replied.

"Yeah, well, he's not really the best. Actually, there's a conspiracy going around that he's only on the team because his mom and dad donate money to the sports program," he disclosed. My mouth slightly opened in surprise; suddenly, everything seemed to fall into place. The reason for Trevor's favoritism from the coach after tryouts likely stemmed from these connections. This revelation might have also played a role in my failure to make the team.

"What about it?" the girl responded, seemingly unbothered by the revelation.

"Well, there was an altercation between him and one of the starters, Isaiah, during practice. Afterward, Isaiah was let go. Nobody's openly admitting who initiated it, but based on the rumors, Trevor alluded to someone he knew who didn't make the team due to their height, and that seemed to trigger Isaiah's reaction," he elaborated.

"Oh my gosh," the girl gasped. As soon as I heard this, I turned to leave the building, unwilling to hear more about the incident.

As the sinking feeling gripped my stomach, I thought, 'Oh no...' I rushed to the office where I first spoke with Coach. Upon arrival, I scanned the area for Coach Will. In the hallway, I spotted Isaiah standing with his backpack slung half over his shoulder, looking down.

'Thank god,' I thought, relieved that I managed to catch him. "Isaiah!" I called out as I walked briskly toward him. He looked over with a downcast expression. "I heard about you getting cut, man. What happened?" I questioned, worry evident in my voice.

Before he could offer an explanation, Coach Will emerged from the office, signaling us to keep it quiet. He gestured toward his office, and we quickly followed, Coach Will closing the door and locking it. He peeked through the shutter to ensure no one was disturbed by the commotion.

"What's going on, Coach?" I inquired, looking at both of them. Isaiah hesitated before glancing over at Coach Will for confirmation, receiving a nod. "Well," he began, but Coach Will intervened, sensing the quivering in Isaiah's voice.

"During practice, Trevor was still upset about the previous game where he failed to score out of 10 shots, causing the team to lose by 30 points to Rivercreak High," he explained before pausing. "As a result, Isaiah told him that it was his fault they lost because he refused to pass the ball even when none of his shots were connecting," Coach Will continued. I nodded, absorbing the story so far.

"Trevor took offense to Isaiah's comment and shoved him. Before that, he made a less-than-friendly remark about you, his friend, suggesting that you couldn't even touch the backboard if your life depended on it...using some rather vulgar words," he paused before finishing his explanation

Before Coach Will could continue, Isaiah interjected, "So I gave him what he deserved, a right hook to the chin," he said. I felt a myriad of emotions, from gratitude for standing up for me to concern as Isaiah had gotten cut because of it.

"You didn't have to do that, man. Now you're no longer on the team," I said with concern.

"Yeah, well, he deserved it," Isaiah replied. Then, he continued, "Also, I never got any good looks on the team anyways. Trevor always ball hog's and Coach Carter doesn't reprimand him at all. Plus, I heard that y'all were looking for a new shooting guard," he said excitedly. I glanced questioningly over at Coach Will since I knew we had a full roster. Sensing my confusion, he explained, "Caleb isn't able to play anymore with the team. His parents were very strict about him joining and told him that if his grades slipped, he would need to quit. Well, that happened, and now he can't play with us anymore," Coach Will finished.

Still puzzled, I asked, "Still that doesn't make sense" I replied. It wasn't that I didn't want Isaiah to play, but it didn't make sense since I knew Caleb loved basketball.

"I tried, trust me, but Caleb himself made the final call. He's passionate about basketball, but being a senior and having a solid SAT score, he doesn't want to risk his college prospects by letting his grades slip. So, he's focusing all his efforts on regaining his academic standing," Coach explained.

I nodded, finding it hard to believe, but it made sense.

"So, Isaiah is going to join us in our AAU team, and we're gonna need to practice during the break. Initially, I wanted y'all to get a break, but we're gonna need the time to readjust with a new player," he mentioned, motioning to Isaiah.

"Sounds good to me," I said, unable to contain my smile at the thought of playing with my best friend. "Don't worry about Isaiah; I've played with him for a year at the park, I know his style," I added reassuringly.

"Yeah, 2v2s, we'd never lose," Isaiah chimed in confidently.

Coach Will smiled. "Good, because practice starts next week again," he declared.

"Sounds good," we both replied. As we were about to leave the office, Coach Will stopped me. "Javi, wait for a second," he said, prompting Isaiah to leave the room while I stayed back, curious about Coach's request.

"What's up, Coach?" I asked, curious about why he wanted me to stay back.

"Well, I got you something," he said, reaching down to grab a present wrapped in red and green striped paper. "Consider it an early Christmas gift." He handed it to me with a smile, surprising me.

"What!? Coach, you didn't have to get me anything," I protested.

"Yeah, well, I know about your situation, so I got you something. Trust me, you'll be needing it," he said, motioning for me to open the gift. As I began unwrapping, I noticed the absence of his ring; instead, there was a faint line on his hand where the ring used to be.

"What happened to your ring?" I inquired.

"I left it at home by accident," he casually replied, deflecting the question. He urged me to continue unwrapping, and I soon found a black box with a red symbol in the middle.

"No way!" I exclaimed, opening the gift faster. Inside was a pair of black and grey Air Jordan 4's. "Are you serious!?" I asked, looking at Coach.

"Yes, I'm serious," he teased. "I noticed how you'd look down at your shoes occasionally games."

I couldn't contain my excitement as I put the shoes on, feeling the cold sensation of a never-worn pair. The shoes fit perfectly, and I immediately tested them out with different footwork positions, appreciating the thoughtful gift from Coach Will.

"They fit perfectly," I stated, looking at Coach. He smiled and said, "I'm glad."

"How did you know my size?" I questioned.

"Your mom. Whenever I was picking you up, and you were talking a little long, I went up and ended up meeting her. I asked her your shoe size so I could get you a pair," he explained.

"She was hesitant, not wanting to accept it, but I convinced her eventually," he chuckled while adding.

"I don't know what to say," I admitted, feeling genuinely touched. "You don't need to say anything. Merry Christmas, Javi," he said with a smile. I quickly ran over and gave him a hug. I wasn't usually emotional, having learned to control my emotions from an early age, but this gesture truly touched my heart. Few people in my life had shown me such kindness or belief in me, aside from my mom.

Coach Will was initially surprised but quickly reciprocated the hug and patted me on the back. "Now you can play even harder with those shoes. No more worrying about slipping," he chuckled.

This was a moment I'd never forget in my life. While I was always motivated to pay back those who trash-talked and were mean to me, I was even more determined to repay the kindness shown by Coach Will.

"Now, hurry up; first period starts in 3 minutes," he said, smiling. "Can't you just write me a note?" I said hopefully. "No can do, bud," he replied, shooing me off with a smile.

'Ah shit here we go again' I thought as I made my way to history class.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: What a heartwarming chapter! I hope you all continue to enjoy the evolving relationships and the story, especially with Isaiah joining the team and the deepening bond between Coach and Javi. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments. If you'd like to show your support for the novel, I'd be truly grateful for your reviews or your vote using power stones below.