Training Again

*Sound Effects*

**Language**

'Thoughts'

"Dialogue"

Arriving at the familiar gym where we practiced, Coach went to go grab a cup of coffee, clearly still exhausted from his actual job being an assistant coach at school. As I got nearer and peered into the gym, I couldn't help but smiling, feeling that this place had become a second home. Similar to the park near my apartment, this gym had quickly become a space where I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into honing my game.

*Click* I heard the familiar sound as the lights illuminated the gym. As usual, I arrived early with Coach. Instead of taking the bus home and then waiting for Coach to drive to the gym, he now takes me straight to the gym after work. I can't help but appreciate the man; I don't understand where he gets his energy to be an assistant coach on top of coaching an AAU team. The only thing I knew was that he had a love for basketball and that he was an obvious bulls fan.

I placed my bag on the floor, quickly taking off my casual shoes for the new Jordans Coach had given me. 'I almost hate to ruin em,' I thought, before quickly dismissing the notion. After all, basketball shoes were meant to be played in. Grabbing my MP4 and queuing up "Eminem - Till I Collapse," I hopped onto the court, starting my warm-up routine.

As I was dribbling and going through my routine, I heard a familiar voice behind me. "Yo, Javi!" It was a voice I knew all too well. I turned around, a wide grin on my face as I saw my best friend, Isaiah. I immediately stopped what I was doing, dapped him up, and gave him a lighthearted shove.

"Ready to join an actual team, huh?" I said, teasingly. But underneath the teasing tone, there was genuine excitement to have him on board.

"Yeah, you know, I missed actually touching the ball," he said, joking back. "So where is everyone else?" he added playfully.

"Unlike you and me, the others show up a second before 4:30. Well, except Isaac, he has an excuse since his school doesn't get out as early as ours," I mentioned.

"Ah," he said, understandingly. He didn't take much longer before grabbing his belongings, tossing them to the side, lacing up his shoes, and warming up on the court.

A few minutes passed, and Marcus and Xavier arrived at the gym simultaneously, followed closely by everyone else. Coach Will was near the back, sipping his coffee, which he soon noticed was hotter than he expected, causing him to wince. Worried that the team might not know about Caleb no longer being on the team and perhaps holding some resistance to Isaiah, I stepped forward and began, "I don't know if Coach told y'all..." before getting interrupted.

"Yeah, we know," Xavier said, with Marcus nodding in agreement, followed by some affirmative responses from the others. I stood there in a stupor, wondering if Coach had informed them before me.

"I sent out a text to them about the situation," Coach mentioned apologetically, realizing that he had neglected to tell me this vital piece of information.

"What, he didn't text you?" Dylan asked as he wiped out his Nokia, not aware of my financial situation. I didn't take offense and replied, "Nah, I've never a phone." I tried my best not to appear sad and continued, "Don't worry about it; it could be worse – I could not have an MP4," I said with a chuckle, prompting laughter from everyone and quickly dissipating the awkwardness.

However, all of a sudden, Dylan's phone accidentally slipped from his fingertips as he was laughing. Instantly, everyone stopped laughing, and time seemed to slow down as the phone fell to the floor. 'Oh no, his phone's gonna break,' I thought. "Noooo!," I heard Dylan exclaim as I also heard Coach voice the same, but I wasn't sure what he'd be so upset about. As the phone neared the floor, everyone watched as the Nokia hit the ground and left a slight dent in the court.

"What the hell!?" I exclaimed, echoing what everyone was thinking.

"Nooooo," I heard Coach say again, realizing that he probably knew that this phone would damage the floors. Not too long after, everyone couldn't help but laugh at the coach's expression, as if he'd just witnessed a calamity of epic proportions.

"Anyway, everyone, meet Isaiah," Coach Will said after the laughter subsided, though he still looked a bit downcast over the dented floor situation. Introductions followed as Isaiah greeted each member, learning their names and positions. He appeared pleased that it wasn't a hostile environment, a welcome change from his usual interactions with the Varsity basketball team.

As everyone finished meeting Isaiah, I didn't forget to add, "I don't know if Coach let y'all know about Isaiah's skills, but I can personally vouch for him. When he wants to, it's hard to keep him from scoring," I said with a smile.

"Oh yeah?... 1v1?" Dylan began jokingly. After a brief moment of silence, everyone except Isaiah burst out laughing, understanding the insinuation.

Isaiah looked around with a confused expression. "What's that mean?" he asked. I quickly gave him a rundown of the context, and he couldn't help but laugh a little before looking at the team and adding while pointing his thumb in my direction, "You won't believe how many times Javi got challenged to a 1v1 at the park before completely destroying the other person."

"I believe it," Coach Will said confidently.

We started practice with a series of drills that focused on passing, teamwork, and communication. Coach Will had us working on precision passes, emphasizing the importance of hitting our teammates in their respective hot zones on the grooves where the best grip was. We moved seamlessly through the drills, each player showcasing their skills.

As for me, I focused on using my agility and court vision to facilitate ball movement and create opportunities for my teammates. The synergy was palpable as we seamlessly executed plays, with each player understanding their role and making the right moves.

Coach Will made sure to reinforce the importance of teamwork and trust on the court. He stressed that basketball was not just about individual talent but about working together to achieve a common goal. We absorbed his wisdom like sponges, as he explained that having two superstars with no synergy was worse than having a single superstar surrounded by teammates who had great chemistry. We were determined to be that cohesive unit, and Coach Will's guidance became our beacon.

As practice concluded, we formed a tight-knit circle at center court, all of us drenched in sweat but wearing satisfied smiles. Coach commended our hard work and dedication, noting the progress we had made in just one session with Caleb. It was clear that we were evolving into a formidable team, and the camaraderie was growing stronger by the minute.

With the sun setting outside, Coach Will surprised us with an unexpected treat. He led us to the adjacent room, which housed a well-maintained pool. The sight of it brought cheers and excitement from the team. We jumped into the water, relishing the cool relief it offered after our intense workout.

The pool session was filled with laughter, and splashing of one another. It was a perfect way to unwind and bond as a team. The fatigue from our long day of practice melted away in the water, and the smiles on our faces reflected the newfound friendships and the unity we were building. 'I think off-the-court bonding is as, if not more, important than on-the-court bonding,' I pondered. 

As I swam and laughed alongside my teammates, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment and happiness. This day, with its intense drills, valuable lessons, and moments of camaraderie, was something I would remember for years to come. It was the beginning of a journey, and I was excited to see where it would lead us.

As I arrived home, dropped off by Coach, I climbed the stairs and fished my key out of my bag to unlock the door. The scene outside was bathed in darkness, with the only sources of light being the flickering lampposts that lined the quiet street. The sound of raucous laughter from my brothers greeted me instantly as I stepped inside, I couldn't help but smile realizing I was home. 'Probably playing some Mortal Kombat again' I thought jokingly as I made my way through the small apartment. 

I noticed the light above the table was on, and a meal was waiting for me with a note beside it. Ever since I started going to practice and staying late, I rarely saw my mom because she needed to sleep early in order to wake up even earlier for her house cleaning job. Despite this, she'd always make sure to leave me a meal to come home to.

I picked up the note and began to read it before warming up my food. 'I believe in you - Love Mom' it said. A warm smile spread across my face. I felt immensely grateful for her sacrifices. Without her, I don't know who I'd be, but I knew that I wouldn't like that person. Reading the note, I felt a renewed determination, never forgetting what I was working for.

I went to warm up my food in the microwave, and while I waited for it to finish, I reminded my brothers to keep it down for Mom. I knew they were just having fun and didn't mean any harm, but I wanted to at least remind them of how she was sleeping. I returned just in time to stop the microwave before it went off, trying to be as quiet as possible. I quickly chowed down the delicious meal, a habit I didn't know where I picked up but my mom who always tease and scold me for eating too fast.

Getting up to throw my food in the trash, I noticed a paper buried in the trash of food. I don't know what possessed me, but I grabbed it. As my eyes scanned the paper, my heart plummeted. "Past Due?" I whispered aloud, the words echoing with a sense of impending doom.

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A/N: Hope you're liking the story development so far, I want to make a story that really flushes out the character and adds depth to them. I don't want to simply make a novel that only goes from game to game and doesn't show any of the off the court activity. As always, I'd love to hear what you think!