Page 13 of Love & Streetball

“’Sup, nigga,” Vani said through a cough, slapping my hand. His head nodded toward where Slim was. “She ready.”

“She stay ready,” I chuckled. I removed my shirt and tossed it on the bench. “Aye, what size shoe she wear?”

Vani eyed me. Then he eyed Slim, letting his globes linger on her shoes.

“Uh, she an eight and a half. She ain’t gon’ want them comin’ from you, tho.”

I scoffed. “You ain’t telling me nothing I ain’t already know.”

We laughed.

“Slim stubborn as fuck,” he added. I nodded.

She looked over at us, our eyes locking. Her hair was up in a messy, curly high ponytail. Slim broke the stare down when she leaned over to pick up her ball. Vani howled in his fist.

“I see it’s more than just ball. You like my lil’ sis.” Vani wagged his finger at me, face turning serious now. “What’s it to you? You just came out of nowhere, and now you all in Slim’s face. Is this some type of bet to see if you can pull her ‘cause I’ll whoop yo ass right now.” Vani pulled up his shorts.

My lips pressed as my left cheek hiked. “Man, what? It ain’t even like that.”

Jalen walked up, slapping hands with me and Vani. He was the last player we were waiting for to start the game. Everyone started walking onto the court, and we broke down into teams. It was some new niggas that weren’t at last week’s game. They were already talking out the side of their necks. I caught Vani’s eyes twitching. I peered over at Slim, watching them the same way I was.

The tallest one, skinny with dreads, laughed loud enough for the court to hear. “Aye, I’ma cook shorty! She pretty and shit, but I’m a cook her!”

“Oh, you must not be from ‘round here!” Jalen cackled.

Vani shook his head. “Can’t be.”

Slim didn’t say anything. She just tilted her head the slightest bit, as if she was confused that the nigga was even talking.

“Ball up! We doin’ too much talkin’,” Vani snapped.

The guy snickered and licked his lips, but he ain’t respond. He just glanced over at one of his teammates with a smirk. Everyone took their place, and the game began. Sneakers scraped the concrete while bodies moved.

Slim passed by me mumbling, “He’s one of those.”

I squinted, and when I got near her again as Vani had the ball, I asked, “One of what?”

“One of those niggas that talk loud, but deep down he’s pussy. Make sure you don’t work him too hard, he looks like he’s a crybaby.”

I laughed. The nigga was talking shit the whole time, but wasn’t putting in no buckets. One of his boys was going up, and I jumped up and blocked the shit. The irritation that stirred in dude couldn’t be missed. His jaw clenched as he grilled me.

Jalen had the ball and passed it to Slim. The dude lunged for it, and Slim backed up, crossed him over, and the nigga fell on his ass.

“Ohhhhh!” everyone shouted.

That nigga rose and got in Slim’s face. Vani, Jalen, and I rushed over. Slim wasn’t backing down. She was talking just as much shit as he was dishing out. A vein was popping out of this nigga’s forehead.

“Aye, we don’t do that shit ‘round here,” Jalen popped off, getting between him and Slim.

‘Fuck you think this is?” Vani barked.

“Ayo, Benny…chill, bruh,” one of his homeboys said.

“Ain’t no chill. That bitch…”

Before he could say anything else, Vani had punched him in the nose, and it started leaking. I knew then that what followed wouldn’t be good. This was the shit my parents warned me about. This was what they wanted to keep me away from.

A fight broke out between the two. When one of Benny’s friends jumped in, Slim ran up, but I quickly grabbed her. A fist hit my jaw so hard my vision flashed white. I didn’t even see who swung; I just felt the impact snap my head to the side. I let Slim go and stole off on whoever I felt hit me.