Page 9 of Full Court Press

It took me thirty minutes to shower and get myself together. I purposely took more time than I would have because I didn’t feel like talking. I was tired as shit, and when that happened, I usually became irritable.

I slid my duffel bag over my shoulder and walked out the double doors, back into the gym. When I looked in the stands, I saw the girl who sat in the lounge in the Coretta dorms.

I could never forget her face.

Those pretty-ass, doe-shaped eyes, Angelina Jolie lips, and round face had me staring at her a minute too long. Although she was pretty, I knew she wasn’t my type. She looked nerdy and mean, like she had a chip on her shoulder and shopped at the Goodwill. I mean, I wasn’t one to judge, but she just looked like she didn’t care about impressing herself, let alone anyone else.

“You ready, fam?” Lamar asked me, walking over to me out of nowhere with Sabrina, Jalen, and Keith behind him.

“What y’all niggas trying to get into?” I asked.

“It’s a bonfire up the hill. We’re about to kick it for a minute.”

I nodded. “I gotta get back to Kiy.”

“It’s only for an hour,” Sabrina said, giving me the flirty eyes.

I internally shook my head. This chick was giving that pussy out like it was going out of stock.

“I gotta go talk to shorty real quick. I’ll meet y’all up there.”

“Ew. Don’t talk to that bum. I got a better girl for you than her. She doesn’t even look like the type you’d go for. Hell, Nia is a way better option than her,” Sabrina said, turning her nose up. The fellas chuckled.

I chuckled lightly. “It’s for an interview for the paper. Chill.”

“Mannn, them motherfuckas know enough about you.” Jalen laughed.

“I’ll get up with y’all,” I told them, heading toward the bleachers where shorty sat.

“We’ll wait, nigga. Hurry up,” Lamar said to my back. When I got closer, she stood and held her hand out to me.

“Piper Sawyer. I’m the journalist for the school’s newspaper. I only have about five questions to ask you, then we’ll be done.”

She retracted her hand once she noticed I wasn’t reciprocating the gesture.

“Yeah. Let’s just get this over wit’,” I said, really not interested in doing this interview. The school always wanted the post-game highlights for their newspapers. While sometimes I didn’t mind, this time, I wasn’t feeling it.

Shorty looked like she wanted to roll her eyes but thought better of it.

“How do you handle pressure on the court? And how do you stay motivated after losses?”

I took a minute before I answered her. “I don’t get pressured, and we never lose.” It was a vague and arrogant answer, but as I stated before, I got cranky when I was tired. Shorty didn’t deserve my negative energy, but I figured if I didn’t give her much, she’d leave me be.

I could feel those big, pretty eyes glaring at my profile as I closed my eyes and pretended not to feel her burning a hole in my face.

“Ignorance,” she mumbled under her breath, but I heard her loud and clear. My eyes popped open as I kept my smirk at bay and looked at her.

“What was that?” I asked.

“Nothing. Let’s take a shot at your character. Describe a situation where you had to demonstrate leadership or had to motivate your teammates.”

“He motivated wit’ deez nuuuts,” Keith jested as the rest of them laughed.

“Childish,” Piper mumbled again.

“Say it louder for the people in the back, Pippy Longstocking,” Sabrina said, stepping closer.

“Oh, maybe you didn’t hear me with all the cum in your ears.”