The members of Dineso High’s basketball and cheerleading squad fell silent. They usually hated Coach Cameron’s mandatory, Saturday morning practice session. Rain, sleet, or snow, the basketball team were expected to run drills and play intense training games starting at 8 a.m sharp, and the girls were always forced to come for “moral support”, a name the coach used to reference the act of cheerleaders flailing about curiously and provocatively moving their hips. However, today was different. Three-on-Three basketball was in session, the timer was almost up, and the players’ once strategic planning was now replaced by an animalistic offense that would stop at nothing to score the winning shot.

The screeching and squeaking of gym shoes against the newly waxed gym floor echoed throughout the school’s gym and into its wide, vacant halls. Exasperated breathing and strained battle-cries pierced the tension filled room as the scent or sweat and spray-on deodorants that didn’t quite get the job done poured into stands.

“That would be much more useful out there,” a red team player said. His face was slightly boyish with faint traces of brown facial hair about his round, tanned chin; however his face now blushed crimson as adrenaline rushed through him. He was trapped, deadlocked with the only person who kept him from scoring.

The blue team member laughed, matching his opponent's every move. “I’m going pro! It will be used out there,” he exclaimed before effortlessly snatching the ball from his hand.

“You suck, Tariq,” a team member shouted across the court. The crowd of 30’s roar of cheers and groans rose.

“Three seconds, Trey!” Coach Cameron nodded his head as Trey rushed down the court with the ball in possession, his formidable dribbling skills duping each player silly enough to to face him.

Tariq grimaced as the final shot swooshed through the net.

“Blue team wins, 30-27! Get out of here, fellas.”

The locker room was almost empty, the floors damp from bottoms of wet flip-flops of the boys. The thick and ever-present stench of body odor and mildew nauseated Tariq.

“Still in here, Enrique? You didn’t even break a sweat,” Trey said, whipping Tariq’s arm with his towel before banging open his locker and getting dressed. Trey’s nickname for Tariq stuck ever since they first met in the 9th grade. He could only remember part of his name, and the rest was influenced by Tariq’s partial Latin American heritage.

Tariq laughed quietly. “You know you have an edge on me, man!”

“And you could have an edge too if you played your hand.”

The two left the locker room, and exited the gymnasium. It was a bit after 12 p.m, and the morning sun made the outdoors feel like a walk-in oven.

“It’s not fair, man,” Tariq said as he turned his head to the sky, squinting as the shining star stared at him.

“It is fair! You’re cheating yourself, bro.”

“No, you’re cheating yourself!”

“Tariq, it’s not like I’m popping pills or injecting myself. It’s completely natural.”

The two stopped at the light. Tariq thought about Trey’s last statement. It’s natural, he thought to himself. He stared out in front of him, cars speeding in and out of his view. He knew it was natural, but things aren’t just natural. There's always a reason. The light turned green, and his train of thought derailed.

“I mean, just knock the other team around a little! It’s not like they can call a foul."

Tariq sighed. “I don’t care about the game that much. This goes beyond the game.”

“Yeah, way beyond the varsity games. Can’t you see it: first college, and then the pros? The Olympics?! Man!” Trey’s last shout echoed through the neighborhood, prompting a few birds to flee from their shady trees.

“I know, I know, but this is bigger than basketball—this is life.”

Trey’s house was near, and Tariq’s a few turns east of his.

“Basketball is my life! It's the only way I'm getting into college, and the only way I'll make a living. It's definite,” Trey exclaimed, moving his hands about excitedly.

Tariq chuckled under his breath a bit. There was no getting through to Trey this time either, but he had faith that he would come around sometime. “Yeah, just maybe.”

“You might have the brains, but I'm stamped 'brawn-only'” he responded, then clapped hands with Tariq and headed home. He shouted as he continued on, “Party tonight at Carla’s. Hot chicks!”

Tariq nodded before turning onto a much shadier street. He was particularly fond of this street in particular. The scenery was beautiful. It was as though he stepped into an issue of national geographic. The trees were of deeper browns and greens, and the city’s wildlife were particularly attracted to the small piece of paradise that separated classes in Veras city.

A peculiar house was positioned in the middle of the block. Unlike it’s those adjacent to it, this house was brightly painted, and vines nearly swallowed the base of the house. Every time Tariq walked past it, an elegantly dressed girl sat on the porch as she fed the birds, and today was no different. Her long, dark hair was braided into a ponytail, which fell down her shoulder and breast, as well as accented her olive skin, and modelesque facial structure.

Tariq had never spoke to her, often intimidated by her appearance, and the odd birds that seemed to stare at him as passed, but today he needed a mood boost, and making a new acquaintance seemed like a good way to get it done.

Tariq stopped a few steps from her home’s walkway, and the birds turned to watch him as usual. He looked at them, then her, who seemingly paid him no attention, smiling as she tossed more seed onto the ground. The longer he watched her, the more his nerves got to him.

Shit, say something to her, he thought.

The girl placed the seed bag on the porch suddenly, and looked up at him.

Tariq let out a shocked scream, which then prompted her to scream. The birds flew away.

“I’m so sorry. I’ll go now, I just got—lost for a second.” Tariq hurriedly walked past the house.

“You walk by here everyday, Tariq,” she said, chuckling a bit to herself.

Tariq’s eyes widened. He stopped and turned to look at her. “Wha—you know me?”

“Everyone knows you Tariq. You’re the second best player on our basketball team.” She stood up and walked towards him, grinning.

Oh shit, she goes to Dineso? Tariq tried to think of a way to respond. “I’ve never noticed you,” he said, wincing afterward.

She nodded, “Yeah?”

“I mean, I have seen you around—just not in school.”

“Yeah, Dineso is a pretty big place, but—“

“Not that I’m following you around, or keeping tabs, or anything like that!” Tariq’s frustration with himself and his wording only made her laugh more.

“Calm down, Tariq! It’s alright.”

He looked down, laughing nervously.

The girl extended her hand to him. “I’m Alessia.”

Tariq shook her hand. It was soft and warm, but there was another quality he couldn’t quite pinpoint.

“Well Tariq, it was nice to meet you in person. I have to make a few runs, but remember me, ok? I know you know so many people.” Alessia chuckled.

I could never forget this, he thought to himself as he smiled and nodded as her before awkwardly turning away.

Alessia watched him before looking down at the squirrel beside her with a faint grin on her face.