Pups Save A Basketball Game Novels & Stories

I had been asked countless questions about my hair, and when they didn't seem to believe this mess on my head was natural, I simply let them believe what they wanted to believe. "We're here?" I glanced at the car window. I did notice the familiar street going to the animal shelter we visited a week ago. "I'm sorry I dozed off." "That's fine," Anya innocently and absentmindedly murmured as she fidgeted on the pink leash on her lap. It was a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Bello, her parents, who, after long deliberation and deep thought, finally let their daughter have her first puppy. They said it was a reward for Anya for being a good girl and doing good at school.

She dips me awkwardly, the angle all wrong, and we nearly topple into the guy doing the worm beside us. “You’re ridiculous,” I manage through my giggles. “Damn right I am,” she says proudly, pulling me upright and twirling me again. The bass fades, replaced with the first notes of Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore, and the room explodes in cheers. A roaring wave of excitement rolls through the crowd like a wildfire. And as if on cue, the basketball team makes their entrance, one by one, arms slung around each other, looking like they own the place.

That was all she said before getting up and going inside. Well shit, I thought. I turned and walked down the steps heading to the cemetery. I really hope he’s just visiting, but I know he’s not. As I walk down the street, the hair on the back of my neck stands up—someone’s watching me. I look around, and it’s not hard to see why. Everyone is watching me like a hawk as I walk down the sidewalk. Most houses are in rough shape like Thomas. A group of kids are playing basketball in the middle of the street. They made their own hoop out of a 4x4 wooden post, a 5-gallon bucket with the bottom cut off, and a plywood backboard. A kid missed his shot, and the basketball rolled in my direction. I pick

“We’ll celebrate after.” I point at her with both hands and mouth *Love you*. Making her scream even louder like a big, adorable fan girl. Halle is here too, sitting beside her, laughing and waving a smaller pom pom. Vincent takes his place at the centre. Malik lines up beside me as a shooting guard. Diego and Ian flanked the wings with three other players, and Jamal anchoring the other forward spot. The ref tosses the ball. Tip-off. Vincent wins the jump clean, tapping it back to Malik, who pushes the ball up court and hits me on the wing with perfect pace. I jab-step my defender, rise up and swish, straight through the fucking hoop.

“Hey, guys. Thanks for coming over.” Jace set the pizza on the kitchen island, popped a beer and handed it to me. “Mark said you might get lonely. Figured we’d keep you company. Plus, the game’s on.” I took the beer. Cold. Sharp. “Game?” “Basketball. Playoffs. You in?” I shrugged. “Sure. Why not.” We moved to the living room. Couch. TV on. Pizza slices. Beer number two. The game droned in the background—cheers, buzzers, commentators—but none of us were really watching.

Mason glared at him, he was upset. The referee blew the whistle, and the game began after the ball was thrown in; Jayden took possession of it and came towards Mason; he threw it up towards the hoop, but Mason blocked. The game went on for a few minutes. Mason had eight points and Jayden ten, but Mason was losing focus. The audience kept on cheering; Mason dribbled past Jayden and got the ball into the hoop. Jayden tried to block, but Mason threw the ball into the hoop once again, and then the whistle was blown for a minute break.

Hell, even the coach had given up on them, with the school's funding of the game being their last hope, ergo leaving the team's name at an incredibly stupid irony. To their delight, Xander accepted to join the Dunk Kings as they started a game among themselves, with Xander shocking everyone with his killer moves, not to mention he had just the right body to play basketball. To the other world of football, Lucas and the Jaguars were on a try out when he noticed how the court was suddenly becoming empty. "Where's everybody going?" he asked team captain, Scott. "I heard something about basketball," came his reply before tossing over a ball at Lucas.

There are green spaces for the pups to run around and landscaped flower beds. The sun is setting, and the lamps have been lit when I let myself into the courtyard. I hear the thump, thump of a basketball. Amir is shooting baskets in the near dark. The gears in my brain, which have been grinding since I saw Wrenlee’s cheek, click into place. “Hey,” I say. I clap and hold out my hands. Amir passes the ball. I shoot. It bounces off the rim. “Did you sleep through Human Sport?” Amir asks. He dribbles, shoots, and the net goes swish.

I wanted to be invisible right now. The men came all dressed in shorts, ready to play ball. Tanya, Elisabeth, Harper, Layla, Eleanor and Josephine were dressed for the ball too. They were joining in along with some Kappas to complete the teams. Especially Wilson. I didn't know Wilson was back in Lucland. Had I known the women could really join, I would have signed up. But I didn't want to play ball right now; tea, gossip, and cheering the men would do for now.

like really. The girls of his team surrounded me and their long nails were poking me everywhere!! I can't go any further but who said I was not going to try. Holding the ball above my head over this flock of stinging bees I aimed at the basket and left the ball. The flock turned around to look at the basket along with everyone. My eyes shined with hope when I saw the ball directly hitting the nets without even touching the board. Strike 1 shot 1 I smiled and high fived Raven as people around cheered.