Chapter 19
Riley
It takes two more practices for me to get a chance to play.
On Thursday, I stand next to Star. We’re both sweating from warming up and shooting on the sidelines.
We’re only a few minutes into practice when I finally get called.
“You.” It takes me a moment to realize Coach Parella is talking to me.
She hasn’t bothered to learn any of our names yet.
And then she says the words I’ve been dreading.
“Under the hoop. Left power forward.” She doesn’t ask me what position I play; she just tells me which one to play now.
“Go get it,” Star says, pushing me forward.
I don’t give myself a chance to think. I run over to the spot under the hoop.
I’m not a forward; I’ve always been a shooting guard.
Most people think I play forward because I’m tall, but I have always excelled as a shooting guard.
But Coach Parella isn’t asking. I know how to play this position; it’s just not the one I excel in.
I watch as our point guard brings the ball down the court.
I post up and get ready to make something out of this position.
They pass it around the top and then down to the other forward who goes in for a shot.
She misses, and I go up for the rebound.
But one of the guys gets higher than me and pulls it down and sends it down the court.
I race to the other end and set up for defense.
We're man to man now, and I find my guy. I’m on him like glue, and when he gets the ball; I’m there.
He ends up passing it back out. One of their really tall guys gets into the paint.
Another girl and I close in on him, but he shoots over us and makes it.
I grab the ball and jump out of bounds and pass it in; then run to the other end.
And so it goes. Back and forth; back and forth.
I let myself get into the rhythm and feel of it and not think.
I do okay on defense, but offense keeps getting away from me.
I keep overthinking it. My teammate passes me the ball down low, and I post up.
But at the last second, I chicken out and don’t take the shot.
I pass it instead. Coach Parella does not like that.
“If you don’t want to shoot; then get off my court!
” After that, it seems like I can’t get off her radar.
She yells at me at both ends of the court.
Everything I do is wrong. Another time, I get the ball and go for the shot; but one of the guys blocks it.
“Worthless!” She shouts. “Absolutely worthless.”
I run to the other end with my face burning.
I just want to survive this practice. I’ve had coaches scream at me over the years but nothing like this.
This is brutal. There are no water breaks, no chances to go over strategy.
It’s just brutal, on-going play. The sweat pours off me, but I keep going.
I run up and down the court over and over and over again.
It doesn’t escape my notice that the other girls continue to get changed out.
I don’t say anything; I don’t even look over at Coach Parella.
I remind myself this is why I train so hard every day.
I finally manage to score down low, but all I get is, “It’s about time. ”
Mercifully, she finally blows the whistle.
I join the others in running over to Coach.
“If you haven’t gotten a chance to play yet, you will get a chance tomorrow.
I will make my decision over the weekend, so those of you who are cut won’t need to bother showing up on Monday. Five hundred shots before you go.”
I walk over to the ball rack and grab a ball. Star joins me at the hoop we’ve been shooting at all week. “Hey,” she says softly. “You did good out there.”
I laugh. “We both know I didn’t, but thanks for the kind words.”
“You did, and she didn’t take you out. So, that’s saying something.”
“Hey.” I turn at the sound of the male voice and see the guy that was guarding me on and off today. “I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Cameron.”
“I’m Riley, and that’s Star.” He smiles at both of us. I can tell he wants to say something more, but I'm worried about getting in trouble for standing around and talking when we’re supposed to be shooting.
“It’s nice to officially know your name.” Then I grab my ball and shoot. He leaves us, thankfully, and Star and I continue on.
We don’t talk; I don’t have the energy to.
I just played three hours straight of basketball.
My legs feel like jelly, and I’m not done yet.
It takes Star and me right around two hours to get our five hundred shots a piece in.
I grab my bag and head for the showers. I don’t always take a shower after practice, especially if I’m heading right home.
But tonight, I have to. “I’m heading to the showers,” I tell Star.
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She starts to walk away. “Star,” I call out, and she turns back. “Tomorrow. Tomorrow's the day.”
She smiles. “It’d better be.”
“You’ll get your chance, and you’ll slay us all with your skills.”
She grins again. “See you tomorrow.”
I head into the bathroom to take a shower.
I’m hoping to get in and get out, so I can meet up with Reid.
He knows now not to wait for me right away.
Several girls are already in the bathroom.
Of course, the two girls I had the run-in with are just inside the bathroom when I come in.
Now, I know their names are Jaida and Angeline, both returning players from last year. “You finally got to play,” Jaida says.
Angeline huffs out a laugh. “If you could call it that. Have you ever played basketball before?”
I ignore them and head to the showers. I take a fast shower and keep my bag close, not trusting one of them to take it.
As soon as I’m done, I dress in shorts and a t-shirt.
I throw my hair into a wet braid, slip on flip flops, and throw my bag over my shoulder and make my way to the door.
I finally leave the locker room behind and make my way for the exit.
I just want to see Reid and get a big hug from him. “Blackwood.”
I turn at the sound of my last name and see Coach Parella standing with several coaching staff across the gym.
She waves me over, and I walk over to them, being careful to stay off the court.
I stop a few feet from them. I don’t look over at the guys from the practice squad who are shooting around.
She doesn’t look up from her clipboard. “Do you always dress like a bum?” Her words so startle me, I don’t respond a moment.
I must wait too long to answer because she looks up from her clipboard and looks down my body, letting her eyes linger on my flip flops.
“If that’s the way you dress and carry yourself, no wonder you’re so terrible on the court.
” I feel my face burn in embarrassment and have no idea what to say.
“You have played basketball before, right?”
I feel my heart sink all the way to my toes. “Yes, Ma’am.” She scoffs at me, and I react. “I’m actually here on a basketball scholarship. But I’m used to playing as a shooting guard. That’s where I’ve always played.”
She stares me down, and I know I’ve just made things worse. She cocks her head to the side. “Are you telling me how to coach?”
I don’t dare look away. “No, Ma’am.”
She continues to stare at me. “Players that can only play one position are worthless to me.” I swallow hard and force myself not to react.
“I don’t care that you’re here on a scholarship.
If you can’t prove to me that you deserve a spot, you won’t get one.
Only the girls that earn a spot on my team get to play for me.
I don’t care who their brothers are, and I don’t care about scholarships.
” I feel my heart drop even more. She knows who Zane is, and in this case, it’s not in my favor.
“You’ve got one chance to prove to me tomorrow that you deserve a spot on my team. Don’t blow it.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“It’s Coach,” she says in response, and I correct myself.
“Yes, Coach.”
She turns back to her coaching staff, and I figure I’m excused.
I do my best to keep my head held high as I make my way over to the door.
I leave the gymnasium behind and walk down the hallway towards the exit doors.
I'm thankful for the breeze on my face when I step outside.
My eyes search the fading daylight for him.
He steps out of the shadows, and I walk towards him.
I just want to be wrapped up in his strong arms. I need his scent wrapped around me.
But before I can get to him, somebody stops me. “Hey, Riley.”
I turn back to see Cameron jogging towards me. “Hey, Cameron.” I hope my voice sounds polite.
“Listen, Riley, I just wanted to check to make sure you’re okay and to tell you not to give up.” He glances over his shoulder and then steps closer. “Coach Parella is always hardest on the girls that have the most potential.”
I consider him in a new light. “You’ve been on the practice squad before?”
He nods. “This is my second year. I know she was brutal on you today, but that’s a good sign.”
“She was brutal to that girl on Monday, and she was cut the next day.”
He grimaces. “Yeah, but that was different. She really was terrible, but you’re not terrible.”
“Thanks,” I say dryly.
“No, seriously, if you need any help, I’d be happy to help you practice. I could show you some power forward moves, show you how to post up.”
I feel a presence at my back. “If she needs any help, I can help her.”
If I was in a better mood, I would smile at Reid’s possessive words; tonight, not so much. Cameron doesn’t look the least bit fazed to see Reid. In fact, he grins. “Hey, Reid. My brother told me to watch out for you.”
I glance up at Reid and see the confusion on his face, but then it clears. “You’re Caden’s younger brother.”
Cameron nods. “Yep.”
“Basketball must run in the family,” Reid says.
Cameron smiles. “Yeah. I wasn’t good enough to make the men’s team, but honestly, I really enjoy this.
It’s all the fun of good basketball without the stress of performing for games and all the traveling.
” He glances at me. “Don’t worry; my brother told me about Riley before I started.
I know she’s your girl. I’m just looking to help, nothing more. ”
Reid drops a hand to my lower back. “Thanks. But like I said, if she needs help, I’ll help her.”
Cameron puts both hands up. “Got it loud and clear. Well, you two have a good night. You’ve got this, Riley.” He turns and walks away.
Reid’s hand runs up and down my spine once.
“What was that about?” I turn to him, ready to explain; but instead, I find myself stepping into him and wrapping my arms around him.
His arms come around me a moment later. “Ry?” he asks quietly as he runs his hand up and down my spine in a soothing fashion.
“Can we just go home?” I ask against his chest.
His hand on my spine stops, and I can feel the tension in him.
But I just want to get out of here. I’m a little worried that my coach is going to come out here any moment.
All I need is for her to catch me in Reid’s arms, and I’ll probably get in trouble for that too, just like my clothes.
I suddenly remember her words about me looking like a bum, and the shame and humiliation of tonight come roaring back.