𝐅𝐀𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒, deeplay4keeps

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐: FIRST DAY

nalaya was far from nervous about fitting in with her new team. being in a new school is what really had her scared shitless. her nerves were eased a bit knowing it was everyone else's first day too. this didn't stop her from wanting to make the best impression possible however.

she wore an black tight fitted dress that fell a few inches above her knees and a black and creme striped cardigan. the watch her brother had gotten her stayed hidden under the sweater. her olive green purse and black ricky owens completed the outfit. she took a second to fix her hair and collected her things. after shoving her basketball shoes into her bag, she left the guest bedroom and headed off to the kitchen.

"good morning nalaya. i hope your room was okay." the statement came out as a question.

"it's amazing. thank you, really. i just hope i can find a job soon. then i'll be able to help you out." nalaya could tell that coach yasmina was opposed to this.

"you don't have to. being on the team is more than enough." the woman's curls slightly bounced when she shook her head side to side. 

"i still want to be able to help in some way." nalaya wasn't going to let up. even though her words were soft and light, she was still stubborn.

"if you insist, the corner store down the street is hiring. i could drop you off after practice. speaking of.." yasmina looked down at her gold watch, "we should get going, shouldn't we?"

the car ride was quiet. coach yasmina gave nalaya a few pointers here and there, but overall silence took over. yasmina noticed the way nalaya anxiously fiddled with her watch. she couldn't help but find similarities between the girl and her younger self. a rough exterior with a soft heart. yasmina fished through her purse, pulling out a white piece of paper that was folded into 4's.

"this is your schedule. one of the girls, sommer, will come help you." she handed nalaya the paper. she nodded in gratitude. 

"thank you miss. have a good day." she crawled out of the car and trudged up the steps of her new school. 

she was startled by the interlocking of her arm with another's. she looked up to see a girl around her height. her wavy hair cascaded down her back, accentuating her features. 

"you must be sommer." nalaya admired the girl's warm energy. 

"and you must be nalaya! you're so pretty." her dimples popped out as she spoke. 

"so are you. do you think you could help me with this?" nalaya held out her schedule, allowing sommer to take it in her hands.

"of course. we have most of the same classes anyway. ready?" the girls walked into the school's doors, making their way to their lockers. the first few periods bored on and on for the girls, especially since they didn't have their last period before lunch together. once the bell rung, nalaya had no time finding sommer as she had already been waiting outside for her. 

sommer dragged nalaya to the lunch room, finding seats towards the back near the heater. nalaya did regret wearing a dress, unknowing of how cold it would be. 

"so, meet anyone?" sommer started up conversation.

"yeah, actually. a freshman named jay, and two girls from the cheer squad. deisha and quinn i think?"

sommer seemed to zone out while looking at something behind her, eyes widening and face going red. 

"does my hair look okay?" she slurred out, words coming out fast.

nalaya fixed a strand out of place and moved it to the other side before nodding. sommer got up, nalaya's eyes following her frame. two boys stood in front of her. one tall and lanky, the other shorter and slightly more buff. she hugged the shorter one, smiling from ear to ear. nalaya took the time to examine the taller one's features. to her, he was pretty. his brown eyes and thick nose had her falling, hard.

"oh! this is nalaya. she's our new center." sommer beamed. nalaya couldn't help but silently aww at how the shorter boy observed her as she spoke.

"ain't she a little short to be a center?" the taller one laughed, resulting in a mug forming onto nalaya's face. 

"and we'll still whoop your ass." sommer joked, catching nalaya off guard a little. she hadn't known sommer for long, but was already used to her sweet, bubbly side.

"ohmygod, sorry lay. this dudeylo, and this is dee." nalaya didn't pay much attention to the foreign nickname, but rather the boy she now knew as dee. he kept his eyes on hers, almost as if he was challenging the girl.

what he didn't know was that nalaya was always down for a challenge. the two intently stared at each other, waiting for the other to tap out and blink. 

dudeylo and sommer caught onto the exchange, quietly laughing with each other. 

dee finally gave in and blinked. nalaya turned to the other 2 with a triumphant smile. she noticed the looks that they shot dee and her.

"what?" she asked, sounding confused as ever. the two quickly shook their heads. 

"so, y'all tryna slide to a party with us tonight?" dudey switched the topic.

"we would, but sadly we have practice." sommer declined his offer, slightly upset.

"just come after. you know i could pick you up." dudeylo flirted. dee stayed quiet. nalaya assumed that he was used to it, however she felt rather awkward at the mention of a party. she hadn't been in a 'party environment' since everything happened. nalaya tuned out of the conversation, letting her mind creep to other places. darker places.

"hey, i think i'm gonna head to class early. i'll see you at practice sommer." sommer was a little concerned, but brushed off her new friend's actions. 

once nalaya made it to the hallway, she felt her phone buzz from her pocket. her brother's face popped up on the screen, along with the accept and decline buttons. 

she hesitated, unsure if talking to her brother would be best for her right now. the girl eventually slid her left airpod in her ear and pressed 'accept'. 

"yo laa. how's new york?" her brother's voice sounded through the phone.

"it's aight." nalaya joked. her lips pulled up into a smile, but her eyes told a completely different story.

"ma asked about you today." naseem's tone changed. he could tell that she needed it.

"mm. how you been?" she changed the topic, avoiding talking about her mom.

"been in the studio a lot. it's not the same without you sis." 

"i told you seem, you gon be good. my first game is next month. you think you can come out?" nalaya didn't feel right without neither her mother or brother at her games, but knew there was no chance in hell that her mother would come.

"i'll see what i can do. text me ya schedule." nalaya knew his words were genuine. he hadn't missed a game of hers since she started at the beginning of middle school.

"i will. look i gotta get to class, i'll call you later." she knew if she talked to her brother for any longer, she would've cried.

"love you sis." naseem responded.

"love you too." nalaya hung up the phone and made her way to her next class.