solitary and still

30 seconds left in the 1st quarter

"Put the damn ball up! Why are you just standing there lookin' stupid?" Coach T screamed from across the gym. She stormed over to where the girls were. The girls jogged to the middle of the gym, where the mascot picture, The blue Spartan, lay proudly; already expecting a speech.

"QC... when you get the ball and nobody's open.. what do you do?" She shouted, now standing in the center of the team.

QC kissed her teeth, slightly rolling her eyes. She turned her head away from her coach, ignoring the sarcasm behind her question. Coach T's blood was now boiling from the disrespect she felt she just received. "I hope I'm not talking to myself," she growled, "I said what do you do with the damn ball? You don't know how to play now?!" She barked viscously. "You letting all that star player shit get to your head? Cause trust and believe me when I tell you, I can assure you I will STILL bench your ass during State, star player or not. This is still my team and when I say something goes, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN. You just gon' stand there with the ball in your hand, looking fucking stupid? Huh?! Have me looking like I ain't taught you shit? Now answer the damn question before I get mad because I don't remember asking you if you felt like answering it! WHAT DO YOU DO?" She scolded QC, practically burning holes into the side of her face. QC rolled her eyes again while throwing her head back in annoyance, mumbling "put the ball up." "I can't hear you!" Coach T put her hand up to her ear, now teasing her. "I said put the ball up," QC shouted jokingly before quickly snatching the ball from Coach T's arms and shooting the ball from half court. The ball fell in, causing everybody to clap.

"That's what the hell I'm talkin bout!" Coach T said excitedly as she started clapping hard in QC's face, before grabbing QC's head and shaking it with her hand playfully.

QC was the star player for the Women's Spartan Basketball Team at Norwood Bailey University. Shit if anything she was the star player for the whole damn school. Including the Men's team. They applauded and looked up to her passion, drive and ability. She worked day in and day out when it came to basketball. Training, showing up everyday to practice, lifting, putting shots up. Anything to perfect and protect her craft, she did it. Her specialty was her half-court shots. She made them daily. If she missed one at practice, she made it her business to make sure she would make it at the game. Even if it meant practice shooting until 4:00am to ensure she wouldn't miss it, then that's just what she'd do. Until it became as simple as tying a shoe for her.

Her defense was unmatched & her ball handling was out of this world. She left every game with 40 points or more. Let's not forget she was the first female in history, at Norwood, to ever dunk on the court. Everyone on her team relied on her to take home the W. She kept them going to champions & Country final 5 for 2 whole years, Straight. Offer after offer from several colleges to recruit and transfer her, with a plethora of money to offer behind it, just to use her on the court. Her academic ability was unbelievable as well. She was advanced in nearly every one of her classes. She's greatly articulated and intelligent. She was majoring in psychology and minoring in Sociology, anthropology, and criminal justice. The love shined down on QC for her sports like she was some kind of God, which most would say she was. But nobody knew the real her outside of the court.
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"Yeah QC! You played good as hell today!" Lula, one of her closet teammates, called out in excitement as she walked in the locker room. "Good ass practice!" She continued. Everybody agreed. QC grabbed her t-shirt, dropping it around the back of her neck. She spun around slowly on the heels of her feet, facing her team with a smirk on her face. "Y'all know how I do!" She yelled, playfully flexing, making everybody laugh & toss their jerseys at her. "Man do we got practice tomorrow?" One of the teammates asked cautiously. "Cause she didn't say if we do and I got things to attend to, if you know what I mean" she continued with a smirk, causing laughter to erupt throughout the locker room. QC playfully kissed her teeth, "man ever since you met ole' girl, you been thinking you the shit huh?" The teammate frowned, "Man why you always hatin? You mad you ain't been gettin' no pussy?" The team started leaning in for QC's response, teasing the both of them. "Well shit since you asked," she rubbed her hands together smoothly, "I was hoping you would come to practice tomorrow so I can try some of your girl's" she smirked viscously, taking the shirt from around her neck and playfully smacking it towards her. Her teammate mugged her before shaking her head and bursting into laughter, causing QC to do the same. They dapped each other up before QC made her way back to her locker. She grabbed her bag and threw it on her shoulder. "Alright I'll catch y'all tomorrow" she said her goodbyes and headed out the gym.