Distracted

by Warren, Alexandra

  I couldn’t knock her game though cause truth be told, I wished I was out too.

  The movie came to an end and I wiped my tears before I changed the channel to ESPN. They were giving a rundown of the players to watch from each college and I noticed my school was next up on the list. I figured they were gonna talk about Darrell Sims, one of my best guy friends, since he was considered the star of the team and team captain. But to my surprise, they brought up a little freshman they described as a Phenom. They bragged on and on about how good he was in high school and how he had the potential to take a starter’s spot. They cut to an interview with the little dude and even more surprisingly, he wasn’t little at all.

  He was...a freshman.

  A cute ass, kinda grown ass looking freshman.

  Hmph, must’ve been held back a few times.

  I knew most of the guys on the team because we shared practice facilities so I wasn’t sure how I had missed this...kid. My eyes were glued to the screen as they asked him about what he thought of the team so far, how he was enjoying college, and if he was gonna try to go pro after his freshman year. He gave a little laugh, flashing a smile that embarrassingly went straight to my southern half.

  Damn girl, you need some action.

  I don’t know why I was even wasting my time sweatin’ him through the television as if it was possible to give somebody so young the time of day. I mean, surely he was still caught up on chasing fast ass girls and building his playa resume. He wouldn’t even know what to do with a woman like me. A woman with goals, and dreams, and visions, and an actual life compared to the young broads who were busy trying to chase after him instead of chase after something of their own.

  The screen cut to the next college and I let my thoughts of him cut right with it.

  miles.

  College was the shit.

  I only had to be in class for a few hours out of the day, then spend a few hours at the court or in the weight room, and the rest of the day was mine. I had a feeling things would change once the season started but for now, college was feeling a little like heaven.

  I was just finishing up a workout session with the team, when I saw the girl’s basketball players heading our way. We crossed paths on occasion but I hardly ever paid them any mind cause keepin’ it real, a few of ‘em looked manlier than me. I gave a what’s-up nod to the few I was familiar with before I grabbed my towel to clean off the sweat I had worked up.

  Since I was dead tired, I decided to find a seat in the bleachers next to some of my teammates who were still hanging around. We watched the girls do their warm-ups which were pretty similar to ours. A light jog, a few lay-up drills, and a few passing drills. One of the girls threw a bad pass and the ball flew into the bleachers right over my head.

  “Yo Miles, you better watch out up there,” yelled my boy Cam, before he gave a laugh. I shrugged him off and reached behind me to grab the ball, planning to pass it back to the court. Instead, I turned around right into a pair of titties that were squeezing against one of the familiar practice jerseys. When I looked up from her chest, I found a pair of scolding eyes and flat-lined lips.

  “Damn, you act like you’ve never seen boobs before. Give me the ball, bro.” I handed it to her before she strided back down the bleachers and onto the court. Once she was out of earshot, my teammates couldn’t wait to clown me.

  “Bruhhh, are you a virgin or somethin’? I swear you were on stuck for a minute straight lookin’ at her rack.”

  “Nah, man. I was just...reading her jersey.” That was easily the worst lie I could’ve came up with considering their practice jerseys were identical to ours.

  “Bullshit. Everybody knows Ava has some big ass titties. I bet she has to wear two or three sports bras a game.” All the boys laughed but my eyes were back on the girl I now knew was named Ava.

  She was gorgeous, with her long, red hair pulled back into a high ponytail accessorized with a Nike headband and a face so flawless you would’ve thought she was in one of those face wash commercials. I was sure a lot of her shape was muted by the baggy practice gear but there were still undeniable hints of an athletic but womanly frame. She looked nothing like the other girls I knew on the team.

  How the hell did I miss her?

  I watched intently as she dribbled down the court, giving a little crossover before she set up the play for her team. She quickly realized how scrambled the defense was and dribbled right past her defender at the speed of light into an easy lay-up. It was a textbook move, but she did it with a finesse that only an experienced baller could do it.

  “Ava is the fuckin’ truth, man. I don’t know why she keeps actin’ like she doesn’t wanna talk to ya boy.”

  I didn’t wanna sound too thirsty for the details but I couldn’t help asking, “You tried to talk to her before?”

  “Hell yeah. A couple times. But ever since I messed with her little sister, she’s not feelin’ me.”

  Well duh.

  Instead of responding to Cam, I focused my attention back on Ava. She was hanging out at the three-point line with her hands on her knees and her ponytail slung against her shoulder while one of her teammates shot a pair of free throws. Even though the girl missed the first free throw, Ava still went in and gave her a pat on the back before pointing out to her teammates what defense they were gonna go into once the girl shot the second free throw. Every one of her teammates listened attentively and it was then that I knew just how in control she was.

  It was sexy as hell.

  “Miles, pick up your lip dude. You don’t stand a chance with Ava.”

  “Who said I wanted a chance with Ava?” Even though in my head I knew it was the truth, it was the last thing I wanted somebody like Cam to know. We were cool and all but it didn’t take long for me to recognize that he was a talker; meaning if he had any idea what I was even thinking, it would be campus news before I could make it home that night.

  “That drool hangin’ from your lip said it all.” I gave my lips a quick swipe and found out Cam was just fuckin’ with me. He laughed me off as he said, “Gullible ass. You got a lot to learn, freshman.”