Chapter 38

It was game day at the University of Houston. The men's team was toward the end of the season. They were playing Temple University, a team who they lost to this season.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please give up for your Cougar Brass!" Luther Lawson projected in the mic. The band performed the fight song afterwards.

Meanwhile, in the tunnel was The University of Houston Cougars men's basketball team. Devon was talking to Bryan, while stretching.

"Look, Devon..."

"Yeah?" Devon said.

"About your... dilemma." Bryan said.

"Dude, we got a game in minutes."

"Please. You know they're one of the worst teams in our conference, right?" Bryan said. "And keeping it real, they only beat us because we couldn't make a shot to save our lives. Even you were off."

"True. True. What about my 'dilemma?'"

"You were stuck between two people." Bryan said.

"Let's just say... this... he... had a good workout recently." Devon said, smiling, pointing downwards.

"Wow. Wow." Bryan said laughing.

"All right, all right... I know we lost to them last time in Philly, but that was a lesson in preparedness. They did, us less so. So... I hope you learn from that. Like I always say: Do your job out there and let's come out with a win." Coach said.

"Yes, Coach!"

"Now let's kick some ass."

The team cheered as they ran in the tunnel. But Devon got stopped by the coach.

"Devon..."

"Yes sir?" Devon answered.

"I know you had a few distractions, during the game. Trash talk about all the things off the court. I know basketball is a mind game. But..."

"Keep it to a minimum?" Devon said. "They start the trash talk most of the time. Booty buddy this, do you pitch or catch? Etc. I just want to let them know something."

"What?"

"I'm the Chosen One for a reason."

"Let them know then. Don't stoop to their level. Get out there, Thornton."

"Ladies and gentlemen, introducing YOUR HOUSTONNNNNN COUGARS!!!!" Luther Lawson boomed on the mic.

(Intro hits)

Meanwhile in San Diego, Rebecca had just quit her job at the strip club. She looked at her phone and wallpaper. It was a selfie of her and Larry. She needed to talk to someone, but Larry was at work. She opened her contacts and finally found the perfect person to bare her soul to. She texted:

"This is Becky. Can we talk? I want to hear a friendly voice right now. Call me."

In Houston, Ryan was getting ready to go to the game when he got multiple texts. One from Abby:

"Sorry for the noise. Didn't know you were there. I kinda get crazy when that happens. Lol." She attached a laughing emoji and a tongue emoji.

Ryan smiled and texted back:

"Ohhhh, we know!" He then attached a gif of the movie The Wolf of Wall Street.

The next message came from Isa, his ex-lover. It read...

"Thinking of you." Attached was a gif of her twerking.

Ryan again smiled and let out a chuckle. The third was from Rebecca. The last one was from his current girlfriend, Kayla.

"Where you at? We're here waiting!"

He typed back:

"On my way."

And typed back to Rebecca:

"Yeah, we'll talk. I miss you, Becky."

Across campus, the Cougars basketball team was getting introduced.

"All right, Houston! Stand up! On your feet! For YOUR HOUSTON COUGARS!!! At center, a senior, number 10, BRYANNNNNNN GORDON. At forward, a senior, number 33, DEVONTAAAA...SWIFT. The other forward, a freshman, number 6... The Chosen One... DEVON THORNTON! At guard, a senior, number 24, Quentin Wilkins! And the other guard, a sophomore, number 11... Trevon 'The Don' Morris!" Luther said enthusiastically, while the the band played. "All right, Houston, get ready because... it's show time!"

The referee tossed the ball up for the tipoff. The Cougars won the tip.

"It's Houston ball!"

Trevon heaved the ball down court to Devon Thornton who swiftly did a left handed dunk. He looked at it while running back down on defense. When Temple ran the ball down the court, Devon saw someone from his past. He immediately said...

"SWITCH. SWITCH. I got him."

He immediately recognized him.

"Chosen One. I knew you'd come." He said shooting a fadeaway shot, and making it.

"Jerome Bourne." Luther announced with a touch of annoyance on the mic.

"Jerome. That son of a bitch." Devon said to himself. At that point, he sprinted down the court. Devonta got the inbound pass, and did an outlet pass to Devon. Devon did a tomahawk dunk.

"DEVONNNNNNNN THORNTON!"

"Remember me, Jerome?" Devon said, smiling. Jerome eventually got the ball, reposted, pump faked Devon successfully, ending up in a finger roll. The whole Temple bench got up in excitement.

Jerome smiled and said:

"Yeah, but I remember Anna more. How can you fuck THAT up?"

That officially made Devon mad.

"Give the damn ball to me." Devon said to Trevon. Trevon inbounded the ball to Devon.

"Oh, you going there huh? Huh?" Devon said, bringing up the ball. "Cool. Cool."

Devon crossed over, then crossed over a second time. He pump faked him successfully and shot a rare three pointer. It bounced in.

"Devonnnnnnnn Thornton! THREEEEEEE..."

The coach called timeout. Both teams got in their respective huddles.

"What the hell did I just say to you, Devon? What'd I say?" Coach said. "Keep it to a..."

"That's the problem with you. You don't listen! Shit. Ok, we're up by 8. Bourne is going to get the ball every time. Do not let him score."

The buzzer sounded.

"Devon, stay on the bench. Don't worry about him. I know you have history with that guy, but... he's trying to get in your head." Devon got angry again, only this time because of himself.

Play resumed. Before the first possession, Devon got a word of advice from Alex Jordan and Justin Gordon.

"Next play. Just remember that." Alex said.

"And we got you if shit pops off. I know that look. You got bad history with him." Justin said.

"I just want to show him that I'm not the same guy in high school. I've grown up." Devon briefly looked in the stands for Jenna. He spotted her immediately.

"We got you."

Right before the half ended, Devon entered the game with Justin and Alex. Wes passed the ball to Devon who brought it up. He did a handoff to Wes Gray. Devon then did a cut to the rim. Wes passed it to him. Devon did a behind the back pass to Justin for a dunk.

"Justin Gordon! From Devon Thornton!" Devon's rival Jerome got the ball immediately. He nonchalantly walked it up the court. Devon stole the ball, then laid it up.

"Devonnnnnnnn Thornton!"

He looked at him, shaking his head and smiling. At halftime, the Cougars were up by 10 points.

Meanwhile, in the stands, Tami Morris was in her usual seat cheering on her nephew, when the twins came over.

"Hey, twins." Tami said.

"Hey, Miss Tami." Both said.

"I would recognize that ass anywhere." Kenyon said.

"Yeah." Kevin said.

"Uh, twins, need I remind you..."

"Yeah, yeah. But we can't help it!" Kenyon said.

"And we heard your ex came by. You got a problem with him?"

"Nah. I appreciate it. To think you're so hot over this, you two are sweet." Tami said.

"Aw, thanks!" Kevin said.

"She said we're sweet! By the way, when's our next cam show? Cause just looking at you gets us... mmmm!"

Tami laughed.

"Yeah, I get that a lot..." She said, tilting her head, noticing that various men are checking her out.

"I bet you do." Kenyon said.

"I bet you sure do." Kevin said, licking his lips.

Meanwhile, in another part of the arena, Jenna James happened to be sitting next to Anna Williams. Jenna had a lot of questions of her own.

"Who is this guy?" Jenna said.

"Well... Jerome? Me, Jerome, and Devon went to the same high school. And... back then, Devon was my boyfriend. He cheated on me. So, as revenge..."

"No. You didn't." Jenna said.

"Yeah, I did. Knowing Jerome, he was bringing it up the whole time."

"You know they have a code." Jenna said. "I know this because I played volleyball in high school. Me and my teammate found out that a boy was two timing us."

"This was post-break up. I hooked up with Jerome as a revenge thing. One time only." Anna said.

"Oh my God, really?" Jenna said.

"Yeah. So you're Devon's new girl, huh? Who would've thought?"

"Not me." Jenna said. "Jenna James."

"Anna Williams."

"Beautiful voice, by the way." Jenna complimented.

"Why thank you!" She smiled.

Meanwhile, the second half was starting.

"Temple Ball..." Luther said, in a low tone of voice.

The next play, Jerome immediately nails a three pointer.

"Jerome Bourne... For three." Afterwards, Devon was walking the ball up until he passed it to Trevon Morris. Trevon passed it to Devon, who passed it to Quentin. Quentin pump faked successfully and launched a three pointer.

"Quentin... Wilkins! THREEEEEEEE! From Devon Thornton!"

On the next Temple possession, Jerome got the ball on the post. Devonta was guarding him. However, Devonta tried to draw a charge and failed, which subsequently led to a two hand dunk by Jerome.

"Jerome... Bourne."

"Get your ass up, bitch! You ain't shit! This my house, bitch!" He yelled.

"I got this one." Trevon Morris said to both Devon and Devonta.

Again, Devon got the inbound pass, and promptly passed it to Trevon. Devon gave Trevon a screen while Trevon almost easily went to the basket. Trevon launched for a one handed dunk, posterizing Jerome in the process.

"Damn." Luther mouthed. "TREVONNNNNNN MORRIS!" He called on the mic with extra gumption.

"Time out, Temple!"

As Jerome walked to his team huddle, Devon looked at him, smiled and waved cutely.

"Fuck you." Jerome mouthed.

At that time, Devon Thornton, a potential prospect in the NBA, just learned something about himself. He knew exactly what he was going to do regarding the future. But for now, he was going to enjoy this win and spend time with his girlfriend.

"COUGARS... WINNNNNNN!"

Devon Thornton had a statistically off day, but it was well rounded. He had 15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and two steals. After Devon got changed, he saw Jenna in the parking lot.

"Jenna James." Devon said.

"My Chosen One. You look good dunking a basketball. No wonder you got pro dreams." Jenna said, kissing the tall man on the cheek.

"Be careful, don't gas me up too much. The last girl that said that to me... oof. Let's say I wasn't the man you see today." Devon said.

"Don't worry. We're not perfect. So, my Chosen One, we still on for our date?" Jenna said.

"Hell yeah. Looking forward to getting to know you more." Devon said.

Meanwhile, not far away from them was Luther and Anna.

"Hey, handsome." Anna said.

"What's up, doll face? You want to get something to eat before my shift at Coog Radio?" Luther said.

"Nah, not really that hungry."

"Sooooo... bring you something when I finish?" Luther asked.

"You're so sweet! Best boyfriend ever." Anna kissed him on the cheek.

"Of course I am. Got to make the donuts, babe." Luther said. "Get that mouth ready for me..."

"Haha. I will." She said, suckling on her finger.

Meanwhile, on the other side of campus, at Greek Row, Ryan called Rebecca Knight. She picked up on the third ring on FaceTime.

"Hello? Ryan?"

"Hey, Becky, what's up? You said you wanted to talk." Ryan said.

"Yeah. First of all, I want to say: I miss you boys and the girls. How are they?"

"Well, Tucker is doing good. He's dating this cute chick named Courtney. Thad is with Abby. They are something else, man. They are always fucking. And I mean always! I didn't know Abby was like that... Jesus." He said, sighing.

"Hehehe. I did. That's my girl. Sometimes it takes the right one. What about Katie? Jenna?"

"Katie is cool. She's doing good. Jenna, I heard is dating Devon." Ryan said.

"Devon Thornton? The star basketball player on campus? Nick and Nicole's cousin? The bi-curious one? That one?" Becky said, surprised.

"Yup. That one."

"Oh. Oh my goodness." Becky said.

"Oh, and Logan got bailed out of jail by his sister."

"He has a sister?" Becky said, again, surprised.

"Yup. But we ain't talking about that now. You said you wanted to talk. What's wrong?"

"You saw that vid of me on the pole, right? That led to me getting a job at a strip club. We needed money. So, I got a gig. I was making hella money popping it." Becky said.

"I bet you were."

"Shit was all good until a few nights ago." Becky said.

"What happened?"

Becky sighed.

"You're the first I told about this. We went to a party. They wanted strippers. And some turned tricks. Some didn't. One of them... got raped."

"Holy..." Ryan said.

"I was like, I quit. Fuck this. I will be damned if that happens again."

"I am so sorry that happened. But... there is Onlyfans. Hey, you're pretty. You're sexy. You're smart as hell. I think you'd kill it on there." Ryan said, shrugging. "Plus, you can probably get Larry to..."

Becky gasped and smiled.

"Ryan Lewis... you ingenious beautiful man! I got some money to get."

"So you ARE getting one?"

Becky smiled and nodded.

"I'll be waiting. We'll be waiting."

She laughed.

"Oh, by the way... what's new with Ryan Lewis?"

"Oh, I may be seeing someone." Ryan said, smiling.

"I knew it would happen. My favorite boy toy! Awwww!"

Ryan's phone vibrated. It was a message from the aforementioned girlfriend, Kayla. It read:

"On my way."

"Tell my boys I miss them. Tell my girls... I didn't forget about them. And that I love y'all." Becky said. "I'll be back in Houston soon. Thanks for listening, Ryan."

"I'm always here." Ryan said, smiling.

"Bye." She said, blowing a kiss.

"Peace."

Soon after that, a knock came on the door. He opened the door. It was Kayla.

"Mmm." Kayla said, kissing him.

"What's up, girl?"

"You know what's up..." Kayla kissed him again, more passionately.

Meanwhile, at Coog Radio, Luther Lawson was starting his shift.

"That was So Lonely by Twista and Mariah. This is your boy, Luther Lawson, aka DJ Get Right. Alongside my main man, the greatest DJ, DJ Rico. This is Coog Radio! This next song is a classic. This was dedicated by a friend of mine to her boo. Here's Ghost Town DJs with My Boo. Rico's mix is next!"

Luther danced along with the song, lip syncing with the lyrics. His phone vibrated. It was Anna. It merely read...

"Ready For You, babe." Attached was a picture of her posing nude with a sex toy in her hand, sucking it.

"I know that look..." Rico said.

"Rico..." Luther said, laughing.

"What? I know you about to act up after this shift, bro. Act up!"

"To keep it real... yes." Luther said simply.