chapter 22

Riani Nalani Brown | Riri

(a/n-I don't much about basketball so if I get anything wrong you can point it out lol)

Walking out of my school as I had stayed back a little longer than I had planned so now it's getting dark out and stupid ass me decided to walk home so now I have no car. I mean I like walking because the walk to my house isn't far but it's almost dark.

As I was walking for a bit, I noticed that the basketball gym lights were on which is funny cause you aren't supposed to enter that gym unless it's for games.

I walked closer and noticed that Kiari's car was the only one there. Well either that or someone has the same exact bmw as him.

I hadn't seen Kiari in a few days so I walked in the gym and saw him hooping by himself with his airpods in so he didn't hear me walk in.

Dumb ways to die.

"Kiari," I call after him as I say my things down the bleachers but he doesn't hear me.

I do notice that whenever Kiari is in a playing mood at his games it seems like he blocks everything and everyone else out so I guess he does the same whenever he's hooping and him having his airpods in on full blast isn't making it any better that he can't hear me.

I look around the gym and damn is this a big ass gym. It's even bigger when it's empty since I never saw it like that before.

When he threw the ball in the hoop again it landed by me making him look over at me as I picked the ball up.

He smiled when he saw me and took his airpods out. "When did you get here?" He jogs over to me and hugs me.

"I just walked in like a minute ago actually and I've been calling your name but you ain't hear me."

"My fault. My music up loud." He chuckles.

"Yeah, you gone die just like to if you don't watch your surroundings." I scold him and he just waves me off.

"How did you get in here? Nobody's allowed in here except for games." I ask him.

"Coach always lets me in here to hoop." He shrugs and I hum.

"I bet I'm better than you at basketball." I smile.

"Than me? Hell nah." He laughs shaking his head.

"My brother was a pro so I bet I am too." I confidently say.

"Have you even ever played before?" He raises his brow.

"I mean I did once. I tried to throw the ball in the basket but ended up hitting me in the nose so I never did it again. But that ain't the point the point is that I'm older now and better." I said.

"You gone play me in a 1v1 wearing , a hoodie, shorts, and crocs and your hair is down." He looks at me confused.

I take my hoodie off leaving me in my tank top and then I pull my hair in a pony with the band that was on my wrist.

"And I can still whoop you with my crocs on." I walk to where he was standing before he catches up with me.

"I get first ball." I came beside him and our heights weren't even touching. I was around 5'5 and he was 6 something.

"What?" He looks at me confusedly. "You know what, I'll let you have it." He shrugs.

I started to dribble the ball before he could say anything else. "And the game starts now." I t dribbled it up to the goal then threw it and I made it ayeee.

I heard him chuckle before mumbling something like I'm a cheater but I'm definitely not. "You  just gotta think fast." I shrug.

He held his hands out as if he was going to play defense but when I stepped back for a three, it went around the rim before bouncing out allowing him to get the rebound.

"I got the ball now and you aren't getting it back."

"Mm ok."

He dribbled the ball between his legs a few times and behind his back and we were now face to face. He shot the ball and it went effortlessly through the hoop.

Wanting it to be equal, he lazily drove up and threw the ball carelessly onto the backboard. It bounced right off the rim and I went to get rebound before looking at him with a straight face.

"Are you playing for real?" I asked because it seemed like he was trying to go easy on me.

He chuckled lowly. "Yeah, I am."

"No, you're not. Kiari you're not even playing fairly." I mug him.

"I am, now come on." He tries to block the goal.

I dribble the ball then throw it in the hoop but miss terribly making me purse my lips.

"How did you even miss ever so badly." He shakes his head at me laughing.

"Stop laughing, it wasn't funny." I secretly stuck my middle finger up at him since he was turned around.

"I can show you how to make a perfect basket." He comes up to me.

"Is mines not perfect." I frown already knowing the answer to it.

"Um..I mean it's something. you can dribble a little good but you can't throw for real so hold the ball but like this." He shows me how he is holding it then he throws it to me.

I try to hold it how he was but he just shakes his head.

"Can I?" He asks and I nod so he goes behind but still a respectable distance, and puts my hands the correct way on the ball then put his over top of mines. "And then you just shoot it like that." He throws the ball in the hoop.

"Now we gone do it again." He grabbed the ball but I was starting to feel funny on the inside by how close he was to me.

"Leave a little space between your palm and the ball, so the ball will be able to roll off your fingertips with ease." He shows me again with his hands on top of mines again as he places my hand the correct way.

"Why are you acting nervous all of a sudden? Throw." He chuckles. I felt his breath on my neck when he was talking making me close my eyes and take a deep breath.

He removes his hands from mines and onto my waist. He knows what he's doing.

I threw the ball and finally made it making me smile.

"See. Now do it again." He hands me the ball stepping away from me.

Nooo come backkkkkkk.

I threw the ball and made it again and he smiled.

"Ok now dribble and run then shoot the ball." He says.

I dribbled the ball and then shoot it but it missed but like not even an inch.

"You'll get better. You're a fast learner." He walks over to the bleachers so I follow behind him.

"Do you have a water bottle?" He asks me once he finishes drinking his water and I shake my head so he hands me his and yes I water falled.

"You going home?" I ask grabbing my bag and my hoodie.

"Yeah. You can come with me." He shrugs as we start walking out.

"Well I didn't bring my car and I don't want to walk home so sure." I smile getting in his car.

A/n- so sorry for not updating but I'm backk, I had a writers block real bad lmao