Chapter 11: Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN: BASKETBALL LESSON

D6.

DANIEL

As I pull up to my house after my encounter with Anna in the car, I notice Isabel’s present on the passenger seat and suddenly feel guilty for kicking her out the way that I did. I cringe as I open the box and find a seashell inside, along with a note.

Dan,

I noticed you have a shell in your car and so when I saw this one, it made me think of you. I hope you like it. It’s a conch shell. If you press it to your ear, you can hear the ocean.

Xo,

Isabel

My cringe subsides and my guilt doubles. Isabel couldn’t have known that Anna was the one that gave me the shell I have hanging in my car. After all, I never told her. She meant well. She always does. She’s been a good friend throughout these past two weeks. Out of everyone that I know, she is the only one who has really stuck by my side and put up with me at my worst. Not only have I shouted at her a few times, I’ve also ditched her twice when I was supposed to be her ride home, yet she always forgives me and does little things to try and cheer me up, like giving me this present. Man, do I owe her one. Actually, I probably owe her a few.

I grab my phone and call her as I exit the car and head inside the house. She picks up on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“Isabel, hey. I, uh… I owe you an apology,” I say.

“I’m listening…” she sighs dramatically.

“Well, I acted like a real jerk earlier. I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have yelled at you or kicked you out of my car. You’ve been nothing but nice to me these past two weeks you didn’t deserve that. I’m sorry.”

She pauses before answering, “Hmm… apology not accepted.”

“Wait, what?” I ask as I head into the kitchen to get myself a snack. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, that’s twice now that you leave me to find a ride home with someone else after you promised you’d take me. If you want my forgiveness, you’re going to have to do more than just apologize,” she replies. I can hear the smile on her face as if she’s not totally serious. I can’t help but smirk and play along.

“Okay, well, what do you want?” I ask, pouring myself a glass of juice.

“I want you to help me practice for basketball tryouts,” she states.

I’m taking a sip of juice as she says this and I nearly choke and spit it out, “You what?” I manage to ask through my laughter.

“Stop laughing at me, Dan!” she exclaims, though I can hear that she is laughing as well. “They are opening tryouts for the ladies’ basketball team and I was thinking of joining.”

“You do realize they’ll be wanting you to shoot basketballs, right, not tequila?” I joke.

“Hey, shooting is shooting. I am very good at taking shots of Patron, how different will it be to shoot a basketball?” she says, laughing heartily.

“Right,” I say, “what do you really want, Isabel?”

“I’m serious, Dan. I want to try out for the team. This is a good opportunity for me. Will you help me?” she asks, all traces of laughter gone from her voice.

“I mean, if you’re serious then, yeah. It’s the least I can do,” I reply.

“Thanks, Dan! You’re the best!” she exclaims. “By the way, did you open my present?”

“Sure did. Thanks, Isabel, it’s very nice.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that you can’t really hear the ocean in it. It’s just air.

I can hear her smile in her reply, “No problem! So, see you tomorrow?”

“Sure,” I say. “Meet me at the gym before school? Around 7:30?”

“I’ll be there,” she says.

***

“So, the first thing you should probably know... is that this is a basketball.”

Isabel rolls her eyes at me, smirking. We are at the school gym where I am demonstrating the basics of basketball to her. The very basics.

“Wow thanks,” she says, laughing, “but I know what a basketball looks like, Dan. Can we just get to the action already? We’re on limited time here before class starts!”

“Hey, I just wanted to make sure to cover all angles,” I tease.

For the next half hour, I show Isabel a few helpful tips about basketball. She watches as I demonstrate the correct ways to dribble and shoot, along with the general rules of the game. I have no idea why she chose to tryout for basketball, of all things, when she could just join the drama club or something. She isn’t exactly a natural athlete.

I’m not trying to be arrogant, or rude, by saying that. It’s just that she seemed to know so little about basketball coming into this practice session today. I literally had to guide her hands to show her to dribble and shoot the ball. The first few times she attempted it on her own, it was… well, let’s just say she missed the ring. By a lot.

I am grateful for this activity though; I’m not going to lie. When Isabel first asked me to teach her, I was hesitant and thought it would be stupid, but I just feel so good to be surrounded by basketball again, no matter what the context is. When my feet touched the gym floor as I walked in earlier, it felt like they were arriving home for the first time in over two weeks. The rush that I feel just holding the ball and explaining every move and term to Isabel is the closest thing to happiness that I’ve felt since Anna died.

I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I slash my way to the ring and attempt a lay-up. Isabel watches in wonderment, her mouth gaping open slightly.

“Wow…” she whispers.

“That is what we call driving,” I explain. “It’s important that you take note of how to get away from your guard because once you master this getaway move, it’s more likely an automatic two points for you.”

“Can you do that again?” she asks, sounding a bit breathless. I can’t imagine why she’s out of breath. She’s not the one that’s been running around on court all morning.

“Sure, if you need to see it one more time,” I say before demonstrating the drive to the basket move for her once more.

“You are really so talented, Dan,” she says in admiration.

On the inside, I am beaming at this compliment. On the outside, I am cool and collected. “Better than ‘Radjan’?” I ask sarcastically, making air quotes with my fingers at Radjan’s name, which is stupid because it is his real name. I guess I’m just feeling bitter and petty about all the stuff I’ve been hearing about this guy for the past few weeks.

“Better than anyone!” she replies in earnest. “I am so lucky to be learning from the best of the best.”

“Yeah well, you’re not actually learning much until you get out here and try all of this stuff for yourself. Come on,” I nod her over, “come guard me.”

Isabel just stands there, staring at me.

“Don’t tell me you’re shy,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her. “You do realize that in order to successfully try out for the basketball team, you actually have to, you know, try out all these moves? How exactly do you plan to do that in front of all those people if you can’t even do it in front of just me?”

I walk over to Isabel, grab her arm, and tug her gently onto the center of the court with me.

“Come on, guard me.”

I spend the next few minutes directing Isabel on how to guard me. Her lack of athletic talent is very apparent, and I can’t help but wonder once more why she picked basketball out of the dozens of other extracurricular activities that our school has to offer. I’m not about to ask her though. After all, I’m doing this to make up for being a total jerk in the first place.

“Closer,” I direct. She moves closer to me, still a touch shy of where I’d like her to be. “A little more,” I say.

“Like this?” Isabel asks, moving much closer so that her skin brushes mine. It’s at this moment that I notice something about her, but we are interrupted by Jenna before I have a chance to ask about it.

“Aww, aren’t you two just the cutest?” Jenna teases as she walks over. “You are going to invite me to the wedding, right?”

Isabel smirks and rolls her eyes. I don’t find this cute or funny at all.

“Shut up, Jenna,” I say, coldly. “I was just teaching her some basketball moves, so if you don’t think this is cute when I do it with the guys, then don’t say it’s cute when I do it with her, got it?”

“Jeez, calm down, it was just a joke,” Jenna says, shaking her head like she thinks I am ridiculous for getting upset. She turns to Isabel, “You coming to class, Iz?”

“Yeah, in a minute,” Isabel says. “I’ll just get my stuff.”

“Okay, hurry,” replies, Jenna, heading for the door. “Class is about to start, and Mrs. Price shows no mercy for tardiness. You either show up on time, or you get detention. I’ll wait for you outside.”

Jenna exits the gym and I join Isabel as she heads for the bleachers where she’s left her things.

“Thanks for the practice, Dan,” she says.

“No problem. Hey, Isabel, can I ask you something?” I ask.

“Of course. You can ask me anything,” she replies, smiling at me expectantly.

“Which perfume do you use?” I ask.

The smile on her face falters, “What?”

“I know that’s like, super random,” I say, “but you smell just like Anna. She used one called Sunset Paradise. I gave her a bottle once for her birthday. Is that the same one you use?”

“Yeah,” she says, sounding annoyed. “I and like, half the girls at this school. I don’t know why you are so convinced that your Anna was so unique.”

She puts on her backpack and grabs her books. I stand there feeling stupid. This whole time I kept smelling Anna’s perfume and I thought it was a sign of her spirit being near me, but it was actually just Isabel. I’m an idiot.

My thoughts must be written on my face because Isabel’s expression softens, and she puts a hand on my arm.

“Go to class, okay? You’ve missed out on too much already.”

“Yeah, I’ll go a little later,” I say.

Isabel tilts her head to the side and gives me a look, seeing right through my crap.

“What? I don’t have Mrs. Price. My teacher is perfectly fine with me being tardy!” I tell her.

She smiles in spite of herself and shakes her head at me, “I’ll see you later, Dan.”

“Bye,” I wave at her.

***

I really did have every intention of going to class, I swear. But as I walked down the hallway on my way to the first period, I realized I was passing by Anna’s locker. I’d been taking detours to class to avoid it ever since I came back to school, but I guess playing basketball today made me feel so normal that I forgot to. It was the first time I’d seen the locker since she died. The locker has been made into a sort of tribute to Anna, decorated with flowers, pictures of Anna, letters, and whatever else students have left on it. She was clearly very much loved at this school.

I couldn’t help but stop and stare at it and reminisce about the time when I once decorated her locker myself. It was last February when I was preparing to ask Anna for the Valentine’s Day dance. I covered the locker in red and white roses and taped eight individual pieces of paper on it, each one with a different word on it, which together read: will you go to the dance with me?

I had waited around the corner watching as she arrived at her locker and smiled so brightly, reading the words. I then approached her with a box of chocolates and a teddy bear. The same teddy bear that would later come to reside on her bed.

“Well?” I had asked her. “Will you go with me?”

“I’d go anywhere with you, Daniel Wade,” she replied.

There was no way I could go to class after remembering this special moment. Without even really thinking about where I would go, I turned and made it straight back to the gym. I’ve been here ever since, shooting basketballs, one after another, letting myself get lost in the practice.

Basketball is the only thing that’s made me feel normal since Anna died. For this reason alone, I think it’s just time that I come back to it. She would want me to, I can feel that. My sweet girlfriend was my biggest supporter, and she would always dream alongside me about the day I’d get signed to an NBA team. I’ll keep playing, not just for me, but for her. For all the times she kissed me and wished me luck before a game, for all the times she cheered me on, even if it was just at practice. I owe it to her to keep striving for greatness. After all, it was her greatness that always motivated me the most.

I completely lose track of time and before I know it, the school day is over, and the team has already arrived at the gym for practice. I have just attempted another shot when I hear their whoops and hollers; their shouts of joy and surprise at having me back.

“Dude, finally!” says Jason, shaking my hand.

“Welcome back, son,” my father grins at me.

“Thanks, coach,” I grin back.

I start catching up with all of my teammates until one walks in that I haven’t met yet. It’s the new guy, Radjan.

“Radjan,” the coach says, “come meet Daniel. He’s been out a few weeks, but he’s back now.”

Radjan walks over and I can’t help but size him up. This is the guy that everyone has been bragging about? He doesn’t look like such a big deal to me. Still, I wasn’t raised to be rude, and I extend my hand in greeting.

“Sup?” I say.

“Hey,” Radjan replies, making no move whatsoever to shake my hand. It hangs in the air stupidly before I put it down. A few of the guys are smirking as if they already saw this coming and are enjoying the show.

“Okay then,” I say to myself.

“Hey, Daniel,” says Shane, with a devilish grin on his face, “why don’t you and Radjan play one-on-one for a bit?” Shane has always been one to enjoy drama. “I’m sure coach won’t mind, do you, coach?”

“I think we can spare a few minutes. What do you say, Dan?” Coach asks, and I can tell that he’s just as eager as Shane is to watch this showdown.

I shrug. “It’s okay with me, if it’s okay with him,” I reply, then turn to Radjan, “are you even that good, or just overhyped?”

“I’ll just let my game speak for me,” he replies.

I have to laugh to myself. Oh, It’s on!

I must be rusty from my time off the court because as soon as the game begins, Radjan seems to have little trouble scoring against me. I’m a little slow to defend, but I’ve been practicing all day. I’m tired. Still, I’m not going to let this guy off easily. I grab possession of the ball, shoot, and….

Miss. Holy crap!

Radjan quickly grabs the ball and scores. He’s definitely a showoff, but I know I can put him in his proper place. He’s not even that good, he’s just got an advantage on me right now.

On my next ball possession, I take the ball and prepare to shoot. Then I hear it.

“Daniel, come on! Look Up!”

Anna? In the second it takes for me to look up towards Anna’s usual spot, Radjan steals the ball and makes another shot.

I frantically search for Anna, but when I see no one there, I turn my focus back to the game. I must be feeling a little too normal if I’m actually imagining Anna’s voice calling out to me like old times. I take possession of the ball once more, dribble it, and then….

“Daniel! Over here!”

I look up in shock hearing Anna’s voice again, but I don’t see her anywhere. Radjan once again swoops in and steals the ball making another shot. We are now at 0-13. I am so irritated with myself for continuing to get distracted, and so irritated with Radjan for being such a showoff, that I lunge at him in a rage, tripping him and sending him to the ground as I steal the ball and aim to score, finally making my one glorious shot of the game.

I think that very well puts him in his place. He is still wincing in agony, holding his leg. I realize how vulnerable and weak he is, and for a moment I almost regretted what I just did. But his pain can never be compared to mine. And I have to carry that for the rest of my life.

I grab my bag angrily and walk out of the gym.