Court of Hearts: His Game

TWO

“Yo man,” Ken greeted Jordan excitedly, shaking his hand in a friendly, forceful manner.

Jordan had left Tracy to meet his friends at the bar down the street.

The atmosphere in the club was just right for summer—everyone was home and cheerful, laughter echoing through the air.

“I’ll have whiskey”, Jordan called out to the bar –tender as he took a sit amidst his homies. “Hey dude, what’s poppin’? I been watching ya, you ain’t playing like the dude I know”, Gerald scoffed. “Yeah, you been off lately, c’mon dude, what’s up?” Ken added, rather concerned. Jordan sat unperturbed, he looked at the shot of whiskey in his hands before gulping it down. “Y’all ain’t really talking about this huh? I just flopped today in court, that doesn’t make me less of the basketball king right?” He joked coldly. “Yeah,” “Right!”, echoes of agreement filled the air before Ken asked Jordan, “Calvin coming home this summer?” “Naa, he got work to do. Said he got his dream job in Detroit, so he ain’t coming back this summer”. Jordan explained flatly. “Ayee that must be it the, you missing ya big brother, that’s why you been all moody this summer huh?” Gerald rambled. Ken was about to respond before Milo who had been silent all along commented, “Hey have any of you seen that new chick?” The noise of everyone’s responses filled the air, before Milo’s girlfriend Mia chipped in, “she don’t even fit. I bet she’s a virgin by the way”. Everyone laughed mockingly. Jordan was left floating as he didn’t know who the gang was talking about. “Hey who are y’all talking about?” He asked, curiousity written all over his face. “Wow, isn’t it surprising that the king Jordan doesn’t know the new chic in the city?” Cam, Milo’s brother exclaimed, restoring calm and quiet in the midst. “What do you mean?” Jordan blurted out defensively. “Are you gon’ just pretend you didn’t see that girl who’s been rolling with Tracy all along?” Mia stated, getting up slowly from her boyfriends thigh, lighting up her cigarette and staring straight at Jordan. Seeing that he wasn’t pretending, she continued, “alright, alright….”, “I – I don’t wanna hear it no more, Jordan refused, having heard that the girl hung out with Tracy. “Well, she just came into town with her mum, and this is their first summer with us. Mr. Rodolff married her mother, and now they’re here for summer! All the way from New York”. Mia completed her statement ignoring the interruption. “Ney York?!” Jordan who had been uninterested exclaimed. “Right!”He grabbed his ball and stormed out, the laughter behind him fading into static. Something about that girl....