NBA: Road to glory

Few days later...

I woke up to the smell of breakfast and something sizzling in the kitchen. Sunlight streamed through the big windows of Asher's place, the ocean breeze slipping in through the slightly open balcony door. It was one of those peaceful mornings where, for a moment, everything felt right.

I stretched, cracked my neck, after the weird energy, I was hoping today would feel more normal.

As I stepped out of my room, I saw Asher, at the stove flipping pancakes. 

"Morning" I said, walking over to the counter.

He looked up. "Morning. Hope you guys like pancakes, 'cause that's what's on the menu."

Vic was already sitting at the table, scrolling on his phone, looking half-asleep. Paige, meanwhile, was over by the fridge, pouring herself a glass of orange juice.

"Y'all took forever to wake up" Asher said, sipping his drink. "I was about to eat without you."

I smirked. "Man, you could've tried. You know I'm taking the biggest plate."

A few minutes later, we were all sitting around the table, plates stacked with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The conversation started slow—just the usual morning small talk. But after yesterday, even that felt like an improvement.

At one point, Asher looked at me. "So, what's the plan for today? You tryna hit the beach or something?"

Vic, still on his phone, didn't say anything at first. Then, after a pause, he muttered, "Yeah, sounds good."

I caught the way Asher glanced at him. That same tension was still there, but neither of them was saying anything.

I decided to just keep it moving. "Yeah, I'm down. I'm tryna enjoy these days."

Vic smirked. 

After breakfast...

As I was grabbing my stuff to head out, I passed by the window and caught a glimpse of something that made me stop in my tracks. Out in the garden, Vic was standing with Paige, Asher's girl.

At first, it didn't seem like much—they were just talking. But something about their body language felt… off. Vic was leaned in slightly, his hands moving as he spoke, while Paige stood there, arms crossed, looking somewhere between annoyed and conflicted.

I furrowed my brow. 'What the hell is this?'

I glanced back toward the hallway. Asher was still in his room, probably grabbing his sneakers. 

I turned back to the window. Vic said something, and Paige looked away, shaking her head. Then she took a step back, arms still crossed tight. Vic didn't move at first—he just stood there, staring at her like he was waiting for a different reaction.

Without thinking twice, I turned away from the window and made my way downstairs. As I stepped outside, both Vic and Paige turned toward me. Paige looked surprised—maybe even relieved—while Vic? He just had that same damn smirk he always wore when he knew he was caught doing something he wasn't supposed to.

"What's going on?" I asked, my tone calm but firm.

Paige hesitated for a second, then sighed, crossing her arms again. "Your boy here has been trying to push up on me since you guys got here" she said, glaring at Vic. "I told him to back off, but he doesn't seem to get the message."

I shifted my gaze to Vic. "That true?"

Vic scoffed, shaking his head. "Man, come on. It ain't even like that." He chuckled, like this was all a joke. "I was just talking to her. Can't a man have a conversation?"

Paige rolled her eyes. "A conversation? You were talking about how Asher's been 'holding me back' and how you could 'show me a good time." She looked at me now, her expression serious. "I don't know what kind of loyalty y'all have between you, but this? This ain't it."

My jaw tightened.

Vic shrugged, still playing it cool. "Yo, she's overreacting, bro. I was just messing around."

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. Vic had always been reckless, always pushing the line between confidence and straight-up disrespect. But this? This was different.

I turned back to Paige. "I appreciate you telling me" I said sincerely. "I'll handle it."

She gave me a nod before walking back inside, shaking her head.

Now, it was just me and Vic.

"Dawg" I started, my voice low, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Vic sighed and ran a hand down his face. "Man, you act like I did something crazy. It ain't that deep."

"Nah, it is that deep," I shot back. "That's Asher's girl. That's our boy. And you really thought it was cool to try and snake him like that?"

He clicked his tongue and looked away. "Man, you tripping."

I took a step closer. "I ain't tripping. You just don't know when to stop."

For the first time, his smirk faded.

"You need to get your head right, Vic. 'Cause this? This ain't gonna fly."

For a moment, there was silence. Vic looked at me, then scoffed and shook his head.

"Aight, whatever, man" he muttered before walking past me.

I can't take that much disrespect. "And what better life you can offer her, you live on my back and she makes her own money."

Vic didn't walk away this time. Instead, he stopped in his tracks, turned back to me, and gave me that cocky-ass smirk again.

"You acting real different, Franklin" he muttered, stepping closer. "What? You think you better than me?"

I clenched my jaw, my hands balling into fists at my sides.

"This ain't about that, Vic. This is about respect. Something you clearly don't got."

He scoffed."Man, get the hell outta here with that."

Then, before I could even process what was happening, he shoved me.

The second his hands touched me, instinct took over. My left hand swung fast—connected clean against his jaw. The sound of the impact echoed through the backyard. Vic stumbled back, caught off guard.

But he didn't stay down.

"Nah, fuck that!" he growled, wiping his mouth before lunging at me.

We crashed into each other, fists flying. I caught him again with a shot to the ribs.

"Get the fuck off me!" he barked, but I wasn't letting up.

I flipped us over, pinning him down, and slammed my fist into his face again. Blood trickled from his nose, but he still struggled, trying to throw me off.

Just as he tried to swing at me, I grabbed his wrist and slammed his arm down.

The screen door suddenly burst open.

"FRANK! VIC! STOP!"

It was Asher.

In a second, he and Paige were pulling me off Vic. Vic sat up, wiping his bloody nose, looking at me with a mix of anger and shock.

"The fuck is wrong with you two?" Asher snapped, looking between us. 

Vic chuckled low, shaking his head. "Man, fuck this." He pushed himself up, spat blood onto the grass, and looked at me one last time before storming toward the house.

Paige looked at me, eyes wide.

"What the hell just happened?" she asked.

I turned to Asher. "Your boy tried to snake you. Tried to get at Paige."

Asher's face darkened immediately. His jaw clenched, his fists tightened, but he didn't move.

He just looked toward the house, where Vic had disappeared inside.

Shit just got real.

He turned toward the house, his voice low but firm.

"Vic! Get your ass out here."

A few seconds passed before Vic stepped out onto the patio, wiping the last bit of blood from his nose. He looked at Asher, then at me, then at Paige, and smirked.

"What, y'all about to gang up on me now?" he scoffed. "That's how it is?"

Asher didn't blink. "Nah, ain't nobody jumping you. But you gotta go."

Vic's smirk faded. "What?"

"I said get the fuck out, Vic."

Vic let out a bitter laugh. "Man, y'all being real dramatic—all that for a hoe."

"You disrespected me, my girl, and my home." Asher stepped closer, his voice steady but ice-cold. "That ain't something I can let slide. So, I'm saying it again—get your shit and leave."

Vic looked at me now, like he was expecting me to back him up.

I didn't say a word.

His expression changed. His usual arrogance cracked just a little, like it was finally hitting him that this was real.

"Man, after everything? Y'all really turning your backs on me like this? if you have what you have today it's thanks to me Frank." He muttered.

"No" Asher said. "You turned your back on us."

Vic exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "A'ight. A'ight. I see how it is."

He stepped back into the house. A few minutes later, he came out with his bag slung over his shoulder. He stopped at the door, looked at us one last time, then shook his head and walked off.

No goodbyes.

No last words.

Just like that, he was gone.

A heavy silence hung in the air.

Paige let out a breath she'd been holding. Asher rubbed his hands over his face, then looked at me.

"You good?" He asked.

I nodded, even though my head was still spinning. It's a weird feeling because in this life he has always been there.

I didn't know if I'd ever see Vic again.

But right now?

I didn't care.