Riley was at the peak of embarrassment and depression. His fail on that one game, was the most embarrassing moment in his entire life. People mocked him, and threw stuff at him. He went outside for a long walk outside. He walked all the way to the rec center. Riley stepped into the middle of the basketball court. He had a flashback of that fateful day, when Billy Mathews kept scoring over and over again. He had been beaten by an autistic kid. Riley got down on his knees, until he was holding himself off the ground with his arms thinking about the one event he could never take back. The one event that made him never play basketball again. He thought about this until something nudged him in the head. It was a basketball. He got up on his feet and picked the ball. He looked right in front of him. Standing there was Cindy McPherson. Riley threw the ball back to her, and walked in the opposite direction. The ball was thrown at his head, and bounced back into Cindy's hands.
"You know what I think is really funny? How you could just insult my mom, and make me cry and run like that. Then you lose to a special kid."
"Shut up you stupid Bitch!" said Riley. Cindy could see the pain and hurt in Riley's eyes. She felt bad about this, and could see how Riley would feel after that game.
"Riley wait!"
Riley looked back at the girl.
"Whatchu want? I swear if you say anything-"
"Riley, I'm sorry. I could see how people would make fun of you for your misfortune."
"Yeah."
"And, it's not like I didn't deserve being insulted."
"Huh?"
"Yeah, I was throwing your game off too."
"Well, I guess it was a bit harsh for me to return the favor, make you cry and all. I'm sorry."
"Naw, it's ok."
The two stared at each other for a moment.
"Listen, you want to shoot some hoops with me?"
Riley smiled. It has been a while since people have been his friend. Sure, he has Thugnificent and the lethal injection, but they were adults. And Jasmine wasn't much of a friend to him. Cindy would be his first kid friend in a while.
"Sure."
They played basket ball with each other all afternoon. They got pretty tired after a while.
"Listen Reezy, I think I better split."
"iight."
"I'll catchu here tomarrow, right?"
"Of course."
"Oh, and Reezy?"
"Yeah?"
"If anyone makes fun of you, tell me, and I'll whoop their ass!"
"I'll be sure to do that."
And that was the start of a good friendship. That's why Robert invited her over, because she was his friend. And because he thought Riley was gay and because Cindy was a girl. It's also the reason she came on Huey's kickball team. Riley asked her himself!
Riley knocked on Cindy's door. She answered it.
"Hey Reezy."
"Yo C-merph, my lame ass brotha is making a kickball team. You wanna join?"
"Why would I?"
"Well uh, because I told Huey that I was going to ask you to join, and he said that you couldn't even kick a ball."
"He said that? I'll show him!"
It is because of this friendship that she agreed to join him in his fundraiser. After this, we may not know what is in store for these two. Was Cindy mad that she almost died at the hands of Riley? Or was there more to this friendship that meets the eye? Perhaps was it more than just a friendship? The answer to these questions is a whole other story.