Title: Love and Basketball
Summary: Nathan and Haley were certain that they only needed two things in their life to be happy. Having one and not the other didn't seem like an option. Sometimes people need to let go a part of their life to see that having less was really more.
Disclaimer: This story will be in three parts. It is inspires by the movie Love and Basketball. Some of the story will be similar to the movie, which I do not own. OTH characters belong to their creator, Mark Schwann.
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Part 1
Haley James let out a loud groan as she flopped down on her boyfriend's bed, who was currently watching the Celtics game on television. Her body was sore and tired from a long day of basketball tryouts for the spring season.
She had loved basketball ever since she was younger. Her family was a major influence on her love for the sport. When she was around five years old, Haley remembered watching her father play the game with her brothers on their gravel driveway. They spent most of their time there when they weren't at school playing or watching a game on their small television set. After Haley was a little bit older, her father and brothers let her join in. She caught on quickly because she had watched them from the front porch while she played with her dolls.
Haley's mother wasn't a fan of her only daughter being interested in sports. She would rather have Haley play dress up or with dolls. Mrs. James could tell from the attention Haley put into the male fraction of the family, that this was not going to be just a tomboy phase.
As Haley grew up, her brothers decided they needed to step up their game because their little sister became increasingly better at basketball. Before Haley first picked up a basketball, her brothers would pick on her because she was smaller than them. Height didn't matter anymore when she was able to snatch the ball from opposing players. Games between the family members also changed because they all wanted Haley as their secret weapon to win.
At the age of ten, Haley's father signed her up for her fist team tryouts. Mr. James coached her and always reminded her that she wasn't going to be the only talented girl on the gym floor and it wasn't just about fun anymore. The role of competiveness was going to take play. It sure hit Haley once she figured out that her father was telling the truth. During the tryout period Haley had met some other driven ten year olds. Once making the team, all she wanted to be was the star player. It was more difficult for her because of the small differences the girls had in skill level, but Haley wanted to be the one who carried the team.
She loved every part of it. With each team she tried out for, Haley made new friends and improved. The annual summer league was her favorite because she didn't have to juggle schoolwork and basketball. There was more time for her to play and practice with other girls on her team. Once she turned twelve, this was no longer an option. It was time for Haley to move onto a slightly more challenging level.
The middle school years were exactly what she had moved onto and it was an entirely different world for her. The friends that Haley made were fellow athletes of the school and most of them were boys. She felt more comfortable around them because she could talk about sport related things. Other girls were too busy discovering what makeup went with their hair and eyes or how to start dressing more pretty. Haley could care less about that stuff. She would walk the halls in a hooded sweatshirt and basketball shorts all year. It was the time in her life where she noticed that boys and girls were developing into separate people.
Athletes were also different on this level. On her previous teams the other girls just let Haley be the dominant player. There were a few girls that didn't like that idea too much and made sure that they weren't going to let Haley get away with anything. The coach was also stricter than when she was ten. She kept yelling to Haley during games to use teamwork. The first season made Haley want to quit the game all together. But, she remembered her father's repeated words that it wasn't about having fun anymore. All she could do was throw her feelings aside and focus on being a better player because her dream was to be part of the WNBA. The next two seasons Haley still only cared about her stats and showing the crowd that she was the best player on the team. It was seen as egocentric and to Haley it was just a way to show off her determination.
Freshman year tryouts were longer and stretched over many days. By this time, Haley didn't need to hold her breath while she waited for the names of the players were posted. The athletics department knew that she was talented and they also knew her brothers, who played on their high school teams. She also had an easier time bonding with the other girls because they spent more time together. They had the bus rides to away games, conference and staying at hotels, and team bonding nights where the girls would sleep at each other's houses. Haley's house was often where the girls wanted to go because they were attracted to Haley's brothers.
Basketball wasn't the most important thing in Haley's life during her sophomore season. There was certain junior she had taken an interest in. He was also big-hearted basketball player at the high school.
"I'm guessing that tryouts were brutal for you this year? I told you making a spot on varsity was going to be tough." Nathan Scott let out a chuckle as he shifted on the bed. His hand went to Haley's back and rubbed her. "How's your knee holding up?"
"It's sore." Haley's voice was muffled as she talked into his pillow. She took in his scent when she opened her mouth to speak.
"I'm sure it is. I told you not to overwork it. Coach Manson isn't going to be happy with you if you do that."
Haley turned to her side. "I know, Nathan. You, my father, and my brothers tell me that all the time. I wont do anything to jeopardize my ability to play. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like you to comfort me instead of lecturing me," she finished by planting her face back into his pillow. Last year Haley found out that she had synovial plica syndrome, which meant that the tissues in her knee were prone to irritation and injuries. She had to watch how she exercised and be carefully when she was on the court.
He let out another chuckle as he pulled his girlfriend into his side.
Nathan knew exactly what Haley was experiencing. Making the right impression on the coach was important. It wasn't just the mere skills that coaches were looking for. Attitude was also key. Knowing that Haley could be hardheaded when it came to basketball, Nathan hoped that she dialed it down a notch during her tryouts.
Basketball was also something that was dear to him throughout his life. His father had played ever since he was younger and wanted to pass on the gift to his only son. Nathan remembered hearing the familiar story from his mother that if she ever had a daughter first, then Dan wanted to have another baby right away in order for it to be a boy. As soon as Nathan could walk and run, a basketball was immediately brought into his hands. His father forced the game onto him by signing him up for expensive camps and traveling teams. At first, Nathan didn't see it as that. He saw it as his father supporting his hobby. That was far from the truth.
It was Nathan's job to carry on the Scott name through the sport of basketball. He was to be the best player on the team and impress everyone who came to see them play. The pressure to be perfect took a toll on Nathan at the age of thirteen.
Before the first playoff game, in his last season at his junior high school, Nathan decided to sneak into his father's liquor cabinet and take a few shots of whiskey. It was what Nathan thought he needed to give him an extra boost in the game. Instead, it gave Nathan a sloppy game and a killer headache and stomachache later in the night. His father had been furious by the way Nathan had chose to play. He never even mentioned the alcohol that was in his teenager's system.
The pressure hit higher in high school, but Nathan couldn't do anything drastic because the school randomly drug tested their athletes and if they ever found out about underage drinking, the player would be kicked off the team. Nathan had been named the athlete of the week many times during his freshman year. By sophomore year he was already let onto the varsity team, which was rare for any high school athlete at the school.
Junior year was the year where college scouts made their first appearance into his life. They were his shot at college ball and hopefully his future calling to the NBA. Nathan made sure that he kept his grades up to stay active on the team as well as staying clean of any alcohol or drugs. The sooner he had a basketball scholarship, the sooner he was going to get away from his father and live his own dream.
That was until Nathan met his girlfriend, who his father didn't think he needed. The two had met at a basketball banquet that was thrown to mark the end of another season. Nathan and a few other guys were waiting in the lobby to catch a look at the cheerleaders, but instead were meted by the sophomore girls' basketball team. Haley had walked in with a taller redhead girl. Nathan smirked at the sight of her, while the other guys kept their hopes up that they had a shot with the varsity cheerleaders.
By the end of the evening, Nathan finally had the chance to make an impression on the honey haired, hazel-eyed girl that caught and stole his attention. Throughout dinner, he had thought of dumb pickup lines he could use on her. Luckily, he had forgotten every single one of them because Coach Durham was going to announce the player of the year in Nathan's division. He had taken the trophy and learned the girl's name because she, too, was named player of the year by her coach.
Nathan decided to give her a congratulatory handshake. He walked up to her and put his hand out, which she shook. He was about to speak to her when one of his teammates invited him to a bonfire. Nathan looked to Haley and decided they would have a better chance at talking if she was there, too.
They talked for hours about basketball, which Nathan was surprised that a girl knew so much about. He knew then that he was intrigued by her and asked her to be his girlfriend.
Nathan brought his eyes back to his girlfriend of one year. Her breathing had slowed down from the ragged breaths that they had started out as. "Haley, are you sleeping?"
She stirred and looked to him. "No," she let out. "But, I want to be. You can just go back to watching the game. I'll just take a small nap." She pretended to ignore him, again.
Nathan rolled over so he was on top of her. "I know that you're tired from practice and everything, but," he placed a kiss on her neck, "you're not still too tired for me, right?" He asked, his hot breath tickling her neck.
She let out a moan before giggling at the slight sensation. "Nathan, I'm too sore to do anything right now. That includes you." She rolled over to hide her face.
"Come on," he pleaded as he turned her over. "I'll do all the work and I promise it won't be too strenuous on you." His muscles created his irresistible smirk.
"I'm being serious, Nathan."
"I know. So am I. It might even make you feel good. I want the girl that I love to feel good."
She rolled her eyes. "Then I can sleep?"
"Yeah, baby, then you can sleep."
"Make it quick then." She flopped her arms out and stared at Nathan with a smile as she tried to hold in her laughter.
"Just for that, I'm going to have to go really slow." He lowered his head into her neck again and began lavishing and nipping at her newly pinked skin.
The sound of her moaning his name made Nathan bring his attention to her lips. He covered his mouth over hers and slid his tongue past her lips. The Haley that he knew was back when her tongue fought with his playfully.
The couple continued making out until the sound of Nathan's front door opening and closing stopped the pair. It wasn't too loud of a sound, but they tuned in to listening so Nathan's father wouldn't catch them again. It was embarrassing for both of them and they tried their hardest to never having to go through another encounter with Dan while they were close to ripping each others clothes off.
"I guess it's safe for you to sleep now," Nathan groaned. Before removing himself off of Haley, Nathan kissed her nose.
"I don't think I can. I mean I'm all smelly from practice. I don't ant to stink up your bed. I think I'll shower first. You're welcome to join me though, incase my muscles need some extra care." She explained. Haley lifted her eyebrow while waiting for her boyfriend to catch on. For an athlete his reflexes were pretty spot on.
"Is my girl suggesting doing something other than showering?"
Haley nodded. "Oh yeah,"
Nathan watched as Haley got off the bed and took off her practice shorts. Then she made her way over to his bathroom.
His life was too perfect right now. He had the game that he loved and a girl that he was in love with. There was no way that anything could change the way he felt about either from this point on.
"I'm not going to wait on you forever, Nathan." Haley shouted from the bathroom.
Nathan sat up and removed his shirt. Then he got off the bed and removed his jeans as he made his way to the bathroom.
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"I'm sure your name's on the list, Hales. Manson would be crazy if she didn't pick you to be on her team." Nathan told Haley as they walked hand in hand to the athletics bulletin board. His thumb caressed hers in comfort.
"I now, but varsity is different than the freshman or sophomore teams. If I don't make the team, I can't show college scouts that I'm the best one out there for them to pick." Haley said nervously as her eyes wandered for her name.
"Well," Nathan said as he squinted his eyes, "it seems you still got something, James. You're really going to have to watch that knee now or the scouts wouldn't even think of considering you." He turned to his girlfriend, who had an astonished look on her face.
"I made it?" She asked him excitedly.
"You made it." He placed his finger on her name and smiled at her.
She wrapped her arms around Nathan. "I love you," she said as she craned her neck to look up at him.
"I love you, too." He placed a quick peck on her lips.
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AN: I hope you guys enjoyed the start to this. I should have Part 2 and Part 3 done by the end of the week. I will post them when I can.
Please review!