Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Thanks so much for your kind reviews! I appreciate every one of them, because I know this kind of fic - a sports fic - may not be read much because…well, it's a sports fic. I know there are some exceptions, but yeah. And plus, I'm still trying to make a name for myself on this side of the spectrum. (I think I did a decent job in my anime account, but that's another story for another day lol). So yeah, anyway, enough of my rambling, and here's chapter two!

A few names of real people on the team will be dropped here, and I'll explain to you who they are in the ending notes.

Enjoy!

Love and Basketball
Chapter Two: Fame, Fortune, and a Folly

Jasper.

Practice was rough.

That was the understatement of the century, I supposed.

Being someone who has played basketball almost every day since they came out of their mother's womb, I've experienced varying degrees of difficult practices. There was Pee Wee practice when I was just a little kid, then Junior High, High School, and finally college, which was what some people call the hardest practice that anyone will experience.

Apparently, these people haven't been coached by Stan Van Gundy.

His loud voice permeated the air around us as we sprinted up and down the court, not stopping until he gave the go-ahead. Which he hadn't yet. If we were to stop before he said anything, we wouldn't get a water break.

So, yeah. If you say your basketball coach is tough, you don't know anything until you've had an official NBA practice with Coach Van Gundy.

I groaned and I sank into the chairs set up along the sidelines as Emmett McCarty, back-up power forward and my best friend, leaned against the Gatorade dispenser, greedily gulping all of the purple liquid he could. His brown curls were damp with sweat, and he shook them out of his eyes as he turned to look at me, his two prominent dimples popping out as he grinned down at me, "I thought he'd never let us off!"

I ran a hand through my own sweat-soaked hair, and gave a tired laugh, "Same here."

I turned my glance to the other members of the Orlando Magic - the team I was currently apart of, and felt my heart swell with pride.

Something I had loved ever since I was a little boy had been basketball. Out of all the sports I played - football and baseball being the other two I had played in moderation - none of them ever came close to basketball. There was just a thrill I got whenever I dribbled the ball down the court, or stopped to take a jumper. Or when I made a three-pointer at the buzzer…there was nothing like it.

And to think that little boy, playing basketball in the yard with his dad made the jump from high school to college basketball, finally culminating in a contract with one of the elite teams in the NBA.

I smiled to myself as I lifted the paper cup to my lips, sipping gratefully as I looked about the gym. It was empty, except for a few reporters lingering around talking to the other members of the team, and coach, who was busy talking to Dwight Howard, whose grin was as big as ever.

"You up for tonight?" Emmett asked, looking at me with a questioning glance, "We're going to Twilight for drinks."

"Who's going?" I asked, though I was still wondering about that. I wasn't what you'd call the 'party type'.

"Just me, hopefully you, Jake, and Garrett." He said, raking a hand through his messy curls.

"What about Jake and Garrett?" Jacob Black, our back-up power forward, jogged up to his, his messy black hair hanging in his face. His bright grin was offset by Garrett Denali's growl as he tied his messy blonde hair back into its usual ponytail.

"Just telling The Prodigy that we were going out for drinks tonight." Emmett said, jabbing his thumb in my direction.

"Ah, right." Garrett said, his hazel eyes mischievous. "On the prowl, huh?"

"Prowl?" I asked, cocking my head to the side, looking as confused as I felt. Which was a lot.

"Whoa, keep me out of this." Emmett said, flashing his ring finger, though the wedding band that my sister had given to him was out of place, "Oh…wait…it's in the locker room. But you guys get the gist of it! I'm happily married, thank you very much."

"No one said you're going on the prowl, Em." Jacob rolled his eyes as he reached over and grasped the paper Gatorade cup in his large hands before filling it with the purple liquid from the tap. "But, unlike you, we can't all find super smoking hot wives that actually give a shit about us."

"Well, most girls do - " Garrett started, but then he interrupted himself, "Or is that the money they always see?" He smirked to himself, placing a finger to his chin in faux-thought.

"Ah, no one will ever know." Jacob grinned, the brightness of it almost blinding.

"Hey!" Coach Van Gundy shouted, his hoarse voice echoing to us across the court. "C'mon! Let's get some suicides in before I let you leave!"

"Well, damn." Emmett said, setting his cup down on the chair beside me.

"Let's go, y'all." I said, looking over at the two and trying to smile. They looked at me exasperatedly.

"Alright, Prodigy." Garrett rolled his eyes and trotted next to me.

I tried not to think about going to the club that night as I ran up and down the court, stopping and touching the lines before shooting up and running some more. I didn't want to think that all the girls only wanted me for my money. But Garrett had planted the seed in my head. Not that I didn't have experience in that area myself…

I smiled sardonically to myself as I sprinted down the court.

"Hey!"

I looked up, glancing around through the throng of dancing bodies, the pounding music hurt my ears. Let's just say I wasn't used to a life of partying yet. I don't think I really would ever be used to it. It was probably in relation to my small town upbringing. We didn't really have clubs where I grew up. And really, I'd never been a club type of guy.

I looked over at Jacob, who was currently being grinded upon by this pretty brunette and her red haired friend. He waved at me to come over to him, but I politely shook my head no. He then pointed to the red haired girl and mouthed, "You get her."

"No, thanks." I mouthed back before turning back to the bar and nursing the drink I ordered. It was some kind of alcohol…I still wasn't sure. I didn't plan on getting drunk, but I was thirsty and they didn't necessarily sell Pepsi at this place.

Emmett sidled up by me, his arm hooked around his wife - my sister - who looked at me with a small smile in her eyes. She was dressed to kill. I think red dress sums it up nicely. Every guy in the room wanted her and every girl wanted to be her. Either that or beat her up. The glances were mixed.

"Why don't you dance, Jasper?" Rosalie asked, kindly looking at me with her violet colored eyes.

"Yeah dude, you can't see all the tail checking you out?" Emmett offered, but then was shut up by a glare from Rose. Protecting me. Ah, it never changed.

"I'm not really…" I started, but then realized that it was true. I guess I wasn't exactly the most discreet of people. Not the most mundane. I was one of the Orlando Magic's starting shooting guards.

"Jazz, just cut loose, man!" Emmett prodded.

"But not too loose." Rose warned, "That's how you catch something."

I shuddered.

"Yeah." I replied, standing up. My eyes glanced over the crowd. Jake was now making out with the brunette from before, and the red head was looking my way, her gaze seductive and predatory.

Ugh…

Our eyes accidentally locked and then she was moving over to me. Rose gave me a warning look, while Emmett just grinned, both of his dimples sticking out prominently in his cheeks. They then left me with the girl that seemed to have one thing on her mind. And now that thing was on my mind, but only because it was on her mind and I wanted to avoid that.

"Hey." She purred, reaching out to stroke my arm. I tensed by reaction, feeling the liquid muscle move underneath my skin. "Casper, right?"

Oh, hell.

"It's Jasper, actually."

Yeah, this was doomed from the start. Not that I actually wanted this to work anyway. She just…I don't know. There was something weird about her from the beginning of this…weird encounter.

"Right, right." She said, now raking her ridiculously fake nails down my arm, "I totally knew that."

Her voice was light, bubbly, and she looked at me like I was something she desperately wanted. It made me feel increasingly uncomfortable, but I tried to smile at her without encouraging her. Which I failed at, for all she did was grin at me like she was the Cheshire cat, and make appropriate clawing motions at my bicep.

"Victoria." She introduced, holding her hand out strangely, limply, with the palm down, as if she thought I was some kind of knight that should be kissing it. Instead, I shook her hand, like I would do with any new acquaintances, and gave her a lazy smile. She looked more than mildly disappointed.

The look didn't last for long, for she quickly gave me a seductive look as she motioned to the balconied edges of the club, where various people were dancing. "Do you want to dance up there?"

I blinked several times before turning to look for Emmett and Rose, who had long since vanished from sight. I didn't know how to say no to this strangely forward woman without being callous and mean.

I decided to throw caution to the wind - it's not like I actually planned on taking this woman home - and went up to the areas she specified. She grasped my hand, and I felt my body tense. Despite the constant attention I got by women, I felt awkward with her hand in mine. Probably because it didn't feel right. It didn't feel like the newness of a relationship. It just felt like some girl trying to score with me so she'll have a story to tell to her girlfriends in the morning. Possibly steal some things from my apartment while she was at it…

I didn't realize I was so skeptical of her nature, but she did fit the profile after all. Flirty, scantily-clad, touching me with such confidence…

There were several couples already up at the balconies, and I saw Garrett happily talking with his girl, Kate. She had been with him since before he was on a famous NBA team, through all of his trials and everything he had been through. They had been high school sweethearts, and that was something I admired, for them to have been together for that long.

"Jazzy!" Kate called playfully over to me. I smiled at her as Victoria began pulling me in a completely different direction. The music was quieter up here, but still, there were people grinding and gyrating and just making a general spectacle of themselves.

Again, cue awkwardness.

I overpowered Victoria and ended up leading us to the place where Garrett and Kate sat, on some kind of cushy sofa with lush pillows and expensive décor seated on the coffee table in front of them. I gave them a pleading look, that probably screamed help me! Garrett only laughed, and Kate shoved his shoulder playfully.

"Nice catch, Jazz." She pointed to the girl on my arm with amusement. Victoria smirked in a catlike manner at Kate as she practically rubbed my arm against her large chest.

Ugh…some women…

Garrett grinned at me, "See? Clubbing does help."

"No…" I ground out as Victoria whispered something in my ear, but I couldn't hear over the stench of alcohol on her breath. It made my nose crinkle in disgust. I turned to look at her and now it fully registered just how drunk she was.

She might not have been wasted, but she definitely had a lot to drink, by the way her eyes were lazy and her mouth just parted ever so slightly. Or maybe she was tryin to seduce me - I could never tell with these things…

She pulled me away from Kate and Garrett in a whirl, and I felt dizzy all of a sudden. Maybe I drank a bit too much. Not good, considering my surroundings. She led us to an area where a people were dancing and pulled me into the fray. I almost barfed right there at the smell of all the alcohol around me. She started to grind her ass against my lap and I just stood there awkwardly.

I have to get out of here! I thought to myself as she flipped her crimson hair back, almost blinding me with it.

She moved her hips to the music, and though it wasn't an unpleasant feeling - hey, I am a guy; I have hormones - I knew I had to get out of there before something happened that I would regret. I was old fashioned. I didn't like hooking up with people who I barely knew. One night stands never appealed to me.

I looked around, my mind running in circles as I looked at the throng of people around me. I saw Emmett and Rose, as well as Jake and the brunette girl, but I knew they wouldn't help me. They wanted me to get some from this…encounter. And I couldn't find anyone to break from their partner to take care of mine… Ugh. Not good, not good.

I don't know what happened next. If it was too hot, or if it was the alcohol, but there was a horrible retching sound, and then a splattering sound in front of me.

Victoria had thrown up.

On me.

"Oh…oh, no…" I said, looking down at my pants and shoes, which were now covered in sick. I covered my mouth with my hand and tried to back away as Victoria wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. I felt my stomach try to betray me as she turned around, her eyes pleading and her mouth smeared with lip gloss and…oh, I don't even want to know what else…

I gagged and tore out of the massive amount of dancing people, who still hadn't noticed that one of their own had just puked their guts out. I wanted to desperately go outside and get some fresh air, but I found myself headed to the bathroom, with the thought, What good is fresh air when you have drunk girl vomit all over you?

I made my way into the bathroom and, with a queasy stomach, tried to wash whatever I could off of myself. Whatever fun we have had at Twilight before had been completely erased by that little incident. I'm sure the guys would have a great laugh about this tomorrow. I looked at myself in the mirror and the horrified look I had plastered on my features very nearly made me laugh.

Leaning over the sink, I ducked my head, not wanting to come back to reality.

So I stayed there, the scent of vomit burning my nostrils, and contemplated the overall worth of this endeavor.

"Dude, I can't believe you!"

I looked at Emmett as he jogged back from doing the passing drill with the other members of the second string. It was a simple passing drill that really only involved three people, so we had time to talk in between things.

"What can't you believe?" I said, as I watched Garrett go with Jacob and another member of the team, jogging down the court with perfect synchronicity.

"That girl was so into you last night. And you didn't even - "

"Dude!" I copied Emmett's favorite phrase and he looked at me with contempt, "She vomited. Everywhere!"

"So?"

"So!" I said, exasperated. "Oh, and she called me Casper when we first met."

"Like the friendly ghost?"

"I guess!" I shouted, huffing at him and feeling like a complete loser.

"Dude, it'll be okay - shit, it's your turn. Hurry up before Van Gundy gives you more suicides."

I started, the ball in my hands suddenly feeling very heavy, and then passed it to Dwight, who in return, passed it to Vince, and we repeated this process, weaving a "figure-8" as we passed.

I wasn't too into the drill, to tell you the truth, but even then, I'm sure that what I saw next would distract anyone from what they were doing, no matter how intense.

The doors to the practice gym opened and in walked a girl with long, wavy brown hair, and a guy with a mass of bronze hair, but my attention was solely on the girl. I could tell she was pretty, just from afar like this. They made their way closer and I got a better look. She had pale, pale skin that looked almost translucent, and a pair of pretty brown eyes. She was slim, and had a notebook in her hands. She came closer, almost to the sidelines, with that guy by her side.

I think it was at this point that the ball slipped from my hands.

It was an unusual occurrence. I was usually an exceptional ball handler. But the orange sphere flew from my hands, completely missing Dwight's large ones, open and awaiting the dunk to finish the drill.

The ball flew in the direction of the pretty girl.

Said ball conked said pretty girl her on the head.

Her back was to me, so she didn't see it. I don't think. And I felt mortified as she fell to the ground with a slight thump and a groan.

"Bella!" The man shouted, grasping for her as she fell, but coming up short.

I felt eyes on me, boring, burning through me, and I almost died of embarrassment.

"Jasper, what the hell!" Coach Van Gundy shouted from the sidelines as he looked awkwardly at the two. "Two laps! Now!"

Laugher resounded around me, chiding me and not the poor girl who I had probably just given a concussion.

Shit.

End Chapter Two.

And there's chapter two! At one point, I thought I'd never get it done. Lol. Well, here it is, and I hope everyone enjoyed it. I had fun writing in Jazzy's POV, but next chapter we'll switch back to Bella. I hope this chapter made you chuckle. Jazz has always been one of my favorite POV's to capture, and I really enjoyed writing this.

Now, let's see… I mentioned Dwight Howard in this chapter. He's simply amazing. And Vince Carter. Lovely! And of course Stan Van Gundy. They're all actual members of the Orlando Magic at this point in time, and I do not own them either. Lol. If you want to know what they look like or anything, you can probably go to the Magic official website or ESPN or Yahoo!Sports. Or Google them. Whatever you like. Lol.

Anyway, thanks so much for the kind reviews! I would love to hear your feedback on this chapter!