Continue…

Troy took in a deep breath and went back to where he started. He bounced the ball a couple of times then headed towards the goal and made it.

Troy: "Wow that feels so weird, my running is off too."

Bryce: "That was good, you just really need to practice it a lot and practice on landing. If you land on your left foot you will fall. Your running is something I cannot really help you with unfortunately. You run how your body is letting you run because it knows its limits."

Jack: "Do you think he will be able to keep up with everyone else?" Jack was kind of concerned about that since he has to run up and down the court constantly.

"I believe he can, he may not be as fast but I am sure you can think of plays that can work to where he can be a threat and not move as much."

Jack nodded; he needed to see where else this was going. He still had 4 months till the season started, he was sure he could think of something.

Troy did a couple of more lay ups to get the feel for it; it was starting to get comfortable.

Bryce: "Are you hurting yet?" talking about his ankle.

Troy shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah kind of when I land but not too bad."

Bryce: "Ok just let me know when it gets bad. We are going to work on jump shot now since you can't really jump."

Dylan did a couple of jump shots so Bryce could see how he landed and could tell Troy how not to land.

"Ok what you are going to do is put a lot of power on your right leg. You are going to take a little run step before you do it to get momentum. You are going to mostly jump off or your right and have your left leg for support. You need to land the same way you came off of the layup."

He showed Dylan how to do it, and then broke it down when he did it.

"Ah good luck with this one dude, I can barley do it." He walked up to Troy and handed him the ball.

"Great."

Troy was having trouble getting the foot work down. He fell down a lot because he wanted to land normally but had to stop himself. Dylan was standing there watching Troy. He kind of felt bad. He didn't know he would struggle this much. The session ended and they went home. Troy was frustrated but shook it off knowing he still had a while to pick everything back up.

3 weeks later…

Troy had his last basketball session; Troy was pretty much comfortable with everything he had learned. He practiced twice a day and had to work twice as hard to get better and stay as good as he was. The next day he called up the guys to come over and play some four on four.

They guys stood around on the court picking teams, they had not seen what Troy could do and what he had learned. They were kind of scared to play with him because they didn't want him to get hurt. They started to play. Every time Troy would go for a layup or shoot it they wouldn't try to stop him. Troy started to catch on. Jason threw him they ball and he went up to shoot and stopped.

"Ok guys what is up? You haven't tried and blocked me and pretty much haven't touched me this whole time."

They all awkwardly looked at each other.

Zeke: "I don't know we just don't want you to get hurt."

Troy: "Well I appreciate ya'll for caring but I need you guys to put pressure on me. It is not going to make me any better and I am not going to learn how to catch myself if I do get knocked down."

Everyone kind of nodded and agreed.

"Now come on let's play some real ball!"

They started to play again and put pressure on him. Troy still had it in him; reading body language, using his head on where to pass the ball and still had the moves. He was having a hard time with jumping afraid if he wasn't paying attention he would hurt it when someone was coming at him. He liked it better how it was hard instead of his friends just letting him shoot. Jack was watching from the window, on edge making sure Troy was being careful. After the game they all jumped in the pool and relaxed. Summer was the best time.

3 months later, SEPTEMBER:

School had just begun and everyone was buzzing about everything, the most anticipated event of the school year: Troy playing basketball. Troy's birthday was coming up, he was finally going to get to drive, and he couldn't wait. He and Gabi had the perfect summer romance. They couldn't be more in love. It was free period and the whole basketball team headed to the gym. They started to play and horse around and just have some fun. Then Bryan showed up. Bryan used to be the star basketball player at East High until Troy came along. He was the only person who was happy last year hearing about Troy's accident. Bryan hated Troy. Troy took over everything he used to have, everyone liked him better and he couldn't stand it. Even when Troy couldn't play everyone still thought about him and talked about him. Bryan walked into the gym towards the team.

"Well, well look who is finally out of crippled land." He came up and stopped.

Troy turned around, Chad was standing behind him. Troy never really understood why Bryan hated him so much; he didn't do anything to him. He didn't know how he took everything away considering he didn't play last year.

"Yeah I have been out." Troy said trying to ignore his remark.

"So your dad is letting you play?"

"Yeah? Why wouldn't he I am fine."

"I don't see why he is going to let a bad player on the team; you probably don't have any skills anymore."

Troy faked laughed, "Oh yeah you are so right because I haven't been practicing or anything."

"Well let's test them out, you, me right now."

They guys got wide eyed. Bryan was out to get Troy knowing he could hurt him on purpose.

"Let's go then." Troy stared him in the face.

Chad: "Umm Troy I don't think it is a good idea."

Bryan: "Shut up Danforth, after all isn't your fault anyway he was crippled?"

Chad stepped out in front of Troy, Troy held him back. It still boiled Chad's blood when someone brings up the accident because he still felt guilty.

Troy: "Chad its ok, I will be fine."

They guys cleared the court; it was just Bryan and Troy staring at each other. Bryan threw the ball to Troy.

"Handicap can start first. They need all of the help they can get."

Troy was trying to contain himself and started to play. They were going at it, shoving each other, getting in each other's faces. Troy was dominating making layups and shot. It was 9 to 7, Troy was up by 2 they were going to 10. Bryan was all over Troy, Troy went in for a layup the get the final point. Bryan came up and hit him while he was in the air. Troy lost his balance and fell on the gym floor. They guys ran up to him. Troy sat up and wiped his nose, it was bleeding.

Bryan: "What, do you not know how land on your feet?"

Chad and Trevor helped Troy up.

"I can't land on both feet and you hit me mid air. It is pretty sad how you have to cause a foul so you won't lose."

Troy wiped his face with his shirt.

"Please I wasn't going to lose, you need to learn how toughen up and learn how to play better basketball. You can't even run so I would like to see you try and catch up to everyone in the game."

"Well I caught up to you didn't I? But that doesn't really say much it wasn't that hard."

They guys "ooowed."

"You better watch out this season." Bryan said and walked away.

Troy shook his head, he didn't like that kid.

Chad: "Are you ok man?"

"Yeah yeah I am fine, just need to stop this nose bleed." This was going to be a long season with him Troy thought.

Troy walked out if the gym still in his practice jersey with blood on it, he ran into Gabi.

"Oh my gosh are you ok?" Gabi said in a concern voice.

"Oh yeah it's nothing just got hit in the face."

"Ok I hope so. I can't hang out after school; I have to go work on your birthday surprise."

Troy smiled, "Oh I get a surprise?"

Gabi smiled "Maybe a little one." She held up a little sign.

"Well I can't wait to see what it is. But I am going to go get this cleaned up."

"Yes please do."

September 14th, Troy's Birthday:

Troy woke up and went down stairs, it was his 16th birthday.

"Happy Birthday honey!" Lauren came up to Troy and gave him a big hug.

"Ha thanks mom."

"I made your favorite, chocolate chip pancakes!"

Troy sat down at the table and started eating. Jack came down the stairs and poured himself some coffee.

"Happy Birthday son!" He went and sat at the table.

"Thanks." They sat there and talked before going to school. Troy got up and put his dish in the sink then started to walk away.

Jack: "Hey"

Troy turned around. Jack dug in his pocket and pulled his keys.

"Go start the car, I will be out there in a second." He threw Troy the keys.

Troy walked out the front door and stopped dead in his tracks. There in the drive way was parked a brand new 2008 Black Ford GT Mustang with a bow on top. Troy walked down the steps with this mouth open. Jack and Lauren opened the door to watch their son react.

"Are you serious right now?" Troy whispered to himself.

"Yeah I think we are pretty serious."

Troy turned around; he didn't know his parents were standing there,

"This is my car?"

"It is if you want it." Jack smiled walking down the steps, Lauren followed.

"Oh believe me I want it!"

"Those are your keys." He pointed at Troy's hand.

Troy unlocked it and sat inside. He couldn't believe his parents got him a car.

"You kept your grades up like we asked you to and we thought this was a good match. You won't have to wait on me anymore while I am in meetings."

"Yeah I think that is the best part." Troy chuckled.

Troy got out of his car and hugged his parents, "Thank you so much! It is the coolest present ever!"

Troy called Gabi saying he wanted her to ride with him to school today. Usually Troy will pick up Gabi sometimes and they will ride to school together. Troy pulled up in Gabi's driveway and honked the horn, Gabi came outside and stopped. Troy got out of the car. Gabi walked slowly towards him and pointed at his car.

"Is that yours?"

"Yeah!" Troy smiled. He was excited to get to drive her to school.

"Oh my gosh! It is amazing! It is so pretty!"

"I think it would look even prettier with you in it." Troy smiled.

Gabi looked up and him and smiled, she hugged and kissed him, "Happy Birthday Wildcat."

Troy was having the best day; he couldn't wait to spend the rest of the night with Gabi. The guys were stoked about Troy's new car. He was the first to drive out of everyone; Chad gets to drive 2 days later. Later that night Gabi went out with Troy and his family for his birthday dinner and had cake at his house. They went up to Troy's room.

"Are you ready for your presents?" she pulled them out and sat on his bed.

"Presents? There is more than one?" Troy sat on his bed. Gabi handed him his first. He got a couple of shirts and new swim shorts. The next gift was a necklace with the number 14 on it.

"Wow this is very cool!" He put it on.

"Ok there is one more."

"Another one? You didn't have to do all of this. This is really nice!" Troy was impressed with Gabi going all out for him. Gabi walked over to her purse and looked for it.

"Shoot I left it at Taylors! I was working on it there."

"Its ok don't worry about it." Gabi went over to Troy and sat on his lap.

"Thank you for all of my gifts. It was the best birthday ever, you made it really special." He kissed her on the cheek.

"I am glad you had a good one. I just hope this year is better than last."

"Oh me too, trust me." Gabi looked at her watch.

"I think I better go, my mom told me to be home around 8. I'll call her."

"You don't have to do that remember? I can drive now."

"Do you want to take me home?"

"Of course, it means I get to spend more time with you." He kissed her on the lips. They have been dating for 10 months and Troy has yet to get bored. He loved Gabi, he didn't know he could love someone this much. They got in Troy's car and took off.

"Oh can you stop by at Taylors? I really want to pick your gift up."

"Yeah that's fine."

They pulled into Taylor's drive way.

"She said Chad is here so come in with me."

They got out and walked inside.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone yelled.

Troy was in shock, Gabi threw a surprise party for him. He didn't even notice anyone's cars. Everyone started to greet him. Troy couldn't be happier. He walked up behind Gabi and put his arms around her.

"So this is what you left?"

Gabi giggled, "Yeah."

"Thank you so much. You are the world's best girlfriend this means a lot."

"No problem, as long as you had a good birthday." She looked up at him and he kissed her on the lips.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

How was that? I was just trying to throw different things in there and just make it like a normal life and not having bad things happen to Troy all the time. Bryan will be a problem coming up. This was set back in 2008 just cause I felt weird setting it to the time now. If you guys have any ideas or anything ya'll would like to read please feel free to message me or write it in a review! I want ya'll to enjoy! Next chapter is start of basketball season; I think I might throw some Lucie in there too coming up! Thank you for the review and patients!