Happy Friday friends! A bit of a time skip with this chapter, I hope you enjoy, only two chapters left! Thank you so much for all your reviews. Please let me know what you think of this chapter. I have fallen in love with this version of characters but I got more ideas I want to play with. Love Ya'll!
Nicole scowls at the Projection screen in the club she and her friends were sitting in. The song Fast Motion by Saweetie was playing as the music video was displayed on the screen which featured Tris Prior. It was like she was everywhere and still made Nicole pissed off at her situation.
"I can't believe this, how can they keep me from my own son" Nicole complains as she takes a drink. She had finally paid back all of her restitution to Tobias but her lawyer had basically told her to give any hopes of regaining full custody.
Jasmine looks at Trina and rolls her eyes. Through the ups and downs of everything with Nicole, she kept trying to paint herself as anything but the opportunist she was.
"Didn't the judge say you still have visitation rights?" Jasmine points out.
"Nicole, you played the game and lost get over it" Trina huffs before she takes a pull of the hookah in their VIP booth.
"Are you fucking serious right now" Nicole practically screeches.
"Nicole, you tried to scam a ballplayer, not your first attempt mind you, got pregnant, he went back to his ex and left you then you win the award for neglecting your child and lose custody, and on top of that his wife beats your ass in public and some random posts it on Instagram. And you still want people to feel sorry for you? Get the fuck out of here, Your ass got what you deserved"
Jasmine almost spits her drink out in a laugh while Nicole looks like her head is going to explode. Nicole had been mortified when a video of her and Tris's altercation surfaced. Tris made a public statement about her actions and it turned it into a public service announcement about family and healthy relationships which the public ate up like it was gold. Nicole was easily painted as the gold digger on her first season of Basketball Wives and she hadn't been able to shake the label.
"Stop trying to act like you aren't anything but a tramp ass hoe, That's who you are, not the doting mother who cares about her kid. Embrace it"
Nicole gets up and stomps off to the restroom. She looks in the mirror, her breasts were sitting high in her bra, her wig looked flawless. She was on the up and up no matter what Tobias, Trina, or anyone else had to say about it.
"Fuck them, A girl gotta do what a girl gotta do"
When she exits the restroom a guy at the bar flashes her a smile and she makes her way over as Jasmine and Trina shake their heads.
"Wow, I guess your little pep talk worked" Jasmine shrugs.
"That wasn't a pep talk, the girl's a hoe, and dude's know it. Tobias was probably the last decent guy who will ever try to get with her"
Jasmine sips her drink and nods her head, Trina was right. She had hoped losing custody of TJ would help Nicole get her act together, but clearly, that wasn't going to happen.
Tobias takes a sip of his drink as he looks around the hotel bar for his friends. His season was over, they had come close to their third championship in three years but there had been injuries and the Golden State Warriors had taken the Bulls down in 5 games. He and the team were okay, they would be back next year and planned to work hard over the offseason. This week, He, Caleb, Uriah, and Zeke were having a guys trip in Miami.
He sighs when he sees Zeke approach him. Everyone had agreed to meet down at the bar before dinner for a few drinks but as usual, Uriah and Caleb were late. Things with him and Zeke weren't bad but they still kept their distance from each other for the most part unless it was a gathering with all their friends or business-related. So did Tris. Shauna was happy when Zeke proposed a year after they got back together but Tris had started keeping a little more distance between the two of them outside of businesses. Shauna had never asked her to but she felt like it was the right thing to do after their conversation in Rome during Tris's last season there. They seemed happy and Tris and Tobias were happy for them.
"What's up" He sits next to Tobias and motions for the bartender. Tobias nods his head in acknowledgment.
"You ready to lose some money tomorrow?" Tobias teases hoping to break the ice.
Zeke chuckles, none of them were big gamblers but they like to get away, play a few rounds of games of golf and bet against each other.
"Hey, T. I should have said this a long time ago but I owe you an apology."
"Naw, we good" Tobias pushes back. Tobias had resigned that he and Zeke's relationship was never going to be what it was in high school and he was okay with that.
"No, I should have done this a long time ago. I was a shitty friend, I held a lot of shit against you for a long time. You're a good dude, I'm sorry I was only looking at the time in your life when you were going through the worst time in your life and judging you"
Tobias is a bit shocked at Zeke's admission.
"Thanks, bro, I appreciate it. For real."
Zeke turns and gives his order to the bartender. Tobias smiles as he raises his glass to take another drink. They would be okay, he was sure of it.
Tris turns her SUV into the parking lot of Lake Forrest Academy to pick up TJ from school. He had started Kindergarten that year and Tris was amazed every day at how smart he was. Nicole had recently announced she was engaged to an NFL player who played for the Miami Dolphins. Tris and Tobias worried she might try to go after full custody again but Nicole's antics on her reality show didn't help her case. She'd just announced she was pregnant again. Tris couldn't do anything but roll her eyes at the situation. She didn't know much about this football player but she hoped he knew what he was getting himself into. Nicole had been linked to the rapper Future after she lost custody of TJ and had quickly gotten pregnant with the rapper's 8th child. Tris had to look at the situation and find the irony. Nicole ran game on the one man that she had played her game with who was an amazing father and provider. Now she was stuck being a single parent as she kept having kids by men who didn't give a damn about her or made any effort to be in her children's lives.
Tobias had Niles file an injunction against Nicole that stopped her from discussing Tris or Tobias on the TV show and did not allow TJ to make any appearances on the show while he was a minor. Nicole had been furious and pitched a complete fit during the meeting with their lawyers. After seeing her behavior the judge would not overturn the ruling which infuriated her even more. She made sure she kept her distance from Tris and Tobias, with Tris glad that she took her warning seriously after their run-in outside the courthouse.
They had initially wondered how TJ would take the news of his mother having another baby since she barely saw him a few times a year at this point but he seemed to be okay with it. The weekends and holidays she asked for TJ were getting fewer and fewer in the three years he had been living full time with Tris and Tobias after their custody ruling. TJ would still now only spend time with her if Tris or Tobias was with him, he never wanted to be left alone with her anymore. Tobias and Tris had set him up with a therapist to make sure he was expressing his feelings about his mother basically abandoning him, but the therapist assured them he was doing fine and to respect the boundaries that he put with Nicole and not force him to go with her if he didn't want to.
They settled in a rhythm balancing all the public appearances, photoshoots, filming commercials, and speaking engagements. Tris had won her second WNBA MVP award at the end of the prior season along with another championship. Just that spring Tris had already been in a music video for Saweetie's song Fast Motion. She had squealed with delight when Zeke told her Saweetie specifically asked for her as the WNBA MVP. She was one of the most popular guest commentators on NBA tonight and she was scheduled to call the NCAA tournament the next week and she and Tobias were releasing their new athletic line from their Adidas contract in two weeks. It was crazy but she was loving every minute of it.
"Hey, Handsome" Tris says as TJ runs up to her as she signs him out.
"Mamma T," TJ exclaims, Tris smiles as she bends down to give him a hug. She loved how excited he was she picked him up in the afternoons during the off-season.
The last year TJ had taken to calling her Mamma and Nicole Mommy. It warmed Tris's heart to the core. She loved him like he was her own son. During her offseason, she made him lunch and took him to school every day. She was so thankful for her mother spending time teaching her how to cook. She loved making dinner for her family on the nights they were actually able to sit down for dinner together. She was there when Tobias was on the road. Evelyn still came every few months or when the WNBA and NBA seasons overlapped but Tris had grown comfortable in motherhood and she didn't need as much help.
"How was your day?" Tris asks as she holds his hand as they walk back to her SUV.
"Fun! We learned about Kangaroos! Are we going to see Daddy play?"
"Yes, but you and I are going to have dinner with Auntie Christina first" Tris was amazed at how he had blossomed since Tobias had been awarded full custody. He was so smart.
"Yay! Can we have pizza?" TJ asks enthusiastically as Tris buckles him into his car seat before hopping into the driver's seat.
"Yes, we can have pizza" as she smiles and looks at the rearview mirrors to see him clapping excitedly.
Tris lets him take a nap when they get home, knowing he will still fall asleep before the game is over. She dresses him in one of the many Adidas outfits he has. Since Tris and Tobias both had Adidas endorsement deals there was an endless supply of athletic clothes, their fans loved when Tris posted TJ's Adidas look of the day.
"Hi, Auntie Chris!" TJ says as Christina bends down to give him a hug. Christina and Uriah had moved out to Lake Forrest about 10 minutes away from Tobias and Tris the year before which had been great.
"You are getting so big," Christina grins as they sit down at their table at Giordano's.
"Zeke called me on the way here. Apparently, Tobias, Uriah, Lynn, and I are going to be selected to play for Team USA in the Olympics for Men's and Women's basketball. Tori's coaching the Women's team"
"Omg! This is going to be fun! It's in Brazil this year right?"
"Yes, I can't believe it, I'm so excited to get to play with Lynn again and Coach will be there"
"Is Journee going to come if Auntie Lynn is coming?" TJ asks looking up from coloring on a kids menu.
"Yes, and Nana will come too I bet"
TJ grins, he and Journee were thick as thieves. TJ, Kai and Journee, and Sienna had been begging for a sleepover the last months so she knew all the kids would be excited.
"Can I get you another glass of wine?" The waitress asks.
"Um, I'm good actually" Tris replies the gasps as she looks at Christina who was sipping on her water realizing she never order a glass of wine like they usually did at Giordano's.
"When were you going to tell me?" Tris squeaks out bouncing up and down in her seat as she puts the pieces together.
"Today actually, Uriah and I went to my first appointment last week" Christina grins.
"Another baby! This is just too much!" Tris sighs with a smile. Lynn and Kima were expecting again too.
"Can we have a baby too?" TJ asks after a few minutes of Tris and Christina chattering about nursery plans and the Pre-School that TJ had gone to that you had to get on a list for. He had the most adorable look and he goes and climbs up to sit in Tris's lap.
"You want your mamma and daddy to have a baby TJ?" Christina asks with a giggle looking at how hopeful he looked and he nods his head enthusiastically.
"Your Mommy is having another baby, you'll have another little brother or sister soon" Tris reminds him but melting on the inside at his train of thought. They had been worried about how TJ would take, Nicole's announcement that she was pregnant again but he didn't seem bothered.
"No, I want you and Daddy and me to have our own baby" TJ clarifies.
Tris and Christina giggle. She wasn't sure when she wanted to get pregnant just yet. Her game was top notch and there was high praise that the Sky would repeat their championship again this season after winning two already. Tobias made sure she didn't feel pressured but she knew she didn't want to wait too long considering she was already 28.
That night after the game, Tobias scoops up TJ after his bath to place him in bed. He and Tris usually alternated reading him a story but his eyes were already drooping from the night out at the game and he was fast asleep as soon as Tobias tucked him in and said good night.
Tobias grins as he sees Tris tying her sleep scarf on at her vanity.
"So TJ told me you said he could have his own baby today" Tobias teases as Tris gets up to turn the covers back.
"Oh I did not" Tris laughs out. "So Chris and Uriah are expecting…"
"Yeah Uri told me today"
"And TJ said he wants us to have our own baby, those were his exact words. I think with Nicole, and Kima pregnant again and now Chris, he thinks he's supposed to have a new baby here too. I tried to explain that's not how it works but you know 5-year-olds"
"Hmmmmm, our own baby" Tobias grins as he drops his shorts and Tris throws her head back laughing.
"Aren't you tired?" She teased but was half-serious. He'd played 45 minutes out of the 48-minute game that day but she knew it was so hard to come down from all the adrenaline.
"Not really, I thought we could practice making our own baby" He replies seductively as he kisses her shoulder.
Tris bites her lip and looks at him.
"Maybe we should do more than practice"
Tobias raises his eyebrows and looks at Tris to see if she was serious.
"I was really just kidding, You know I'm not trying to push you right?"
"Yeah I know, it's just, I think I might actually be ready, I've won 2 championships, it's a strong possibility we'll get a 3rd this year, I've won MVP twice now, I think I've had a good career"
Tobias sits up and pulls Tris to sit on his lap as she looks down. Tobias can detect a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Baby, just because you are finally ready to have a baby doesn't mean this has to be the end of your playing career. How many players on your team have kids?"
"I know, it's just my body might not bounce back, I've seen it happen. Lacy Cooper had her baby last year and she couldn't even get through the season this year, I'm pretty sure they're going to cut her before training camp. Maybe I should just bow out now? You know, go out on a high note."
Tris sighs as she plays with his gold chain with his number 4 around his neck. She'd been thinking about it all evening. She knew this day would come eventually, maybe this was a sign now was the time for her to finally move on from playing.
"Since when does Beatrice Prior-Eaton not stand up for a challenge? If you want to play after you have a baby, then you will work at it. We'll train together while you're pregnant as long as it's safe and I'll be the first one there when it's safe for you to train after you give birth. You know Christina and George are going to be there with you to train every step of the way too"
"You make me feel like I can have it all T." Tris sighs, giving him a quick kiss.
"You can have it all. It's just going to be some adjustments. You are one of the greatest basketball players, male or female, I already know nothing is going to stop you until you are ready to quit playing, you love it too much. We will take everything one step at a time and tackle it together."
Tris smiled and wrapped her arms around him. He was right after all and he knew her so well. Having him be in her corner, really boosted her confidence that they could juggle all of this.
She gives him a long passionate kiss. Tobias lets his hands roam as he smiles against her mouth.
"I'll call my doc tomorrow and set up an appointment to get my IUD taken out"
"Now this is the fun part" Tobias teases as he flips them over and Tris squeals with delight.
The Olympics are probably the most fun outside of NBA All-Star Weekend Uriah, Lynn, Tris, and Tobias have had in many years as professional athletes. So many superstars on one team you would think there would be drama but both the men's and women's teams have excited to represent the USA.
Tobias and Uriah make it to Brazil a week before Tris and Lynn since they were in the middle of the season. All their families come as well, not wanting to miss the opportunity to see them play on a world stage.
"This is kind of crazy isn't it?" Uriah asks Tobias as they walk in for the procession of the opening games and wave at the crowd.
"So crazy," Tobias agrees as he grins. This was the kind of thing they dreamed of when they were kids playing ball in the driveway way and now it was reality.
The American teams dominate easily and their family makes the trip to Brazil for the games over the two weeks. The night before Tris's gold medal match against France, Tris comes out of the shower to find Tobias lounged across their twin beds that were pushed together to make one big bed. Uriah and Christina were in their other room in their suite.
Tris had gone to practice and to rehab in one of the areas for the athletes while Tobias took TJ to dinner with her parents and Evelyn. She heard him come in while she was in the shower.
"Where's TJ?" Tris asks. They had a small air mattress brought in for him for their suite. He was loving it, thinking it was a giant sleepover with his Auntie Christina and Uncle Uriah.
"With your parents at their hotel, He, Kai, Natalia, Sienna, and Journee begged to have a sleepover. "
Tris chuckles, her parents treated TJ like he was one of their biological grandchildren, he called them Grammy and Grandpa just like Kai, Natalia, and Sienna. It was so amazing the four of them were so close, it was hard to separate them when they were together like this.
"All of them, oh goodness" Tris chuckles as she picks up her cocoa butter and begins to rub it over her arms.
"Yeah, I think my mom is helping out until they go to sleep. Uriah and Chris are having dinner with Ms. Hanna and Mr. Reggie. Marlene, Caleb, Kima, and Lynn were going to grab something to eat and then go for a walk, you want in?"
"That sounds tempting but according to the app on my phone, I'm ovulating" Tris grins and waggles her eyebrows.
It had been 4 months since she had her IUD taken out. She wasn't trying to put too much pressure on herself during the season, especially with road games, but it was kind of hard to coordinate sex when she ovulating and she knew it would be just as tricky when Tobias started his season.
"Well this night just got even better" Tobias grins as Tris crawls over to him dropping her towel.
In the Men's basketball gold medal match, Australia was no match for Uriah, Tobias, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and the other NBA All-Stars. They dominated from the start of the game.
"Ohhhh," Christina grumbles as Tris yells at Tobias from the stands to tighten up his defense.
"You okay?" Tris asks looking over at Christina as their family all cheer as Tobias scores another basket.
"Yeah, this baby is active today" She shakes her head with a chuckle. Christina and Uriah had just found out that they were having a boy. Christina, Tris, Lynn, Marlene, and Kima had been brainstorming baby names all trip. Christina really wanted a Latin name from her family with Angel which was her father's name and Javier after her grandfather being her two front runners.
"You must have another future NBA star in there like I do" Kima teases as Lynn shakes her head. Kima joked that she knew this baby was destined to play basketball since he always kicked up a storm during Lynn's games. They were glad Kima was able to make the trip since she was 7 months along. The Team USA officials had gotten Lynn and Kima a Team USA onesie for the baby which Kima thought was the cutest thing ever.
"Is my brother kicking?" Journee asks excitedly as she hops down from Lynn's lap to feel Kima's belly.
"He sure is" Kima places her hand right where the baby kicked and Journee smiles.
"You want to ask Auntie Kima can you feel too?" Tris asks TJ. Kima holds out her hand when he giggles and nods. Tris feels her heart warm as she watches TJ and Journee's faces light up when they feel the baby kick.
"When we have a baby I'm going to teach her to play basketball just like you and Daddy," TJ says proudly when he climbs back into Tris' lap.
"You're going to be such a good big brother" Tris murmurs as runs a hand over his curly hair and she feels her heart melt at how sweet he was.
"You want a baby sister TJ?" Lynn asks as Tris gives him a kiss on the cheek and a hug.
"Yes! She's going to play basketball like Mamma T and I'll make sure she's always happy and doesn't cry" He vows proudly.
Tris grins and hugs his little body to hers again. She kisses him on the forehead and breathes deep through her nose praying that she and Tobias were one step closer to having a baby after their lovemaking the night before. She knew it would take time and Chris, Marlene, and Lauren all kept trying to keep her positive.
Two days later Tris, Lynn, Uriah, and Tobias add Olympic Gold Medalist to their long list of awards and accomplishments in basketball.
"Every time I think I can't get any prouder of you, you find a way to prove me wrong" Andrew gushes as he gives Tris a tight hug after her medal ceremony.
"Thanks, Daddy," Tris says, wiping a tear.
"Are you okay sweetheart?" Natalie asks as Andrew goes to grab Reggie to discuss coordinating airport transport for their flight in the morning. She had a feeling Tris wasn't emotional because of the gold medal.
"Yeah, I"m just going to miss this when it's over," Tris tells her mother honestly.
"Baby Girl, you don't have to give this up, are you pregnant already?"
"No, not yet, but we've been trying and I just want to prepare myself for the end"
Natalie pulls her into a hug. She was happy when Tris told her they were trying for a baby. After all the years they spent with their relationship strained you would never know it now the way Tris confided in her mother and leaned on her for support now. She knew Tris was trying to convince herself she was ready to retire, but she knew that Tris wasn't ready yet.
Tris fidgets in her cream pants suit tugging at the blazer as the guests fill in the area next to the podium. It was March and even though it was warmer in Atlanta than in Chicago, there was still a slightly chilly breeze in the air that morning. There was a nice-sized crowd gathered outside the Dauntless University Arena, all there to celebrate Tris and the dedication of her very own statue.
Tris and the Chicago Sky won another WNBA championship after the Olympics in Rio. Tris won Defensive Player of the Year as well. She had been shocked when Tori called after the championship to tell her that the university wanted to honor her as she was the most decorated and successful Dauntless University, basketball player in history. Tris couldn't believe it, she was about to turn 29 and didn't feel like she had been in the league long enough to earn all the praise.
"Will you stop fidgeting, you look amazing" Lauren teases, knowing that Tris still got a bit nervous in front of crowds when all the attention was only on her and she wasn't playing an actual game.
"Zeke, will you tell her to calm down please?" Lauren complains.
"Tris, after all the awards and accomplishments I will never understand how you can play in an arena full of people but get nervous speaking in public"
"I can't help it," Tris huffs as she turns her number six charm on her necklace.
Zeke laughs and gives her shoulder a squeeze as he goes to find his seat.
"No baby news yet?" Lauren asks hopefully. She knew Tris had been trying and was frustrated she wasn't pregnant yet.
"Not yet, everyone just keeps telling me to stop worrying and just let it happen but it's been a year"
Lauren could hear the sadness in her voice.
"It will when it's the right time." Lauren gives her sister a tight hug before going to find her seat next to her parents.
She smiles as she sees Tobias introducing TJ to someone a few feet away. Tobias and Uriah had surprised her that morning after taking a 6:00 am flight from Cleveland after their game the night before to be there for the 10 am ceremony and were going back to New York on a 3 pm flight to meet up with the team for the next game on their road trip.
"They are ready to get started" Tori motions for Tris to join her next to the podium. President Artis of the University smiles as he starts his speech welcoming everyone and then steps aside as Tori comes up to the podium.
"You all know Tris Prior's stats, a three-time first-team All-American, a three-time Peach Belt Conference player of the year, NCAA 2024 Champion, Tournament MVP, and the WNBA's No. 1 draft pick in 2024 she was the league's Rookie of the Year that season and just last year she was awarded the WNBA's MVP for a second time. She's also an Olympic Gold Medalist and a 3 time WNBA champion. She holds the Dauntless University record for assists, 3 pointers, and the all-time scoring record not just for women's basketball but men's basketball as well. But what I know about Tris Prior is she is one of those people that has a pure spirit, who is loyal and hardworking. She's always going to stand up for what's right, even if it gets her into trouble."
Tris smiles and lowers her head with a laugh as the crowd laughs with her.
"This statue's dedication means so much to me. I saw how much potential Tris had even though she thought I was hard on her at first. But I believed in her and I knew she was destined for greatness. I know she's just getting started with making her mark in the world"
Tris fights back tears at Tori's words. She was conflicted. She wanted to have a baby, but at the same time, she wasn't ready to retire. Tori's words reminded her of that.
As the audience applauds Tori and Tris makes her way to the podium she takes a deep breath through her nose.
"I'm never good at these," Tris says and it draws a chuckle from the crowd.
"I wouldn't be where I am today without Dauntless University and Coach Tori Wu. This university gave me not only a shot at basketball but a shot at life. My senior year of high school, we lost the North Carolina 3 AAA championship game and I had no scholarship offers. I thought basketball was done for me but Coach Wu offered me a scholarship and it changed my life. There were lots of ups and downs here but I learned how to navigate life as an adult, I learned so much about discipline, resilience, and honesty, and most importantly to never give up. I also made life-long friendships. My team, my DU sisters, Marlene, Christina, Lynn, and I came to this campus wanting to prove ourselves and we found so much more than basketball."
Tris looks over at Christina who was standing in the back and was jiggling a fussy baby Angel in her arms. Kima and Lynn were sitting on the same row with Marlene and Caleb. Lynn was holding Baby Aiden while Journee, Kai, Natalia, and TJ sat with Andrew, Natalie, Lauren, Sienna, and Evelyn.
"The Dauntless University fans are amazing and I'm so thankful for your support not only during my playing career at Dauntless but in the WNBA and everything I do. You were always there to cheer us on through the 4 years of us seeking an NCAA championship and reminded us that we weren't just playing for our own glory but we were playing for Dauntless and this community"
This draws a round of cheers from the crowd which causes Tris to smile and she calms a little.
"Many of you may not know that my mother, Natalie Prior grew up right here in Atlanta. My grandmother, Amanda Ritter, couldn't even walk on this campus; she had to walk around it. If she was here today to see her granddaughter has a statue where she once could not walk ... it goes to show how you just plant seeds, and that's what it's all about. Change doesn't happen overnight, but little Black girls can look at that statue and say, 'Wow.' I'm always going to be unapologetically me, and I hope those young Black girls see the role models that are here in front of them. Because I still look up to so many."
Cheers erupt from the audience again and Tris allows them to settle down before she continues.
"President Artis, My husband, and I would like to present this check for $100,000 dollars to establish a scholarship endowment for one male and one female African American basketball player in need of financial support to play at Dauntless. Our friends Uriah Pedrad of the Chicago Bulls and his wife Christina, Zeke Pedrad of Divergent Sports Agency, Will Anderson of the Charlotte Hornets, Lynn Claremont of the Atlanta Dream, and her wife Kima Preston, who are all also Dauntless University Alumni, have each agreed to match our donation for a total of $500,000. Each year Tobias's and I's foundation, Seeds of Hope will make a contribution to continue this initiative."
President Artis is shocked not expecting this announcement but quickly smiles and comes up to shake Tris's hand. He then stops to shake Tobias's hand going back to his seat as the crowd applause and cheers again.
Tris was happy about the donation and to be able to give someone a chance as she and Tobias had. She and Tobias had just signed new contracts thanks to Zeke and Amar they had great offers and a variety of endorsement deals. It felt good to give back to the place that gave them a start. Uriah and Christina also joined them in making a similar donation to Abnegation Christian for a need-based scholarship in the Charlotte community.
"Coach Wu, I needed every lesson you've ever taught me, thank you for being tough on me. I'm hoping one day she might let me come work for her when I can't play anymore."
Tori chuckles, but she didn't think it was a bad idea, she thought Tris would make an excellent coach when she decided to retire.
"Mommy, Daddy, Caleb, Lauren, Ms. Evelyn, thank you never seems enough for all the years of support. You gave me everything I needed growing up to cultivate my basketball skills. I couldn't have made where I am without your love and support "
Andrew squeezes Natalie's hand as she wipes a tear from her eye. Tris had always seen this as her future even when they couldn't see what she did.
"Tobias, you and TJ are my number 1 fans, and I have been so blessed to have you with me on this journey. I love you both so much. Thank you to everyone for this. It means so much to me. "
Tris wipes a tear away as everyone gets up and cheers. Tori hands her a gigantic ceremonial pair of scissors and Tris cuts the red ribbon displayed.
She, Tori the President of the Dauntless, and the Athletic Director all pull on the beige tarp covering the large structure in front of them.
The crowd cheers as the tarp falls away. It reveals a large statue of Tris in the motion of making a jump shot in her Dauntless uniform.
Tris is overwhelmed looking at the imposing structure with her likeness in front of her. There was a small reflection pool with a fountain in the middle. Tris Prior 2021-2024 was engraved on a plaque in the front.
"I'm so proud of you" Tobias whispers in her ear before giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Look at it Mamma, It's you!" TJ says with wide eyes as Tris chuckles as she moves him in front of her.
There are tons of pictures with Tris and Tobias, her family, and one with all of the members from her championship team and Tori. She was so full. She could vividly remember how defeated she felt when she had fouled out of her game during the state championship in high school and had no scholarship offers. It was a bit surreal now, but she was thankful for her journey.
Saweetie's video for Fast Motion features Aj'a Wilson, the 2020 WNBA MVP, check it out.
The excerpts from Tris's speech at the statue dedication are from A'ja Wilson's speech at her statue dedication at the Unversity of South Carolina's Colonial Life Arena. The discrimination faced by her grandmother not being able to walk on the University of South Carolina's campus is real. I hope you will take that in as part of this story and the issues that I have been highlighting. There are pics of her statue dedication on my Pinterest page!