Authors Note: Thanks for the hits for the last chapter I hope you like what you see here and Please review and pass this story on it would be a great help.


Chapter 3: The Dog Days of Summer Pt.3

Week 3: Pick Up games

Freddie was thinking one thing as he sat scrunched up in the L train towards Lower Manhattan.

"Why is it this packed when its 6:30 am in the morning?"

Freddie and Gibby were the only ones standing amongst the players in the middle of this packed MTA train that was going through most of Brooklyn at the moment. This could be considered a claustrophobic's nightmare. He was scrunched between some people who were wearing suits and just going off; yelling into their cell phones about their jobs. They sounded like they were Wall Street Brokers on the way for the early morning bell.

"I TOLD YOU TO SELL THAT STOCK!" Bellowed the Broker on the right.

"HOW, IN THE WORLD, DID YOU MESS UP THE STENMAN ACCOUNT? HE WAS ONE OF OUR BEST CLIENTS!" yelled the one on the left. The frustration was evident in both of their voices as they would just yell and add to the noise pollution that was already caused by the forsaken train. Freddie would look down to a quiet Jerome. He had his IPod on and the world around him was nothing more than his music and darkness, as he had his eyes closed.

Wish I had that luck to feel like that right now, Freddie thought as he kept looking around. Amongst the crowd he saw Rudy talking to another one of the freshmen about the play book. He sees everyone else talking amongst themselves except...

"Hey, where is..." he would say to himself mostly but then...

"HELP!"

Everyone would look to see that Gibby was the claustrophobic one, as he was sandwiched between so many people. "ANYONE! HELP MPHHH!" His sound would get sucked in more as the large number of people literally became a black hole where Gibby was.

A teammate decided to give Gibby his seat, before it was too late, and Gibby suffered a mental breakdown. He, gladly, took it; hyperventilating, with his eyes wide, "I feel like I just got violated." The look on his face showed it as well, with his tousled hair, and sweat pouring off of his face and cheeks turning a bright red. New York really can leave an imprint on a person.

Beep! Was the sound of the train making one of its stops? The Wall Street people got off at that stop.

He sees a lot of people get off, as they were at a stop, and he saw a free seat become open that was across from Jerome, who, through all of this, still had his eyes closed. He went for it and got to it in time. Unluckily, however, other people also boarded the train and, even more unluckily, his seat. Before he knew it, he was squished between two manly looking women.

Maybe they were beefed up you know, like bodybuilders? Freddie thought, hopefully.

Then, the one on the left spoke, "Hey baby, how's it hanging?" it was, truly, a man's voice that came out.

"You looking delicious this time in the morning... and I didn't have breakfast... yet." The one on the right sounded just as manly as the one on the left, and you could hear a loud gulp from Freddie.

A slight chuckle came from Jerome. Welcome to New York Benson. The rest of the way he was trying to sway off any attempts to give him a "Wake up Call" of sorts... Freddie couldn't have shuddered any more than he did at that moment, Maybe losing this bet wouldn't be a bad idea...

30 Minutes Later...

"Finally!" Gibby would say from behind them. He would breathe deeply. Suddenly, a hacking cough could be heard. The air on this day wasn't much better than the scent that was the Subway. They had the summer to thank for that. They look at what is ahead of them for the better part of the week. It was a bunch of courts scrunched all together and Steel Fences would cover all of the surrounding courts like they were in jail or something. Ballers are in light showing for now, as the sun is just now rising in front of them, but there were more than what you would usually see in the morning.

Then, Jerome would, suddenly, walk in front of them and stare them down.

"Boys," he would say. "Welcome to the place where my name was first known. The West 4th Street Basketball Courts, otherwise known as, 'The Cage'. It was here where my Talents were picked up to another level. I love it here... more than Rucker Park, because 'Roughhouse' was the game that I picked up here. It is also the game that I am about to show you guys in some pick-up games." Jerome would scan the crowd standing before him to see his possible teammates. What he sees is that; what he has ahead for this week will be crazy. Then again… it's what he wants. What ne needs… crazy. "I don't know what you guys got, up in the Northwest... but here, it's about who has fight in them. What you see in highlights of street ball is at Rucker Park. What happens here is true Physical play. People have had ribs broken; came home with strained backs; and I even seen someone break their hand, and come back for more the next day. This is the place you need to go through if you lived in New York, you don't survive here, you surely can't survive tournaments at 'The Ruck'. So, you guys ready?"

Fear was woven to the boys' faces, everyone except Freddie and Gibby, who were just confused. "Ok, its better than people running, so what will happen today is; We will have some other players come and we are going to play some classic 21." As Jerome said this to the others they were relieved. "Simple. Right? Oh, there they are! Guys, come over here." They looked to the right and saw some regular looking guys. They had a good build, but nothing out of the ordinary. A tall looking dudes around 5'9 to 6'1. Nothing out of the ordinary really. They looked like normal people.

"Ok," Jerome would say as he pointed to the shortest, tan skinned player. "This is Raymond Keller, 2 time All-State guard, He played Shooting Guard and made 1st team all-state and then moved to the Point in his senior year and got to second team, All American, He is going to play at the Syracuse University this fall."

Fears were upped a notch for everyone.

Then Jerome went to the next shortest he was 5'9 Darker skinned than the rest but had most muscle, "This is Jamal Hart, he plays Shooting guard in is the only one not All – State…" Relief spread throughout the group, "But," Jerome perked up, with a conniving smirk, " That is in basketball, as he is a All American in Track and Field, Excelling in the one hundred meter dash, He goes to LSU in the Fall " The guards in the group was whispering to each other wide eyed in all.

Jerome has definitely done his job.

"And finally," He looks to his tallest guy mocha skinned man. He looks to be the strongest of the three. "He is Our SF/PF, His name is Eddie… how you pronounce it again?" the player would whisper his name, "Oh, Eliakendu. He is All-State and All-American not just in basketball, but in wrestling. He is from Liberia, tough guy he is. He goes to Oklahoma State in the fall."

By this point, even Gibby was freaked out by what he maybe going up against.

"So, we're just gonna have a simple game of 21, to see how everyone works against, well… our opposition, they are also on teams that are in the Tournament at Rucker Park Next week, after the first time we will have a break, a couple of the guys may leave to do different things but random people will come in on this and it will get physical. Think you're up to it?"

No one has a real answer for that, while Rudy's hand would cover his hanging head and he would shake it in disappointment.

"OK," Jerome would say in excitement, "Lets get started."

Hours Later…

Rudy and Jerome would be captains, and pick players. Jerome chose two of the players that were theirs and Rudy would have one, also Jerome would take the players that have shown the most potential (secretly of course). Among them would be Gibby.

Freddie, of course, would be stuck with Rudy's team. During the first few games of 21, Freddie didn't get much of a chance to show his "abilities" per say. He just passed the ball a lot. But defensively he was, definitely, up the creek because he was paired up one on one with one of the "other" Players. Jamal, the Track star. He was definitely the wrong guy for Freddie to go one on one with.

Mother Nature was in on it as well. As she was trying her best to embarrass Freddie, as the heat was showing its fangs. It was reaching 99 and at other points of the game around 103, as it was shown on the thermometer on the fence. He was feeling those infamous rays as he tried to catch up with his matchup, but it felt that the guy was always one step ahead of him. His Matchup, the shooting guard/track star, would use every trick in the book to get open and get his shot off. He did everything, from forcing Freddie into crashing into players by making his sharp turns, to his notorious crossover, which was going from left to right so well that he would just leave Freddie in his dust in an embarrassed, heap on the pavement. And if Freddie was lucky enough to keep track of him, Jamal just made him look foolish, by going for the shot only to quickly pull it down and make his sprint towards the basket. If Jamal didn't make him look foolish, then, he would make Freddie look weak by simply powering through him. When Jerome said roughhouse, he wasn't kidding. Freddie, many times, thought about calling for a foul then thought better of it, figuring that he looked weak enough as it is.

The Uncanny speed of his Matchup paired with the heat has taken a toll on him, more and more he felt like falling and not getting back up, he thought he was done for, then, Jerome stopped the game.

"Hold up," he would say he would stare intently towards Freddie, and then would look at what he was facing, "Hart," he would say to him, "That's enough," Was I offered Mercy? Freddie thought in his head. He was feeling a huge weight off his shoulders.

"I'll take him on," AWW CHIZ! NOW JEROME! Then it felt like a bigger one was put right on his shoulders…

"Hey J!" a new voice came onto the fray and Freddie looked up to see a guy that was three inches taller than Jerome at 6'3 and was the same shade, He had a plain white tee and Jean Shorts on and his fitted baseball cap tilted forward. He looked familiar…

"Well, well, well…" Jerome would say towards the Mystery Person.

"You should give these boys some rest." He eyed the weary players, "They looked like crap." Out of the corner of his eye he saw someone vomiting in the corner, "Is that one yours too?" he would ask with a knowing smirk.

Jerome turned around to see that, it was indeed, one of his players, "Gibson! Stop Throwin' up and get over here!"

"Yeah J, They definitely need a break." He would say with a chuckle.

"Yea ok, only because you're here cousin," Jerome would say. Again, the weight was lifted off of Freddie's shoulders as he sighed in relief. It was their third game of 21 and they were starting to wonder if they were ever getting a break again.

"Aunt Janine said you would be out here, and Rudy was right about what he said on the phone about giving people a rough time."

"Oh he did really!" Jerome would glare straight into to Rudy's eyes. Rudy would just shake his head…

"Well aren't you gonna introduce me?"

"Right. Guys…" Freddie noticed the sudden change in Jerome's demeanor. Guys? Since when, are we 'guys'? What happened to 'gentlemen' or 'boys'? "it's a pleasure to introduce Sean Jackson…"

Wow, Freddie thought, Jerome was right after all…

"This guy is one of the best strikers on one of the best teams right now in the soccer world. He led his Newcastle United Soccer team to their first English Premier League title this year in their first year back from being in the League Championship. It's a feat that's never been done before in the history of, not just English soccer, but in history of the worlds game. And in a few weeks he will go on to represent the United States in the World cup in South Africa!" Jerome would say enthusiastically. This new Jerome is kinda creepy… but at least he's pleasant. Freddie thought, while still gauging the "new" Jerome.

"Again J, I had a team. I was not alone." Sean would interrupt.

"But you scored 4 goals in a comeback against Manchester United at Old Trafford!"

"I know but they had to pass it to me to give me those chances, that team gave me a chance to win the game." Sean would say annoyingly.

"Well ok," Jerome would hang his head down.

"But anyway," Sean would say as he turns towards the others, "You boys hungry?"

Everyone would nod their head furiously.

"Well, I know a place not far from here. It has the best fried chicken in the city. Come on! It's on me! Including you J! We need to talk anyway."

"Alright then, let's go," Rome would say as they would walk towards the restaurant.

30 minutes later they were at the restaurant eating the food they'd ordered. Freddie and Gibby were together with Rudy at one table and the other freshmen were at another. In the far corner, Jerome and Sean were feasting on their Fried Chicken and Green beans.

"So… this is Soul Food. My goodness, its touches you man." Gibby would say as he was finishing up his plate of Fried Chicken, Okra, Mash Potatoes and Cornbread. Freddie was even impressed how good it was. He wouldn't call it a out of body experience like Gibby would, but it was good nonetheless.

"Sean was right dude," Rudy would look up from his chicken and waffles, "Best place to eat some down home southern cooking, is here." He would put syrup all over his plate, and dig back in.

"It's good…" Freddie would say…

"GOOD! GOOD!" Gibby shouts back towards Freddie, "It's on another level… Sam would even love this that how good it is."

"Gibby, Sam would love any place that served any type of meat." Freddie found his mind starting to drift back towards Seattle, "Still… Sam would never leave this place if she didn't have to."

Then he hears his cell phone that was in his bag, going off, he goes to see who it was and see the devil herself was on the other line.

He wonders if he should take this call, knowing she is out to ruin a good time he was having with the boys. The fact that he was getting overwhelmed overall didn't really help to motivate him to answer. He wouldn't want to deal with another one of her rants from her of all people. But maybe it was an emergency about Carly Freddie thought, yeah that's it. It's Carly.

"Hey guys I have to take this, I'll be right back." He would say and he would go outside and open up the phone.

"Hello?" He would say but then he knew that it wasn't an emergency.

"So, Dork, how is it playing in the big kid's sandbox? Did you cry to mommy and get a plane ticket on the way back to Seattle?" She would say in a serious and bored tone like she was not having fun with this, but he knew she was, it was way too obvious…

"Sam, you know I would never do that" Is what Freddie said aloud, Even though I have been thinking about whether I will come back to Seattle on a stretcher or a casket.

"Ok Fredward, but how is the rest of the city, are there any good restaurants you been to?"

"I've only been to one, but this one has very impressive Soul Food."

"Soul Food? What's that supposed to be, like an out of body experience?"

"Well," Freddie said "Gibby thinks so, and he said you would have never left. That's how good the food is." Then for the heck of it he described the food. "Sam," he would lower his voice in a hushed sensuous tone, "the food is on another level, the collard greens are supposed to be cooked with a hambone in it for flavor. It would be your favorite veggie when you're done with it, and the mashed potatoes are just delicious how they would drench it in pure dark brown gravy,"

He heard nothing on the other side so he thought it was good thing and continued. "And the Fried Chicken," he was sure he heard a whimper, he would chuckle and then he whispered, "It's double battered in this special oil that just makes it crunchy and delicious that would make your taste buds explode. From the first crunch till the end, you would feel like you were eating chicken that came straight from heaven." He hears a sharp intake of breath and smirks, "And the ham is to die for." He didn't even have the ham, but he figured it would be the perfect torture for Sam who was stuck, with an entire country separating her from her ham.

The next thing he hears is a click on the cell.

Back in Seattle, Samantha Puckett felt like she finished a workout, heavy breathing even some sweat dripping off her temple. It is hot today, She thought, but she looked at the thermometer but it was at a cool 71 degrees.

So she screamed up stairs to Carly "Carls, Get your purse we are going to KFC!" and then Carly would come downstairs and would grab her purse and say "Why Sam?" Sam's only response before closing the door to her apartment was…

"Because mama is hungering for her Extra Crispy."


Authors Note: And that is Chapter 6, i hope you like it, and their will be a good amount of seddie in this story and it will get better also. but thanks and read and Review!