You guys, I am up to 101 followers on this! Thank you guys so much! Also, thanks for being patient on this one. Lots of things happening! Thanks for everything guys! Your reviews, faves and follows make my day! You're amazing and I love y'all! PS- Graduation will be coming soon! I hope to be back to me updating on a more regular basis, so, for about the millionth time, thanks for being patient with me!

Late January

Saturday Afternoon

Sam glanced around the gym, nervously. He wasn't sure he could do this. He didn't know how Gabriel did it all the time. It was the same nervousness he had when he opened his letter from Stanford. That had ended well, so why shouldn't this game. That was perfectly logical, right?

"I'm just going to cover my eyes and you tell me what's going on." Sam covered his eyes.

"You're such a girl sometimes! Just watch Gabriel and it'll be fine." Jessica moved Sam's hands away from his face and held both of them tight. It was a playoff game for the basketball team. Sam, Jody and Jessica were sitting in the stands just above the student section. Sam loved watching Gabriel play. He was a shooting guard, so he was all about taking the outside shots. Sam couldn't keep his eyes off him, even when he was on defense (not to mention the fact that he looked amazing in his uniform). Jody was there to watch Crowley. They had been on and off since prom last year and, at the moment, they were on. Crowley was a point-guard, so he controlled the court. Sam wasn't sure what positions Michael and Lucifer played, even though Gabriel had probably told him fifty times. The other starter wasn't a senior. He was a sophomore named Adam. Sam thought he was actually pretty good and liked him.

"The game hasn't even started yet."

"I know, Gabe's probably a nervous wreck." Sam ran a hand through his hair. He knew Gabriel was more excited than nervous. He thrived on this kind of thing.

"Are you going to stay here with us, or are you going to go sit with the in-laws?" Jody nudged Sam as Remiel and Saraqeal came walking into the gym. Sam waved and Saraqeal smiled and waved back.

"No, I'll stay here with you two. Some words that come out of my mouth are not going to be in-law friendly." Just then, the teams came out in their warm up uniforms. Sam watched as Gabriel led the team through their warm-ups. Coach Roth was talking to an African-American man in khakis and a black collared shirt that had some gold emblem on it. He called Gabriel over and the three talked briefly. Gabriel smiled and shook the man's hand before he ran back to join the team.

"What do you think that was about?" Sam wondered aloud.

"I don't know. Gabriel looks happy about it though; look at him." Gabriel did look happy. He was grinning from ear to ear and was talking to his teammates. Sam looked back to where the man and Coach Roth were. The men shook hands and then the man departed to sit by himself. If Sam had to guess, he would say it was a scout.

Gabriel scanned the locker room. His teammates seemed more nervous than he was. Therefore, as captain, he would have to be one to calm their nerves; but who would calm his? Gabriel took a deep breath and stood up. Coach Roth was just outside the locker room waiting, just like he always did.

"So, this is it guys. It's a playoff game, but we can't treat it any different. This is our game and we know how to play it; hell, that's how we got here. This other team is good and there's no denying that, but we're better. I know we are. I know that we can do this. Coach knows that we can do this. All of our fans out there know we can do this." Gabriel's thoughts went to Sam and his parents. "So, who else knows that we can?" The team jumped up and started clapping and cheering as though they had already won the game. Crowley thumped Gabriel on the back.

"Good one, mate." He remarked as Coach Roth entered the locker room.

"Alright boys, let's go!" The team ran out to the court and started their warm-ups. Gabriel had done his third lay-up when his coach called him over.

"Principatum!" Gabriel looked over. Coach Roth was standing next to a man in khakis and a black polo shirt. Once Gabriel got closer he saw that the logo on the man's shirt was gold and it said 'Colts' under a horse.

"Gabe, this is Coach Rufus Turner from Canada College in California." Gabriel perked up. He had had a few scouts come look at him, but this was the first from California. Gabriel offered his hand. The coach took and shook it. He was lean and average height. He had a black mustache and short black hair.

"Nice to meet you, Gabriel. I hope that you don't mind how late we are to come watch you. Your videos got lost in the mail and when we finally got them, we hoped you were still playing. Thank God you are. We're excited to see you."

"Thanks so much, sir."

"Alright, go back to warm-ups." Gabriel nodded at Coach Roth.

"Great to meet you, Coach. I hope you like what you see." Gabriel flashed his most charming smile and shook the coach's hand again before he ran back to his teammates.

"Alright, come on Milligan!" The boys huddled around their captain and Gabriel smiled.

"Let's fuck shit up."

Sam knew Gabriel was working his hardest and, in Sam's opinion, this was one of Gabriel's best games. He had made most of the shots that he took and was playing great defense. Sam hoped the scout would be impressed. He knew that Gabriel wanted to go to California, but there was a Division II school that was looking at him from Tennessee and Sam wasn't going to let Gabriel pass that up just because of him.

Lawrence was up by 3 going into the final seconds of the game.

"They're gonna do it!" Jody exclaimed. The other point-guard missed his shot and Adam got the rebound. He threw it over to Crowley who just stood there and watched the clock count down. The final buzzer sounded and the crowd roared. Sam, Jessica and Jody jumped up.

"And there you have it, folks! Lawrence High School has beaten Manhattan and will be heading to the semi-finals this Friday at 11:30! See ya then!"

"Friday? Will we be able to leave early for it?"

"Of course! It's the semi-finals! Plus, I'm sure Dean would let me call in sick if I needed to." Sam smiled.

"You would call in sick?"

"To see Gabriel play in the semi-finals? Of course I would."

"Aw, isn't he sweet?" Jessica smiled. Sam kept his eyes on Gabriel throughout the handshakes and the huddle. Once the huddle was over, most of the boys went back to the locker room, but Gabriel walked over to where Coach Roth was standing with the man in the polo. Gabriel was talking and then nodded. He pointed to where Remiel and Saraqeal were. The man in the polo spoke and nodded. Gabriel stepped away and then looked around. He smiled up at Sam and then made his way to him, Jessica and Jody.

"You were incredible." Jessica smiled.

"Thanks, I would hug you girls, but I'm disgusting."

"That's fine."

"Not for me." Sam grabbed Gabriel by the jersey, which was soaked with sweat, and pulled him into a kiss. "You were amazing. I don't know if I've ever seen you play that well."

"Aw, thanks, babe. I just wanted to run up here and tell you that a scout is going to take me and my parents to dinner so you don't have to wait for me."

"That was a scout? Where from?"

"It's called Canada College in California. That's all I know right now, but I have to go, okay? I'll text you later." Gabriel gave Sam another quick kiss, waved to Jessica and Jody then left for the locker room. Sam watched him. He was trying to contain the excitement in his stomach when Gabriel had said the scout was from California. Maybe the school would be close enough that they could see each other on the weekends.

Gabriel got out of the shower and wrapped himself in a towel. Most of his teammates had left after Coach Roth announced that practice would be tomorrow at noon. He smiled to himself. Coach Turner was probably out there talking to his parents about scholarships and money. Knowing Gabriel's luck though, the college would be all the way in southern California and hours away from Sam, but hey, at least they'd be in the same state, right? Gabriel got dressed in his sweatpants, one of Sam's old sweatshirts (Gabriel had tried to give Sam one of his but there was no way he would fit), and his street shoes. He grabbed his bag and his coat and walked out of the locker room, waving good bye to the few teammates that were still left. He spotted his parents with Coach Turner and walked over to them.

"Gabriel that was one hell of a game." Coach Turner smiled.

"Thank you, sir."

"You did great, sweetie." Saraqeal gave Gabriel a kiss on the cheek.

"Mom," Gabriel said, embarrassed.

"You really did have a great game, son." Remiel patted his son on the back.

"Thanks."

"Now, where would you like to go to discuss playing for us?"

"Well, there's a local place not far from here. We could go there." Remiel suggested. They all agreed and then left for the restaurant. Gabriel was trying not to bounce in his car. He sped his way to the restaurant and waited for everybody else to get there. Gabriel walked in and got a table for five. A few minutes later his parents and Coach Turner walked through the door and then sat down at the table with him.

"Nice place here." Coach Turner looked around then at Gabriel. "Now, would you like to get down to business or would you like to beat around the bush slightly?"

"Let's get to it." Remiel answered. Gabriel was actually glad his dad would be there. The negotiations could get confusing. The waitress came and took their orders before the conversation turned to basketball.

"Now, we're not a big college mind you. We're mostly student athletes that want to go bigger at some point, but you don't have to. Do you know what you want major in, Gabriel?"

"Not really, sir. I mean, I love to bake so maybe something with the culinary arts."

"Well, I don't think we have that, like I said, we're a small school, but what you can get is your associate's degree with us, save some money, and then transfer to a bigger school. California's got plenty of them. I mean, we're about five miles away from one of the most prestigious schools in the country so if you get a good GPA with us you could easily transfer."

"This prestigious school, what is it?" Saraqeal inquired.

"Why Stanford, ma'am." Gabriel broke into a huge grin. "I take it that was a good answer." Coach Turner matched Gabriel's smile.

"Well, somebody special is going to Stanford." Gabriel looked down at the table to hide his blush.

"That blonde girl that you ran up to in the stands after the game?" Coach Turner's smile turned into a smirk. Gabriel looked up.

"Actually no, sir it was…"

"The one with the black pixie cut? She was pretty, too." Remiel chuckled and took a sip of his water.

"Actually, the tall guy that was with the two of them."

"Oh, your best friend." Coach Turner nodded, seeming to think he knew what was going on.

"Well, he used to be. I guess he still technically is, but he's my boyfriend." Gabriel watched the man's reaction. He seemed to be unfazed.

"Ah, I see. Well, he'll be close then. I don't know how mom and dad feel about that though." Coach Turner nudged Remiel with his elbow.

"Sam's a great kid." Saraqeal jumped to his defense. "He actually is at Stanford on a full ride academic scholarship."

"Wow, really? So, you two would be okay with them being that close?"

"Well, let's talk what Gabriel will be getting first." Remiel said, using his lawyer voice.

"Yes, there's a school in Tennessee that's offering Gabriel half tuition and room and board."

"Well, we're prepared to offer Gabriel tuition and room and board. All paid for. The only thing is he would have to maintain a three-point-oh GPA, and make it to every practice unless sick. We've got tutors that would be more than willing to help."

"What are the living arrangements like?"

"They're basically apartments. There are four boys to a room, but they each have their own room. There's also a living room, a kitchen and two bathrooms. I know it sounds,"

"Perfect." Gabriel finally spoke again. The three adults looked at him.

"Gabriel, don't you think…"

"Dad, I don't know what I want to do. It would be stupid for me to go and waste you and mom's money. I get free room and board, free tuition and…"

"The school being so close to Stanford has nothing to do with it?" Saraqeal raised an eyebrow at her son.

"Well, that's just an added bonus." Gabriel smiled. There was no point in pretending that wasn't a perk. Actually, that was the main reason Gabriel wanted to go there.

"Do you think you could maintain a three-point-oh?" Saraqeal asked quietly while Remiel and Rufus spoke about California.

"I think so. I mean it would be for basketball, and if we're that close to Stanford, I'm sure Sam would help me." Gabriel smiled.

"So you really want to go that far away?" Saraqeal had tears in her eyes.

"Mom, I would know people out there and Sam said some of Dean's friends were going to be checking in on him and wouldn't mind helping me out if I needed it."

"Well," Coach Turner announced after their meal had been eaten. "How are we feeling, folks?"

"I think we're going to need some time to discuss this." Remiel replied, looking from his wife to his son.

"Well, the offer may not be around for long. Give me a call sometime this week, okay?" Coach Turner laid a fifty down on the table and then handed his card to Remiel. "I hope to hear some good news from you." He smiled and then walked out of the restaurant.

"Well, Gabriel, you're eighteen, I think you need to make this decision on your own. You've heard all the offers. Do you really want to go to California?" Gabriel looked at his parents. They were looking at him, waiting for his choice. Gabriel had made it as soon as the coach had said how close it was to Stanford.

"I really want to go to California."

"Well, I guess there's only one thing left to do then."

"What's that?"

"You need to tell Sam." Remiel smiled.