Chapter 2: Michael Jordan in the Making

"Yo, man! What's up?" I just got out of the car after waving at Jonathan when I heard the familiar greeting. I turned around grinning from ear to ear. "Hey there, bro! All good here! What about you?" I responded. An arm snaked around my neck and the two of us walked together. "I feel freaking amazing! I've never felt like this in years!!" Riley exclaimed. I could notice that he was unusually quite happy. It wasn't like I wasn't glad to see him like that but I definitely was inquisitive to know the "freaking" good news that put him in such a peppy mood!

I quirked an eyebrow. He laughed. "Ignorant as always, right Kev?" I was now definitely confused. I was never ignorant to what he used to tell me or anything. "I don't think I know the reason." I stated simply. He thumped my back and I pushed him away in annoyance. This was starting to annoy me a little what with the mystery and playfulness. "Chill, man! I can't get how bad your memory can be!" Riley uttered in exasperation. I could sense him matching my long strides as I was trying to make my way through the hallway.

I wished he could see me roll my eyes! That guy could keep annoying the hell out of me even after I would be decomposed and gone for good! He was that much of a pain in the ass at times! "Alright, Mr. Serious! Hey! Wait up! Don't walk that fast!" Riley yelled. He ran after me. The two of us were great at sports! Can't believe it, right?! But it was true and that was the real side of me! Not the guy you heard whine. I was a total sports freak! I was way better than Riley though I would never tell him that. He huffed next to me and jerked me to stop. The hallway hardly had anyone around obvious to the fact that they were in their classes. I was a latecomer with a 'valid' reason!

"You're too fast for your own good! Seems like God has given you these external eyes! You walked almost halfway without tumbling!" He pointed, surprised. I gave him a flat look. "What? Don't look at me like that, okay? Jeez! What's wrong with you?!"

This was amusing me.

I shook my head.

"Did you walk out of home?"

I shook my head.

"Did you quarrel with your parents?"

I shook my head.

"Did you damage your car?"

I shook my head.

"Did you reach home late last night or something?"

I shook my head.

I was trying so hard to refrain from laughing. This guy knew everything about me and it was hilarious to see him getting annoyed! Ah! Talk about sweet revenge...

"Gosh!" He swore. I could sense him messing his hair. He then asked, "Did your parents suggest you the eye surgery? Is that what's bothering you?"

That completely caught me off guard. My parents had suggested me the eye surgery when I was 10. It was the best thing, of course, but I thought to myself that if God made me come to this planet like this, then so be it. Why change the law of nature for me, right? Some of you might think that I was this one weirdo and I couldn't agree with you any better! If I were in your place, I would've definitely thought the same!

But there was this one condition I had made with myself. No one knew about it yet because it sounded very cheesy. I had promised myself that the day I would fall in love with someone I truly deserved would be the time I would change my belief in the "law of nature". I would go for the eye surgery and with my new eyes, I would look at the girl I would do anything for and who had changed me in such a tremendous way! The girl of my dreams, my love, my hope!

Such a girl hadn't come into my life yet hence the explanation of how I was still blind. I had had girlfriends before, yes, but none of them stole my heart. They say beauty is very important while judging whether you love a girl or not. "Love at first sight." I believed in "Love from the inside." as well. Somehow that seemed more important to me.

My ex-girlfriends only fell for my looks, it seemed. The best part was they also fell for my money and fame. They called themselves lucky that I was their boyfriend for totally different reasons. But otherwise they weren't proud to be dating me for me. See, that was the problem. I didn't get hurt anymore because I had toughened up. I saw how the world had accepted me and I didn't care. I would cry at times because I was human and I too enjoyed this act of puppy love. After all, what was life without fun and drama?!

Riley had said I had dated hot chicks! Woah! I didn't know for how long I was hovering over my thoughts when I heard a snap of fingers right in front of my face. I was zoning out way too much recently.

"You there, Mr. Daydreamer? Even if I can't see your eyes, I can definitely say that you had zoned out! What's with you?" Riley sighed in defeat. I heard him slump against the wall behind us. I did just the same. "Nothing, bud. Just thinking. You know how I don't like being asked about the eye surgery." I explained, softly.

"I'm sorry I brought it up. You were behaving like the whole world's weight was on your shoulders so I had no other option but ask!"

I smiled sadly. I felt pathetic. How does it feel when you don't see your best friend for a few days? Or your parents? Or your loved one? Or anybody for that matter?!

Right! You feel like you should be meeting up with them, making them laugh, seeing them smile and all the possible good things.

But me? I hadn't seen my best friend since we met. Hell! I hadn't seen my parents, my sister, my exes, Jon, nobody!! Wasn't that horrible?! You could talk to the person. Share your feelings with that same person. Laugh with that same person. Do anything with that same person except for seeing how they looked like, whether they were enjoying with you or not, whether they were smiling or not. Nothing at all!

This was the main reason why I actually wanted to see my true love! I wanted to see her every move. I wanted to watch her laugh; that beautiful sound that would always keep me going. I wanted to see her charming smile. That smile that would always make my heart melt. I wanted to see her reaction when I would kiss her tender lips. I wanted to see whether she thought I was meant to be with her. I wanted to see it all. And most importantly, I would be called the luckiest man in the universe when I would see her by my side, swaying happily and telling the whole world that she truly loved me and that she accepted me for who I was, who I'm and for who I would be.

I really wanted such a girl! Were they rare to find or was this stuff only in the movies? I pray that the girl of my dreams was somewhere out there! I would do anything to reach out to her...

But yes. I wouldn't undergo eye surgery to just have a glimpse of my best friend because he was not the 'love of my life' nor the 'girl of my dreams' and thank you very much! I was not gay and neither was he. I would just have to wait to see him and everyone else. Hope I find my girl soon...

"So tell me what you were saying before." I chirped. The poor guy! He was dying to tell me the "freaking" good news but I was pissing him off like I intended to. "Thank you! You're absolutely kind!" He muttered sarcastically. I let out a bark of laughter. "Rubbish! Finding pleasure in others pain!"

"Pain?!" I chuckled all the more. I couldn't understand how no staff member came over to see what was happening. We were way too loud! "My sniggering is hurting you?! Someone has become a softie!" I teased, laughing all the more. "Yeah! Yeah! I can't help it, okay?! She made my heart melt!" Riley confessed, innocently.

I stopped laughing immediately and turned to look at him. Yes, I was looking in the right direction or else he would've adjusted my neck like always. "Hang on a sec; you said, "She made my heart melt"??" I asked, suspiciously, my eyebrows scrunching together. A frustrated sigh came from Riley. I held back a chuckle. I still hadn't stopped irritating him! Oh yes! I had heard him right. So a girl made Riley's heart melt?! Was she that hot to melt a cold heart?! Just kidding!

"Ugh."

I burst out laughing. "C'mon, Kevin! Be serious for once. This is the first time I'm love struck and I'm such a goner and I really want her to be with me forever because I love her so damn much and..." I stopped his ramble with a "Tsk. Tsk."

"Riley, breathe. I'm really happy for you, bro! You finally found yourself someone you really like! Anyway, tell me about the girl who has stolen Riley Jacobsen's heart and locked it in a treasure chest." I teased.

"You won't believe it! It's Laura Carlson."

I couldn't believe it just like he said. Laura Carlson?! The Laura Carlson?! She was Beverly High's athlete. A stunning brunette with those perfectly shaped curves. She was damn hot and not an easy catch, I heard! Riley and Laura were going out?! I seriously couldn't believe it!

"That's awesome, man! Woah! Totally great!" I lightly punched his arm and ruffled his hair. "Thanks, Kev! But I'm nervous..." Riley trailed while chuckling nervously.

"You've every right to be! Make it real, okay? Don't let her go." I suggested while standing up. "Of course not! I don't want to see her in some other guy's arms! I would go insane!"

"You're such a goner..." I sung teasingly while walking ahead. The period was about to get over. It was my cue soon.

"Hey! We better get to Coach's Office quick! Coach has something to say to us." Riley explained.

+ + +

"You guys need to give them the final training. Tomorrow's cup should be ours. Just do your best for that." Coach ordered.

"Yes, Coach."

"Kevin, we rely on you. Everyone does. Keep it real as you always do. Got that?"

"Yes, Coach."

"Riley, you'll assist Kevin. You guys have got each other's backs and I don't want things going any different. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Coach."

The two of us walked out of the Coach's Office as we headed to the gym. I removed my tee and put on my jersey. As we walked towards the D, Riley passed me the ball and I caught it. I tossed it from my right to my left palm, back and forth with my head bending the same. We were the only two on the court and I dropped the ball on the wooden floor. It made a loud thud as it bounced back up and I dribbled it slowly. One at a time. "That's surely one hell of a God gifted talent! You're damn lucky!" Riley praised. I smirked with my sport's arrogance.

My dribbles became faster as I ran around the court smoothly. As if I wasn't blind. As if the basket ball court was my home. That was how it always felt. Just then the door to the gym opened and in came our teammates. "What's up, Kevin?" I waved at the person, my focus still on the dribbling ball. "He's one heck of a player! We'll beat the Knights hollow! Especially with Kevin around." One of them praised. I smirked again.

"Yo, captain! What's up?" I waved at the person. "C'mon, guys! Coach has said we need to polish our skills a little more and we've got to thoroughly sweat it out. Let's do it then! WHAT TEAM??" Riley shouted.

"JAGUARS!!" The whole team bellowed. I stopped dribbling and started spinning the ball on my finger. I needed to be accurate in precision and the guys had seen enough of my personal training to gasp in awe.

"WHAT TEAM??" I bellowed. "JAGUARS!!" The excitement and the urge to win was even more this time. "C'mon then! Let's do this!" I ordered and threw the ball afar while the other player ran to scoop it. This was a match between our teammates. We divided ourselves into two teams and began the game. Riley was the captain of the opponent team and I of mine.

The game was really intense! If this could be intense then I didn't know how tomorrow's match would go! I just wanted to get that trophy in my hands and raise it up so high for the world to see that I was meant to be a winner and that my team was perfect! "Give me the ball!" I heard Christopher, my teammate, shout. "Kevin!!" He yelled. I jumped high enough and zoop! The ball landed right in my hands. I could hear Coach clapping. "Good job, Kevin! Good job!"

Everything else zoned out for me right at that moment. I had the ball in my hand and I had to score a basket. Now that the ball was in my hand, I couldn't pass it to anybody but just keep dribbling. That was the catch when the ball finally came to me and I didn't want my team to go down because of me. I was called Michael Jordan of my school and I wanted to claim that title forever!

Nobody could ever take the ball from Kevin Sanders no matter how exceptionally well you could play basketball!! My focus was now on the ball then the hoop which I knew I was approaching.

Ball...hoop

Ball...hoop

Ball...hoop

I had tricks of dribbling and getting to the D. I had to think fast. The whole of the opponent team would be surrounding me especially Riley since he was captain and the second best amongst the lot. My teammates would be by my side all the way to the D for back up. Suddenly I sensed someone coming close. I tossed the ball behind my back and felt the person slip. I smirked and dribbled quickly over to the D, dodging all those who came my way. "C'mon, Kevin...Keep going..." Coach encouraged.

I could sense myself almost reaching the D when a hand grabbed the ball from up front and before the person could run away with it, I scooped it away in one quick reflex and dribbled towards the left. I was very close to the D now. I knew it by the shouts of my teammates. I passed the ball, dribbling from my left to right and back and forth. Sweat beaded my face and I could feel them slowly dripping down. We were surely going to be a tough match against the Knights! We were one hell of a team!

My breathing was ragged and soon I felt a hand, Riley's for sure, trying to scoop the ball from me. Swiftly, I brought the ball and scooped it under my leg and brought it towards my right. As the person was trying to take it, I jumped over him and shot the ball into the hoop. I hung onto the hoop and jumped down. All at once, the entire team was picking me up and I raised my arms in the air, whooping like we had already won the Finals!

"WHAT TEAM??" Coach bellowed with pride.

"JAGUARS!!"