◾▫◾▫◾
Kassidy and I sat on a bench looking over the river our college sat on. We had some casual talk about the mural and just college life in general.  Then Kassidy started to laugh, "Hey Elena, remember last year at the end of finals the college posted a question about how you were doing on a whiteboard?"
"...Oh, yeah, kind of."
"Do you remember the one where it said, "#procrastination" at the end?"
"Oh yeah! It started out with something about opening a book that they "read" in class for the first time!"
"Yeah, that was so funny! Whoever wrote that was a genius!"
"Totally!"
"Yeah..."
"How's your brother?"
"Excuse me?"
"Logan."
"Haven't you talked to him?"
"No, we are kind of in a fight."
"What happened?"
"He was depressed and I told him to talk to me when he wants to listen and he hasn't called back."
"That's not exactly a fight."
"I know, we've had worse, but he hasn't called in almost two weeks."
"Oh, yeah that's bad."
"So have you talked to him lately?"
"Not since last week and he really didn't want to talk."
"What's wrong with him? I mean it like why can't anything cheer him up?"
"I don't know."
"Yeah..."
"Do you like him?"
"Logan?"
"Yeah."
"Yes I like him."
"No, not that like Elena. The love kind of like."
"Oh, uh...why?"
"Because if you truly love him, it might be the only thing that can save him."
"What do you mean?"
"You might have to pull off a magic trick."
"You've heard?"
"Yeah, we're close."
◾▫◾▫◾
"Dude! Open up! Come on Logan! You've been moping in your room for over a week now!"
"..."
"Stop moaning into your pillow, walk your lazy ass over here and open up!"
"..."
"Logan! Open up right now before we have to bust this doo-"
"Don't kick it down on me, I'll open it, relax."
"Thanks Brody."
"Yup."
I tipped my head to see Conner and Owen walk in. They marched right over to my bed and started to yell at me. I didn't listen because I didn't care what they said. I was a useless person who stopped doing stuff because of a couple words. I was weak. Most people would've proved those words wrong. Instead, I sulk in them, and let them become me. Then my eyes widened as my basketball coach walked in.
"Boy, what are you doing! Get up, you've missed enough practice already!"
"I can't."
"Conner and you friend leave, let me talk to Logan."
I sat up as my friends filed out of the room, even Brody slipped out behind them and closed the door. "Logan, what's the matter with you?"
"I'm not good enough."
"Yes you are. What makes you think you aren't?"
"All coaches."
"Why?"
"One brought me back to reality and others crush what little hopes I have."
"What do you mean? If it's something bad about me say it. I want to hear it."
"I'm always a starter, but never involved. I'm always the safety, never someone to depend on. I'm always having dreams, never within capacity. I'm always just good, never good enough."
"Logan...really?"
"That's how coaches make me feel."
"Fine, I just don't know how much a boy can take. I want to start them out in the background-"
"For three years! When will I ever get to shine! My teams were always good, and I was invloved. I was shooting I was defending. Sure, I was knocked down, but I got back up!"
"Listen I-"
"No coach, listen to me. I'm undervalued in sports because I am physically handicapped. My dreams are never pursued be case I'm not worthy. All because I'm not normal. Listen to me, because nobody wants to and nobody cares. Listen to me because I am otherwise put down and kicked to the streets like a lost puppy. Listen to me because I'm not showing my weakness now, I am showing my strength to try to rise through the expectations."
"Fine Logan. Listen, that's all cute, but at the end of the day, we need a team. Basketball isn't about yourself, it's about the team."
"Then give me a chance to show what I'm made of, put me in the action."
"You'll have to prove to me first that you have the guts to take one for the team rather than gloat about being in the spotlight."
"You're on."