Other significant peoples:

Kentucky Wildcat Tyler Ulis

Kentucky Wildcat Jamal Murray

Kentucky Wildcat Isaiah Briscoe

Kentucky Wildcat Bam Adebayo

Karrington and I came up with this together. 😊😊!! This past summer as expected. I'ma add on though.

This is set during the 2016-17 season, but as though Tyler and Jamal never declared for the 2016 NBA Draft.

That would've been a FIRE _$$ team right there though. Com'ooonn! Y'all _uckin' agree with me!!

Yeesssss. Here you all go.

____________________________________

Bam's POV:

_aaaanng I can't believe they kickin' me outta they dorm again!

This is literally like the 8th time this week De'Aaron and Malik throwin' me out, and I wouldn't say it hurts, but...

Yeah. I don' know. Maybe they just don't want anything to do with me right now, and they have been pretty distanced from the team lately. That, or maybe they just havin' relaatiiioonns!...

*Hint hint, smirk smirk.

I know they like each other, I just know it, though Malik ain't try to show it. We're kinda like a threesome. I'm the third wheel, though I totally don't mind it. I never even think about it.

But back in the Glory Days when they'd actually let me stay in their dorm, and we'd be talking $_it about some of our teachers and the Senior girls, whatever 'Lik had to say seemed like the most interesting thing in the world to De'Aaron. He'd always be smiling all up in his face, staring intently into his eyes when he talked. He still does it.

And Malik sometimes does the same with D. Malik was usually very fidgety when it came to looking him in the eye, but that's just the way he is with like everybody. He doubts himself quite a lot, and I mean quite.

Most times he would have nervous breakdowns and cuss himself out before a game or event and claim 'he can't, he can't', like before the Jordan Brand Classic game. But then he goes on to win Co-MVP... along with De'Aaron... We told him so.

Sometimes he doubts himself to the point where he tries to hold back tears, and once he even began to have a panic attack.

It was after our recent 6-point loss to Kansas. He had 18 points and we had to keep promising him the loss wasn't his fault. I mean, I got the last foul.

But he started unexpectedly panting and broke down right there on his bed. So we had to hold him and try to calm his ragged breathing down.

He eventually did stop, transitioning to full-fledged tears, but he kept doubting and criticizing himself, to the point where he said, "I wanna kill myself."

Cliché, yes, but I think he actually meant it.

He also doesn't believe he can keep long-term friends, and even confessed to us that he thinks at some point he'll lose our friendship and trust. I guess that's just an insecurity the youngest of a threesome always feels, even though we've assured him time and time again that we'll always stay by his side in times of loneliness.

By my side... By My Side!, I think happily as I choose that song to listen to from SoundCloud through my headphones.

...Ahhhh, love TuckerTheRemedy.

I also like walking in the dark at 50 degrees around the campus. Well, anywhere that's not around the Junior and Senior dorms, as freshmen and sophomores aren't allowed near there unless you have a great _$$ reason or an emergency. Vice versa for them.

But anyway. That's what I like doing on most weeknights; lets my mind loosen up. That and, well, only 'cuz they kicked me out again. I don't give a $_it if I got homework or not, and I do.

I got a 10-12 page essay I "need" to complete by tomorrow, as I dozed off during class and only got half a page done, but I'm not doing it. I'm not doin' $_it.

Even Zay got half a page more done than me, and he's the biggest slacker on the team! It's sad to say the least. He coulda just written about _ex again, like last time, but who knows. But, at least Jamal got like half of his done in the 3 hours we had...

Yeah, Isaiah and Jamal! I'll go to their dorm!, I decide. They're always welcoming, separately in completely different ways for sure. Jamal with his sweet Canadian hospitality, and Zay with his rambunctious gang demeanor.

They like each other too, but... They won't lock me out. So I pick up my pace and sprint over to the sophomore dorms.

.............

Jamal's POV:

"Nooo but $hordie be trippiiin', Jamaall, straight-up trippiiin'!"

"*(Cute giggles) And just what makes you say that, Isaiah?" "Just whaaaatt!?", he shrieks in his higher-pitched, yet still normal-level voice. I giggle again, scrunching my arms up to my chest.

He gets up from his bed and starts pacing behind it. "Jamal, the man thinks he's all high and mightyy! Which he honestly always does look higher than he is short so that part is true", he dips his voice to a low murmur on the 2nd sentence. I giggle louder.

"I'm serioouus!! He gon' try to tell me 'Okay Zay now you gotta do this essay and turn it in today otherwise you gon' fail the class and then get curfew from Coach later and not be able to play the whole rest of the season you understand me lil' boy?', when he doesn't do it himseeellf!! Now what type of junk is that?", he lowers his voice an octave again on the short sentence. I giggle uncontrollably.

"Hey. I'm not playing with yuh. And then he gonna take out a 5-course-meal worth of pancaaakes! Like the teacher's not even theerrrre!! Which he always is." "Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!"

"Jamal you little cutie stooopp!" "Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!" "Stop laughing at meee!" "Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!", I keep laughing. "Before I bite your cute little Pisces face OOOOFF!!!" "Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!!" "And put it on for myself." "Hee-hee-hee-hee!"

He's kidding.

Isaiah goes back to leaning on his bed, arms propped on the edge. "You're so cute you know that?" I suppress my giggles with my hand. Isaiah smiles wide and affectionately at me, then continues.

"And as messed up as $hordie is, what's more messed up is when he always claims, "I never liked Devin", "Never had a thing for Devin".

"Like _itch, the fuck?, who's you think you playiiin'?! You always never wanna hear our problems but you got enough "time" to rattle off yours? All about some, 'I kinda am missin' Devin' $_it like _itch?, please." I chuckle, but I muffle it with both my hands. He sighs light and airy as I grab my 5-generation maple leaf from the air.

"Seriously, I just d'know. He think he can hide his $_it from us just 'cuz he microscopic, but his lil' skinny _$$ know he love Devin. And I may not'a played with that lil' _igga, but I know he do too. I ain't $_upid. I ain't mumble. $_it doesn't fly by me. That and because I am fly." I give a small smile at his last sentence, but don't giggle.

Zay gasps dramatically and pretends to look overshocked, but his smirk overrides that. "Is this a No Giggling zone thing we have going on here now?!?" "$_ut up", I laugh. He smirks more and sinks down farther into the edge of the bed.

"You think I'm fly, don't you?" I look down and smile a little bashfully, lightly running my free hand down my arm. A silence washes over, but it's a comfortable one.

After some more seconds, I decide to look up at him; he's still smirking at me, but it's more like a genuine smile type of smirk. How he pulls that off, I don't know.

"Think I'm cute?", he smiles smugly, popping his right hip out. My face scrunches into a wide grin, still looking down. Silence overcomes us again, and I find him still waiting for a response.

"As cute as you wanna be", I answer, my eyes smizing up to his. He smiles slyly. "Ooooh look at you bein' all flirtatious", he rolls his hips playfully. I blush a deep pink and giggle sheepishly.

He strolls over to me and places his hand under my chin softly to tip it up. I feel my eyes start to twinkle as he gazes deep into them, mine as well.

But at that moment there comes three knocks on our door. I start back chuckling again when Isaiah rolls his eyes for a good long three seconds. He lets go of my chin and heads over to the door, which is out of my eyesight and in the room adjacent to ours. I plop down on my bed as I hear the door whoosh open.

"Ayyyyyee my _iggaaaa! Come the _uck on iiinn!!" "Who is it?", I yell. "It's BamBam!", he exclaims, coming into the room with Bam in a headlock. Zay flops him down onto my bed and then goes to sit on the other side of him.

"You know you's is always welcome here, BoomBam!", he smiles. "Thanks", Bam pants, taking his headphones off. "So tell us, what's on ya mind, son?", Isaiah asks, jokingly tipping his glasses down. I look down, smiling and shake my head.

Bam takes his hoodie off and sits back. "De'Aaron *(huff) and Malik... They kicked *(puff) me out... again."

Zay and I glance at each other. Again?? He lies down and shivers. "Hot chocolate", he croaks.

"I got you", I assure him, and pop up to head to the kitchen.

Zay's POV:

Once Jamal is out the room, I shift closer to Bam. "They kicked you out again?", I ask in meer disbelief. He nods. "Ain't that like the 10th _uckin' time?" He nods again. "_amn, what's wrong with them?

"*(Siiigh), I don' know. I can only assume they havin' relations." "Oooooh now you've got my full _$$ undivided attention! Relations?" "_eck yeah, they always be hangin' on each other during practice and the games." "Also in the club?", I raise an eyebrow.

"Uhhh, _ell yeah! Always droopin' they arms around each other- well, usually Malik does, but they equally do... What, you ain't notice?"

"Notice what?", my cutie Jamal asks, coming back into the room with the hot chocolate. He hands it to him; he takes a looonng _$$ sip. I slip my arm around his waist to draw him in closer to the conversation... And me, of course.

"Edrice is just telling me about D and 'Lik on a possible relations status." "Really? You didn't know?", he asks, surprised. Bam's just cutting his eyes at me 'cuz I called him by his actual name.

"Well-I'm-sorry but like them I got other friends too." They both roll their eyes; Jamal steps away from me. "Seriously though!", Bam says. "At the parties, they be laggin' around each other literally the whoolle time:

D be sittin' in a chair at the long bar table with his and 'Lik's other friends, and he'll have his arms around his neck while they talkin'. And then D'll reach up to hold the back of his hands, but he fine with it!"

"Well you wanna know two other things?", Jamal asks eagerly. "What, what?", I ask just as eager, intently staring at him.

"Well one thing I've seen a couple-a times is: they'll be talking with their other friends, and De'Aaron's sitting in Malik's lap!"

"What, f'real? You're kidding", I insist. "No, trust me, I've seen it. It's like he's turned to the side like those girlfriends are on their boyfriend's laps, and Malik has his hand resting on his hip." "_ang, the _uck have I been missing?"

"Tell us the other thing!", Bam prods. "Okay. So Bam has probably seen this already, maybe, maybe not, but you know how much goes on during college parties, right?" We both nod quickly. "It's rumored that someone got somebody pregnant at an All-Classes party last year." "The $_it?!?", Bam and I yell.

"Yep, I know, right? I think they did! A junior got a freshman pregnant! They made a nice cute little mixed baby though. Put him up for adoption, sadly. But anyway! Here's the thing" We lean closer...:

"They're so fine with the contact around each other that I once saw them standing in the middle of the dance floor--De'Aaron's arms draped around the back of his neck, and Malik's wrapped all the way around his frame... All while engaging in conversation!!"

...Bam and I were officially rendered speechless. "...I ain' never seen that", Bam mutters, Jamal sitting back down. "No lie?", I ask, albeit a bit skeptically.

Before he can answer, a crazy, short, mad person in a black hoodie- looks like a man- skyrockets through our window. His foot gets caught on the bottom of the window sill though, so he ends up whiplash-splatting his face right on the wall. Then he lays there limply on the floor.

...Like a pancake.

All three of us flinch-- no, jump up and cringe, but Bam and I still square up to defend ourselves, just in case. His hood is covering his head, so we have no idea of knowing who it is. But after hardly even a second, he springs up quick as _ell... like a waffle...

It's Tyler.

He hurdles over the bed to us. "$ho-!" "Shh!, Shut!, Quiet!, Ah!, $_it!, Nope!, Ahp!, Shut!, $_it!, Shuuuh!", $hordie hushes us hurriedly, flailing his hands all up in our faces, a crazed look in his eyes.

We stare down at him very confused and alarmed. Is there a threat on campus?? He backs up into us, until he's between me and Jamal. A huge light passes gradually over our window, like one of those lighthouse lights. We happen to be standing just off to the side.

Once the light does finish passing through our room, Tyler lets out a big-as-he-is-small sigh of relief and collapses, limbs splayed all across the floor. Then he pops right back up again after just barely three seconds.

"YeahnolieIjuzsaw'eman'theydoin'
$hihbuhno'zactlybuhtrustmethey
'getherandI'llshowy'allri'nowbuh
wegottahurry'cuzIcan'be'roundth'
Fresh-Soph'moredormsorelsemy
lil'skinnyshor'head_$$gon'getth'
bootan'Ican'behavin'atan'y'allcan'
bemissin'y'allpointGody'allknow
y'allluhmedon'tryt'd'nyitsohurry
th'_uckuplil'_itchesmo'mo'move!!"

He lept back out the window and dashed with a plate-a pancakes an' a _elluva lotta syrup- probably maple- drenched over them as he finished, as well as one full stick of butter. He must've stolen Jamal's already-made ones from the kitchen. But other than all that, the three of us looked around at each other in sheer confusion.

We had literally no idea what the flying _uck $hordie had just said.
He said it all in under 10 seconds! (I literally timed my-_ucking-self.)

After 10 more seconds of silence and perplexity, "_ang $hordie got quick hops", I laugh. "What was it he just said?", Bam asks, scrunching up his face. "More like rambled", I add.

"I don't exactly know, but he did say 'move move move' if we want to see them 'doing $_it', so let's go!", Jamal voices, grabbing his Canada Adidas jacket. He remembers his 5-generation maple leaf, then climbs out the window.

"Welp, mark that another time your boyfriend cussed", Bam notes, slapping his headphones back on. "He's not my boyfriend", I state, throwing on my Home Team Hoops McDonald's All-American jacket. We hopped out the window.

"But I hope he will be some day."

.............

Tyler's POV:

I had had to sprint back to my dorm to exchange my hoodie for another more comfortable and bigger one. Aren't I not supposed to grow? Like, Gah_amn!

I don't exactly wanna be 6 feet tall. But in any sense, I had decided to switch it for Devin's metallic silver PlayStation jacket, since he 'insisted' that I keep something of his to remind me of him. Boii like what, ya should-be-pancake-but-instead-issa-cupcake head?

Isn't he the cutest thiiinng? Note the obvious sarcasm...

Kinda.

He'll never hear it straight _$$ dead_$$ from me, but I really appreciate him. Though that doesn't matter right now.

By the time I get back over to the Freshman dorms, I'm done devouring my beautiful, luscious, luxurious, gorgeous, heavenly, ravishing, juicy, exquisite, fluffy, puffy, plump, one-in-a-million, 2nd-to-none, and exclusively Tyler-made, scrumptious pancakes. How very thoughtful Jamal is.

I slow to a jog when I spot my three sons in front of my other 2 sons' 2nd floor window. Instead of ascending the stairs, I use the rungs on the balcony.

Using a generous amount of concentration, I finally pull myself up, complete the landing with a flip, and walk the few feet over to them.

Thoid Poicen POV:

"Boom!! In yo' face! Get lost, _igga!" "You get lost. $_ut up, _itch."

"Y'all, check it out!", Bam whispers, motioning for Jamal and Isaiah to come over. "They playin' Mario Kart Racing!" "Oh _uck yes I love that game!", Zay whispers excitedly. "Me too!", Jamal exclaims.

Tyler comes up behind them and steps in front of Bam. Then he abruptly squeezes in between Jamal and Isaiah and harshly shoves their faces to create more space.

"Whooaa $_it", Zay cries, him and Jamal trying to steady themselves from falling, Zay just from falling off the edge. Not even a second after, Tyler fists their jacket collars and yanks them into each other.

Their foreheads collide dangerously... two, ear-splitting screams ring out. For all of Kentucky to hear...

But they turn out muffled by Tyler so De'Aaron and Malik wouldn't hear anything. Not that that would matter anyway because they were shouting.

Tyler pulls them up by their jacket collars again so they don't just drop. "No tall crummy azz pieces'a $_it in the front. It's $hort _itch's time", he says, looking ahead stone-faced.

Zay holds his head and glares daggers at him, Jamal rubbing his head groaning and also looking at him. Bam decides it's best to stay silent. They soon turn their attention back to the two best friends.

"Boooiii you _$$. You sure you wanna keep testin' me?" "$_ut up, De'Aaron. Tryna focus here." "Focus is bogus! You just need to do it! Bogus Focus."

"De'Aaron you a _uckin' trip", Malik says, still keeping his focus. De'Aaron snorts, bumping him. "You know you love me."

"Yeah he do", Tyler whispers in his light voice. The others chuckle. "Bruh, what if they see us?", Jamal asks, worried. "Don't sweat it, cutiieee! They won't see uuuss!", Isaiah claims.

"And besides, they- they like zombies when they together all by themselves. Trust me, I would know", Bam promises. "No one else matters."

"_amn, they really are together", Zay mumbles, and the four of them continue watching. "You know I'm better than you at this game, why you even keep tryin'?" "My _iggaa, becaause! Like you, I'm compe-" He pauses to elbow De'Aaron. "-I'm competitive too!"

"Chuh! Okay, Malik Freak", De'Aaron says. "Whatever, Fox Pox", Malik retaliates. They continue to insult each other and loudly encourage themselves to the prize. All while swatting at, pushing and shoving one another to try to throw each other off their balance.

"_ang, they gonna have bruises by the time they finish", Bam whispers. "Well let 'em. I wanna see a piece'a 'dat action when Coach gotta rat 'em out about it", Tyler states.

"Yeeah, just depends on where the bruises aarrrre...", Zay trails off, raising and lowering his eyebrows.

Tyler peers over at him with an expression of shock, disgust, and disbelief. Bam and Jamal burst out laughing. "Look at his face!" Jamal snorts.

"You... are so... nas-ty", Tyler exclaims in the midst of them cackling, slowly turning his head back to the action. "Ha, love you too, Tiny Tyler!" "And don't call me that!" "Don' call me thaat", Bam mocks.

"$_ut up before you get whacked too", Tyler threatens. Bam rolls his eyes to Jamal and Isaiah; they snicker and then keep watching.

"_amn, let me get in front, $_upid car!", Malik shouts. "They ain't gon' let you in front! You. Is. _$$. Remember 'dat?" "$_ut up", Malik says, bumping him onto the floor. "Try and handle that, Lightweight."

"Oooooh", 3/4th's of the nosey neighbors say. "_amn I know what it feels like", Tyler mumbles, more to himself. Bam and Isaiah start cackling again.

De'Aaron gets back up; he's still in the lead, just barely. He finds Malik is in 4th place now. "My _iggaa, just. Give. Up. Ain' no way you can catch up now!", De'Aaron taunts. "The _uck you mean?"

"What I mean is-" He jams the buttons on his controller, blowing out the car threatening to pass him. "-take the loss! Accept defeat! We halfway through the last round! So you might as well not. You good where you are!" "In fourth?!", he asks in disbelief.

"Uhhh, _eck yeah! 4th outta 5th isn't..." He snickers. "-that bad."

The others choke on laughs, Isaiah looking like he was silently dying. Malik glares over at De'Aaron, then reaches over to grab his controller. De'Aaron quickly shifts it over to his right.

"Ugh!", Malik says, snapping his fingers. De'Aaron smirks. "Try third, _itch", Malik says seconds afterwards. "Try never making it to 2nd, _itch! And try handling my undefeated record, trash _$$ _ig-gerr", De'Aaron jabs, sticking his hand all up in his face.

"Ooooh $_it", Bam laughs, clasping Tyler's shoulders. "I swear, this roasting", Tyler giggles, smiling cheekily. "I think Isaiah's dying", Jamal chuckles, Zay hugging and sliding down his body.

"Not this time!", Malik yells, throwing his hand off him. He successfully seizes the controller this time while still driving with his own.

"Hey, no fair! Give it back to me!!" "Nope!", Malik laughs, then proceeds to drive De'Aaron's car into a ditch.

"Aaaahhh-ha-ha-ha-haa!!!", Zay laughs, sliding down Jamal again, crying. He sprawled onto the floor. Bam was cough-laughing while Tyler was holding his stomach.

"Oh my Maple Leafness!", Jamal gasps between laughs. "_AMN I wish I still had my pancakes!" Tyler stiffles. "I just wish I could breathe!", Zay sniffs, trying to wipe his tears.

"WHAT THE FLYING _UCK!?!?!", De'Aaron cries out hysterically, grasping his hair. Malik laughs loudly as he passes into 2nd place. De'Aaron snatches his controller back out of his hand.

He enters himself back in, his car refreshing 100 meters behind his into 4th place.

"What the $_it, Malik!?" "$_it you. You ain't comin' back from this!", Malik sneers, coming into the waning 100 meters. "Oh yes the _uck I can", he argues, ramming the 3rd place car into the side of a mountain. He then tries to shield Malik's vision with his body:

But to no avail, he stands up before he could mess him up. "Uuuggh!", De'Aaron groans.

"Oh my Lord they doin' too much!", Bam laughs. "Maybe this is why they always kickin' you out, bruh!", Isaiah reasons. "True, true", Jamal agrees.

"C'mon. Let's get it, let's get it, let's get it. 50 m's", Malik says to himself. "I'ma wiiin!", De'Aaron protests, gaining on him. "No you're nooot!", Malik declares.

"Why do I feel like this the NCAA Tournament?", Isaiah asks no one in particular. "Like the championship or some $_it", Bam proclaims. "I got syrup dips on De'Aaron!", Tyler calls.

"Aha! Here we go!", De'Aaron yells out, dropping back a little. Malik's car keeps gaining top speed, on the verge of passing the 1st place car. "I got this, I got this, just 20 more me-"

Next thing he knows, a looonng-range bomb is launched. With very precise accuracy, it lands right smack in between his and the now 2nd-by-a-tongue place one, separated by one foot. Blowing them up...

At the_5-meter line.

"WHAT THE $_IT, NOOOOO!!!!!", Malik screeches, clutching his hair. "YES!!!", De'Aaron springs up in triumph, pumping his fist like Kobe. (GOD do I miss Kobe.)

Malik quickly refreshes his car as De'Aaron's races by, as well as the previous 4th place one. Then the other one snails across right before his does...

A whopping 4 out of 5.

"Noooooo!!!" "AW $_IT YES!!!" "The _UCK?!?" "The _uck YES!! 57-0, BABY!!!" "_AMN!!" "_AMN YES!!" "$_UT UP!!!" "$_ut up NOPE!!"

"I TOLD y'all!!!", Tyler screams, bouncing up and down. "Shhhhh!", Bam tells him. "Shhhhh_ut up!!", Tyler mocks. He slaps their chests. "All three of ya owe me 25 D's!"

"Uuuuuuuggghh!!!", Malik whines, flopping onto the bed in exasperation. "Woooooo!! Didn't I tell ya _$$ to just go ahead and accept defeat? Didn't I??"

"Why can'cha just $_ut up?", Malik groans. "'Cuz this my $_it. Mad, 'Liky?", De'Aaron gloats. He starts dancing all up in his face and milly-rocking.

"I say!: 🎤Who run this mo-tha?, me! Who run this mo-tha?, me! Who run this mo-tha?, me! Who run this mo-tha?, me! Me!🎤"

"$_ut up, De'Aaron", Malik growls and sits up. He prances over to him. "Nnope! Kiss my blllack _$$", he smirks, dropping down to twerk slowly on his lap.

"Hoooohhh $_it", Bam gawks. "And this is where we exit, Sweet Province of Canada", Jamal, stunned, cusses.

"Right now?!", Isaiah asks. "This is where all the legendary $_it goes down! Down in the D×Ms!!" "What's that?", Jamal asks.

"Stands for-" "Yeess, right now. Come along, my sons", Tyler interrupts, and ushers them away from the dorm.

Malik's POV:

Thank Lord I'm wearing warm-up joggers.

He makin' it kinda hard to keep the fact that I have an infatuation for him. I'm sure his little Sonic brain could figure it out though. Everyone else on the team already know we a little sus.

But I let him do it anyway. 'Cuz I'm lazy though. Only reason.

"Man get the _uck off me." "Make me 'den", De'Aaron challenges me. "Handle my lightweight." "Oh I'll man-handle it", I fire back, wrapping my arms around him. He shrieks as I tumble us down on the bed, both of us laughing.

He plants his hands on the back of mine in an attempt to pry me offa him. I blush hard. Thank Lord I'm wearing warm-up joggers?!

Thank Lord I'm black!!

And I'm behind him anyway. He wriggles underneath me, but since I've got the 25-pound advantage, he can't half go anywhere. So I resort to tickling him. "'Lik, stoooopp!", he breathes. "Shouldn'a bombed me at the last second, then!", I snicker.

"Noooooo!!", he laughs as I tickle him on his sides and underneath his skinny black jacket. Hugs him perfectly, seeing how small he is.

He's so cute!, I gush internally. His laugh is freaking contagious! I really wanna know what all he put in his hair too. And I'm also sure he likes me too, but I figured out the difficult way that things aren't always as they seem, so I try to not let it cross my mind too much. I'm not admitting it first.

I don't wanna accidently kill him off of shortage of breath- and I thought I had a problem with that- so I release him to let him catch his breath.

I sit back on my elbows to admire his non-facial hair _$$ face. I decide to pull off my gray Kentucky hoodie, my mind wandering other places. I feel kinda bad that we've been kicking Bam out, but I'm trying to find the courage and motivation to tell De'Aaron the obvious.

It's like I'm, 🎤I'm trapped in the closet, and suf-fer-ing in the closet🎤! So I gotta just, get it out. I can't stay dormant forever. I mean, what do I have to lose?

.....Right. Just another friendship that's lasted ohhhh just only 5 years in which he'll reject me harder because he's the only person I've ever truly liked and feel likes me back but I can never ever be sure about anything regarding my life anymore...

I hope I'm not too obvious.

De'Aaron's POV:

Man I swear that m'fer. But I love him though.

Naw man, f'real. I seriously do though. I've been trying find it within me to tell him, but I don't know how. And I feel absolutely terrible that we've been keeping Bam outta our dorm, and just keeping everyone out in general.

Mainly just Jamal, our seniors, and Coach though. Tyler and Isaiah don't matter. But still.

Contrary to the belief Malik has that no one likes him or "gives a $_it" about him, we all know that's a bold-face lie. And I'm not exactly discreet either.

I'm just gonna... tell him.
Straight up. No big speech, no prolonged waiting, just gonna come outta the closet with it.

After I calm the _uck down.

After I do calm the _uck down, I turn to him to find him smirking at me. "_uck you, man", I laugh, taking my jacket off. He chuckles. "You know you love me."

I crawl on top of him, albeit scared yet anxious to see how this will play out. I should've thought of something. $_it. "Umm, yeah, about that...", I start, climbing into his lap. ...Now what?, I ponder, the air getting tense.

I twist the top of my hair to stall for time, though I'm pretty sure Malik is getting more nervous by the second. His face is usually stagnant, like right now, but I can tell he is. I've known him for 5 years, whad'you expect?

He's not pushing me away, that's a good thing. This is normal though.

"About it?", he questions slowly, slinking his arms around me. I look down, trying to decide how I want to say it.

'I like you'? Naaaaw.
'I love you'? Though strong, too generic.
'I wanna be with you'? Too rushed.
'I want you'? ..._ell naw.
All of the above?! Naaw, don't wanna be like that.

I sigh deeply and look into his eyes, Malik patiently awaiting an answer. _amn this is harder than I thought! I guess I just don't wanna be rejected, which is quite the ironic statement, given who it is in front of me.

My words get caught in my throat, and I get stuck just staring at his face. His near goatee, those two cute wrinkles that are usually always living upon his forehead, anything on his face other than his eyes.

Just say it, just say it.
Just. SAY. It.

I give off a little prayer in my head first. Then I gradually slip my hands through his hair and eventually do look him in his eyes. ...Do. Some things are easier done than said. So.....

I do it instead.

After 5 years of nontogether-togetherness, I finally place my lips on his.

Malik's POV:

I'm waaayy caught off guard at first, and then my brain seems to turn off temporarily.
He's actually about to kiss me!!! What do I do?!?

I part my lips slightly just before his connect. In that split moment, I actually forget how to kiss.

But it soon comes back to me after he wraps his arms around my neck. I hold him more firmly and pull him closer as it grows more intense and passionate.
In other words, using tongue.

His lips are so soft! Mine are probably cracked. Or chap. Or bleeding. Who knows.

After we release from arguably the greatest moment of my almost 19 years of life (literally the Kansas loss was January 28th and his birthday is February 4th), I breathe a huge sigh of relief into De'Aaron's chest. Something finally went right in my treacherous existence.

"I've been wanting to do that ever since 10th grade", I whisper. He chuckles. "What was stopping you then?" "...I-I don' know." He tips his head to the side.

"I-I guess I figured y-you didn't like me b-back then." "...I didn't like you."

...Oh. That hurts. "Oh..." He laughs a single laugh again.

"You act like you done been abused. Chill, Malik! I loved you back then!"

...Giving-me-a-near-heart-attack hair_$$. I frown and push him off his back on the bed. He laughs again, then more as I straddle him. "You can't be sayin' $_it like that!" "Oh please, you know you love me."

"...Do I know that?", I look up to the ceiling, portraying the thinking emoji. Then I look and lean back down towards him, smirking.

"Yes. Yes I do." He smirks too, then we capture each other's lips in another cherishing kiss.

____________________________________

I knew never to listen to myself! I said 3,500 to 4,000, or at least under 5,000, but it turns out around 5,300. 😒😀😃!!

I made the video game part longer than I planned, so I guess that was why I went extremely over. *Siiigh. What is this world I live in?

Aye but at least y'all got that game action! That part was SO _uckin' fun to write!! 😂😂!!

Anyway, y'all were treated to TWO $hips today/tonight!, depending on when and where you read this. They're my two favorite Kentucky $hips!!

Yeeeezz more so than Tyler and Devin. I don't really think of them at Kentucky, that's why. Mainly Phoenix and highschool.

But so there y'all go! Consecutive Blue-Blood $hip 1 outta 3 be complete!!

foxthaswipa I highly encourage you to continue writing your Remember. <<Mox>> book. We all LOVE it!!!

Thank you all! I'm super-excited to do the next one!!...

!!!I LOVE $HIP$!!! 😆😍😩😷😆!!!!!

Fruit Roll-yourselves-Up into a blanket for next time and stay ready for that action!