Chapter 1

"You know that new guy?" Candy asked Lauren on their way out of the Madison Square Garden. "You waved to him."

"Yeah," Lauren said, tidying her hair as a gust of wind blew them all over her face. "I knew him when I was fourteen. We went to the same high school."

"So he's back to his hometown now?"

"Yeah, he's from Brooklyn," Lauren said. "He was a senior when I was a freshman at school. I was on the cheerleader team, and he was on the basketball team."

"Well," Candy said. "I suppose not a very good one. He didn't even play a minute."

"He can be really good," Lauren said. "I don't know what went wrong with him. He was a first round pick and was drafted into the Lakers. He didn't get much playing time because they had an all star point guard in the starting lineup. Then he got into some drug abuse scandals and had been silent since then. I hope he'll learn from his miserable years and get better."

"How do you know he can be really good?" Candy said, as they went down the stairs to the subway.

"Well," Lauren said, "He led NC to the NCAA quarterfinal twice, even though they were beaten by UConn both time. He'd also been on the All-ACC Team twice."

"Oh, I see," Candy said. "But aren't most NBA players once an All-American player?"

"That's true," Lauren said, giggling. "There's more. It's a very funny story."

"I'm listening."

"Okay," Lauren said. "It was back when we were in high school. We were there in the gym, after the practice. Nobody was there, except the players. Well, we were there, too, some of the cheerleaders. We were going to go out. I don't remember who started it, but then, someone called a bluff on Rick."

"His name is Rick?"

"Yeah, Richard Hart. Everyone calls him Rick. Anyway, yeah, it was the shooting guard. Rick was the point guard. I don't remember the shooting guard's name, but he's cute." She giggled with Candy.

"May was his girlfriend," Lauren continued. "She's one of us. Anyway. It was about making 3-point shots. That guy must have been challenging Rick on that. Then Rick dared that guy and May. He said if he could make ten 3-point shots in a row, May would sleep with him. If he couldn't, he'd lose a grand to them."

"How did they get so much pocket monies?"

"The star players had non-commercial sponsorship. They sold the merchandises," Lauren said, laughing.

Candy also laughed. "So he made the shots?" she asked.

"Yeah, he made them all."

"And she slept with him?"

"No," Lauren said, laughing. "She went for double or nothing."

"How?"

"She managed to get another cheerleader to join in. Well, she asked me first, but of course I wouldn't. I wasn't that stupid. Anyway, the new deal was if he could make twenty in a row, he would sleep with both of them. If he couldn't, she's free."

"So he made twenty?"

"Yeah," Lauren said, laughing hard. "And the couple split shortly afterward."

"Wow," Candy said. "Twenty in a row. That's really amazing, isn't it?"

"Amazing?" Lauren said, turning over to look at Candy. "That's impossible! It was a record, even though not official. It was historic. Nobody's ever done that before. Nobody's ever done that afterward. Even playing only half that well would guarantee that he'd be MVP every year."

"Well," Candy said. "I guess you should tell Don Wilson about it. "I bet he'll get a dozen call girls to stand by."

"Forget about Don Wilson," Lauren said. "If he was of any good, we wouldn't be having all these star players who play like grade school kids."

A train approached as they were laughing. They got into the train.

"How did that girl bait the new girl in?" Candy said.

"She used her boyfriend," Lauren said. "Offering him to sleep with her. Yeah, I remember now. His name is Mike."

"And you didn't want it?"

"Well," Lauren said. "Mike was cute, but not really my type. Actually, I was still a virgin back then. And, what's more, Mike slept with anyone. So, if I had wanted him, I could've just waved at him in the gym, like this." She waved her hand at Candy, and laughed.

"So that's why you didn't take the offer."

"Well, it's one of them. And I wasn't stupid."

"You knew Rick could make it?"

"I didn't," Lauren said. "Back then, I had no idea how difficult it was. But I'd been told that he could make anything happen if he determined to."

"Who told you?"

"Uncle Frazier," Lauren said. "He's not really my uncle. He lives next door. He used to coach Rick before he was fired by the school."

"For what?"

"Beating a player," Lauren said, laughing. "He beat Rick, sending him to the hospital for a few stitches."

"Oh, they hated each others?"

"No, on the contrary, they love each others. I know Rick loves Uncle Frazier dearly. He had been supporting him even after being beaten badly, but couldn't save his coach's job."

"So, it looks like you know Rick quite a lot."

"Well," Lauren said, smiling. "It's like growing up together. Rick still comes to see Uncle Frazier, even after he went to college and later on when he's in the NBA. I saw him quite a bit until I moved out. Yeah, I think I know him more than any of the star players in the team, much more."

"Ever slept with him?"

"Nah," Lauren said. "Not my type."

"Because he's black?"

"Well," Lauren said, glancing left and right. "That too." She giggled.

"He's rather cute," Candy said. "Especially when comparing to most other black players."

"And they're so tall it just doesn't match."

"Yeah, that too. I don't know how tall our center Big Mac is, but I think I can give him a blow job without having to go on my knees."

Lauren laughed. "Big Mac is 7'2," she said. "But rumor has it that he's only French fries without his uniform."

"Oh my God," Candy said, bending down laughing. "Any rumor about Rick?"

"Are you interested in him?"

"Well," Candy said, giggling. "You know the policy. I love this job. I'm not going to screwed it up. But he's small, I mean short, I mean his height."

"Well," Lauren said, laughing. "I don't know if he's big or small. That you'll have to find out yourself. But he's short, very short for a basketball player. He's 5'10, only three inches taller than me."

"Is he the shortest player in the league?"

"No," Lauren said. "I have definitely heard about someone shorter. I think there are like three or four players in the league who are below six. He's one of them."

"I think I know one who is below six," Candy said. "The Clippers point guard. You know, the guy who dyed his hair pink at the preseason game."

Lauren laughed once again. "Yeah," she said. "I remember that. He's an idiot. And yeah, he's below six. I remember after that pink hair show, he said on TV that he'd like to dye his tattoos pink if it's possible."

"He has the most tattoos on his body, is that right?"

"I don't know," Lauren said. "All I know is he has tattoos all over his exposed skin. I also know if I see him in the street at night, I'll think I've been sucked into Monster Inc."

Candy burst out laughing. "Oh my God," she said. "You're killing me. Anyway, I don't mind pink hair, but those excessive tattoos are a real turn-off for me."

"Me too," Lauren said. "Actually I think pink hair will be a turn-off for me as well, bright red might be okay."

"You're a nut," Candy said, laughing with Lauren. "Does Rick have many tattoos?"

Lauren giggled. "Okay," she said. "I'll try to find his phone number for you."

Candy giggled, too. "No," she said. "I'm just curious."

"He has a few," Lauren said. "But I don't know if he has added more since I last saw him about two years ago."

"Oh, okay," Candy said. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Okay," Lauren said. "He has a Pluto on his left shoulder. He showed me a tattoo once and I told him it was stupid. So when he was thinking about a new one, he asked me. I told him to put a Tweety on his butt. He said he would if I had one myself. Of course I wouldn't. So eventually he had a Pluto."

"That's too funny," Candy said, laughing. "I nearly had Winnie the Poof here." She pointed at her tummy before going on. "I'm glad my sis managed to talk me out of doing it, or I wouldn't be able to get into the dancer team."

"You're lucky," Lauren said. "I've heard it's awfully painful and expensive to remove them. Speaking about cost, is his head shaved or is he still wearing his hair in braids? I think I didn't pay attention."

"Hmm," Candy said. "I think he's shaved. Actually I'd prefer they keep their hair curly. What about you?"

"I've never thought about that," Lauren said. "I guess not. I don't even like to have my hair permed."

"I don't either," Candy said. "I don't even like my hair long. But I may try growing my hair. I kind of like the way your hair flows in the air when your head sways. Which shampoo do you use?"

"Lancôme Intense," Lauren said. "You?"

"Umberto Beverly Hills," Candy said. "I may give yours a try."

"If you want to try it," Lauren said. "I think I have a couple samples."

"Okay," Candy said. "Hey, feel like dining out? I'm getting sick of eating cold sandwiches everyday."

"Sure," Lauren said. "Charlie's Kitchen?"

"Sure."

When they were waiting for food at the restaurant, Lauren heard a buzz coming from her pocket. She pulled out her phone.

"Hello?" Lauren answered her call.

"Hey, Rick!" Lauren said into the phone. "I'm fine, thanks. Know what? We're just talking about you. Oh, I see. Well, yeah, I knew you had signed with the Knicks. Well, did you give us your number? Alright, alright. No, not tomorrow, I can't. No, no, you idiot, we have a home game on Friday. Okay, okay. Saturday night. Yeah, I know where it is. No, no, I'll go pick up mom and Uncle Frazier. Okay, see you then. Bye."

"It's him, Rick," Lauren said, laughing. "He wants to see us. He says I should have called him. Why can't he use his brain? How on earth would I know where he lives?"

"How can he find you?"

"He called Uncle Frazier," Lauren said. "Uncle Frazier called my mom."

"What does Uncle Frazier do now?" Candy said.

"He's kind of retired," Lauren said. "Sometimes he teaches the kids how to play basketball here and there. It's kind of weird."

"What's weird."

"Well, my dad used to be his buddy. They both drank a lot. They drank during their lunches, they drank when they watched basketball games together, and they drank while bull shitting. But even my dad didn't know anything about his family."

"Oh," Candy said. "A root-less man. By the way, I have never heard you talked about your dad. Where's he now?"

"He passed away four years ago," Lauren said. "Liver problem. He drank too much."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's okay," Lauren said. "Uncle Frazier's been like mom's big brother since then."

"How old is he?"

"I don't know," Lauren said. "I think about sixty five to seventy. May be Rick will know."

"I see," Candy said. "Oh, yeah, do you need sneakers? An outlet is offering some odd size shoes to the center at a big discount."

"You know my size," Lauren said. "Any whites will do."

"Okay," Candy said. "By the way, have they given you that MTV job?"

"Oh," Lauren said. "I nearly forgot. I'll have to ask Nessa."

"You know," Candy said. "I'll never go to audition with you again. They're always watching you and drooling, and leaving me in the corner crying."

Lauren laughed. "You're silly," she said. "I think it's because they want a blonde. Next time take a wig with you."

"What about your dimples?" Candy said. "How do I fake one, or both?"

Lauren laughed again. "With a pin?" she said.

Candy slapped Lauren in the hand as she laughed. "What about your breasts?" she said.

Lauren nearly fell off her chair. "You're a riot," she said, laughing. "You have nicer ones."

"Nah," Candy said. "Seriously, I'd rather have yours, even though yours are a little smaller. Mine sag a bit too much. I think you can do Jazz without wearing a bra."

"Shut up," Lauren said, laughing. "I always wear one, and stuff some cotton inside to make mine look as good as yours."

Lauren went into her apartment, kicked off her sneakers, and hung her jacket in the closet.

"Won or Lost?" her roommate Vanessa said from the couch. She was watching a sitcom on TV.

"Lost again," Lauren said, carrying her bag to her bedroom. "A bunch of worthless million dollar men."

Vanessa chuckled. "Hey," she said, raising her tone. "I got you a photo still job."

"What kind?" Lauren said, coming out of her bedroom. She had changed into a bathrobe.

"Head shot, web page," Vanessa said. "Five hundred bucks. They want a long haired blonde like Elisha Cuthbert, but with their budget they can't have anything better than you."

Lauren faked a kick at Vanessa as she laughed. "Studio?" she said.

"Yeah," Vanessa said, laughing.

"When?"

"Friday at four-thirty," Vanessa said.

"Damn," Lauren said. "I can't. Home game."

"Oh well."

"Dye your hair blonde and go take the job. You'd wanted to dye them anyway."

"If I had your face," Vanessa said. "I would have."