Chapter 6

"Hey."

"Hey," Lauren said, and laughed. She just woke up.

"Morning," Rick said. "Sorry, I didn't call you last night."

"It's okay," Lauren said. "I went out with Nessa and Jim anyway. We went to a movie."

"Oh," Rick said. "Which one? Is it good?"

"'Die Hard, The Come Back'. Don't watch it. It sucks."

"I ain't going to the theatre without you."

Lauren giggled. "Okay," she said. "Did you have a good sleep?"

"Nah," Rick said. "Coach Frazier had been bombarding me nearly all night."

"For what?" Lauren said. "You played pretty well last night, even though you lost. Wait. He went with you?"

"Nah," Rick said. "I called him. I think he broke your record for the longest phone chat."

Lauren laughed. "Okay," she said. "And?"

"You know," Rick said. "We didn't really believe we could win the series, no matter what Coach had been saying. Nobody believes it. The Pistons are too good. But Coach Frazier said nothing's impossible. He'd been trying to make me believe we can."

"So do you believe it now?"

"I don't know. Well, honestly, I still don't."

"Why?"

"I think we'd already played our best last night," Rick said. "But whenever we were almost there, they pulled it apart. They're too good."

"You know you can play better, a lot better."

"Lauren, I ain't no God of basketball. I'm just a human."

"Yeah, a superhuman," Lauren said, struggling not to laugh.

"If I were," Rick said. "You'd have come every time." He laughed.

Lauren laughed. "Damn it, you jerk," she said. "I did."

"You didn't," Rick said. "Silly."

Lauren laughed again. "Okay," she said. "I didn't. But I nearly did. So, for Christ sake, you're superhuman."

"You know," Rick said. "I've made up my mind. I'm going to play the best of my best. I ain't going to worry whether we'll win or lose. I'll just concentrate and play my best."

"No," Lauren said. "That's not good enough. Concentrate, play the best of your best, and win the goddamn games, win the series."

"I'll try," Rick said.

"You're not going to try," Lauren said, again holding her laugh. "Idiot. You're going to make it happen."

"Don't do this to me."

"Know what?"

"What?"

"I'll grant you a wish."

"Oh, no," Rick groaned. "Don't do this to me. Just pack and move in with me."

Lauren couldn't hold it. She bent in the bed laughing. "Go make it happen," she said after she had enough.

"One game at a time," Rick finally said.

"No," Lauren said. "The series."

"One game at a time."

"Shut up."

"Come on."

"Shut up. Next. Hey."

"What?"

"Do you think you'll be voted the regular season MVP?"

"Nah."

"Why not? Every time I watch the TV, they say you play like a true MVP."

"As far as I know," Rick said. "My name is not on the ballot form."

"Why not?"

"I practically only played the second half of the season. And I didn't play that well to start with. I don't have the stats they have. I'm also not a star player. You know, they want a star to be the MVP, not someone who may play a good season and then disappear the next season."

"But you've won the 'Player of the Week' title in the last three weeks. And you're going to play at least as well next season, aren't you?"

"I guess it's too late," Rick said. He paused and took a couple deep breaths, then went on. "Yeah, I believe I'll be able to play like I'm doing now. And know what?"

"What?"

"I don't give a damn," Rick said. "I don't care if I'm on the ballot form or not. I've never been happier in my pro years. What's more, the MVP is about a player's performance and contribution over the entire season. I don't deserve it. If I were to vote, I'd give it to Tim Fowl. He's taken his team to a whole new level."

"So, do you think Tim Fowl will be MVP?"

"I don't know," Rick said. "I hope he will."

"Okay. Wait. Is that Tim Fowl the guy form UConn?"

"Yeah," Rick said, laughing. "He's that asshole."

"I thought you hate him. He kicked your ass both times at the NCAA quarterfinals."

"He did," Rick said. "And yeah, I hate him. But he's really good. He deserves respect and recognition."

"Well," Lauren said, giggling. "At least you're not as bad a jerk I had thought you were."

"I don't get it," Rick said, laughing. "Why am I still a jerk?"

"Because," Lauren said. "Well, next topic."

Rick laughed, and so did Lauren.

"What?" Vanessa said, laughing in the couch. "You made yourself a reward for the series?"

"No," Lauren said, laughing. "I told him I'll think about it."

"That means you will."

"I don't know," Lauren said, giggling.

"You will," Vanessa said, smiling. "You're hopeless."

"I don't know," Lauren said, still giggling.

"No," Lauren suddenly said. "I will not."

"Huh?"

"He has not said the magical words to me yet."

"No?"

"No."

"And you have slept with him?" Vanessa said. "Not just once, not just twice, not just..."

"Shut up," Lauren said, giggling. "Do you sleep with guys only after they have said it first, every time?"

"No," Vanessa said, laughing. "Not if they are for fun or I am too horny."

"See?"

"But you don't do it with him for fun, do you?"

"No. But horny, may be."

Vanessa laughed and shook her head. "You're hopeless," she said. "So, have you said it to him?"

Lauren tilted her head thinking. "No," she said. "Hey, he's the one supposed to say it first."

"Do you think he'll say it?" Vanessa said. "I mean, do you think he loves you?"

"Yeah," Lauren said, smiling. "Yeah."

"You're hopeless," Vanessa said, shaking her head. "Both of you."

"Hey," Lauren said.

"What?"

"Damn it," Lauren said. "Go with us. I don't feel comfortable going to the game with Jim alone."

"Why not?" Vanessa said. "He's not going to force on you. I don't have problem with it if you go to bed with him on your own accord."

"You're the worst bitch I've ever seen," Lauren said, laughing.

"I'll think about it," Vanessa said, giggling. "What will I get?"

"Ralph Lauren Romance for your birthday?"

"And Elliot Lucca shoulder bag?"

"Oh my goodness," Lauren said, laughing. "Who do you think I am?"

"Okay," Vanessa said. "I'll see if I can make it. I actually don't want to go myself. I'll talk with my cousin to see if I can get away with it."

"Okay," Lauren said. "And forget about Ralph Lauren Romance, I saw a Rampage Ruched v-neck dress you're going to love it. Jim's going to have a huge hard-on watching you dancing in it."

"Remember what you've just said. If I don't see that hard-on, you're going to blow him until he has it."

"Hey!"

"Hey."

"Why didn't you call me?" Lauren said.

"I'm sorry." Rick said.

"Why didn't you call me?"

"You know why."

"Because you lost?"

"Yeah."

"The series is not over."

"I know," Rick said. "But we're down two-nothing. Chances are very slim. Only four teams had come back from two-nothing in the past. I, well, I don't know. I really wish we had won the game. You know, I really wanted it. It's a key. Come on, Lauren, please, forget about the series."

"Well, what were the chances of me sleeping with you?"

Rick laughed. "None," he said. "It was a miracle, a big one."

"So?"

Lauren heard Rick take a deep breath. "Okay," he said. "I'll be back around ten. What time are you getting off today?"

"Damn," Lauren said, giggling. "One second you're depressed, the next second you want to sleep with me."

"We don't have to sleep," Rick said. "I want to see you."

"Yeah, yeah," Lauren said. "And every time I end up in your bed."

Rick laughed again. "Okay," he said. "We sleep, if you also want it. But honestly, I want to see you."

"Six thirty."

"What are our chances?" Vanessa asked Jimmy after they took their seat at Madison Square Garden at the forth game of the playoffs. "Assuming Lauren hasn't worn her guy out."

"Well," Jimmy said. "Good thing is we won the last game, so our guys have the momentum to even the series. Bad thing is the Pistons are still too tough. It doesn't matter if Rick can fly. It's not a one-man game. The rest of the guys, at least the B-team and C-team guys, have to step up. I've long given up hope on the A-team guys."

"I guess you're right about the hopeless A-team guys," Lauren said. "Both Peanut and Diesel are on the starting line-up. George Lamont has given up on his A-team as well."

"I think I don't even see Big Mac on the bench," Vanessa said. "Is he injured?"

"No," Lauren said. "May be he's late?"

"No," a voice beside Lauren said. She turned over and saw a big guy with his face almost covered entirely by his beard, wearing a Knicks cap and a Knicks jersey. "He's not playing for the rest of the series, most likely not for the rest of his life."

"Why?"

"Like your friend said, hopeless."

"How do you know?"

"It's in the news," the guy said, pulling a micro-radio out of his pant pocket. "Officially, he has a stomach flu. Unofficially, he's suspended. Unidentified sources say he was not happy he didn't get enough minutes and didn't go to the practice."

"Damn," Lauren said. "I hope Diesel can step up better."

"On the brighter side," Jimmy said. "They'll most likely have more salary room to play with for re-signing Rick."

"Yeah," the big fellow said. "If Don Wilson doesn't re-sign Rick Hart, I'm quitting as a fan. It will mean he's hopeless and therefore the Knicks are hopeless."

"That's right," Jimmy said, reaching across Lauren to do a high-five with the big fellow.

The big guy then handed Lauren the big bucket of popcorn he was holding. "Want some?" he asked.

"Thanks," Lauren said, and picked up a few into her hand.

"Pass it on," the big guy said. He then studied Lauren briefly. "You face looks familiar," he added. "You're a singer?"

"No," Lauren said, smiling.

The sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden had been booing loudly at the Pistons whenever they touched the ball during what could be the last Knicks' home game for the season. However, Lauren could feel the unspoken worry among the people around her.

"I don't like this," Jimmy said.

"Me too," Lauren said. "That's nasty."

"That's not alright," Vanessa said. "That's not just double-teaming. What are they doing?"

"They're trying to intimidate him," the big fellow said. "After the first quarter, they have apparently concluded that half of the Knicks is not much of a factor today, so they concentrate on Rick. If they can stop him, we are toasted. They are throwing bodies at him, challenging him whenever he touches the ball, boxing him out, and trying to make him irritated."

"Oh, no," Lauren said, as the Knicks head coach was waving and arguing with the referee. "Damn it, go back, you idiot."

"Oh, no," Vanessa said. "That's the second Technical for George Lemont. He's ejected."

"Oh, no! Damn it, stop it," Lauren said, as she saw Rick exchanging words with an opponent player.

"Technical foul, Richard Hart and Shawn Artest," the broadcaster announced the double technical foul declared by the referees.

"Gee," Jimmy said. "I think we're done. You see, Rick's intimidated. Another 'T' and he'll be out, and our season will be over."

"Time-out, New York Knicks," the announcer said again. Lauren saw her former dance team teammates rushing into the court to perform a routine.

"I don't know how we can win this game," Vanessa said.

"Well," Lauren said. "First, Rick has to contain himself, and, and..."

"And," Jimmy followed up. "He has to be a superhuman, a very super-superhuman." He let out a long sigh.

"Why isn't Rick making many free throws?" Vanessa said, after checking the scoreboard.

"Because the Pistons are good," the big fellow said. "They've been avoiding it. They don't want to foul Rick Hart. He's too good a free throw shooter."

"Why have they pulled Rick out?" Vanessa asked, when the time-out was over and they saw Jerry Dupree was on the court.

"I guess they want to give him time to calm down," Jimmy said. "He needs some rests, anyway."

The crowd began chanting for their team. They booed whenever the Pistons had the ball. It didn't help. The knicks were trailing by twelve at half-time.

"I think you should call him in the dressing room to offer a huge reward," Vanessa said. "Tell him you're going to marry him."

Lauren wasn't in the mood of joking, but she couldn't help laughing. "Should I throw in a blow job from the maid of honor?" she said to Vanessa.

"Well," Vanessa whispered at her ear. "Tell him to buy white condoms."

The crowd made deafening chant as the Knicks slowly regained the ground and pulled off a lead in the third quarter.

"Wow," Lauren said to her friends during the break. "What a come back."

"Yeah," Jimmy said. "Nobody can imagine this. The intimidation has turned into motivation for Rick, and he's Super-Rick in the quarter."

"Except," Vanessa said. "I've had enough. Jim, you switch seats with me. I have enough pinches from Lauren."

Lauren giggled. "Sorry," she said. "I was too nervous."

"Okay," Vanessa said. "One more pinch, you will blow Jim. He'll buy me an Effy diamond pendant for it."

Lauren giggled, then shook her head. "For a diamond," she said. "You'll sell everything, your friend, your body, and even your soul."