Hampton University, VA
Jocelyn Flores by XXXTENTACION
Fri. Nov. 5th, 2:45PM
""

Gabe pressed the orange DONE button on his phone to stop the alarm. Their session may have been officially over but he wasn't done talking. He averted his attention back to Shai who was sitting on his phone, typing. He noticed, soon as Shai came into his office, the black eye he attempted to cover with his hood. Gabe thought his eyes had deceived him, so he didn't say anything about it. But while they talked about recent events, Shai's beautiful engagement and anniversary, Gabe realized what he saw was real.

He didn't want to make any assumptions nor did he want to invade Shai's privacy. However, he was not going to ignore a student who needed help. Even if they didn't ask for it. Leaning back in his chair, Gabe continued staring at Shai, thinking about how he wanted to approach this conversation. He knew, from sessions they already had, that Shai didn't open up easily. The first forty-five minutes of their session would be him rambling about sports, music, and tv shows.

Gabe made sure to listen just to pick up anything that may be important. Then the rest of the session they get into the real nitty gritty of how he was feeling about specific things. For the last four sessions before Gabe went away for two weeks, his trip longer than expected, the topic has been about Dess. It was the same for this one. Gabe noticing every time Dess name came out of Shai's mouth it was positive.

Like how nice and caring she was. How attentive and beautiful her soul was. How he damn near craved her presence even while sitting on this very couch. He couldn't be away from her for long and Shai thought that was weird. He didn't want to be viewed as a man-child. Gabe reminding him that there was nothing wrong with loving someone that much and wanting to be with them all the time. She was his peace amongst the chaos. The person he could confide him and not be judged. So, Gabe knew how to bring up the conversation.

"Shai," Gabe called his name. Shai looked up from his phone, his right eye a tad bit covered by his hood. He was steady pulling it down during their talk.

"Are we done?" Shai questioned. He thought he'd heard the timer go off but wasn't entirely sure. It didn't matter since he never got up until Gabe did. He never wanted to be rude in case their time wasn't up. So, he sat and waited.

"Yes, but I want to talk a little more about something that's aching my heart." Gabe told him. Shai placed his phone against his chest. He had a feeling what Gabe was going to bring up. He tried his hardest to cover it up and avoid the topic.

"What's that?" He obliviously asked.

Gabe pointed at him. "That eye of yours that's black. I can't sit here and act like it's nothing." He answered.

"It is nothing though. Nothing to stress about." Shai lied, avoiding eye contact with Gabe. His attempt to pretend that nothing was wrong wasn't working entirely. Gabe knew him too well for that to work on him.

"Dess." Gabe said her name, Shai looking at him. "Does she know what happened?" He questioned, using Dess name to get an answer from him. He knew that was the only way to go. As sad as it was.

"Why does it matter?" Shai still refused to answer his questions with the truth.

He had already said he wasn't going to talk about his eye to anyone. He could've used makeup to cover it up but worried that his face might break out. Him and Dess woke up earlier than both their alarms, coming up with ideas on how he should approach the day ahead of him. He decided to keep his head hung low and avoid all interactions with as many people as he could. He was going to cancel this session but Gabe hasn't been here and canceling would've been suspicious. It was a lose-lose situation in Shai eyes regardless of which path he took.

"Because she's all you talk about in your sessions, Shai. And there's nothing wrong with that whatsoever." Gabe clarified.

He continued, "So, clearly if there's something wrong, she's the first person you'll go to. Correct?" He asked the obvious.

"I mean yeah but I don't want to talk about it to anyone else." Shai made known. He was standing his ground on not speaking on what happened. He needed Gabe to understand that. It doesn't matter how open he may have been regarding other issues, this was one he refused to talk about.

Gabe wasn't giving up though. "Shai, I refused for you to walk out and not talk about-"

"It's really not any of your business." Shai interrupted him.

"It is my business though." Gabe remarked. "You and other students here are my business. Your mental and physical health is my business."

"It's not though." Shai retorted.

Gabe picking up the attitude that Shai was showing. He knew that angering a patient didn't solve any issues. But he cared about Shai a lot more than any other student here before of similar lives. They both experienced abuse and neglect from their parents. And they both were still dealing with the trauma from it. All Gabe wanted was the best for Shai.

"Shai, I can't allow you to leave this office when you have a viable black eye that you're walking around with. Based off previous conversations we had, I can't ignore that. I refuse to ignore it actually. You can say it's not my business but you're my student and I need to make sure you're fine." Gabe explained to him in hope that Shai would understand.

Shai refused to budge.

"I don't want to be rude but if I don't want to speak on something then I don't have to. I made that known the very first time I came here. I don't want to talk about it," Shai repeated himself once again. He was more stern and could feel himself getting pissed that he had to say it again. He had no problem with Gabe but he was slowly becoming one the more he pushed.

Gabe, on the other hand, didn't care. He knew he should leave it alone and stop his questioning. However, he couldn't see himself doing so. He saw Shai as his son, someone he had to protect and take care of. There was no one else that was there. Dess wasn't enough in Gabe eyes, she was a child herself that needed protection. Gabe, being the adult, had a responsibility over these students.

"And I understand that-"

"So, why do you keep pestering?" Shai barely allowed Gabe to finish his sentence. He didn't want to hear whatever he had to say. He was surprised that he was still sitting here and talking in the first place.

"Because there's a clear sign that you got into an altercation. Like I said we talked about issues before regarding Shamar and your mom. I can't for the life of me by pass that one of them are responsible for your eye. So, which one, Shai?" Gabe asked anyway.

Shai scoffed. His blood boiling now since Gabe refused to leave it alone. He knew eventually he would have to treat Gabe like everyone else. Be aggressive, ride, sland disrespect towards him because of overstepped boundaries. That was unfortunate since Shai was really staring to like him. He thought he was different from other adults he encountered with. Only for him to find out that Gabe was exactly like them. Just disguised under a therapist profession.

"You know what," Shai bit the inside of his lip and shook his head. "Fuck it." He cursed then shrugged.

"Since you wanna know so badly, I'll tell you. My mom gave me this black eye. Just yesterday actually. She came into my room and started beating my ass because I had Dess over. She grabbed my hair, pulled my head down, and punched me with her rings on. Now, that I told you, what are you going to do about it?" Shai sarcastically asked.

He didn't give Gabe a chance to respond. It didn't matter since Gabe was processing the honesty from him. "Huh? What are you going to do Gabe? Are you going to put on your suit of armor and go handle Alison? What is that you're going to do with this information? I'd love to know." Shai went on.

Gabe swallowed hard, taking his time. Shai didn't have a minute to waste since he wanted to prove a point. Everyone wanted to be a superhero, so he decided to give the opportunity to someone just to see what they'll do.

"So?" Shai questioned.

"Shai this is a serious matter, you understand that, and I want to help. You should be have to deal with the abuse-"

"So, what are you going to do?" Shai cut Gabe's long speech off.

"I'll call APS or the police, so you can file a report. Get someone with higher power..." Gabe stopped his sentence when Shai started laughing. Gabe didn't think he found anything funny and instead him laughing was a coping tactic. Though Gabe found it disrespectful, he let Shai be.

"Call the police." Shai said in between his laughs. He shook his head. " APS. As if they're going to do anything regarding a nineteen-year-old who isn't incapacitated."

"Fine, APS isn't an option but the police is, Shai. Like I said, you can file a report against your mother. Show them your eye, witnesses that don't mind coming forward to testify on your behalf. You're not a lost cost, Shai, and I need you to understand that." Gabe told him.

"Clearly, you don't listen much during our talks." Shai mentioned, Gabe sighing.

"I listen to you, Shai. Right now, I need you to listen to me. You were physically harmed by your mother. You have a black eye for Christ sake. Something needs to be done, your mother needs to be arrested for everything she did. I don't understand why you're trying to protect this woman when you cried to me about wanting all of this to stop."

Gabe tried get Shai to understand where he was coming from. Abusive was no joke and Gabe refused for Shai to keep dealing with it when he didn't need to. All victims took their time, some longer than others, but the first step was acknowledging the abuse. Something that Shai seemed to struggle with doing and it frustrated Gabe. He didn't want Shai to keep crying and being angry behind this one evil spirited woman when he could get rid of her.

"You really don't listen at all," Shai said again and shook his head.

"Because if you did then you would know that no matter what she does, I physically, mentally, and emotionally cannot do anything to her. Why? Because at the end of the day she is my mom and I can't see myself doing anything to her. I've said that multiple times. It's not that I refuse, it's just that I can't. I can't hit her. I can't call the police. I can't file a report. I just can't. If that makes me scared or weak then so be it but I'm not going to do it. I don't want your advice and I damn sure don't need nor want your help."

"But I want to help-"

"I don't need it!" Shai raised his voice.

Gabe running his tongue over his top teeth. "Shai, my job is to help students with their problems so they navigate life better. That's what I'm going to do. You coming here every day is you seeking my help, and I want to do that. You should let me do that." He tried to reason.

Shai sighed then grabbed his phone tightly. He leaned forward and gripped his bag strap then stood to his feet. He looked down at Gabe, seeing the sympathetic look he was giving him. Shai didn't care for it. He didn't want to compromise. He didn't want to keep hearing the same thing. He didn't need Gabe or anyone else at this point. No one would help, even if they thought they could. He wished they got that. Until then, he had to do what he thought was right.

"This'll be my last time coming here." Shai told him, putting his bag on. He started his way to the door, Gabe feeling the need to keep him here. He didn't think Shai was ready to stop therapy, he had a lot to work on in Gabe's eyes.

"Shai, think about Dess." Gabe mentioned, standing to his feet.

Shai stopped at the door, his hand rested on the knob as he debated on whether he should respond. He picked up on Gabe's technique of throwing out Dess name to get Shai to speak or do stuff. He knew why. He talked about her all the time. She was the only person he trusted and would confide in with no problem. Constantly using her name wasn't going to always get him to speak though. It only made him want to keep everything between him and her only. And that's what he was going to do.

He opened the door then walked out the office, leaving Gabe there disappointed. He was familiar with clients acting the same way as Shai but this felt different than the rest of them. He thought he'd be able to help Shai someone like him. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

He had to accept it.

🏀

"What the fuck is taking so long!" Michael dragged out while tossing his head back. He sat up then looked over near the locker room where Maxwell, Logan, Adams, and Shai were talking. They all were supposed to be having a conversation together, so the private one with Shai was annoying him.

And the rest of the team.

"No, for real." Gavin chimed in. "I'm tryna see my girl."

Julian suck his teeth then glanced back at Gavin. "Nigga, you do not have a girlfriend. Stop fucking lying." He remarked.

"But I do though, so shut the fuck up." Gavin cursed back. He didn't have to prove anything to anyone, especially not Julian. The one person he wasn't cool with.

"No one is gonna date your fat ass, Gavin. Let's be foreal." Julian laughed.

He thought he'd get the other boys to join in but the others were tired and irritated. They had just finished practice, which consisted majority of suicides, and running up and down the bleachers. It was punishment for how they've been acting on and off the court. It was bizarre and had Danny Adams shown in a negative light. Again.

"I do have a girlfriend, Julian. Shut the fuck up cause no one is talking to you." Gavin snapped back. He was sick of Julian and him constantly coming at him for no reason. They were one of the duos that's been arguing back and forth.

Gavin went at it with Julian.

Elijah went at it with Ameer.

Skeeter went at it with Parker.

Shamar went at with Shai.

No one was in union.

"No one wants to date your fat ass, Gavin. You don't have a girlfriend-"

"Bro, shut up!"

"Make me shut up!"

Gavin and Julian continued their back and forth while the rest of the boys annoyingly listened. Shamar sighed, tilting his head to the side. As days go by he was beginning to dislike being on this team and the people. All they did was survive and fuss. Screams and hollering. Complaints after complaints after complaints. It was making him go insane and hurting his head.

"Oh my gosh! Shut up!" Dustin finally intervened, making Gavin and Julian quiet down. He, too, was done with this team. Even more than Shamar that he was on a thin line of leaving for good. Basketball wasn't his passion anyway, just an extracurricular activity to keep him busy.

He really didn't need it.

Shamar glanced back at the rest of his team then shook his head at them. He couldn't believe he was here with them. Dudes he would never associate himself with back at home. As weird as it was to say, he messed with the white boys better than the ones here. Luckily, he was taking a visit back home this weekend so he could chill with his actual crew. Be around people he actually liked and messed with. Not a bunch of randoms he was grouped with because of a sport.

His attention came off the boys and onto the gym doors when it was slammed. He saw Dess walking over to them, her hair bouncing like in one of those movies where the popular girl was introduced. Despite his ongoing issues with Shai, he still thought she was beautiful. He may not be able to have her but he could still admire. From afar, of course.

"Hello," Dess nicely greeted them all with a wave. Shamar found himself being the only one that gave her a head nod. Everyone else stared, some didn't care and a couple wondered why she was here.

"I could've sworn coach said no chicks in here? Why she here?" Julian brought up.

Shamar knew the answer but didn't reply back. It was Shai, of course he could get away with anything unlike the rest. He picked up on that the first day of practice and it's been shown throughout. There was favoritism surely on this team. It didn't bother him as much as it did the others and he didn't care to explain it either. Eventually, they'll get on board.

He continued watching Dess as she packed up Shai's bag for him. His conversation with Maxwell, Logan, and Adams was over and all four of them were heading over. Shamar noticed Shai had his hoodie on the entire practice as if he was hiding something. He stayed away too, sat and stood by himself. No one questioned it. No one bothered him. No one paid attention, expect for Shamar. All he's been doing was paying attention.

He couldn't help it.

Danny blew his whistle loudly, hurting the ears of the boys. Shamar looked away and turned to Danny who stood in front of them, Maxwell and Logan on both sides of him.

"We need to talk, so I need you all to listen." Danny went right into it.

"Ain't he supposed to be with us?" Michael asked, pointing at Shai who was walking behind the coaches. He continued his way out the gym with Dess, leaving everyone confused as to why he wasn't with them.

"Worry about yourself." Danny responded, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Michael smack his lips, leaning back on the bleachers. "There's favoritism on this team, yo, and that's annoying." He addressed.

"If you have such a problem with it then you can leave, Michael. It's that simple." Danny informed him.

"Actually, that goes for all of you." Danny added. "I know in the beginning I said that I was going to be strict but I haven't stuck to it. I'm changing that today."

"Lately, you all have been on one. Rebellious. Out of control. Disrespectful to the school and my rules. I didn't think I'd have to constantly speak to a bunch of young adults about how to conduct themselves. It's not that hard at all for you all to behave like adults." He went on.

"We haven't even-"

"No, I don't want to hear it." Danny cut off Julian's statement. "I don't want to hear ant excuses you want to conjure up. But you all will hear the issues that I'm having with you all. For starters, none of y'all seem to believe in union and working together. That's on and off the court but mainly off the court lately. Your professors informed me privately on several so-called beefs that some of you have."

"No one has beef though besides Shamar and Shai." Parker mentioned, bringing up the only two that visibly showed their dislike for each other. Shamar rolled his eyes at being brought up.

"Shai and Shamar aren't the only ones that's been going at it. Gavin and Julian been going back and forth for the last three weeks about nothing." Danny pointed at the of them.

He pointed at Michael, "Your constantly going at it with whatever girl you're messing around with. Skeeter and Elijah, the GroupMe and your Instagram stories are where y'all feel so comfortable threatening and posting inappropriate content. How many times are you going to tell people you're going to fuck them up, Elijah? Skeeter, why do you feel so comfortable posting you having sex with a girl on your close friends?" Danny rhetorically asked.

"The weed and alcohol content is ridiculous as well. I think I've seen maybe..." Danny paused and glanced back at Maxwell and Logan. "twelve videos from majority of y'all smoking and drinking. I must remind you all that none of you are of age to drink. Also, Hampton is a drug free school and if you caught, you're immediately expelled. No questions or excuses. There's also a policy that makes it legal for me to drug test you all whenever I feel like it. I'm going to have to start that up."

"Oh, but let's not stop there either. Class!" Danny exclaimed. "None of y'all go to class. And don't lie because I spoke to all of your professors. Y'all don't go to class, the average grade for this team is a fifty-one. That's an F, in case none of y'all know what the grading scale is like. I checked grades as well and see that all of you have C's or D's. And I know all of y'all are here on either a scholarship or some type of aid that has requirements. Unless y'all want to risk having your scholarship or aid being pulled then y'all need to get it together. With that being said, for now on I'm expecting everyone to meet me in the library in room 309 for tutoring every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday."

"I already have tutors picked out for you all that'll assist and keep track of your grades. Yes, you will be treated as if you're in kindergarten since none of you know how to act. You will have to check in with your tutor everyday regarding assignments and studying times that's not on the assigned dates. And please don't think you're going to fake it because I will be in the room on those days as well to watch over y'all. If any of y'all give the tutors a hard time then you're cut from the team. I'm being serious when I say I'm not playing any games anymore."

"I'm not about to sit here and be embarrassed by y'all actions. Y'all represent yourselves, myself, this school, and your family. So, y'all should be acting like you have some damn sense. The moment I feel as though y'all are playing around, you'll be doing exactly what we did today. Suicides and running up the bleachers. I will cancel every single game and there won't be a season at all. If you think I'm playing then please do some stupid shit for me to show you." Danny threatened.

He waited for any of the boys to argue back with his demands. He was ready too but it never came. The boys knew not to because it wouldn't change anything. They noticed that Danny was serious this time around. The first time they were able to get away with not doing any of the demands he had put out since Danny had his mind on other things. But they weren't getting off and they knew it.

"Good." Danny nodded then turned to Maxwell to see if he was ready. He stepped out the way and allowed Maxwell to take over.

"What I'm passing out is the fans and practice schedule that we'll be abiding now and until the school year end." Maxwell began speaking, handing the stack of papers to Ameer.

He stepped back and continued talking while the papers were passed around. "We were able to compromise with the Dean and President for us to have a basketball camp over the summer. The girls already have one and they participate in a HBCU basketball tournament, and we will be doing the same. This is an opportunity that can and will be taken away from us if we don't get our act together. With that being said, practice will continue being everyday but now in the morning and afternoon."

"We'll be meeting for practice at five in the morning until seven. Before any of you think you're going to be slick and say you have class, we checked schedules already. Everyone classes starts either at eight or nine, some at ten. Then we'll meet again during our regular practice time. Again, this is every day, expect for Sunday's. That'll be your rest day. You miss three days with no valid explanation then you're off the team. That goes for games as well. While speaking on that, we have a game Tuesday at Norfolk. We'll meet in the front at eleven, the bus pulls off at eleven-fifteen. If you miss it then you already know what's going to happen."

"Is everything clear?" Maxwell asked. There was no response but the faces of disappointment and frustration concerned that they got it. There was no need for further discussion.

"Alright, you all can go and enjoy the rest of your night. Tomorrow for practice meet at the football field. You all will be running the track, so prepare yourself." Maxwell ended off.

There were murmurs, teeth sucking, and attitudes expressed by the boys as they got ready to leave. There goes the complaints that Shamar was tired of hearing. It was reasonable this time.

"This fucking team piss me off."

🏀

Author's Note:

I'm going to do a time-skip. Not a big one but one where everything is finally addressed. I know y'all are waiting for that and I don't want to take forever. Hopefully, that's cool.