Choosing Sides Read Free

some money. I know where your head is at. I had to chase after you, remember?” he said in a playful manner. He lifted her chin while the two continued walking down the hall. “I’m gon’ be with you always. I’m with you for you, the same way that you are with me for me. I know that if all the material shit that comes along with being a basketball star is gone tomorrow, you would still be here holding me down.” Malek stopped walking. Then his tone became serious. “You the only one who really cares about me on the inside. Everyone else just wants to use me and get a piece of me.”
    Halleigh stood still next to her man, absorbing his every word.
    â€œI love you, Hal, and I’ll wait as long as you need me to. I’m not going to lie, I know you mentally and emotionally, but I’m trying to know you physically too. But, baby girl, I’ll wait until you are comfortable. You’re my world, you know that. At least, I thought you did.”
    Halleigh stared into her man’s eyes, searching for congruency between what his eyes said and the words his mouth uttered. His eyes didn’t crinkle teasingly like they did when he was joking with her. He was dead serious. It was more than just his eyes that told the truth. Halleigh could hear the sincerity behind his words, and in her heart, she knew that after the game that night, she would be in his bed. “I know, I know,” she replied.
    â€œSo you gon’ let me get up in that or what?” he whispered in his ear, pushing her hair behind her double-pierced ears that held the diamond studs he’d purchased for her as a birthday gift.
    She hit him in the stomach and laughed.
    â€œYou know I’m just playing with you,” he offered. Malek continued walking with Halleigh right by his side.
    â€œOkay, let’s make a bet,” she proposed. “If you score over 40 points in the championship, then I got you guaranteed, if not, you just gon’ have to wait a little bit longer.”
    Malek’s eyes lit up. He liked the game she was playing. “How much longer?”
    â€œUntil graduation.”
    â€œThat’s four months away!” he exclaimed.
    Just then, they stopped walking and stood in the doorway to Halleigh’s next class.
    â€œThen you better get off tonight if you don’t want to wait,” she said in a flirtatious and challenging tone. She smiled mischievously, hinting at their night of pleasure to come.
    As Malek leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips, Halleigh’s teacher, Ms. Gulley, announced, “That’s enough, Mr. Johnson,” interrupting their intimate moment.
    Halleigh laughed and pushed Malek, feinding not having anything to do with the kiss.
    â€œSorry, Ms. Gulley,” Malek said, throwing two fingers in the air and winking at Halleigh before he strolled up the hallway.
    â€œAnd pull up those pants!” Ms. Gulley bellowed. She smiled and shook her head. “Nobody wants to see your behind.”
    Speak for yourself. Halleigh smiled then turned and headed into the classroom.

    â€œMalek Johnson is having one of the best ball games of his life, ladies and gentlemen,” the ESPN sports commentator said as he watched the game in awe. “This is amazing. It is only the third quarter and he already has 32 points. Talent like this doesn’t come around too often. This is his last game before the NBA draft in a couple of months. I think he’s trying to show the pros what he’s working with.”
    Cameras were positioned everywhere. From local news stations to national coverage, every media outlet was there to witness Malek’s last game of his high school career. He was considered the nation’s top basketball recruit. The spectators jumped to their feet and roared with excitement every time he got the ball in his hands.
    Everyone thought that Malek was showing out because it was his last game, but Halleigh knew the