"K-Dawg, you serious?"
Trenton's voice rang out as Kendrick drilled another shot from the corner of the cracked court. The ball swished clean through the net, a rare moment of perfection in a life filled with chaos. Kendrick smiled, but it was more for himself than anyone watching.
"Man. I've been serious," Kendrick replied, wiping the sweat from his face. He jogged over to retrieve the ball, only to have Trenton snatch it up first. "You gonna play or talk all day?"
Trenton spun the ball on his finger, his smile cocky. "I'm Just saying, bro. Ain't nobody watching. You ain't got nothin' to prove out here."
Kendrick took a deep breath, letting it settle his nerves. It was the same argument every day. Trenton, his closest friend, had already started slipping. The streets called him louder than the game did now. But Kendrick? Basketball was his escape. His dream.
"Not today," Kendrick said. "We play today."
Trenton shrugged, tossing the ball up. "Aight. But don't cry when I take your ankles."
The game was their usual. Fast, intense, rough. But as the sun started to sink behind the skyline, Trenton suddenly paused mid-dribble.
"You heard about Coach Ray?"
Kendrick shook his head, taking a quick glance at the horizon. "What about him?"
Trenton's eyes flickered with something Kendrick couldn't read. "He's scouting. Heard he's looking to pick someone up for his summer program. Could be your break. K-Dwag. Could be the move that gets you out."
Kendrick's heart skipped a beat, but he played it cool. "Yeah? Might be worth checking out."
Trenton's smirk returned, this time with a hint of something darker. "Yeah... for you maybe."
The words hung in the air as the game continued, but Kendrick couldn't shake the feeling that this time, it wasn't just about the game anymore. It was about something bigger. And the streets? They never took kindly to anyone trying to leave.