The soft glow of the morning sun peeked through Lucas's curtains, gently waking him from a deep sleep. He sat up slowly, rubbing the soreness from his neck. His body still ached from yesterday's workout, but the stiffness was something he welcomed. It reminded him that he was putting in the work.
He rolled out of bed and grabbed his notebook from the desk. Flipping to the page with his training plan, he gave it a quick once-over before heading to the middle of his room to start his morning routine.
Lucas began with stretches, moving deliberately to ease his muscles into the day. He sat on the floor and reached for his toes, feeling the satisfying pull in his hamstrings. From there, he transitioned into a butterfly stretch, pressing his knees toward the floor and holding the position while he focused on his breathing. His quads were next, and he stood up, pulling one foot to his glutes, switching legs after twenty seconds. The tension in his calves loosened as he pressed his heels against the wall, one leg at a time, holding each stretch for a count of twenty.
He finished with shoulder rolls and arm swings, loosening the tightness in his upper body. Stretching might not be glamorous, but Lucas knew it was the key to keeping himself healthy and avoiding injuries.
Once his flexibility routine was done, Lucas transitioned into his light workout. He dropped to the floor for push-ups, his arms trembling slightly as he pushed through the final reps of his third set. Squats came next, followed by lunges, each movement deliberate and steady. He finished with a minute-long plank, his core burning as he gritted his teeth and held firm.
By the time he was done, sweat dotted his forehead, and his breathing was steady but labored. He grabbed a towel and wiped his face before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower.
The smell of coffee and eggs greeted Lucas as he entered the kitchen. Maria was at the stove, flipping tortillas, while Steven sat at the table with a newspaper spread in front of him.
"Morning, champ," Steven said, glancing up from the paper.
"Morning," Lucas replied, grabbing a plate as Maria turned to smile at him.
"Good morning, cariño. You're up early again," Maria said, setting a stack of warm tortillas on the table. "More training?"
Lucas nodded, scooping scrambled eggs onto his plate. "Yeah, gotta stay consistent."
Steven chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee. "You're really locked in, huh? That tournament's got you motivated."
Lucas grinned, grabbing a tortilla and rolling it around the eggs. "You have no idea."
Maria sat down, brushing her hands on a dishtowel. "Just don't overdo it, Lucas. Your body needs time to rest, too."
"I know, Mom," he said, biting into the tortilla. "This morning was light. I'm meeting Jaylen and Miguel at the park later for some practice."
Steven folded his newspaper and leaned back in his chair. "You planning to work on anything specific?"
"Just running a mock game, maybe some plays," Lucas replied. "We need to see where we're at as a team."
Steven nodded approvingly. "Smart. Real games aren't just about skills—they're about knowing your teammates and how to play together."
Lucas finished his breakfast quickly and stood, rinsing his plate in the sink. "Thanks for breakfast, Mom."
Maria smiled. "Be careful out there, cariño."
Back in his room, Lucas grabbed his phone and sent a quick message to Jaylen and Miguel.
Lucas: "Meet me at the park in an hour. Bring three other guys. Let's run a mock game."
It didn't take long for the responses to roll in.
Jaylen: "On it. I'll bring Marcus, Deshawn, and Eli."
Miguel: "Gotcha. Be there."
Lucas nodded to himself, tossing his phone onto the bed and grabbing his ball. The park was only a short walk away, and the morning air was crisp and cool as he made his way there. The rhythmic bounce of the basketball against the pavement matched the beat of his thoughts.
When he arrived, the court was empty, the morning sun casting long shadows across the concrete. Lucas warmed up by taking a few shots, his form feeling smooth and confident. His Bronze Catch & Shoot badge kicked in as he practiced catching quick passes and firing off shots, the ball swishing through the net more often than not.
Soon, Jaylen arrived with Marcus, Deshawn, and Eli. Marcus was short and wiry, with quick feet and an endless supply of energy. Deshawn was tall and broad, a natural enforcer in the paint, while Eli was lean and fast, a scrappy player who always seemed to find a way to make himself useful. Miguel arrived shortly after, his usual swagger on full display as he dribbled his ball onto the court.
"Alright, let's split up," Lucas said, clapping his hands. "Me, Jaylen, and Miguel against you three."
They lined up for a jump ball, and the game began.
The first few minutes were chaotic, as most pick-up games tend to be. Miguel took control of the ball early, dribbling endlessly as he tried to weave his way through the defense. He ignored Jaylen's calls for a screen and missed Lucas, who had found a wide-open spot near the three-point line.
"Miguel, pass the ball!" Lucas shouted, but Miguel kept dribbling, eventually forcing up a contested shot that clanged off the rim.
Jaylen shook his head, grabbing the rebound and tossing it to Lucas. "Reset!"
As the game progressed, Lucas and Jaylen started to find a rhythm together. Jaylen set hard screens, freeing Lucas to step into open space for quick catch-and-shoot opportunities. His Bronze Catch & Shoot badge shone in these moments, as he drained shot after shot, the ball snapping through the net with satisfying consistency.
"Lucas is on fire today!" Jaylen shouted after another clean shot.
But Miguel's over-dribbling continued to disrupt their offense. Several possessions ended with turnovers or rushed shots, and by the time the game ended, Lucas's team had scraped by with a narrow win.
As the others headed to the sideline to grab water, Lucas pulled Miguel aside.
"Miguel, we need to talk," Lucas said, keeping his tone calm but firm.
Miguel wiped his forehead with his shirt. "What's up?"
"You're dribbling way too much, man. You're good at getting past defenders, but you're missing open looks for the rest of us. We need to move the ball faster, especially in the tournament."
Miguel frowned, nodding slowly. "Yeah, I guess I was trying to do too much. I'll work on it."
"Good," Lucas said, clapping him on the shoulder. "We've got this if we play smart."
Jaylen joined them, grinning. "You two done talking? Let's run those screens again next time, Lucas. I like setting you up."
Lucas laughed. "Deal. Just keep making those picks, and I'll keep hitting the shots."
When Lucas got home, the smell of something savory greeted him. Maria was in the kitchen, washing dishes, the faint sound of Spanish music playing from a nearby radio.
"Smells good, Mom," Lucas said, leaning against the doorway, careful to keep his distance.
"You'll have to wait until dinner," Maria teased, wiping her hands on a towel. "How was practice?"
"Not bad. We've got some things to work on, but it's coming together," Lucas said.
"Good," Maria said, her tone soft but warm. "You boys will do great."
As Lucas sat at the table with his school notebook, flipping through a math assignment he wanted to finish before school started, the sound of the front door opening caught his attention.
Steven walked in, his shoulders dusted with sweat from a long day of work as a bus driver for the city. He set his cap down on the counter and stretched his back with a groan.
"Rough day, Dad?" Lucas asked, glancing up.
"Same old," Steven replied, chuckling as he poured himself a glass of water. "Got stuck in traffic on Lake Shore Drive for forty minutes. You'd think people would know how to merge by now."
Maria chuckled from the kitchen. "You always say that, and yet it keeps happening."
Steven smiled at her before turning back to Lucas. "How was practice?"
"Good. Just gotta iron out a few things," Lucas said, leaning back in his chair.
"That's the spirit," Steven said. "Hard work always pays off."