Interception

                                        Jeremy

I was angry more than usual as of lately.

I couldn't think straight, I was playing like a maniac and I barely spent any time with the boys.

Marcus waited on me in the locker room after a long Monday practice.

"Jeremy, are you doing okay man?"

He rarely calls me Jeremy so I know he's really concerned.

I tied the laces of my sneakers aggressively.

"I'm cool," I replied.

He chuckled at my answer, "Doesn't seem like it, you're on edge. Do you want to talk about it?"

He sighed when he realized I wasn't going to say what was bothering me.

"Maybe you should take some time off. We have one more game until the finals and we don't have a shot if you're not in the right state of mind."

He picked himself up from the bench and headed in the direction of the showers.

He was right. I needed to get my shit together, but thoughts of Marissa were running through my mind almost every second of the day.

Even if I wanted to forget about her, I couldn't.

She was everywhere I went.

If I ever see her with that new punk she's dating who she's supposedly in love with I'll beat him up.

Does he know how much I like her? How long I've waited for a breakthrough in her life?

Only for him to come fucking ruin it.

I kept seeing her on campus more than usual and of course I had a class with her.

I stopped at the food court today to grab something to eat only to see her and Kiara having lunch.

I mentally fought with myself before I walked over to their table.

"Hey."

Kiara turns to me with a big smile, "Hey JD, what's up?"

"Just passing through," I answered while looking directly at Marissa.

She keeps her eyes focused on the burger she's eating.

"Hi Marissa."

"Hi."

"Where's the lucky guy?" I asked.

Since she's so in love how come I never see her with her new man.

Kiara busted out laughing, "Who? What is he talking about?"

Marissa snaps her head in Kiara's direction so fast that she stops laughing and awkwardly clears her throat.

She starts packing her stuff up, "I'm gonna go. See y'all later."