41 Buc-ee's
*Sound Effects*
**Language**
'Thoughts'
"Dialogue"
(Point of View)
| Setting |
[System]
| Location: SBC Center Locker Room, San Antonio, Texas |
| Date: Friday Nov 4, 2005 10:48pm |
(1st Person - Javi)
I watched from the locker room's TV as Tony conducted his post-game interview. I had already finished mine a little earlier, enduring some awkward questions before making my exit. However, the ones that were the most difficult to answer weren't romantic questions.
Instead it was the questions about my height and whether I believed players under 6 feet could make it to the league. Despite my outward affirmation, a nagging doubt gnawed at me. Could someone like me truly thrive in a league dominated by giants? The thought weighed heavily on my mind, stirring feelings of guilt and self-doubt. I felt torn, as if I were betraying both the fans and anyone who shared my height, lying to them about what was achievable.
I couldn't shake the thought of whether I'd even be here without the system I had obtained. However, I pulled myself out of my thoughts and refocused on Tony's interview.
"Tony, y'all had an impressive win against the Cavs, winning by over 30 points. What do you think contributed to this overwhelming victory" asked the male voice.
Tony looked in the direction of the reporter before taking a moment to reply.
"Well," Tony began, his French accent adding a touch of elegance to his words, "it was a team effort, firstly. We came out with a high energy. We followed our game plan as best as we could. Coach Pop always emphasizes defense, and when we're locked in like that, it's hard for any team to keep up with us."
He paused for a moment, recalling the game. "Our ball movement was also important to winning tonight. We shared the ball, found open shooters, and made the right decisions. When you have guys like Manu, Timmy, and Javi making plays, it makes my job easier."
Tony flashed a quick smile. "And of course, our fans, they're the best fans in the league. The energy in the arena tonight was great, and it definitely gave us motivation to go out there and win tonight."
The reporter nodded, satisfied with Tony's response, and moved on to the next question.
"Speaking of Javier, who had 16 points coming off the bench. How has it been with him as a new addition to the team?" asked another reporter.
Tony smiled before continuing "It's been great, he is a fast learner and an even harder worker. Having someone like that on your team is always going to be good." stated Tony.
The interview concluded, and Manu changed the TV channel to the weather forecast. Hearing Tony's praise brought a small smile to my face; it felt incredible to receive recognition from someone I admired so much.
As the rest of the interviews wrapped up, we prepared to leave the stadium and head onto the buses parked outside. We were embarking on our first road trip since the preseason, this time for real. The stakes were higher, the competition fiercer, and the atmosphere more intense.
We set off towards Dallas, Texas, where we were scheduled to play the Mavericks tomorrow—a back-to-back game. I could sense the fatigue in the body language of Manu, Tony, and Timmy. Moments like these made me increasingly grateful for the 'Mamba Mentality' skill. Without it, I might have succumbed to sleep deprivation long ago.
It was moments like this that I was increasingly thankful for the Mamba Mentality skill. Otherwise, I probably would have developed some sort of sleep apnea already.
During the ride, I noticed Brent and Bruce both fast asleep in their seats just ahead of mine.
I hadn't met Brent during my initial training sessions with the team when I was still on a 10-day contract. However, I got to know him later during the off-season. He was on the reserve squad, so he didn't play too often, but he was still a talented player.
Brent was genuinely cool, down-to-earth, and humble, with a sharp sense of humor. Surprisingly, he was really good friends with Tony, and they enjoyed teasing and joking around with each other, sometimes even more than Tony did with Manu. They would hang out together, going on double dates with their wives, who were also great friends.
Observing Tony treating reserve players and staff members with the same respect as star players like Tim and Manu made me admire him even more.
Before the season began, we had a big dinner with team members and their families. I was surprised to learn that Tim, Tony, Manu, Brent, and Bruce were all married. I often felt like the little brother of the group, and Tony would tease me about getting a girlfriend.
Which was why it always felt awkward when being asked if I was still single or not.
As I contemplated the situation, a faint smile graced my lips. However, thoughts of loneliness soon crept in, dampening my mood. I longed for genuine love but feared being valued solely for my money.
It wasn't that I didn't desire a girlfriend; like most people, I longed to find true love. However, going forward, whenever I met someone new, it was inevitable that they would discover I was an NBA player. My greatest fear was ending up with someone who valued me solely for my abilities and not for who I truly was.
Choosing not to dwell on these thoughts, I decided to get some rest, closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep.
I awoke later to find the bus still illuminated, with Timmy, Tony, and Manu engaged in a card game. Bruce and Brent remained sound asleep in the row ahead of us.
Curious about our unexpected stop, I turned to the others and asked, "Why did we stop?"
Tony glanced over and grinned, "We're at Buc-ee's. It's a tradition to stop here when we're on our way to play the Mavs."
"What's Buc-ee's?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Their incredulous looks made me feel like I'd missed out on something significant. "You were born here and you don't know Buc-ee's?" Tony asked, baffled.
"I was poor," I deadpanned, half-joking.
Tony chuckled in understanding, before continuing. "It's like a big convenience store, but it has everything inside it," he explained.
"Why aren't y'all going inside?" I asked, still puzzled why they didn't go in themselves.
"We usually don't to avoid causing a commotion. The staff goes in for us," Tony clarified.
"Do you think I can go in? I'm not too well-known yet," I suggested, eager for a new experience.
"Hmm, maybe, but you should ask Pop," Manu chimed in. Timmy nodded in agreement as they all returned to their card game.
I rose from my seat and made my way to the front of the bus, seeking out Pop. "Pop, can I go inside? I've never been to Buc-ee's, and since I'm not too well-known, I shouldn't cause a scene," I requested politely.
He glanced at me, assessing my attire with a raised eyebrow. "That's fine, but you're gonna go like that?" he asked, referring to my Spurs sweats.
"Yeah," I replied, glancing down at my outfit.
He shrugged, showing little concern. As I disembarked from the bus, I couldn't help but think, 'I really need to upgrade my wardrobe.'
Entering the store, I was taken aback by its vast size; it rivaled that of a supermarket rather than a convenience store. The array of products overwhelmed me, spanning from clothing to groceries and beyond. A deli area boasted various sandwiches wrapped in foil, adding to the spectacle.
(Image here)
Feeling slightly overwhelmed by the wide array of items, I spotted our athletic trainer, Will. I approached him with a greeting, using 'Coach W' since I already knew a Coach Will, so it made me feel a bit weird calling him that. Thankfully, he didn't seem to mind as some of the guys referred to him the same way.
He turned towards me, his expression contorted in amusement. "What?" he queried.
As I glanced in the mirror he indicated, I spotted the telltale black Sharpie marks on my face, resembling a clown's makeup. 'These mutha-,' I thought, shaking my head. Hastily, I grabbed a cap adorned with the Buc-ee's logo to conceal the markings and hurried over to Will, feeling a mix of irritation and amusement.
"I'm gonna kill 'em," I muttered under my breath.
Will erupted into laughter before sharing stories of past pranks among the team. He recounted a particularly hilarious prank played by Pop on Tony and the others, which immediately peaked my interest. Apparently, Pop had orchestrated a fake 'advertisement' shoot, leading them to perform absurd tasks before revealing the prank.
Joining in the laughter, I asked Will for recommendations on what to try at Buc-ee's for my inaugural visit. He suggested the Beaver Nuggets, Jerky, and snagging a shirt as essential first-time experiences.
Following his advice, I collected the recommended snacks and a Coke before browsing the shirts section. Opting for a black shirt adorned with the beaver logo, I approached the register to make my purchase. The older lady at the counter raised an eyebrow at my appearance, but I simply added the cap to the total without explanation.
With my purchases in hand, I returned to the bus, greeted by the amused chuckles of Tony and Manu. "Yeah, yeah, real funny," I deadpanned as I approached them.
Their laughter only intensified, rousing Brent and Bruce from their slumber. As they joined in the laughter, I couldn't help but grin, knowing that despite the pranks, it was going to be a memorable year.
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A/N: Hope you're enjoying the story so far! Let me know some ideas for skills such as passive and active skills. Whenever the MC does a pack opening, I may include some of them and give you a mention in the chapter! If you're liking the story and want to support it, please feel free to leave a review, a comment below, or drop some stones below.
Also side note, any suggestions for MC's potential love interest? The love interest needs to be around his age, he's currently 19 turning 20 in the year 2005.
