Dre walked back onto the basketball court dribbling his ball. It was the first day of practice and it went okay in Dre's mind. He got to meet his teammates and the rest of the coaches. Andre took a deep breath, especially how he had the flu the last few days. He wasn't completely well, but he wasn't nearly as bad as he was at first. Alot still weighed on his mind, scholarships have been few and far in between. He's gotten football scholarships, but he wants an academic one. Dre fakes one direction before dribbling through his legs and firing a jumpshot. It hits the rim a couple of times before going in.

Dre trotted over and grabbed the ball and turned and faced the basket behind the three point line. Andre held the ball tightly as he stutter stepped to the left before dribbling the ball behind his back causing him to go to the right. As quick as his movements were Dre was in the air and dunked the ball in the goal. Andre let go and dropped down to the floor. He rested his hands on his head as he stared as the layout of the gym.

The first day of practice was basically what Galeno had expected. The coaches were friendly to him, the other players were nice, and the a couple of girls had figured a way inside the “private” practice. He laughed to himself as he carried his black Nike duffle bag. He sat down his bag and sighed softly, pulling out his own personal basketball, a farewell gift that his aunt had given him. He was beginning to miss some of his family, he wished that someone would come up and visit him, but he figured that they didn’t have the money or that they didn’t have the heart, his parents in particular. He was beginning to like and understand his mother and the same was true for her; but his father remained the cold-hearted man that he remembered. It figured it would take a long time for Galeno to warm up to the man that gave him his Hispanic heritage.

Holding the basketball in his hands, he looked around and noticed Andre. He was dribbling and wondered why he hadn’t heard him. Hearing that Dougie Fresh had six minutes and then he was on, he realized that he had his earphones. He quickly took them out and threw them into his bag. He started to dribble the ball closer to Andre and then called out to him, “Hey man, how are you fairing?”

Dre grabbed the ball and started dribbling again. He was in a zone and at the moment nothing mattered. It would almost seem that Dre had tunnel vision, and didn't noticed Galeno there. With everything that was going on with him playing sports was a release or something. Dre didn't notice that some girls made there way in, but practice is over now. So it really doesn't matter.

Dre started to dribble through his legs as he looked at the goal. Andre took the ball and started to bounce it behind his back. A step to the right followed by a spin to the left had him at the free throw line. Two steps later Dre was in the air and dunked the ball as hard as he can with one hand. It was a loud noise and it kinda brought him out of his trance as the ball rolled towards Galeno. Dre ran over and looked up at him. "What's up Galeno." Dre turned and shoot a shot and it went in nothing but net. Dre ran and grabbed the ball. He overheard a couple of giggles from the girls as he walked back towards Galeno, noticing he didn't have a shirt on. He stopped by Galeno and cracked a smirk. "Man practice was cool, you ready to start for the team?"

Slight envy rose within Galeno was he watched Andre dunk the ball inside the rim. Being at the height that he was, Galeno knew that he would never be able to do that unless someone lifted up in the air first. Many had offered, but he was afraid, to be frank, for he felt that he could not trust them with throwing him in the air. He sighed and then said hello to Andre.

Greeting Galeno back, Andre turned around and made a shot, the “whoosh” echoing in the gym. Galeno turned slightly to face the girls that were giggling like madwomen in the distance. He waved at them and one of them waved back as her friend just blushed, usually being able to see for she was light-skinned. Galeno turned to Andre again as he had asked him a question about the team.

“Certainly! I cannot wait until the first game. I have been pumped up for the first game since my arrival here,” he said with excitement in his eyes and voice. He took the basketball that was in his hands and dribbled around a little, doing some crossovers and behind-the-backs. He stopped suddenly, holding the ball steady in his hands and then asked, “Hey, who do we play? Is it a rival team or something? I heard some people talking about it, but they really didn’t say anything except that they beat us last year by, if I believe right, three points.”

Andre was as equally excited about there first game too. "Man I can't wait to play, it's the guys that put them out in the tournament. But this year it's different, they got me and you to worry about!" Dre was amped up about it before looking over to the girls, and noticing he had no shirt on. "It seems like you got a fan club Galeno?" Dre said smiling as he grabbed his ball and started to dribble.

Galeno grinned widely when Andre referred to the two of them as a team. He had never been consider part of a team within the team back home. He was usually the odd-ball out of the group of gigantic teammates and had to prove himself among his teammates and of course, the opponents. Everyone of their opponents usually judged him to the water boy or something. But when they realized that he was the point-guard, they thought it was most hilarious thing they heard. But their laughter subdued when he stepped on the court and showed them who was boss. He was used to it, but he thought that maybe it would be different now that he actually had someone who believed in him in the first place. He hoped so.

Andre commented about the girls that in the gym and Galeno only smiled and shook his head. Shrugging his shoulders, then chuckled. “I guess that I do. What can I say? I have a way with the ladies.”

Dre turned and looked at the girls. His attention turned back to Galeno. "Ah.....I see you're a ladies man." Dre dribbled the ball behind his back a few times before squaring up and shooting another jumpshot. It hit the rim a couple of times before rattling in. He walked over and grabbed his ball, before standing by Galeno.

He laughed again when Andre said that he was a ladies man. Sure he liked to impress the pretty ladies, but that was not his whole objective in life. His main objective was to have fun while seen achieving good stance in school and try not to cause too much trouble with the law.

Galeno fiddled around with the ball in his hands, dribbling a little here and there, behind the back, and through the legs. He stared up back at Andre as he shot the rock through the hoop, it rattling a little before it went in.

“Andre…” he started, thinking about it a little bit, “A game of one-on-one for entertainment? What do you say? If you're I completely understand, being so much older and all." He spoke, grinning widely.

A smile hit Dre's face when Galeno offered the notion of a one on one game. Mr. Washington is like the Energizer bunny, and basketball practice didn't tire him out at all. Dre smiled as he ran over to the bleachers and sat his ball on his bag. "Yea we can do that. I can see what you got." Dre smiled as he stood next to Galeno.

Grinning back at his current opponent, Galeno was happy that Andre had accepted the challenge. Sure, Galeno maybe as tall as the average girl, especially around here (Kansas girls much be really short or something), but he would be damned if he would lose! And if he did lose, it would certainly not be a landslip defeat.

“So, whose ball should we use, to get all the preliminary things out of the way,” he said, rolling the ball in a circle across his arms.

Yea Andre knows he's bigger than Galeno, but it will only matter if Dre has the ball close to the goal or if Galeno drives. Many people would think Galeno had the speed advantage, but those who have played football or basketball can tell you different. They both seemed to be pretty even when it comes to ball handling. "Since I just put my ball up, we'll use yours. And I guess I can shoot for first." If Dre missed the shot, Galeno would get first possesion. That way Dre can start to get a feel for what he's up against. But if he makes it, Galeno can get a taste of what Dre brings to the court.

Galeno nodded thoughtfully, bounced the ball above his arm, and caught it smoothly, hearing a faint applause from the audience. He turned around briefly and saw that the girls had taken a seat and were about to watch themselves a game of the century.

He rolled his eyes and passed the ball to Andre. Galeno wanted the ball first since it would give him the upper hand. He always liked to feel secure when going into a deal, especially with someone who had more power than he did, which of course Andre did. Thinking these thoughts, Galeno smirked and wondered if there was a way to give himself more of than upper hand by stretching the rules a little bit. He contemplated various ways as Andre prepared for the shoot.

Dre caught the ball and smirked as his attention went straight to the goal. He dribbled the ball a couple of times before looking to the girls and winking, causing giggles and a few to blush. Andre jumped in the air and.................

SWOOSH! The ball went perfectly went into the basket easily as Dre got ready to get the ball first. As Dre stood there, all he could think of how his game might or might not be in his favor. Andre was a shooter, and seeing how he has the height advantage it could work. But the fact that misses will occur Galeno will get more possessions. He kicked his feet up one by one so he could wipe the bottom of them.

“Zut!” Galeno exclaimed, his French slipping in again. Andre had made the basketball and knowing the big man, he would probably go after the long range shoot, seeing how Galeno wouldn’t be able to block them very well. However, if Andre missed many of those shots, Galeno would have chances to get the ball as rebounds. He began to wonder exactly how this game would go down. He shrugged his left shoulder and then nodded towards Andre.

“Humph, nice shoot,” Galeno said sarcastically, “Full or half court? Doesn’t matter to be, but again, if you are tired, we can do half court. I will understand if you’re back might give out.” He smirked and folded his arms, seeing how the “old man” would say.

Dre smirked hearing the French from Galeno. "I see you can speak a little French. Guess what I can speak German." The comments by Galeno are even funnier. "Old man huh? I'm only seventeen, so if I'm old you're old too pimping." Dre licked his tongue out and started to dribble the ball.

"Hey are you ready?" Dre smirked as he continued to dribble the ball.

Galeno didn’t expect Andre to know any foreign languages, not to stereotype or anything, but Andre did not seem like the type that would be interested in other languages besides English. And German would not be a language that Galeno would pick for Andre; Andre seemed more like the Spanish person. Galeno smirked and nodded, declaring that it is indeed French.

“Ahh, mais, je peut parler beaucoup de français, français de l’école et plus,” Galeno said, spitting out a little French, including the accent and all. Galeno smirked as Andre continued about the old man comments. He laughed and shrugged a shoulder.

“Well, if that is the case, then let us see which old man can out do the other. Check, ‘cause I’m ready, man!”

(("Mais, je peut parler beaucoup de français, français de l’école et plus" is translated as "But I can speak lots of French, school French and more"))

Well leaving in Germany is the only reason Dre learned the language. And yes Dre knows Spanish too. His dad brought Dre around often after football games and a couple of the Hispanic guys taught Dre Espanol. He took it upon himself to learn more. Andre doesn't mind being stereotyped simply because he likes to see the reaction.

"Du bist nicht der einzige, die eine andere Sprache sprechen, kann sehr gut. Ich kann auch Deutsch sprechen Schule!" Translated.....*You are not the only one that can speak another language very well. I can speak school German also!*

Dre smiled as he thought the old man comments were funny, especially seeing how neither guy was old enough to buy cigarettes. "Oh you're ready huh? I hope so, because I wouldn't want to massacre a guy who wasn't ready." Dre smirked as he faked to the left, and right a couple of times. Dre finally makes his move, as he leaps in the air and fires a jumpshot. A smile hits his face as he knows in his mind that it's going in.

The spit of German rang in Galeno’s ring, giving him a little bit of a shock, but the only visible sign of his shock was the small smirk on his face that seemed to appear very often, especially whenever he was around a guy that he liked for a friend, Andre being one of them. It seemed that back and forth, they challenged each other about everything. Galeno liked the competition; it gave him energy. ‘Strange thinking there, Galeno,’ he thought and then focused in on the game.

Galeno snorted when Andre claimed that he would massacre him. ‘Me massacred…only when the moon turns red and all the stars fall simultaneously,’ he thought again and then voiced his opinion, “I shall never be massacred, especially by the likes of you.”

Suddenly, Andre faked to the left and then right for a few go-rounds, Galeno keeping his eye on Andre’s bellybutton, a trick his friend back in Kansas taught him some time ago. His friend had said that no matter what they do with their chest or with their hands or even with the ball, they cannot go anywhere without their bellybutton. Therefore, follow the button. Following the advice and the button, Galeno jumped when Andre jumped and attempted to wave his arms around, hoping to block the shot. However, the height difference of five inches proved to be in Andre’s favor at this moment as the ball went gently into the basket as the whoosh sound and the cheering of the girls (which had been two before, but now doubled to four) echoed in the gym.

“Ain’t no biggie, tall guy, I got the ball now,” Galeno said, using more slang than usual, which surprised him a little, but thinking about the situation, he understood.

Dre smiled and winked at the young ladies before focusing on Galeno. "Ha ha......yea homeboi. You right pimp, don't worry about the height difference." Dre hiked up his shorts and got into a nice defensive stance. Galeno was a smart guy, and jumping straight up with Dre might not be a smart idea. Dre had a feeling that Galeno moved extremely fast. So he gave himself enough room to be able to make an attempt to block the shot. But not to much that Galeno could fake him out and use his speed. In Dre's mind, all he could think about was how cool the guy was. It's not often Dre has someone who can challenge him in everything. From sports, intellect, and even girls. Andre was ready, he's the star player. Galeno is the guy Dre is gonna pass the "torch" to.

As Andre got into a defensive stance, Galeno dribbled the basketball as his mind clicked as to what to do. He tuned out the girls as the cheering continued, seemingly growing louder by the second with the amount of others flowing into the gym. He could jump straight up and try to attempt to shot over Andre, but that would only end disaster. He looked over to the right and then left, and saw that Andre had moved just a little further away from Galeno, making it difficult to drive pass him, for Galeno knew that Andre was pretty fast, but not as fast as Galeno. He bit his lower lip and started to dribble slowly to the right, still deciding.

Suddenly, Galeno snapped to the left, switching the ball to his left hand, driving towards the basketball. Spinning briefly, he moved back over to the right and switched hands again. Finally figuring that he could take the shot, he jumped up and went to led off a jump shot, when he suddenly came back down and drove to the left, heading towards the basketball. Up he went to do a lay-up, letting the ball roll off his fingers. ‘Let this go in,’ he thought.

Dre played the moves just right but in the process gave Galeno too much room. It was the spin move that got him the distance as Dre started to jump but it would be goaltending. The shot was nice as it roll right off the backboard and into the goal evening the score. Dre smirked as he grabbed the ball and walked to the top of the key. Andre looked over the girls, and cracked a smirk. "Um..........where's my cheering section?" Andre smiled as the ladies started chanting his name. He looked to Galeno still smiling. "You know I wanted it to be even playing field. Can't have them just cheering for you." Dre stood there contemplating what to do to score.

Coming back down to earth, Galeno nodded as he smiled and held his arms out, taking in the cheers from the fans. Running back up to the key, Galeno could feel the hype of the crowd flowing through his veins, even though he was ignoring them half of time. He heard Andre’s comment and noticed how quickly the crowds’ tone had changed. He smirked and shook his head. ‘What a fickle pack of people,’ he thought and looked up at Andre.

“Even playing field, huh? Let me borrow two inches from you and THEN we’ll call it an even playing field,” Galeno said with a slightly harsh tone. He shook his head, attempting to remain cool and collected and went down into his defensive stance.

“Besides, cheering is only 25% percent of the battle,” he said bluntly and waited for Andre to make his move.

Dre smirked hearing the crowd cheer him. "Yea there's fickle, but thats why there fans. And if I could give you two inches I would. That would make me look more impressive still being able to dunk." Dre smirked as he jabbed stepped to the left with his right foot stepping over the left one. His right side was to Galeno right hand side as he tossed the ball around Galeno and spun off the other side to meet the ball. He figured if the ball makes it past him, it was gonna be showtime. Andre had all the intentions in the world to dunk this ball. Galeno would be out of position and he knows Galeno isn't gonna embarass himself by jumping with Andre, or he's gonna get posterized.

The smirk on Andre’s face made Galeno grimace slightly and the desire to beat Andre in this battle of one-on-one was growing stronger with every minute. He already hated that he was short to begin with and the taller guys took all the glory, women, and fame. Galeno did not believe Andre to be like that, but he was just following what had occurred in the past. He inched closer to Andre, his defensive stance lowering.

Focusing in on his opponent bellybutton again, Galeno followed Andre as he moved to the left and then suddenly with the ball behind him, Andre spun and Galeno quickly turned around, just in time to see what Andre was doing. The ball was only a few feet away from him and ran to it and reached out for it, but he could feel it slowly going out from his reach.

The ball made it past Galeno liked Dre hoped. Now the part where he catches up with it, is where the fun begins. Andre did catch up with the ball, but not where he wanted to. It forced him to jump differently. He went up but a dunk wasn't an option, so he simply laid the ball off the backboard and into the goal. Andre grabbed the ball and held it as the cheering continued. He knew he got lucky, but he wasn't gonna let it show. Dre looked over to Galeno and held the ball out. "That's two to one, your ball." This was something Dre needed. A friendly rivalry was what he needed, it gave him that thirst for competition.

((Sorry for taking forever to reply. School and scholarship are insane around here.))

As the tall one eventually caught up with the ball, he took control over it and went up to the basket. Galeno did not go up for the block, but remained on the ground, watching the tall man finish off his score. As Andre came back down to the earth, he held out the ball to Galeno and announced the score. Galeno simply blinked and then smirked slightly.

“Thank you, Dr. Obvious for being so observant,” Galeno said sarcastically and then took the ball from Andre. Dribbling slowly back up to the key, he attempted to think up a game plan for this next play. He needed to score since he went second and would always be down by one point. He briefly thought about the option of a long range shoot and realized that Andre would most likely slap that ball out of his hands so fast that Galeno would still be shooting, but only with air.

He rolled his eyes and then started to get ready for whatever attack Andre had in store. Thinking on the fly, Galeno dashed to the right and drove down the sides of the court. Throwing the ball behind his back, he stopped and then switched quickly to the left, getting closer and closer to the basket. A quick spin move into the lane and let off a quick jump shot. He was not for sure if it would go in or out, but he was confident that it would at least hit the rim.