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From: Bingain <bingain@yahoo.com>
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Subject: {ASSM} Impossible Dreams 2/8 (Romantic Comedy, MF, cons, interr, rom, slow)
Lines: 632
Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 16:10:03 -0400
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Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories
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Impossible Dreams
A romantic comedy about a basketball legend and a dancer.
Copyright (c) 2005, Bingain (MF, cons, interr, romance, very
slow)

------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 2

Candy bent her waist laughing. "Oh my God," she said. "How much
does he make?"

"About three-quarters of a million," Lauren said, pulling her
sweater down her head.

"Oh my God," Candy said, wiggling her dance pants down her legs.
"Why didn't you take it?  Eighty is totally out of the reach,
isn't it?"

"Two reasons," Lauren said, as she also pulled her dance pants
down.

"What are they?" Candy said, holding her jeans in her hands.

"First," Lauren said. "What if he makes it?"

"Well," Candy said. "Let's hope he's good."

Lauren laughed, and slapped Candy in the arm. She then put on her
jeans.

"Second one?" Candy said after her laugh.

"Okay," Lauren said, sitting on the bench to put her socks and
shoes on. "You go out the door, a guy comes to you and offers you
a million to sleep with you. Will you take it?"

"Is he Aaron Carter?"

"You're hopeless," Lauren said, laughing.

"I am. And so are you," Candy said while tying up her shoes.

"Stop it," Lauren said. "Will you take it?"

"Sure," Candy said. "I'll sleep with him the entire week. But, of
course I'll have to cash his check first."

"Why cash it first?" Lauren said, and started combing her hair.

"Oh my God," Candy said. "You won't trust a guy for anything like
that, will you?"

"Exactly," Lauren said, smiling. "He misses a shot. He goes away.
What do I do? Sue him?"

"Oh, yeah," Candy said. "I see what you mean. But it's still
tempting. If he offers it to me, I think I'll call my lawyer at
once to draw up a deal."

"I think you will counter offer him for free," Lauren said.

"Free only if he's not on the team, or I'm not on this team,"
Candy said, as she stuffed her belongings into her bag. "But, for
three hundred seventy five thousand, I'll risk being fired."

"Told you," Lauren said, laughing. "You're hopeless."

"Got a moment, Lauren?" Danna Franco, the dancers team director,
said, as Lauren was about to leave the studio.

"Sure," Lauren said. She waved bye to Candy, and then went over
to Danna.

Danna pulled out a photograph from a brown envelope she was
holding. She showed it to Lauren. It was taken in the restaurant
where Lauren, her mom, Uncle Frazier, and Rick went to the other
night.

"Where does this come from?"  Lauren said.

"A sports reporter," Danna said. "It's not worth posting. But you
do know the policy about dating, don't you?"

"I'm fully aware of it," Lauren said. She pointed her finger over
the photograph and continued. "This is my mom. This is our
neighbor Derek Frazier. He coached Rick in high school. I knew
Rick Hart when I was fourteen. I'm not dating him. I have never
had anything with him."

"Very well," Danna said, smiling as she put the photo back into
the envelope. "I wasn't questioning you, but I need to know how
to respond if I have to. We're a team and we need to come
together as a team."

Lauren smiled back. "I won't let you down," she said. "I love the
team."

------------------------------------------------------------

"Fragrant-Two, Antonio Miller," the game announcer publicized the
referees' conclusion on a foul play through the PA system. A
visiting team's player was escorted off the court as spectators
booed. A few of them tossed plastic cups at him before he
disappeared into the hallway.

"Time-out, New York Knicks," the game announcer declared briefly
afterward as a Knicks player was helped off the court.

Lauren and the other dancers rushed into the court to perform a
Jazz routine. They returned to the courtside when the referee
whistled the end of the time-out.

"What happened?" Candy whispered to Lauren. "I wasn't watching."

"Number ten pulled Brat Hood's arm when he went for the lay-up,
then swung him on to the floor."

"You think he'll be okay?"

"I don't know."

"Hey," Candy said, nudging Lauren's arm. "Rick's on the court
now. First time, huh?"

"Nah, he'd played some garbage time before," Lauren said. "You
should pay more attention instead of daydreaming all the time.
Damn, shoot!  Damn, stupid." 

"I can't believe it," Candy said to Lauren as they were walking
towards the subway after the game. "You said he could make
impossible shots, but he didn't even make one attempt."

"I don't understand it either," Lauren said. "He said he needed
chances. He had the chances, and he didn't step up when he's
needed."

"Hey," Candy said. "I forgot to bring your sneakers. I'll give
them to you when I come back."

"Come back?" Lauren said. "You've changed your mind?"

"Yeah," Candy said. "I'm going home for the Thanksgiving."

"Oh, okay," Lauren said. "Have a nice trip."

------------------------------------------------------------

"Lost," Lauren said when she went into her apartment.

"I know," Vanessa said from the couch. "It was in the news. And
Brat Hood's out for the season."

"Out for the season?" 

"Yeah," Vanessa said. "Ruptured wrist ligament."

"Damn," Lauren said. "Looks like we're going lottery bound
again."

"You're just a dancer," Vanessa said. "Winning or losing has
nothing to do with you."

"I know," Lauren said. "But it's still our team, and it also
means less performances for the dancers if they don't make the
playoffs."

"Well," Vanessa said. "Looks like less performances, then."

Lauren took her shower then went to bed.

"He-l-lo?" Lauren groaned into her mobile phone from her bed.

"Lauren," Rick's voice came through. "Your mom's in the
hospital."

"What?" Lauren said, jigging in her bed. She raised a hand to
shield her still sleepy eyes from the sunlight.

"Brooklyn Hospital Center," Rick said. "She fell down the
stairs."

"Oh my goodness," Lauren said. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"I'm coming now."

"Fractured wrist and bruises," the doctor told Lauren. "Nothing
serious."

"Can I see her?  Is she awake?"

"Sure. Yes, she's awake, all the time."

Lauren went inside and saw her mom talking with Uncle Frazier.
"Are you okay?" she asked her mom.

"I'm okay," the mom said, pointing to the cast on her other arm.
"Other than this."

"What happened?"

"I was going for groceries," the mom said. "Some assholes must
have spilled a drink and I didn't see it. I fell down the
stairs."

"Wow."

"Yeah," Uncle Frazier said. "We heard a bang, went outside, and
found your mom moaning down the stairs. Rick brought us here in
his car."

"Where's he now," Lauren said.

"He went for a coffee."

"When are you going to be released?" Lauren asked her mom.

"When Rick comes back," the mom said. "They want me out. They
need the bed."  She laughed with Uncle Frazier.

"And what's Rick doing at your place?" Lauren said to Uncle
Frazier.

"We're having breakfast," the old fellow said. "He bought me some
wines, too."

"I thought you're not supposed to drink anymore."

"I'd rather drink than live longer," the old man said. "You'll
know it when you're my age. Rick's back now. We need to get
ready."

"Why didn't you shoot the goddamned ball last night?" Lauren
asked Rick as he drove them back. "Do you know we lost by only
three?"

"I know," Rick said. "But it was the game plan."

"What kind of game plan is that?"

"Coach told me," Rick said. "Pass the ball, run the court, pass
the ball, make extra passes, don't shoot, don't shoot the fucking
ball. Well, he didn't say 'fucking'."

"Why would he not want you to shoot?"

"Beats me."

"So you never make any shot whenever you're on the floor?"

"One game," Rick said. "In Dallas, last month. I made two
3-pointers, and then coach put me on the bench. He told me
afterward if I didn't follow his game plan again, I'd go to the
injure list."

"So," Lauren said. "What do you think, Uncle Frazier?"

"Well," the old man in the front seat said. "Game plan is one
thing, in-game reaction is another. I'm not talking about last
night, but I think they should fire this coach."

"They won't," Rick said. "He goes, Brat goes."

"Brat's out for the season," Lauren said.

"We're busted," Rick said. "For this season, anyway. They'll need
Brat next season, and the following."

"What about you?" Lauren said.

"I don't think they'll re-sign me," Rick said. "I don't know.
Maybe I'll try the European leagues. I don't see much future
here."

"Do you think you can match Brat?" Lauren said.

"Nah."

"Yes," said Uncle Frazier. "Of course you can, kid. You just
won't do it."

"I can't," Rick said, raising his tone. "It doesn't matter how
hard I try, I ain't getting there. It's fate."

"I thought you said you will do better," Lauren said.

After a brief silence, Rick said. "I'm sorry. Yeah, I will do
better. I don't know if I can match Brat Hood, but I will do
better."

The remainder of the trip back to the old folks' homes was pretty
speechless.

Rick saw Lauren opening the rear door of his car, when they came
down after taking the mom and Uncle Frazer to their respective
apartments. "You're not coming to the front?" Rick said.

"You be my chauffeur today," Lauren said, smiling.

"Oh, okay," Rick said, and got inside the car.

Lauren closed the rear door, opened the front door, and got into
the front seat.

"What're you doing?" Rick said.

"Playing with you," Lauren said, smiling.

Rick laughed. He pulled off the curb. "Home?" He said. "Or
where?"

"Home," Lauren said. "I called in for a day off. I didn't know
how long it was going to take. I need more sleep anyway. Oh,
yeah, sleep. Hurray!"

"Okay," Rick said, and made a turn. "Hey, want to have a coffee?"

"No," Lauren said. "Know what?"

"What?" 

"My dance team director showed me a photo of us in the
steakhouse," Lauren said. "She said it was taken by a sports
reporter."

Rick laughed. "These guys are everywhere," he said.

"Do you know we can't date anyone from the team?  Not players,
not coaching staff, not the mascot, not anyone."

"We ain't dating." 

"I know," Lauren said. "But I don't want to explain it again."

"Alright," Rick said. "Home then."

"What?" Rick said, a while later, when Lauren was snickering.

"I told Candy about your newest bet," Lauren said. "She said
she'd take it if you offered to her."

"Oh," Rick said. "Nah, I won't. Actually, you were stupid, and I
was stupid."

"Why's that?"

"I was stupid because I would be giving you four hundred grand
right away if you had taken the bet. It was just, you know, just
totally not possible. You were stupid because you didn't take
it."

"Oh," Lauren said. "Is it too late?"

Rick turned over to look at Lauren, and laughed. "If you're in,
I'm in," he said.

"Oh my goodness," Lauren said, laughing. "You're setting me up."

"I ain't," Rick said, smiling. "But if you're in, I'll risk it
for a big miracle."

Lauren felt herself blushing. She shook her head. "Damn," she
said. "You just won't quit."

"And it doesn't matter," he said. "Does it? You never will. But
it's still fun teasing you."

Lauren giggled. "So, a four hundred grand tease," she said. "And
a four hundred grand jerk."

"That part's not a tease," Rick said. "Well, you know I ain't no
Saint Patrick. I ain't no Pope Benedict. I lie, I cheat, I had
done drugs[B1], I do everything bad, but I've never lied to you.
I've never taken advantage of you."

"I know that," Lauren said, smiling. "You've been very nice to
me, all the time. You're one of my best friends."

"Would you have taken me if I weren't black?"

"It's not about your skin color, silly."

"You know it is."

"No," Lauren said. "It has nothing to do with your skin color. I
repeat, nothing. I think we shouldn't be discussing this again."

"Okay."

"Well," Lauren said. "Now that Brat's out for the season, you're
going to get more minutes. Work harder, take the opportunity,
show them how good you can be."

"I'll try," Rick said. "Coach Frazier says I need to work on my
defense more. I'm going to work on that."

------------------------------------------------------------

A few days after Valentine's Day, Lauren came home and saw
commercials on the TV, but nobody was in the living room. As she
went towards her bedroom, she heard faint moans coming from
behind the door of Vanessa's room. She knew her roommate was with
her boyfriend.

Lauren realized that the TV was showing a Knicks game at Portland
when she came out of her room. She also understood why the couple
had gone to bed instead of watching. It was the start of the
forth quarter and the Knicks were trailing by 35. The game was
practically over. 

Lauren saw bench players, including Rick, on the floor. There
were no starter players from both teams in the court. Lauren
stood in front of the TV and watched two possessions. She sighed
at the 'game plan' her team was executing. She decided to go for
her shower when the Knicks called a time-out.

When Lauren came out of the bathroom, the situation on the TV had
changed drastically. The Knicks were only trailing by eleven.
Lauren sat in the couch to watch the remaining two minutes of the
game. Portland had just called a time-out.

"Rick Hart's been phenomenal tonight," the commentator said to
his partner. "Six of seven from behind the arc, a perfect three
from the line, five assists, and a steal, all in just ten minutes
of play. Have you ever seen him play like this?"

"Not in my life," the other commentator said. "His career high is
eighteen. This is by far the best game of his career. He has
single-handedly saved the game for his team. There's still two
minutes and seven seconds to go, plenty of time. The Knicks are
pretty much still alive."

"Yes, I agree," the first commentator said. "Wait, what do we
see?  They are bringing back Jerry Dupree. I don't know what Tom
Bullock thinks he's doing. You don't replace a red hot player at
clutch time."

"I think he wants a better defense now that both teams are
playing with their starting lineups," the other commentator said.

When the buzzer signaled the end of the game, Lauren went over to
the TV to pick up the stuff she had tossed at it. The Knicks lost
by fifteen. She switched off the TV and went to bed.

------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey," Laura spoke on her phone.

"Hey," Rick replied.

"Guess who I am?"

"You calling to take the four hundred grand bet?"

Lauren laughed. "Damn," she said. "Can't you stop it?"

"Nah," Rick said, laughing. "What's up?"

"Do you know about the news?" Lauren said excitedly. "Tom
Bullock's just been fired."

"Yeah," Rick said. "I know."

"And you said they wouldn't?"

"Well," Rick said. "I guess they're preparing to rebuild the team
from ground up.  I've heard rumors about Brat Hood trying to
force a trade."

"So you're going to get more chances," Lauren said. "Aren't you?"

"I don't know," Rick said. "Jerry's now the starting point
guard."

"You almost saved the game last Saturday," Lauren said.

"Almost," Rick said. "But we lost in the end."

"Didn't you tell me your coach wouldn't let you shoot the ball?"
Lauren said.

"Yeah," Rick said. "But he called a time-out and asked me why the
fuck didn't I shoot.  So I started making shots." He Laughed.

Lauren laughed too. "Well," she said. "He put you on the bench
when you were most needed. He's a moron, and that's why he's
fired. I've told you that you could do it."

"It was one of those times I had my ups. I didn't play that well
this week. You know that. You were there at the home game."

"You just don't concentrate enough," Lauren said. "Like, what
made you so determined last Saturday?  What were you thinking
when you went to the floor?"

"I don't know. Maybe thinking about you, and the bet."

Lauren nearly dropped her phone as she laughed. "Listen, Rick,"
she said. "Stop doing this, or I'm not talking to you again."

"Then why are you laughing?"

"I am not."

"You were."

"I wasn't," Lauren said. "Shut up!"

"Okay, okay. You weren't."

"Okay. Anyway, I got to go. Talk to you later."

"Wait."

"What?"

"That's it?" Rick said.

"Huh?  What do you mean?"

"I thought you called me for something."

"Yeah," Lauren said. "About the firing of your head coach."

"Oh," Rick said. "I thought you had something else."

"Why? What makes you think so?"

"Nothing," Rick said. "Well, you'd never called me unless it's
something big."

"This is big," Lauren said. "He's fired. You're free from that
evil coach now."

"Alright."

"You don't like it?"

"Don't like what?"

"For me to call you."

"No," Rick said. "No, no. I like it."

"Okay," Lauren said. "Talk to you later. Bye." She hung up the
phone.

Lauren's phone buzzed just as she put it on the night table.  She
picked it up again.  "Hello?" she said.

"It's me," Rick said.

"What is it?"

"I forgot to tell you. I've just registered. I'm going to enroll
in distance learning courses. I'm going to get my degree. Too bad
the spring term had already begun, so I'll start from summer."

"Now, that's good news," Lauren said. "I'm glad you've finally
made up your mind."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Your degree."

"I don't have the time."

"If I can have the time," Ricky said. "So do you."

"You don't understand," Lauren said. "If I'm going to take the
courses, I'll have to cut my working hours, and I'll need more
money. If I need more money, I'll have to take up more working
hours. So it means I can't make it, not now. Get it?"

"You'll never make it," Rick said.

"I will," Lauren said, raising her tone. "I know what I'm doing."

"Why won't you let me help?" Rick said. "You ain't gonna sleep
with me. You'll pay me back the money, so you owe me nothing."

"I don't like it," Lauren said.

"Please?"

"No."

Lauren heard a long sigh coming through the phone. She nearly
laughed. She held her laughter as she smiled.

"Listen," Lauren said. "I'll think about it. I'll let you know if
I want it. If I don't talk about it, it means a no. How's that?"

Rick sighed again. "Oh," he said. "By the way, do you give money
to your mom?"

"What?" Lauren said. "Hey, listen. Don't you ever do it. Don't
you ever think about it. She's my mom, not your mom. You're not
going to give her any money. One buck and we'll never talk again.
Get it?"

Lauren heard another sigh.  "You know what I want to do now?"
Rick said.

"What?"

"I want to come over and slap the crap out of you."

"I dare you."

Lauren heard Rick laughing. She also laughed.

------------------------------------------------------------

... to be continued

Written by Bingain
Comments appreciated

bingain@yahoo.com
http://storiesonline.net/library/author.php?id=1128
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/bingain/www



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