I've never experience pain like this.

I've taken this shot so many times that I never thought this could ever happen.

I just kept hearing a loud ringing in my ear as Darrius's and Tre's face kept appearing above me. Then they moved as three men appeared. I read their lips, asking me, "Are you okay?"

Of course I wasn't! My foot is twisted painfully in the opposite direction. I wish I could tell him that but it was too excruciating to even talk. I couldn't joke out of this situation and I couldn't run from it. All I could do was cry. The razor-sharp pain kept coming up my leg as they lifted me on to the stretcher. They were careful but that didn't change anything.

I was in pain, embarrassed, and my pride was hurt for being so stupid. Everyone clapped as they pulled me off the court to show support, but I was more concerned about the team. We had come so far and I had to do something stupid to mess up our chances.

"You are going to be fine," The EMT said, "Just calm down and breathe calmly."

I didn't realize it but I was hyperventilating. I couldn't stop so they put a mask over my face to get my breathing under control. We made it outside into the ambulance and once I was strapped in, we went forward. The pain spiked up my leg even at the slightest bump of the road. I gripped the stretcher so hard my knuckles turned white. I knew I wouldn't get anything for the pain right now but damn at least go faster. We had finally stopped and they rolled me out of the ambulance.

As they processed me in, the EMTs placed me in a room. The nurses arrived to patch me up before the doctor came in. For the time being, I was by myself. I didn't have a phone, so I had to settle for the TV. Even the small noise couldn't stop the thoughts. I had just broken my ankle and probably won't be able to play basketball. That means no scholarships and possibly disappointing my mother. Then on top of that I might have to spend the rest of my senior year on crutches.

Yep this seemed like the proper time to cry again. Everything about this year just sucked for me. From my dad coming back into my life to losing Aunt Ruby. At least I had one upside. I knew how Harry felt about me but still. I had been going through so much and until now I realized, I haven't dealt with them. I cried for everything I hadn't cried for in years. From losing my grandmothers chain, Kiana, my dad taking my shit, and now I will be disappointing one more person because of this.

I cried until I was hyperventilating again and the tears were going into my mouth. I could feel the familiar headache but I wasn't done. I didn't even hear anyone come in as my crying drowned out everything.

"Hey," a deep friendly voice spoke and I lifted my head. I thought he was an older doctor wearing the usual blue scrubs and white coat. He looked amazingly fit through my blurred vision but as I wiped my face, it turned out to be a young doctor. He was still wearing the same scrubs but his brown skin glowed bright as if he just stepped out of high school. He was touching my shoulder now with his brown eyes looking down at me. He smiled sitting down but careful not to hit my leg.

"My name is Dr. Ryan," He begin, "And I am going to be conducting your surgery but I see that you may need some other help."

"Like crazy help," I stated and he laughed showing his bright teeth to answer, "No, no. Like you need someone to talk to. "

I went silent for a moment as he continued to look at me. He took a deep breath in and said, "Well...I've seen your chart and it looks pretty bad. I also saw that you aren't from here and wanted to get started on the surgery today so that you can start your resting. Then I can transfer your information over to a hospital there for rehab. All I need is your permission to start prep."

I nodded and he took a note down. Then he looked at me again and said, "I heard you crying from down the hall. You sure you don't want to talk about whatever is wrong with you? Other than your ankle."

I shook my head still wiping my eyes. He tilted his head to the side, irritated. He knew there was something wrong and I knew he wanted to help. However, he was a stranger. He couldn't possibly understand what I had going on. I copied him and he smiled, "Chris, I just want to help. You are my only patient keeping me here tonight and I can tell you are troubled. It's okay to talk about how you feel even if it's scary."

We sat in a small silence until he realized I wasn't going to say anything. As he was walking towards the door, I thought it wouldn't hurt to open up to a stranger. He doesn't know me personally and he can't really judge me considering he probably has come across patients worse off than me. I called out, "Wait!"

He turned immediately, smiling as he walked back towards me. Before he made it to my bed, I had begun speaking, "I'm sure you heard this was a basketball injury."

He nodded as I continued, "Yea. It was my only way to get into college without having great grades. I do a good job but it isn't up to par with some of the guys on the team. With this injury, I know no team would want to recruit me and without a college acceptance, my mother would be very disappointed because she is a doctor too."

He furrowed his eyebrows while folding his arms as he said, "Why do you think she would be disappointed?"

"College is where she found her passion for heart surgery and she think I will find mine for something. But I already found it. It's just not...it's not her favorite profession."

"What is it?"

I was going to say it but I didn't want to get the judgmental stare my mom had given me when I came through the door with fabrics. Almost everyone who wears fashionable clothes want to be designers. It's a little kid dream that they grow out of when they reach a certain age. But for me, it's in my blood. I have been drawing and making clothes since I could remember. Why should I be ashamed of that? It was the one thing that brought me joy through so many dark times and something I had more confidence in than anything else. Including playing basketball.

Dr. Ryan was waiting for me to answer as I came to  the realization that maybe this injury wasn't what I thought it was. It seemed like a painful push towards something that has always be there but I was too afraid to really acknowledge it. I smiled at him and said, "I want to be a clothes designer. I've been doing this since I was a little kid. I even designed this uniform."

His chocolate eyes went wide, looking at the jersey and shorts. He smiled wide as he said, "What? This jersey is sick. Better than the ones I've seen on the teams here."

"Yea, I sent the design to the makers and they estimated the cost after offering me a job. I turned it down but they gave me their card if I changed my mind."

"Impressive," He expressed sitting down again, "But I don't think your mom would be disappointed in you. Just be honest about what you want to do and I know that she will probably be happy."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I know your mother," He laughed and it was my turn to be shocked. I shook my head sitting up straight with my mouth wide open. He continued to laugh, "I saw your name and remembered she told me about you. We are old friends from medical school and I can tell you right now, she already knows that you love clothes."

I smiled as he spoke again, "And I know everything about your dad, your grandmother, and everything else you tell her. We are very close."

"But I never heard about you," I honestly stated.

"Because I live all the way out here and you and your mother share the same traits. She is a private person and I rarely have time to see her. So, we just talk on the phone when we can. I'm no stranger."

"I really thought I was getting away with something, "I joked and we both laughed this time. After our small laugh, his face turned serious as he took my hand, "She loves you and this isn't the end of your life. I'm going to be honest, it is the end of basketball for you. However, it isn't the end for the things you want to do."

He patted my shoulder, getting up from bed. He straightens his coat out before he spoke, "Okay now that we at least fixed one issue, lets focus on the reason why you are actually here. I will let the nurse know that you want the surgery tonight and to get you to sign some papers. Once they are processed, we will begin to prep you for the surgery. You have to stay overnight, so get comfortable."

I groaned out of frustration because I was about to be bored without a phone. He left and a nurse came in a few minutes later with papers. Once that information was filled out and they put me into the thin sheet they called a gown, it was just the waiting game. I was more than ready for it because I knew I would be knocked out for most of the night and I didn't have to worry about being bored.

**

As expected, I woke up after a long night of successful surgery. Well, I wouldn't know considering I was under heavy medication. I strained trying to open my eyes and set up in a comfortable position. Once I got adjusted and my vision became clear, I tried to understand how these gifts got into my room. There were teddy bears on the floor, along with candy on the stand next to me. Then I looked across the room to see people laying in chairs.

One was obviously Darrius with his jersey still on and both legs over the chair's arm as he leaned back on the other. Caleb was on the floor in black sweat pants and long sleeves to match with one of the stuff animals with Harry's friend Johnathan along with him. Then there was Harry, sitting up in the chair and having his sleeping head propped up on his hand. The heaviness of my foot told me that the surgery was a success but I don't know how I feel about my toes poking out. I curled my lip up at how small they looked then went back to staring at my cast. It looked like someone had written on it and it said:

You didn't lose an ankle for nothing! We won! And get well - Tre (all day)

I laughed as I looked up again and thought how I probably needed to look around the entire room from now on. It was sitting there next to Darrius and I missed it. The championship trophy was sitting right there and I cracked the biggest smile before I screamed, "Yes!"

Darrius tumbled over on top of Caleb waking him up as Johnathan sat up and Harry woke up blinking rapid, shaking his head before looking at me. I stared guiltily at him and he smiled as Darrius stood up glaring at me. Johnathan helped Caleb off the floor as Harry made his way over to me. He placed a small kiss on my forehead when he whispered, "You scared the shit out of me but I'm glad you're okay."

I grabbed his face, placing a small peck on his lips. Darrius groaned in disgust as he wrapped his arms around his still sleeping boyfriend. Johnathan rubbed on his neck as he said, "That was a nasty fall. I've never seen Harry go silent like that. Appreciate it."

Harry rolled his eyes and said, "Well, you played a great game. "

"Yeah man," Darrius commented, "You were great. We wouldn't have gotten this far without you."

"I'm thirsty," Caleb groaned, "Can we go get some water babe?"

"Don't you want to say something to Chris?"

Caleb turned his blue eyes towards me and smiled, "You did great and I'll get you some water too."

I can only laugh at how cute he sounded. Darrius shook his head, guiding his boyfriend out the door. Harry followed saying he wanted to get some water too, leaving me and Johnathan in the room. I never really spent any time with him and since Harry is my boyfriend, I had to get to know him.

We both just stared at each other. He looked nervous though as he bit his lips and rocked on his heels, but his eyes locked with my bag. That's when he spoke up, "So I hear you like designing right?"

I raised in eyebrow looking at the blonde man perplexed before I just nodded to answer the weird question. He nodded and then looked back at my bag. What was so interesting about it? All that was in there was my extra clothes, design book, and stuff for hygiene. Harry must have told him about me designing and he wanted to see some of my drawings. I let that thought change my confused facial expression as I smiled and asked him, "You want to see some of my designs? I know Harry probably told you about them and you keep looking at my bag so..."

He nervously laughed as I pointed for him to bring me my bag. He was careful not to sit it on my leg as I fished it out for him. Once I fully took out the heavy book, he sat it back down on the ground. I passed the book over to him and let him go through it.

"I filled it up the other night, so I need a new one," I laughed as he studied it thoroughly. He flipped through the pages as if he was trying to find something specific. That's when the guys came back in and I announced, "Hey, I didn't know you told Johnathan about me designing Harry."

Harry's face changed from a small smile to his eyes shouting fear as he sat his water down. He stormed towards Johnathan as he gave my design book back when he said, "I told you we weren't going to do this shit today and you went and did it anyway?"

"But Harry- "

"No Johnathan! I told you that after last night, he wouldn't want to hear this shit! Why don't you listen?"

"I had to know Harry to make sure you weren't being stupid again!"

"But I told you to let it go!"

"What the fuck are y'all talking about?" Darrius shouted and I'm glad he did it instead of me. I was just as confused but I didn't want to jump to conclusions before I even knew what was going on. Johnathan and Harry stared at Darrius before Johnathan explained to me, "You had sent picture to Harry of clothes that you designed. However, they match with photos of a certain client we have. That's why we came to the game to see if- "

"I would let you see my book," I finished for him not even making eye contact. Harry angrily shook his head at his friend. Darrius was glaring blades into Johnathan's head as he said, "Let me see the pictures."

Everyone turned towards him as he continued, "I know Chris puts something on all of his drawing so no one would steal them. But I know my best friend and he doesn't steal from anyone else."

"I'm just taking precaution, "Johnathan stated, "I don't know Chris and I've had to clean up messes for Harry before. I have nothing personal against Chris, but I don't want to have to clean up another big mess."

I agree it wasn't the right time because of what had been going on but Johnathan had a point. I couldn't be mad at the guy for just trying to get clarification. I didn't know him well but I do understand he wasn't doing this to be spiteful. Harry does seem like a handful and Johnathan would try to do anything to protect him. Just like I would with Darrius. I took a deep breath before tapping him with my book.

He looked surprised and so did everyone else as I said, "Show Darrius the pictures and look through to find the designs again."

He took the book slowly and got out his phone. He flipped the pages with Darrius coming over to stand next to him. As they swiftly changed the pages and pictures, Darrius stopped Johnathan and pointed toward the top the page.

"See look at this," He said, "He has a seahorse on top of every design. He has a weird fetish for them."

"It's fascination!" I corrected him but he ignored me and went on, "And as you can see every one of these pictures have that. Even the ones from the client. So, someone took pictures of his designs. You get it, they stole his pictures."

Johnathan stood there even more nervous than before. He looked from me to Harry then back to me again. This time his face was saying that he had more bad news. He said, "I don't think I should tell you who took these designs from you."

His eyes shifted to Harry and I was becoming even more frustrated with this waiting game. I was getting ready to blurt out some extreme cuss words before Harry said, "Ugh! Your dad stole the designs. He tried to pass them off to me and John, but I remembered the pictures you sent me. They looked too familiar. I came down here to prove to Johnathan that he was the fraud. Then you broke your ankle and I just thought you couldn't take any more bad news, so I told Johnathan to stay quiet."

"He really loves you , you know?" Johnathan stated, "He almost killed me coming down here. I've never seen him so upset towards me. I felt offended."

I gave him a smile but it didn't last long. Even though I had a suspicion about my Dad doing this, it still didn't hurt less. I guess this was the final nail in our relationship. However, I wasn't going to let him get away with it. I may have had a broken ankle but I was still going to his fashion show. As I thought, the guys just kept looking at me smiling mischievously. Darrius was the first to speak, "You okay dude?"

I nodded still smiling, "Yeah. I'm just going to need y'all help with something."

"You know I got you," Darrius assured me.

"I do too," Caleb smiled with me.

"You know I will do anything for you," Harry expressed grabbing my hand and kissing it. Then I turned my attention to Johnathan. He didn't know me and I didn't expect him to want to be in on my plan. Then he sighed and said, "You are the only one of Harry's boyfriends that I approve of. So, whatever you got planned...I'm with you too. Just as long as it's not illegal."

I laughed and put my fist out for him to bump it. I went on to explain the plan to the guys with them putting in whatever information we needed. Once we got down a solid plan, there was only one thing left to do.

Finding out what to wear for the burial of a fashion icon.