Chapter 2...There wasn't tension in the locker room today. The team came off of their first ever practice, and it seemed to go along well. Everyone was cheerful by the time it was time to leave, but Renaldo Balkman just didn't seem as calm as everyone else. Kenyon started asking everyone if the wanted to chill in the city, and by the time he got to Balkman...
Kenyon: Aye B, you trynna head out?
Renaldo: ...
Kenyon: Renaldo?
Renaldo: The hell you want man?!
Kenyon: Aye man chill, what's your problem?
Renaldo: My problem? I almost didn't make it back to the NBA because of you!
The yelling from Renaldo started to hinge onto the other players. Everyone became captivated with the screaming match that was in progress.
Kenyon: How is that my fault?
Renaldo: You were the one that made M.J. canceled my meeting with him. I almost didn't get signed because of you!
Kenyon: But you're here aint ya? I didn't have anything to do with whether you were signed or not. I told my impression, that's it.
Renaldo: Whatever punk, you're lucky my contract MAKES me stay calm, or I'd already be ringing your neck.
Balkman stormed out with Martin red in the face. He wasn't embarrassed, but extremely angry for being blamed for something so minuscule in his opinion. Martin wasn't going to go after him. After all, he is still a teammate. Kemba though, ran out of the locker room as fast as possible. Kemba was in the background watching the scene unfold. Kemba wasn't following Balkman as well. What for? He went straight to M.J. to tell him what occurred after practice.
Michael: I'll let Paul handle it.
Kemba: How is Paul going to handle it? He wasn't able to be the voice last year. Why do you think you had to buy out Boris? He also was blatantly disrespected by Tyrus last year, and he still didn't do anything. Why can't you handle it?
Michael: Look, we only have to deal with Paul for one. More. Season. I don't want him here as much as you do, but you know what? He's still the coach, and I'll tell him to handle it, as harshly as he can. Understand?
Kemba: Ugh, alright. I still don't want anything brewing before the season even gets started though.
-----------------------------------------At the next practice, Paul wasn't at all nice. Kemba guessed that Jordan told him about yesterday's incident. Paul had run everyone rugged, and then some. Even at the end of practice, most of the team had to run 15 suicides. After that Kenyon and Renaldo had to run an additional 25 suicides.
Kenyon: What?! 25? That's bullshit coach!
Paul: Well, you two seem to have enough energy to chew at each other, how about we let that energy go to use. You both would like to stay in the NBA correct?
That shut both of the players up as they slugged the next 25 suicides on. When they finally finished, the just about collapsed on their benches. The rest of the team had already left, including the coach when they finished.
Kenyon: Tsk, did you notice it when he left?
Renaldo: Not for a second, we could've been stopped huh?
Kenyon: Yeah, -cough- he ran us hard today. But aye man, I don't want any hard feelings, we're going to be a team for a long time, and even if it is for just 82 games. We gotta stick together. Go that?
Renaldo: Yeah brah. I've had my own ambitions on my mind for a while, its never been about team. The time I missed though, makes it all worth while to be back. I'm willing to change that.
The two players left with a fist bump and finally hit the town.