Rebound: A 2nd Chance

Jason's eyes nervously moved side to side as he anxiously looked at his parents. At this point droplets of sweat had begun to form on his forehead.

When he had gotten home he sat down with his parents and told them about the training camp in New York.

After talking about the fun things that had happened Jason braced himself as he took the plunge and told his parents about Nate.

The smiles on their faces immediately disappeared as the two of them went silent. Underneath the table Jason's legs couldn't help but bounce up and down as he sat there in silence.

Jason glanced over to the wall where a clock was hanging 'It's been more than five minutes already and they still haven't said a word. I am so fucked.'

Jason looked over at his mom who was tapping her finger on the table nonstop as she silently looked at her husband.

Jason then turned to look at his dad who was just gazing at the wall seemingly deep in thought 'This is really freaking me out.

I've never seen dad look this serious before. I just hope that I didn't hurt them. I know that this is a real sore spot for the both of them.'

Just as he was thinking of what to say next his mom stopped tapping the table as she shifted her gaze to him.

She let out a sigh before putting up a weak smile "Was Nate good to you?" Jason was caught off guard by her question.

After a second Jason nodded his head "Nate was super nice. After the first week he went with me to all of my practices and training sessions.

He would always have my sports bottle ready to hand to me and he was always cheering for me and the team during scrimmages.

And after practice he would pass out boba drinks to everyone. He even stayed late with me and Kyle for my photo shoots and commercial shoots."

She nodded her head after hearing that. Despite the smile on her face Jason knew that she wasn't completely happy.

There was a sense of apprehension and nervousness in her eyes that her smile couldn't cover up. She turned to Jason's dad and began to gently run her fingers through his hair.

She let out a soft chuckle "What are you so afraid of Henry? Jaya already said that Nate was nothing but good to him and his friends.

The kid just wants a family. Not just people that share his blood but people that actually care. Isn't that the same reason we moved out here with Jaya?"

Finally after his long silence Jason's dad opened his mouth "You're right Naomi. The reason why we moved out here was so that Jason would only have loving people around him.

And that's why I just can't help but be worried. Even if we try our best to only connect with David and Nate's side of the family we're bound to bump into the ugly side.

Toxic people that will only want to tear him down and use him as a stepping stool to make themselves look better.

People that will smile in your face and tell you how great you are but then turn around and make up rumors and talk trash about you behind your back.

People that will happily sell you to the devil if it meant advancing their own careers or making some money.

When I think about the chance that Jason will have to have people like that around him I just can't help but want to take the safe route and just stay the way we are now."

He then shifted his gaze to Naomi and Jason "Aren't we happy with our lives just the way they are? Why risk rocking the boat when we can keep things the way that they've been all these years?"

All three of them fell silent. After a few moments Jason spoke up "You're right dad. We are happy the way we are.

And connecting with Nate and his side of the family includes the risk of having those toxic people enter our lives."

Jason then looked at his dad with an intense vigor behind his eyes "The safest thing to do would be to ignore Nate and his dad.

But that doesn't sound like you dad. Remember what you told me after the incident at my last middle school?

You told me that everything in life involves risks and that we shouldn't let our fear control us or tell us how to live our lives.

If we ignore Nate and his dad we would just be letting our fear make that decision for us." Jason's dad let out a long sigh.

He then looked over at Jason with a smile "You're right Jason. We can't let our fears take control of us. I've always told you to do your best and to do the right thing whenever possible.

Ignoring Nate wouldn't be the right thing." Jason looked at his dad with hopeful eyes "Does that mean?"

The smile on Henry's face grew brighter as he nodded his head "Yeah. We'll try and reconnect with Nate and his side of the family."

Jason pumped his fist in the air "Alright! So that means that I'm not in any trouble right?" Jason's mom wagged her finger "Not so fast Jaya.

We still have a whole bunch of other stuff to talk about. Like your million dollar contract with Nike." Jason gulped after hearing her say that.

'Damn. I guess that saying was right. No matter how old you get your fear of your parents never goes away.

My mind belongs to a fully grown thirty something year old man and my mom's angry face still scares the shit out of me.'

And so Jason had to sit down and listen to his parents hour long lecture about how important it was to be responsible with your money and the importance of humility.

Just as Jason was beginning to tune out his parents voice he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Jason sneakily pulled it out and discretely checked the notification.

'Huh? A text from Kyle? We just got back a few hours ago. What could it possible be about?' As soon as Jason opened up the text the contents of the message shocked him.

'Yo Jaya did you hear!? Tyreek just decommited from UCR! It's all over the news right now!' Jason's head began to throb.

'Fuck! This sounds like a headache in the making. Just what in the world is going on?'