Requiem for a Broken Dream.

[Caesar]

Caden Durham called you a bitch in three languages.

[Captain Canada]

Goddamn, this gotta be getting frustrating at this point

[Soapy]

Caden Durham called you a bitch in three languages.

Kam even had the honey badger drip on and was ready to talk CASH MONEY SHIT after that first quarter so I'll allow it

Goddamn, this gotta be getting frustrating at this point

focus on what you can control.

[Soapy]

Season 6, Episode 19
The smell of overpriced cuts of meat and the clink of glasses filled the air as Kam and Jamal settled into their usual weekly dinner. This time, they'd opted for a steakhouse, upgrading the experience as they headed into the final week of the season.

Kam cut into his ribeye, savoring the marbled perfection as Jamal regaled him with tales from their upset win over Florida State, putting them in contention for a bowl game with a victory this week. Neither side weary of revealing state secrets.

“Our offense is going to put up points,” Jamal said confidently, “That alone might take you out the game.”

Kam chuckled, about to respond when the restaurant's door swung open, admitting a gust of warm evening air and three figures. He recognized two of their faces, having seen them last year during the pre-game scuffle and throughout the game, getting in their face plenty of times.

The trio spotted Jamal and made their way over, grins spreading across their faces as they recognized Kam. Stanquan, who Kam had his fair share of battles with that day, clapped a hand on Kam's shoulder.

"What you doing with this fraud ass nigga?" Stanquan drawled, his voice carrying a hint of challenge. "All that sandbox shit over with, we wiping noses come Saturday.”

T.J., who Kam recognized as their biggest threat on defense, leaned in. "You might as well tell them your ankle hurt or something. Y’all don’t got nobody else on offense and you ain’t even that good.”

Kam felt the familiar heat of anger rising in his chest, his fingers tightening around his fork.

Taking a deep breath, Kam managed a cool smile. “I appreciate the advice," he said, his voice steady. "Maybe I’ll only run for one-ten this game unlike last time. What I had, like one-fifty?”

“I’m just fucking with y’all,” Kam continued, “Y’all got back to back wins, y’all feeling good, at least someone in the state is winning, right?”

The trio exchanged glances, clearly thrown off by Kam's response. After a moment of awkward silence, they mumbled their goodbyes and retreated to the bar.

As they walked away, Jamal let out a chuckle, “I thought we were about to move some furniture up in here.”

“They can have this shit,” Kam laughed, “They’re going to have to see me Saturday anyway.”

…

Lana stood awkwardly by a floor-to-ceiling window, nursing a glass of champagne. The room buzzed with chatter, drowning out the music they were supposed to be listening.

Richie caught her eye from across the room, flashing her a reassuring smile before turning back to a group of executives. Lana tugged at the hem of her emerald green dress, the newness of such events wearing off.

"That dress is absolutely stunning on you, dear," a voice purred beside her. Lana turned to see Jack's wife, Miranda, a willowy blonde with perfect teeth and a designer clutch. "It really accentuates your figure. You must work out, what, five times a week?"

Lana forced a smile, unsure how to respond. "Oh, um, thank you. I try to stay active, but with classes and everything..."

"Classes?" Miranda's perfectly shaped eyebrows arched. "Oh, that's right. Jack mentioned you were still in school. How quaint."

Lana felt a bit embarrassed to bring attention to the age gap, not that theirs was unique in rooms such as these.

“You’re from the city?” Miranda prodded, not realizing she had already asked her that upon their introduction earlier that evening.

“Jersey,” she replied, forcing a polite smile.

“Yes, yes, yes,” she remembered, taking a sip from her glass, “You don’t go back often, do you?”

Lana shook her head, a twinge of homesickness tugging at her heart. "Not really.”

Miranda nodded sagely, her eyes gleaming with a mix of sympathy and something else Lana couldn't quite place. "I was the same way, I don’t think I saw my mother for two years after Jack and I got together.”

She leaned in closer, her perfume wafting over Lana. "You see, and none of them know this, but they wouldn’t be here without us. I’m talking earlier days before the maids and the housewives and good lord, the nannies once they realize they’re going to die soon. It was just Jack and I and he’d come home to a nice house, warm meal, you know, the things they tell you not to do with all these feminist wackos.”

Lana shifted uncomfortably, her champagne suddenly tasting bitter. Miranda continued, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "The key, my dear, is to remember that his success is your success and a happy man is beautiful pearls on your necklace and summers in the Riviera.”

Lana's mind raced, torn between wanting to defend her own ambitions and not wanting to offend Miranda. The older woman seemed to sense her internal struggle and patted her arm reassuringly.

"I'm not saying you have to give up everything, of course. But I’ve seen them come and go, and the one thing that the ones that stuck around had in common is that they understood this.”

Lana felt a knot forming in her stomach. She opened her mouth to respond, but Miranda cut her off with a wave of her hand.

"Oh, don't worry, dear. If it’s not for you, you can always fuck off to Jersey.”

With a final pat on Lana's arm, Miranda glided away, leaving Lana alone with her swirling thoughts and half-empty champagne glass. The room suddenly felt too small, too crowded, and Lana found herself longing for the simplicity of her dorm room and the clarity of her textbooks.

She caught Richie's eye across the room, and he winked at her, oblivious to the turmoil Miranda's words had stirred up.

…

Ashley fidgeted with the strap of her backpack, her eyes fixed on the ground. Kyrie sat rigidly beside her, his jaw clenched, hands clasped tightly in his lap. The silence between them stretched on, broken only by the distant sound of a frisbee game and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

They had agreed to do this — once more — in a public setting, hoping it would help keep emotions in check.

Finally, Kyrie spoke, his voice low and strained. "I just need to understand, Ash. Why that nigga?”

She took a deep breath.

"I don't know if I can explain it in a way that won't hurt you more," she said softly.

Kyrie turned to face her, his eyes searching her face. "At this point, I don’t even care. I just need to know.”

“It was just a fuck.”

“No, it wasn’t. Fucking him one time was just a fuck. Fucking him two times was just a fuck.”

Ashley nodded, her gaze still fixed on the ground. "I guess... I saw in Kam what I thought you could be," she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kyrie felt his heart constrict, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s a fuck up in his own ways. But he was just grown…he wasn’t always complaining to me about the shit that his mom said or his brother did to hurt his feelings.”

"He was confident, successful. He had his own apartment, his own car," Ashley continued, her words coming faster now. "And I know that's not fair to you. I know you're working hard, that you’re probably going to accomplish way more than him but in him it was just simple."

Kyrie stood up abruptly, pacing in front of the bench. The last rays of sunlight caught the moisture in his eyes, making them glisten. "That nigga ain’t even that fucking good," he said, his voice hollow. "I could have given you the fucking world."

Ashley reached out to him, but he stepped back. "Come on, Ky, that’s not fair. It’s not like you didn’t step out, it’s not any different.”

"But it is," he interrupted, his voice rising. A group of passing students glanced their way, but quickly averted their eyes. "You know fucking embarrassing it is to walk in that locker room every day with everyone knowing that nigga fucked my girl?”

[Captain Canada]

Ain't no way Kyrie hears all that and doesn't shoot that man Kam. "I saw in Kam who I thought you could be"???

Goddamn.

[djp73]

They gonna be calling it Kam Arbor when he gets going behind them Big Ten hogs.

[Agent]

I wish Durham played like that for me dude hardly gains any yards on rush plays.

[Caesar]

Kyrie's gonna tell the police that Kam's got an unregistered gun with at least three bodies on it.

[Soapy]

Ain't no way Kyrie hears all that and doesn't shoot that man Kam. "I saw in Kam who I thought you could be"???

Goddamn.

They gonna be calling it Kam Arbor when he gets going behind them Big Ten hogs.

I'm a million dollar baby!

I wish Durham played like that for me dude hardly gains any yards on rush plays.

Defense has actually played well for most of the season but let us down a few times when our offense did show up

Kyrie's gonna tell the police that Kam's got an unregistered gun with at least three bodies on it.

[The JZA]

Kyrie catching Kam alone