Kyong showed up at 7:50 am - enough time to put his things away before heading to class. Next to the lockers, he saw a corkboard with flyers and forms. He quickly scanned papers and one caught his eye. “Basketball tryouts, 4pm, gym” it read. It had a signup sheet underneath. His heart skipped a beat. Finally he felt a connection to this place. There was a pen hanging from a string next to it. He quickly scribbled down his name, but was shoved forward in one quick motion, causing the pen to draw abstractly across the page. “You will never make tryouts.” The force had a voice, and it belonged to a muscular, tanned, loser. Kyong gritted his teeth, once he got over the initial shock of it all. 

“I am a star player, so i'm certain I will make the team.” He seethed, but it came out less confidently than he had intended it to.

“Ha, in your dreams. And what’s with the accent?” He laughed, pushing a copy of himself that had now appeared next to him.

The knot that was in Kyongs stomach a day earlier, was back, big time, but this time, it was followed by determination.

After sitting through drooling hot classes in the heat, and multiple spitballs and slander thrown at his head, and no one really caring if he was there or not, it was time for tryouts. He entered the room with confidence and determination. He scanned the hall - the boys from earlier were there, and some others. He was still taking in the different skin tones that varied all through this school. Before landing in LA, he hadn’t seen much more than one race of people. He looked around for the basketballs so that he could get started and spotted them in a corner, all resting in a holding rack. He walked toward it but was stopped by the guy that had pushed him earlier, “Hey, it's that dufas. He actually came to tryouts.” his voice was aimed at his friends but he was looking at Kyong. Walking toward him. Ready to… shove. Kyong fell to the ground, skidding across it easily on his back. He groaned and tried to get up but was met by another shove. “Elliot, stop.” Another boy walked toward him, pushing the affeder off to the side. He was darker and taller with a kind smile. He offered Kyong his hand and pulled him to his feet.

“Whatever Enock. Is that your boyfriend?” Kyong’s only friend turned around to Elliot and glared at him, rushing to shove him playfully. “Im Enock.” He then turned to Kyong with a smile. 

“Kyong.” He held out a hand to shake Enock’s and was taken aback when he was met with a hand grab, a pull in and a slap on the back. 

“What’s your story Kyong?” His voice was deep yet kind.

Kyong bit his cheek, considering whether or not to spill who he really was, decided on it after a long pause, “I’m from Korea,” He gestured to his appearance, “I’m a prince. I’m next in line for the throne but went against my father and have now been sent here as punishment.” He rubbed his chin with his forefingers, “And I was one of the top players in the south-korea mens basketball.”

Silence, and then laughter broke out in the hall, echoing off the walls. Kyong almost stumbled back at the reaction. “Why are you laughing?” he was genuinely confused. Even Enock tried to hold in a whimper of laughter. 

Enock held up his hand infront of his mouth trying to hide his smile, “your telling us, your a prince?” 

“Yes?”

“Don’t you think we would have heard of you if you were?”, “Do you think you would be dressed like that if you were a prince? I don’t think so.”

Kyong held his phone toward them with an outstretched hand, “Google me.”

Elliot snached it, investigating it, “This is some high-tech.” He threw it amongst the other players, before Enock instructed them to quit it. 

“Give the guy the benefit of the doubt, google him.” Enock said compasionatly, though Kyong could see it in his face that he didn’t believe him.

“Kim, Kyong.” Kyong encouraged the search.

Elliot typed it in, eyes widening and a snicker breaking out. “Guys, he is!” He slapped the phone into the chest of one of the other players so they could look too.

“Hey, this says he had an affair with his teacher!” More laughter broke out. “Maybe we misjudged you, after all. Look at you pulling teachers!” Enock slapped Kyong on the back. 

“Let’s see what you’ve got, Prince - chuck the ball.”

Kyong drop that had been tucked under his arm and started dribbling. 

“Let’s split into two groups,” Elliot called out and the six of them split without any further instruction. Elliot was ofcource in the team against Kyong and Enock fell in line behind Kyong. Kyong picked up the ball swiftly and threw it toward the hoop above Elliot’s head. The ball rung around the ring once before falling through the net and onto the ground, where he pushed past Elliot to grab it. As soon as he had it in his grasp, one of the other boys swiped it out of his hands. “Beginners luck!” Elliot shouted, more motivated than ever to beat Kyong.

“We’ll see.” Kyong shouted back, determined. The guy with the ball swiped past Kyong and threw the ball, but it hit the side of the hoop and fell to the ground. Kyong ran for it but Enock went for it too, “Pass the ball!” he called out to Kyong, who did as he said. Enock buckled toward the opposing hoop and got the ball in flush. “Yes!” he turned around, hand raised toward Kyong. He high-fived him quickly and then fist-pumped the air. They played for fifteen minutes before Kyong got the last ball in and Enock called it to an end. 

“I guess your not so bad.” Elliot chewed on his cheek, looking Kyong up and down.

“So I can join the team?” He beamed, finally happy about something since being here.

“Not if you dress like that.” Elliot judged, hyping him up.

Kyong sighed, “If I come to school tomorrow dressed like I dress in the pictures online, can I join?”

“I guess you’ll make the cut.” Elliot slapped him a little too hard on the back, jolting Kyong forward.

Kyong walked to the sidelines and started gathering his things when Enock jogged over, “Hey, do you want to come to a party with us tonight? It’s just a small gathering, some friends, some alcohol, you know the drill. It’s nothing like a party I imagine a would go to, but if you want to come along, that would be cool.” he nudged Kyong’s shoulder with his own before adding, “And don’t wear that.” 

Kyong smiled, “I would like to come.”

“Cool, give me your phone and I’ll put in my number.”