Aleksandar and Vinnie remained outside the restaurant, both leaning against the wall under the pale streetlight as they waited for their Uber to arrive. The night air was calm, but there was a quiet weight between them tomorrow, everything would begin for real.
Vinnie, ever the responsible one despite his sharp tongue, broke the silence.
"Alright, listen up, small fry," he said, arms crossed. "Tomorrow's Day One of the tryouts. It's all about raw metrics things you either got... or don't."
Aleksandar raised an eyebrow. "You're really trying to scare me right before bedtime, huh?"
Vinnie ignored the jab, continuing with a tone that was just a bit too serious to be a joke.
"They'll be testing max vertical leap, standing vertical, lane agility, shuttle run, three quarter sprint. Then come the shooting drills spot ups, mid range off the dribble, threes from all angles. It's not a game, man it's evaluation season."
He tapped his temple. "It's not just about having one strength. If your athletic tests are trash, you better light it up during the shooting drills. That's how coaches and the training staff narrow it down to 24 players who move on."
Vinnie glanced at Aleksandar, making sure he was listening.
"The first day's about finding the potential. They don't care if someone's polished they care if someone can be polished. That's why I'm telling you now so you can mentally prep your buddy. Tell him not to come in blind."
Aleksandar let out a breath, nodding. "Thanks, Vinnie. Seriously. You've done a lot for me... even if you still call me small fry every ten minutes."
Vinnie smirked. "That's 'cause you still look like a lost kid holding his mom's hand."
Aleksandar gave him a side eye but didn't argue. "Noted."
The sound of a car approaching caught their attention it was their Uber.
Just before Aleksandar stepped into the waiting Uber, he hesitated. The streetlights flickered above them, casting long shadows across the pavement. The night was calm, but something had been quietly stirring in Aleksandar's thoughts for days something he couldn't ignore anymore.
"Hey... Vinnie," Aleksandar said, his voice more serious than usual.
Vinnie looked up. "Hm?"
Aleksandar scratched the back of his neck. "...This's been on my mind for a while now. Why did you decide to help me? I mean, you put so much time and effort into training me why?"
Vinnie stepped toward the curb. "Who knows. Just make sure your friend's ready tomorrow. No one wants to be the first cut."
Aleksandar followed beside him, his face more thoughtful now. "I'll let him know. We'll both be ready."
The car doors opened, and the two of them stepped in, the city lights flickering against the windows as they disappeared into the night.
After a short drive through the quiet city, Aleksandar finally arrived at the apartment he and Nikola were staying in. The hallway lights flickered faintly as he unlocked the door and stepped inside, his steps quiet but filled with purpose.
He tossed his keys onto the small table by the entrance and walked straight into the living room.
There, sprawled out across the couch like a man who'd lost a battle with gravity, was Nikola snoring softly, a blanket half hanging off him, and the TV screen dimly displaying the "Are you still watching?" screen from some old action movie.
Aleksandar didn't hesitate. He marched up to the couch and tapped Nikola's shoulder.
"Oi. Wake up."
Nikola groaned, pulling the blanket over his face. "Bro... it's, like... 1 a.m. What, did you get cut already?"
"No, idiot," Aleksandar said, yanking the blanket off him. "Get up. I need to tell you everything. Vinnie gave me the full breakdown of tomorrow's tryouts."
That got Nikola's attention. He blinked a few times, rubbing his eyes. "Wait seriously? Alright, alright, I'm up. Just... don't lecture me with that tone, man."
Aleksandar sat down beside him, still buzzing with everything he'd learned.
"Okay, listen. Tomorrow's the first day of tryouts, and it's all about measuring physical attributes and base skills. We're talking max vertical, standing vertical, lane agility, shuttle run, three quarter sprint..."
Nikola raised an eyebrow. "So... basically gym class on steroids?"
Aleksandar ignored him. "And then they're doing shooting drills spot up shots, mid range off the dribble, threes. It's not a game, man. Everyone's getting evaluated."
Nikola leaned back, suddenly more awake. "Damn. That's intense."
Aleksandar nodded. "Vinnie said they're narrowing it down to 24 players just after tomorrow. That's why they're testing both athleticism and skill if you mess up in one, you better shine in the other."
Nikola was quiet for a moment. "So it's real now, huh?"
"It's been real," Aleksandar said, then glanced at him more seriously. "But I told Vinnie we trained together all summer and that you've got the game. So prove me right tomorrow."
Nikola smiled, a little crooked but genuine. "Well, no pressure at all, huh?"
Aleksandar smirked. "You'll be fine. Just don't puke during the sprint tests."
"No promises," Nikola said with a groan, already lying back down. "But thanks for waking me up like a military drill sergeant. Real inspiring."
Aleksandar chuckled, tossing the blanket back over him. "Get some sleep, man. Tomorrow's the first step."
As the apartment settled into silence again, only the soft hum of the fridge and the faint city noise outside remained.
The next morning, the city was just beginning to stir as sunlight spilled between the buildings like golden syrup. In the apartment, Aleksandar and Nikola were already awake, their morning routines quieter than usual. No words were needed today's weight hung in the air like morning fog.
Both of them dressed quickly, laced up their sneakers, and slung their gym bags over their shoulders. When they stepped outside, a black Uber was already waiting at the curb, engine quietly idling.
The ride was short but silent, the only sounds being the low hum of the city and the occasional bump in the road. Nikola stared out the window while Aleksandar occasionally glanced at him, sensing the shift in his friend's usually calm demeanor.
Finally, the car pulled up in front of the familiar complex the club's headquarters. The towering structure looked almost different today. Less like a building, more like a gate to something unknown.
They both stepped out, adjusting their bags. Without a word, they crossed the open plaza and made their way toward the main arena where the tryouts were being held.
As they stood in front of the heavy double doors, Nikola paused. His hand hovered in the air for a second. A slight tremor in his breath gave away the storm of anticipation inside him.
Aleksandar glanced at him. Nikola didn't say a word, but the feeling was clear this was it.
The weight of expectation. The buzz of nerves. The unspoken hope.