In chapter seven of Basketball Jones, oh my god! Jade! Oh my god! Jade… she isn’t what she seems…. And this leaves me to question what sort of complications she will cause AJ and Dray in the near future. Intrigued? It’s time for Kingett to read Basketball Jones.
If someone asked me what my thoughts and feelings were about the logistics of psychics, and if they even exist, I’d say, resignedly, no! I don’t believe that they exist in the real world because I believe that everything happens because people make their own choices and I don’t believe that people can determine what kinda path my life will take.
In a fiction work, though… anything can happen… but this chapter convinces me that Jade is definitely not who she says she is. Why? You will see.
The beginning of this chapter consists of AJ in his favorite coffee shop, and Jade is there waiting on him, wondering where he has been all this time.
If she were so psychic, she would know where he had been the past few days… that’s flag number one outta many that she will show in this chapter.
This chapter is centrally focused on Jade. Her character is fleshed out a lot in the chapter, and her personality shines through plainly. She’s open and she gets whatever she wants. She has a plan for everything she does, and she is used to starting from nothing and then sustaining herself. The stuff about her being a psychic, though? I’m more than convinced that she has delusions, and she just uses them to get out of things. I am almost certain of that. Why? Because of what I see in her and the kinds of things that she says and does…
The kinds of things that she notices can be easily deduced from observations or even deductive reasoning. Here’s an example
“I went to your old stomping grounds, Los Angeles, even though I was staying in Beverly Hills.”
“I bet you stayed at the Peninsula.”
“How did you know that?” I asked, slightly alarmed.
“It’s the best hotel in the city. I used to work there part-time in their spa. And you know I’m psychic.”
It wouldn’t be hard at all to deduce these kinds of things. She has seen AJ before, and she knows that AJ is a man who has a lot of money. It would be very easy to guess that he would stay at that hotel. It’s where the rich go, and it’s also where a lot of athletes go, so this isn’t exactly impressive, like, at all. It’s just not that wow inspiring, and it doesn’t make me want to believe that Jade really is a psychic.
AJ does not buy it either, thank the heavens, and they start to talk about her. What did she do, did she succeed in that special mission that she came here to do, nestle up with a dashing ball player? Well, not quite yet, but she certainly has a plan for freeloading off their success. She has everything mapped out in her head, and she wishes that she had the kinda life that AJ has. She’s ready to be spoiled, and she has no qualms about spilling her guts to a guy in a coffee shop. Have a look at her off the cuff scheme just to get noticed by a ball player.
“I don’t know. But I’ll find out. I plan to FedEx one of my pictures to him at the Saints office. I know it’s not a fresh idea, but it’s a start and will get the ball rolling. If that doesn’t do the trick, I’ll find out the name of the club where the players hang. I might have to go out with one of his teammates first, but trust me when I tell you I will meet him, you know what I’m saying? But in the meantime I need to make some money so I can get the right outfit. That way I’m ready to dress like money when that time comes. Real ballers aren’t attracted to broke bitches. And I’m not attracted to break brothas with good dick.
I don’t know why she is so keen on getting with a ball player since I’m sure there are a lot of other rich guys in the world, but I’m guessing it’s because she wants to keep the money for years. With something like an investor or a similar position like that, the cash floods in once in a while… and I am sure that the cash does not flood in steadily enough for her, so she wants to try and find a source of steady income even though this is temporary as well. I’m sure that she didn’t even think about the fact that when a ball player isn’t playing, he isn’t making any money of the sort. I’m sure she hasn’t even begun to contemplate that, because I bet you that she is not even all that smart. I bet you. I bet you with every fiber in my being that she’s nothing more than just a freeloader who just runs away at the first sign of trouble. I bet you that’s why she’s here. I bet you! I know things!
She’s a liar and a thief. She’s no good AJ, stay away from her. Stay far away from her, she will ruin your love life, not to mention your wallet. You should stop talking to Jade right now.
AJ doesn’t listen to me, however, and he continues to talk to her. They even exchange phone numbers, and this makes me face palm, quite hard, in fact. AJ. What are you doing? You have a brain. I know you have a brain. Why are you even associating yourself with this woman? AJ, she is very bad news. Very!
A few hours later, Jade calls AJ to a bar. She’s crying, and while I say whatever is making her cry, then it serves her right, she deserves it because she’s a big freeloader, AJ is worried about her and goes to meet her at the bar, where we learn why she has been crying.
She gave me a peck on the cheek and said, “I’m okay, AJ. I just needed someone to talk to. I had a date with this guy who stood me up. I guess dudes down here are just like they are in Los Angeles. Plus my landlord is on me for my rent, and not without letting me know that if I give him a little pussy we could work things out.”
Oh my god, Jade, you are so stereotypical it’s beyond insane. Seriously? You guess the guys here are just like Los Angeles? Oh, yeah, I’m sure every guy in the world is just like Los Angeles, so why did you call AJ down here? To borrow money off him? I bet that’s why you called him down here, because you want to make up this really sad story about how your dating life is just so hard because you had a guy stand you up, and oh, poor me, my landlord feels me up. I bet that’s not even true. I bet you every inch of my soul that you don’t have a landlord like that, and I bet you that you just want to mooch off AJ. I am certain of it. She is just that kind of person who will do whatever she wishes, and she will get whatever she wishes, however she will get it, even if that means lying a bit or even playing up a few cards in order to get what she wants to get.
The drama doesn’t stop there, as Dray is there with Judy. Dray is jealous of Jade, and this happens.
When the bartender brought back my glass of wine my phone buzzed, telling me I had a text. I looked at it and realized it was from Dray. “Who is that girl with you?” I looked up and noticed the restaurant connected to the bar. Dray was facing me with a frown. There was Judi sitting with her back to me, and I wondered if she knew her husband was texting me. I texted him back and told him Jade was just a friend. He texted back, “Make sure you’re telling the truth. Also cut your little date short. We just finished our salads and I don’t want to chance us coming face to face with you.”
So AJ and Jade leave the bar, ending the chapter.
I’m just wondering if Jade is in the story just to complicate things. From my first impressions, she seems as though she will just complicate things and be a huge hindrance in the overall story. She doesn’t seem like she will provide any huge wisdom or even insight into anything, and, since I doubt her so called psychic abilities exist, she’s just going to be something to keep the drama high.
Yup, I really don’t like Jade at all. She hasn’t shown me anything that puts her into a good light, but this could be because I’m reading way too much into what she says. Perhaps she really is psychic. Yeah right!
Stay tuned for chapter eight next week. I wonder what will happen next!