"Y'all know y'all didn't have to come help me move in right? As much as I appreciate it." Enzo told his parents, who had just helped him finish setting up and decorating his room.

"What and miss your very first move-in day?" His mother Nadine whipped around giving her only child an incredulous look.

Lorenzo held his hands up in defense, "I just know you're gonna get all emotional and stuff, I figured you'd be less emotional if y'all were back home."

Nadine rolled her eyes "Mmtch boy ain't nobody gonna get emotional, if anything we're glad yo black ass finally out of the house."

Enzo pursed his lips sharing an unimpressed look with his father who just shook his head at his wife's antics, "Ma, I can literally see the tears collecting at your water line."

When she sniffled and moved to turn her head to keep him from seeing her tears fall, Enzo moved forward gently bringing the woman who brought him into the world into his embrace, "I love you too Momma, I'ma be fine though."

Nadine wiped her tears, sniffling as he looked her baby in his eyes, "Oh I know," she pouted emotionally, holding Enzo's face in her hands, eyes inspecting his face, rememorizing his features as if they'll change the next time she sees him, "I'm proud of you baby."

Enzo's father Lance, joined the embrace, wrapping his arms around his wife and son, "We're proud of you son, real proud."

"Aw guys, now you're gonna make me cry!" Enzo playfully exaggerated, letting out a loud pretend sob to emphasize his joke.

Pulling away from the embrace, Nadine flicked him on the forehead.

"Ow!" He brought a hand up, gently rubbing the spot she flicked, "Ma what was that for? You know you got some strong fingernails."

"You always joking around, that was a cute sentimental moment and you go and mess it up with ya lil corny jokes," Nadine looked to the side, seeing Lance laugh silently, she reached up and flicked him on the forehead as well "And ya bald headed ass daddy, encouraging it, ugh like father like son I swear."

Lance blew a kiss to his wife, beaming brightly, "You love my bald-headed ass though."

"Mhm I guess."

Enzo shook his head, watching the way his parents interacted. He loved their love. "And you say that I play too much Ma, I get it from y'all!"

"Yeah apple doesn't fall too far from the tree I guess," Nadine smiled, affectionately patting him under the chin, "Now come on, be the sweetheart that we raised you to be and walk us out."

"Yes, Ma'am." Enzo moved to his closed door and opened it, allowing his parents to walk out first.

Nadine gave him a soft pat on his chest as she walked by, Lance right behind her.

"Aye son," Lance paused in his steps, placing a hand on Enzo's shoulder as he leaned in close by his ear, so Nadine wouldn't hear, "Check the top drawer in ya nightstand, left you a lil going away present." Lance winked, clapping his son on the shoulder before following his wife.

Enzo sighed, shaking his head, his parents were a whole mess but he loved them.

When he caught up with his parents, he saw them talking to Simone, Nate, and Keisha. "Hey y'all," He greeted, announcing his presence to the group, "I was wondering when you'd get here Si," Enzo told Simone, pulling his best friend into a hug.

Simone and Enzo's initial plan was to arrive at Bringston together, but before leaving California Simone had stops to make and Enzo's parents had wanted to get to the school early so the best friends just decided to see each other once they got to the school.

"Hey Zo," Simone greeted, wrapping her arms around Enzo's waist and squeezing him into a hug, "Yeah I just got here, ran into Nate and Keisha then saw your parents."

Enzo turned to the two mentioned and pulled them into a group hug, "Ah! Kei, Nate, I didn't know y'all lived in this dorm hall, have y'all met my parents?" He pulled away from the hug and gestured toward his mom and dad, "Ma, Pops, this is Keisha and this is Nate. Si and I met them last year when we came to visit during homecoming."

Nadine smiled, greeting Keisha and Nate with a hug, "So nice to meet y'all, It's nice to see that Simone and Lorenzo have already made some friends."

"Yeah," Lance spoke, pulling away from his own greeting hugs with the two sophomores, "Hopefully y'all can help keep this hoodlum outta trouble," He pulled Enzo into a slight chokehold.

"Trouble? Hoodlum? Wow, it really be your own people. On an HBCU campus too? Wow, Pops I am so disappointed in you. What would Granny say? She would be appalled, you know I'm her favorite."

"Boy shut up and walk us to the car," Lance bucked playfully at Enzo, making him and the rest of the group that watched their banter laugh.

"Alright, alright, I'll be right back y'all," Enzo told Simone, Nate, and Keisha, walking with his parents to the elevator.

"Y'all being rude to me now but just wait in a few days from now y'all gon be on Facetime, pop's gon be crying with the Viola Davis snot running down his nose talking 'bout how much he misses me," Enzo spoke as he stepped into the elevator with his parents, pressing the button that would take them to the main floor.

"Ew Enzo," Nadine laughed, slapping the boy on his shoulder, "Not the Viola Davis snot, I just pictured that in my head."

"Baby why you laughing?" Lance asked, "He said I'ma have Viola Davis snot! I don't cry like that!"

"Oh, so you admit then that you'll be calling me in a few days talking about how much you miss me?" Enzo snickered as the family of three stepped off of the elevator.

Lance paused, looking from his wife to his son, "I know my rights! I plead the fifth."

"You're a fool," Nadine shook her head, "And I birthed your twin, Fool Jr."

"But you love us though," Enzo and Lance spoke in sync, giving Nadine bright identical smiles.

She brought the two men into a group hug, both men placing a kiss on her cheeks, "Yeah I do, my boys. Y'all get on my damn nerves sometimes though."

"Ma, you know you wouldn't have it any other way, plus you'll just have Dad to mess with you now."

"Oh I'ma mess with her alright," Lance waggled his eyebrows at his wife who giggled like a school girl with a crush.

Enzo grimaced, screwing his face up, "Euuhhh Okay! Alright that's enough, y'all can get on now I ain't need to see all that."

"Boy, how you think you got here?"

When Enzo didn't reply, Lance clapped him on the back, "Exactly, stay outta grown folk's business."

"Now," Nadine started turning the conversation serious, she turned to face Enzo as she wrapped an arm around Lance's lower back, "We know you're gonna do great things here. We're glad you have Simone to keep you grounded. Just remember where you came from, have fun but try not to get too caught up in things you can't control. That'll sway your focus alright?"

Enzo took in her word and nodded before Lance spoke, "Your mother pretty much hit the nail on the head. We know you're gonna do great things, son. It's college so have fun but again not too much to wear it takes your focus off of what matters. A double major ain't no joke but your mom and I know how smart our son is. We know you got this."

"Damn," Enzo whispered, rubbing his finger over his eye, "Now y'all really finna make me cry. I love you guys and I'm grateful for all that you've done for me. I really wouldn't be here without y'all. With my shoulder injury and stuff, y'all have just always been there for me when I needed you. I got some dope ass parents."

Nadine smiled and placed a kiss on Enzo's forehead, "Yes you do have some dope ass parents, so dope to the point we're gonna let you cussing in front of us slide," She gave him a stern side-eye causing Enzo to smile apologetically, "But we love you more baby."

"Now let us get going so you can get back to ya lil friends," Lance said, dapping his fist against Enzo's and pulling him into a hug."

"Alright, drive safely to the airport, and have a safe flight, lemme know when y'all get home please, and thank you," Enzo told his parents, engaging in one last group hug before Lance went around the rented Cadillac Escalade, opening the passenger for Nadine.

When Lance came back over to the driver's side, he tapped Enzo on the chest, "Don't forget about the gift in your nightstand."

"Alright pops," Enzo laughed, opening the driver's side door for his father, "Drive safe, Love y'all."

"We love you too, Cash money!"

Enzo smiled, closing the door and watching as his parents pulled off. He was officially a certified college boy now.

Clapping his hands, Enzo turned to make his way back into the dorm hall building when a certain someone caught his eye.

"Is that Miss Thea Mays I see?" He made his way over to her, smirking when she turned around to greet him."

"Hm If I didn't know any better I'd think you were stalking me, Lorenzo," Thea mused, crossing her arms as she looked him up and down.

"Well, then it's a good thing you know better, Thea. But nah they placed me here, what a lucky coincidence," Enzo cheesed, nodding his head toward the dormitory building they stood in front of, "My bad for being rude, hi, how you doing? I'm Enzo," Enzo greeted the girl that Thea had been walking with.

The girl smiled politely and introduced herself, raising an eyebrow at Thea who nudged her.

"So how've you been since we last spoke?" Enzo asked Thea as he swiped his ID to the dorm hall and held the door open for the ladies to walk in.

Since Homecoming when Enzo visited with Simone and their friends, Thea and Enzo had managed to keep in contact. Consistently texting back and forth and Facetiming one another when tennis wasn't keeping her busy.

Thea pressed the button to the elevator, and chuckled, turning her head to meet Lorenzo's eyes "Sooo since this morning?"

Enzo shrugged, "Hey a lot can happen in a few hours, ya never know."

The elevator dinged, signaling it made its way to the main floor and the trio stepped in when the doors opened. Enzo pressed the button for floor two, as he looked at the tennis start, awaiting her response.

"Oh you were serious?" Thea asked when she caught his stare, "Oh well yeah I'm fine, we're just gonna go get ready to practice."

"Alright, yeah I gotta get to the baseball field, so I guess I'll quit disturbing y'all and let you go do your thing," Enzo told her as they got off the elevator.

Enzo must have taken longer than he thought because Keisha, Nate, and Simone were no longer where he left them.

"I'll catch you later?" He asked, looking back to Thea. Since Enzo was on the boy's side of the dorm, they'd be going separate ways.

Thea shrugged, giving him a mischievous smile, "Maybe."

Enzo's cheeks dimpled when he grinned, "Alright I can take a maybe."

"Goodbye, Lorenzo."

~

Enzo didn't know if he was ever going to stand in a baseball uniform again, yet here he was in a Bringston Lions Baseball jersey and baseball pants. Before leaving Bringston after homecoming, it was announced that Coach Marcus would become the new head coach after Shaw was fired. Over the summer, Marcus called Enzo up and informed him that a spot as the team's manager was his if he still wanted it.

Before Marcus could even tell Enzo the details of the job, he was accepting. This was exactly what he wanted. Either team manager or trainer. The training positions were all filled but Coach Marcus informed him that he could help train players since he was certified, he just wouldn't be getting paid for it.

Since he would be getting paid as the team manager, Enzo didn't mind one bit.

He stood in the dugout with the team, intently listening to the speech coach Marcus was giving.

"It takes courage to be successful! And they want to label us underdogs? Look here, underdogs is not our state of mind. You hear me?"

Enzo nodded his head agreeing with Coach's words, some of the players doing the same.

"Now let them call us what they want," Marcus continued, hitting his chest where his heart is "We know who we are, all right? Up in here! And that's a lesson for life, not just baseball."

Enzo scanned his eyes over the team's players. Most seemed to take in the coach's words, but then there was Damon. Damon sat with his sunglasses on, chewing gum as if nothing of what Coach Marcus said meant anything to him.

Lorenzo shook his head, lifting his baseball cap and running his hand over his hair. He already knew the team was gonna have a tough time with Damon. The kid was an MLB prospect and chose to attend the HBCU. Enzo had a feeling that Damon's ego was through the roof but he knew that none of that mattered to the rest of the guys on the team especially if Damon couldn't fit in with them.

"Now I wanna go ahead and introduce y'all to our new team manager," Marcus spoke, gesturing to Enzo who stood and made his way beside him, "Some of y'all may know Lorenzo Martin"

"We may know him?" A shorter Latino boy spoke up, making Enzo look at him, "Nah Coach, we do know him! Bro, you were a High school All-American 1st team as a sophomore! you were nationally ranked number two for the class of 2020 before your injury. You were gonna be a huge prospect. That's crazy I didn't know you were coming here."

Enzo tried not to think about all of the possibilities that no longer were after his injury. After he announced that he had a career-ending injury, all of the recruitments and accolades went out the door.

Enzo felt that he was already pretty humble but his injury really showed him how in one second everyone could want you and in the next second everyone could forget your name. It definitely made his outlook on and approach to sports different.

It was easy to get caught up in the limelight and lose focus of why you began to play a sport in the first place and once you're able to take a step back, you see how the limelight isn't all that. The pressure that Enzo constantly felt when he was still considered a good player weighed him down. He felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Although he hated that he got injured and it ended any chance of having a baseball career, Enzo was kind of glad he could take the backseat.

Enzo smiled nonetheless, "Santiago right? Thanks for all that but hey things happen for a reason y'know. I'm glad it brought me here to Bringston. I know we'll have a great season!"

"That's right!" Marcus clapped Lorenzo on the back, "I have faith in each and every one of y'all. Now Bringston baseball is back! Now it's time to put in that work and show the world what we can do!"

"Yessir!" Enzo clapped enthusiastically but stopped when the players remained on the bench.

Coach Marcus stared at the players as the momentum died down, crossing his arms across his chest, "Why ain't y'all moving?"

"Our bad," Santiago spoke up once more, looking at his team members and then at Marcus, "We didn't know if you were finished or if that was just another pause for effect."

Enzo snickered, covering his mouth, the rest of the team members chuckling along.

"Man get yo smart asses geared up and on that field," Marcus smiled with a laugh, walking up to Santiago and hitting him playfully, "Or I'll give you another damn monologue, come on now."

Enzo watched from the sidelines on the field as Damon pitched the ball as if he were playing a winner-takes-it-all, MLB championship game. None of the team was able to get a hit off the baseball prodigy, "Anyone gonna tell him this is just practice? Not a damn MLB game?" Enzo muttered to himself, but Coach Marcus heard him.

"Dial it back, Sims," Marcus called out, "I got outfielders waiting to catch something. Let them boys hit now."

"Aye if they wanna be the best they gotta learn to hit off the best, right?" Damon disregarded, digging his cleat in the dirt of the pitcher's mound, "We're here to win fellas, y'all got that?" He looked around at the team players.

"I have reasons for the way I'm running my practice."

"Yes sir."

Enzo raised his eyebrows, looking over and making eye contact with Assistant Coach Yee. The two shook their heads.

They watched as Damon set himself up to throw another pitch. Enzo wasn't surprised when the MLB-caliber player pitched another fastball, striking out the batter.

Marcus clapped Enzo on the back, "Pull him out for me, come on."

"Aye Sims you out, for now, Roberts it's your go!" Enzo called out as he jogged toward the mound.

"Aye woah woah, y'all benching me during practice?" Damon asked, sidestepping Enzo as he came up to him.

"Bruh, take that up with Coach Marcus if you feel some type of way. I told you last time I seen you that you had listening problems. Don't shoot the messenger." Enzo tapped him on the chest, moving to go back towards the dugout as Coach Yee went to the mound with Roberts.

Enzo and the rest of the players in the dugout stood and watched as Damon walked up to Coach Marcus ready to plead his case, "Yo Coach, I'm just motivating them alright? These guys don't get it, they-"

"Shut up and listen for once!" Marcus interjected firmly, successfully cutting Damon off, "For once! Okay? If they don't hit, I can't evaluate their weaknesses and fine-tune them."

"You wanna know they weaknesses?" Damon asked sharply, "I spent the last week working with these guys. Their weakness is that not one of them got the ability to take their game to the next level. Not one!"

Enzo wasn't sure if Damon knew or not but he wasn't doing a great job of whispering as everyone stopped what they were previously doing and now stood watching and listening to what Damon was saying.

"You lost your best players when your starters were suspended. And the only person left, seemingly worth anything is Santiago and his ass is inconsistent in the box because he lets his emotions control the game. What are we doing?" Damon finished, seemingly fed up.

Enzo whistled lowly, "Damn, and ain't JR supposed to be his friend?" He asked one of the players behind him in the dugout.

Seeming to hear Lorenzo's words, Damon paused and looked around the field, seeing all the players including JR giving him unimpressed looks. Damon bit his lip, not meaning to have everyone hear him rag on the team.

"You done?" Marcus asked rhetorically, "Get off my field."

"Look Coach, I'm sorry alright?" Damon tried to backtrack but Marcus was having none of it.

"Off my field, Sims."

Damon tried again, "Coach."

"I've heard enough from you today. You can sit the rest of practice in the dugout. Go." Marcus dismissed, having had enough of Damon's ego and attitude.

"The dugout?" Damon screwed his face up, "Man I ain't give up the pros to sit in anybody's dugout."

Enzo sucked his teeth, walking forward. He was fed up with Damon's attitude too, "Negro ain't nobody tell your ass to give up the pros and come here, you made that decision bro. You grown ain't you?. And this weak piss poor attitude you got, ain't it. You know how many kids would love to be in your spot right now?"

Marcus placed a hand against Enzo's chest to keep him from getting any closer to Damon, "I got this son."

Enzo removed his hand from his chest and turned around to walk away, "Cry baby ass nigga," he muttered under his breath.

Marcus put his attention back on Damon, "Excuse me, you wanna repeat what you just said?"

Damon didn't bother responding, stalking away, angrily taking off his mit.

"Sims, don't you walk away from me. Sims!" Coach Marcus called out, turning around back towards the field when Damon didn't pay him any mind, "What's everyone standing around for?"

Enzo sighed out, as everyone moved to resume practice, "This is only gonna get worse."

~

After such an eventful practice, Enzo sat in the lounge of the dorm hall. His eyes were closed and his head was resting against the back of the couch he sat on.

Feeling the weight of someone sitting down next to him and placing their legs in his lap caused Enzo to open his eyes. Seeing Simone, he flashed her a tired smile, squeezing her calf muscle, "I feel like I haven't seen you all day."

Simone nodded, sinking further into the couch, "Tell me about it, I think I actually missed you."

"Well I'm actually offended by that." Enzo said, pinching the skin of her thigh making the girl hiss.

"Ow that hurt! Damn okay you know I missed you."

"Damn right you did."

"Was your day as long as mine was?" Simone yawned out her question, covering her mouth to be polite.

"Shit," Enzo started, his own yawn interrupting him, "I'd say it's pretty even. I'm bout ready to take a nap to be completely honest with you."

"Nap?" A voice interjected, making Enzo and Simone turn their heads to see Keisha standing behind where they sat, Nate right beside her, "Nuh uh, there will be no naps on my watch, now come! Get up, as RA I have an announcement to make."

Simone swung her legs off of Enzo's lap so he could stand up, and held her hands out, silently asking him to help pull her up.

Grabbing her hands in his, Enzo pulled Simone to her feet and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they made their way to the front of the lounge where Keisha stood with the male RA. Enzo had forgotten his name.

They waited a beat as the rest of the freshmen in the dorm hall entered the lounge, before Keisha started, "What you're about to experience here at Bringston over the next 4 years is special. No shade to all your people, living their best lives at PWIs, but life here at Bringston is the real prize."

Everyone laughed and Enzo cheered, gently squeezing Simone's shoulder in excitement.

"Alright" Keisha clapped, bringing the attention back to her, "So we're gonna wrap this up because I know y'all wanna go party, byyye!" Everyone cheered and dispersed, leaving to do their own thing or get ready for the bonfire.

"Okay madame R.A. Let me find out there's some politics in your future, girl." Simone told Keisha when she made her way over to them.

"I was actually hoping that Godiva brother would be in my future," Keisha said, eyes darting around for whoever she was speaking about.

"What you looking for Keish? I'm right here," Enzo spoke, gesturing up and down toward his body.

Nate snickered and Simone hit him in the stomach, "You play too much Zo."

"As fine as you are Enzo," Keisha told him, looking him up and down slowly, "I'm more interested in a different Godiva brother."

Enzo sent her an unfazed smile and shrugged, "At least you recognize that I'm fine."

"Anyway," Simone interjected sarcastically, rolling her eyes at Lorenzo, "Who is this so-called Godiva brother you're talking about?" She asked, looking to see if she could spot the guy in question.

"Damon Sims' roommate."

"Wait, Damon lives here?" Simone asked, perking up slightly.

Enzo furrowed his eyebrows, screwing his face up and taking his arm from around her shoulders, "Why you say it like that?"

Keisha, also noticing the change in Simone's attitude, looked at the girl questionably, "Technically he lives in the male wing of this dorm, yes."

Nate turned to Simone and smirked, "And you were just a little too excited about that Shimoneee Hicks!"

"Yeah, a little too excited," Enzo echoed, still a bit annoyed at the baseball player's pissy attitude from earlier. Enzo wasn't too sure how he felt about Damon. He seemed so up and down at times.

Simone rolled her eyes, used to Lorenzo's over-protectiveness, "Okay it's just nice to know that someone else I know lives here."

"Well damn, how many people are you tryna know Simone? You already know me, Nate, and Keish. I think three people is fine enough."

"Lorenzo, please, it's college. College is meant for networking." Simone told him.

"Mm well that negro tryna do more than just network with you," Enzo muttered under his breath, making Nate who stood beside him snicker, being the only one who heard him.

"Okayy! Well, then why don't we just call him and maybe we can network with him and his football God of a roommate?" Keisha proposed, rolling off of Simone's words.

"Or not. Keisha, what happened to your vow of celibacy after your breakup with Lisa this summer?" Nate asked.

"Does celibacy really even exist in college? As many beautiful ladies there are on this campus.." Enzo trailed off, seeing the looks his friends were giving him, "I'm just saying. Don't shoot the messenger alright?"

"If you must know," Keisha spoke to Nate, "I can be celibate and still enjoy new company."

Nate shook his head, not believing the mixed girl's words, "Girl, not in the way you enjoy it."

The foursome laughed at her words, Keisha jokingly waving Nate off, "Girl! Leave it alone!"

"Of course, she lives here," Simone sighed out in annoyance, seeing Thea walk out of the elevator with another girl.

Thea barely cut her eyes toward the group, not wanting to pay Simone any mind, as she began to walk past.

Though she knew she wasn't going to go by without Enzo coming to bother her. Something she secretly liked.

Following Simone's line of sight, a smile overtook Enzo's face when he saw the older tennis star. Quickly forgetting his friends, he made his way over to the sophomore, walking with her and her friend toward her dorm, "We meet again Miss Mays."

Left in the lounge, Simone looked at Nate and Keisha with a look they could only describe as pure annoyance, "Now what the hell was that? I know he didn't just up and leave because she walked up in here."

"I didn't even know they were friends," Keisha said.

Simone gazed in the direction where Enzo walked off with Thea, "Yeah, I didn't either. I didn't even know they met, he never told me anything."

"Maybe he just forgot," Nate tried to remedy.

"Yeah maybe, ugh guys I knew I should've moved into a freshman-only dorm."

"Well ignore Thea!" Keisha tried to cheer Simone up, "It's your first official night in college! It's time to get into some trouble!"

Keisha's attempt to cheer Simone up was futile because the tennis player wasn't really in the mood, "Honestly, I've had a long day, and I have drill tomorrow, so, I'm just gonna shower, might just do what Enzo was talking about and take a nap, maybe even call it a night."

"I sure hope whatever friendship Enzo has with Thea doesn't hurt his friendship with Simone," Nate told Keisha as they watched Simone walk off toward her dorm.

Keisha nodded, "Yeah, and I hope whatever it is between Damon and Simone doesn't hurt her friendship with Enzo. He doesn't seem to be Damon's biggest fan."

𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙍𝙊𝘿𝙐𝘾𝙄𝙉𝙂

NADINE & LANCE MARTIN
(iykyk why i chose morris chestnut specifically 😂)

a/n:

1. i concluded that simone, enzo (spencer, oliva, jordan) were class of 2020 (or 2021 im still not sure). i just know in szn 2 of All American, Spencer was still a junior in hs. Also in szn 2 Billy, and Spencer's mom and them had their 25 year HS reunion and they graduated in 1994. 25 years from 1994 is 2019. I'm assuming that szn 2 was the beging of the new year of 2019. Season 3 was the start of senior year so thats that last half of 2019, and goes int0 2020 and then season 4 is them finishing senior year so boom class of 2020. If i'm wrong so be it lmao they don't tell us what graduating class they are so.. if anyone can actually find out please let me know, otherwise, we're rolling with this.

2. i don't know a lot about baseball, especially hs baseball. i tried my best to research but it still made no sense so if anything i had santiago say was incorrect, let me know.

3. damon got on my nerves a lot early on and i feel like he kinda got away with stuff but enzo's not bout to let that slide 😁

4. any questions comments or concerns?

5. there were literally NO good pictures of male dorms that i felt like matched enzo but I found a girls dorm picture that i think is pretty gender neutral:

Enzo's dorm, obviously minus the girl and minus the tv. for some reason in AAHC universe they don't have tv's in their rooms.