THE TWENTY-TWO-year-old held the ball close as he faced his opponent. The forty-year-old stood in front of him in a defensive stance as he awaited his next move.

He looked to his right and spotted his teammate. With a smile, he gave it to them via a bounce pass.

The twelve-year-old girl beamed as she bounced it once. Her father jogged toward her and weakly contested the shot, allowing her to shoot it. It hit the side of the rim and he caught it.

"Get it from him, Gigi!" Y/N exclaimed and ran toward Kobe. Gianna went up to him too and tried to strip the ball away.

"Hey!" Kobe exclaimed as they were roughing him up. "Foul! Foul!"

Gianna ended up taking it from him. Y/N stepped back as he threw it to him and he shot it over Kobe. He made it in and all Kobe could do was groan.

"Yeah!" Y/N cheered and went up to high five the girl.

"This wasn't fair." Kobe said as he picked up the ball. "2 versus 1? Why did I agree to this?"

"You underestimated our power." Y/N said in his best Anakin impression. "Gianna is going to be beating you on her own soon enough."

Kobe chuckled and pat his daughter on the back. He also smiled.

"And I'm looking forward to it." He said, then fist-bumped her and initiated their own thing.

Y/N was currently at Kobe's place in Orange County. The property had many amenities to go with their large mansion, including a tennis court and a basketball court outside. He stopped by to visit with Hailee before he had to go back home for business.

As the three talked, Vanessa, her fifteen-year-old daughter Natalia, and Hailee came out to the backyard. Kobe saw the trio in and walked off the court to join them. Y/N and Gianna followed.

"Whoa!" Kobe remarked as he saw the tray his wife came out with. "Carne asada tostadas?"

Vanessa nodded. "Nani and Hailee helped me top it all off. So thank them for making them look so presentable."

"She helped you with this?" Y/N asked as he pointed at Hailee. "There's no way."

"Very funny." Hailee replied.

Vanessa backed the young lady. "No seas tan malo (Don't be so mean). It's not like you can cook."

Kobe laughed with the rest and Y/N shook his head.

The young man ended up snickering afterward.

"All right. All right." He replied then looked at his aunt figure. "Hurtful, though."

They ended up having some of the food. After some small conversations, Y/N looked at his phone to check the time.

"Gotta go back to the abode." Y/N told them. "Thanks for the food, Vanessa."

"No problem. But again, thank the other girls too."

He chuckled and looked at Natalia. "Thank you very much, Nani."

The girl smiled and nodded. Y/N got up from his seat and stood beside Hailee. He began to speak a little softer than before.

"Thank you very much, Mi Reina (My Queen)."

He planted a kiss on her head. Hailee lightly giggled after hearing the name he'd usually give her. She turned her head and ended up kissing him herself.

Kobe finished chewing his food. "Okay. Let's not let this go further. Not in front of my girls."

Y/N laughed and Hailee got out of her seat. Kobe ended up asking what business he needed to tend to.

"Meeting with my agent and Rob at the crib to discuss my extension." He answered with a smirk.

"Ooooh." Vanessa murmured, remembering the many times her husband had those meetings. "That should be a fun experience."

"And it honestly shouldn't take that long." Hailee chimed in. "They know how good he is."

"Exactly." Kobe finally replied. "Don't sell yourself short. Get the max amount they're allowed to give you."

Y/N nodded, taking in their words. Kobe continued.

"I know they're not gonna want to risk you hitting restricted free agency next year. Sure they can match someone else's offer, but why not just secure you now?"

"Wise words that I will definitely use later." Y/N replied. "But like Haiz said, they know what I bring to the table. It shouldn't be a hassle."

They started to bid farewell. As Hailee was saying goodbye to Natalia the teenager spoke to her.

"Can't wait for you to release that song." She said.

Hailee knew she was referring to the new song she and Y/N made and let her listen to it earlier.

"Look out for it. Maybe in the next few days." She replied.

Y/N and Hailee left the Bryant house and entered the man's car. It was a red 2018 Audi R8, one that he purchased a few months ago. They started the drive, which was going to be about half an hour to go from Orange Country to Los Angeles.

The two sang along to songs that came on the radio. Sometime later, Y/N's song You and Me came and Y/N stopped singing. Hailee took notice and arched a brow.

"What's up with you?" She asked.

"Oh, I..." He kept his hands on the wheel and tried to respond.

"What?"

"... It kinda feels weird singing my own songs."

Hailee was taken aback but let out a laugh. Y/N looked at her.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"For real?"

"I don't know how to explain it." He said with a laugh. "I write it, record it, release it, and there. It's done."

Hailee snickered. "You would not survive being a touring artist."

He kept his eyes on the road. "That's why I stick to mostly producing and hoops, babe."

"So the new song we did that we're gonna release, you're gonna try to avoid it afterward?"

"There's no avoiding. You just won't see me singing along to it." He started to bob his head. "But you'll see me dancing...vibing."

"Weirdo." Hailee said with a chuckle.

"It's like those actors that don't like seeing themselves on screen. Don't you feel that way?"

"No. I love seeing myself on screen."

Y/N nodded. "Right, I forgot. You live on the screen and the stage."

"Hmm. I like that." Hailee replied to his statement.

The young man switched the station once the song was over and went to commercial. He changed it to ESPN as he wanted to hear what they were currently talking about.

"This could be the key to a total resurgence for the Lakers."

Immediately, Y/N recognized Wilson Wittman's voice. He put the volume up a bit and continued to listen.

"They added more playmaking with Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson. They have more size with the addition of Michael Beasley and JaVale McGee. They retained Caldwell-Pope and have him for at least two more years."

"Sounds like you're forgetting the big one." The host remarked.

"Oh, we know what LeBron James will bring. Once again, LA succeeds in bringing in another superstar. And to pair him with another in L/N? The West better watch out."

"And they still have Ball, Ingram, Kuzma, and the other young guns."

"If they can take a step up from last year...oh boy." Wilson replied.

"Wilson's the man." Y/N remarked. "It's so cool seeing him go from being a small-time reporter from my town to a well-known one on both Fox and ESPN. It's like we took the journey together."

Hailee was on her phone as she listened. "Isn't that the guy that looks like that guy from Avengers?"

"Who?"

"He was also in Pain and Gain." She looked it up. "Ah! Anthony Mackie."

"Mackie?" He asked and chuckled. "Nah, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Dude, it's literally him." He pointed at her phone. "Or maybe his clone."

He shrugged. "Sure."

They kept talking on the radio about the team in general. Hailee ended up mentioning it.

"It's still pretty surreal. You playing with LeBron."

"Yeah."

"Like, almost all your life you've been mentored by Kobe. You even get to play with Kobe for a year. Now you get to be teammates with another great player."

"The best player in the world and likely the greatest of all of time." Y/N said. "Depending on who you ask. Don't tell Kobe I said that."

Y/N continued. "That day Rich told me he was coming...man, that was crazy. I didn't think he'd actually choose to sign with us."

"And imagine the phone call that same day if the test was positive?"

Y/N remembered. Hailee had told him about her experience during the tour two months ago when she was sick and took a pregnancy test. It turned out to be negative.

"Oh, that would've been two insane bombs dropped on me that day." Y/N replied with a chuckle.

He wouldn't have minded if she was indeed pregnant and would've been happy to be a father. But with how their careers were going now it was a sort of relief that they didn't have to worry about that now. They are currently both twenty-two. When they are ready they will figure it out.

They stopped at a red light and waited. While they did, a passenger from the car next to them saw them. It was a teenage boy and he was shocked to see the two celebrities beside them.

Y/N saw the boy talking to his dad and likely telling him what he was seeing, but the man was busy staring ahead the road and brushing him off. The boy turned back to look at Y/N, who in turn waved back.

"Let's see what he does..." He muttered as he kept waving.

As he expected, the boy took out his phone and started to take pictures. Y/N chuckled and looked back toward the intersection.

"Just as I thought." He said and sat back a bit so Hailee could see. "Say cheese, you're probably on IG live."

Hailee looked up from her phone and saw the boy recording them. She lightly smirked before looking back at her boyfriend who simply shrugged.

The light finally turned green and they kept going. It was only about ten minutes later that they made it to Y/N's condominium in Los Angeles. He parked the car and started to get out.

"So Rich should be here soon. Hopefully this gets done quickly because we gotta stop by somewhere at 5."

Hailee thought he had no plans after the meeting. She raised a brow in a questioning manner.

"We?" She asked.

"Yeah...uh...I actually have a surprise for you." He quickly said and got out of the car.

"Wait—What?" She got out of the car too but saw that he was already rushing toward the building's entrance.

"Come on, slowpoke!" He called out.

"You can't just say you have a surprise for me and not clarify!"

He smirked and opened the door. "You'll just have to wait!"

Y/N went inside. Hailee shook her head with a laugh and followed moments later.

Rich Paul had met with Y/N before Lakers' General Manager Rob Pelinka arrived. Pelinka used to be an agent and was once Kobe's agent before Rob ended up working in executive positions. A year ago he was hired along with Magic Johnson to run the organization's front office duties.

(A/N: Trust me this is not Rob Lowe lmao)

Today they were there to discuss a possible contract extension after this upcoming season. Other players from his draft class in 2015 like Karl Anthony Towns and Devin Booker have already gotten extensions that locked them up to their respective teams for the next few years. And the money they got was astounding.

Meetings could be often seen as rather formal and business-esque, but what was transpiring deviated from it. Y/N was by the counter near his kitchen that overlooked the television. Rich Paul was serving himself a drink and gave one to Hailee as well. Rob was at the counter with Y/N eating from a bowl of chips. Jurrasic World was playing on the large television.

"When I was a kid, those dinosaurs scared the shit out of me." Rob remarked.

"Same here honestly." He replied.

"That guy is pretty good." Rob said pointing at Owen Grady on screen.

"Yeah. Pratt does a pretty good job."

"He was in that Avengers movie a few months ago, wasn't he?

Y/N nodded. "Yup. Got basically everyone killed too."

He laughed. Rob didn't and was confused since he hasn't seen Infinity War yet. Y/N realized this.

"Oh...uh... never mind."

Rich came over and handed Rob a drink as well. He thanked him and continued with the contract discussions.

"Well..." Rob shook off the chip crumbs from his hand. "Time to get professional, right?"

He chuckled and so did Y/N. Rob went over to his case that he placed by the sofa.

"Y/N. Ever since you were drafted second overall three years ago, you've made an impact not just on the team...but on the organization itself and the city." He grabbed a folder and walked back to the counter. "And I'd say even bigger than the other young stars in the league."

He placed it on the counter and continued. "Rookie of the Year, countless midseason accolades, All-Star appearances, and just recently an All-NBA team, an All-Defense team, and Most Improved Player. Only player I've ever seen up close that could accomplish all that so effortlessly...was Kobe."

Y/N nodded as he took in the words. Hailee stood aside smiling as he was being complimented. Rob opened up the folder and took out a pen.

"And all those accomplishments are just the beginning. We want to witness all the other things you can do and then some with us. We may have signed LeBron, but you are the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers."

He placed the pen down and slid the folder near him. Y/N looked at it and saw the contract he was being offered. The designated rookie extension was only provided to the best young players who accomplished certain criteria, all of which were met by him. This allowed him to get an extra year and more money than the usual player coming off their first-ever contract.

"It's all you. You can say no and enter free agency next year. Some other team can offer you a max contract. But just know that I'm matching their offer whether you like it or not." Rob added with a laugh.

Y/N laughed as well. He looked at the folder and then back at Rob.

"Of course I'm saying yes." Y/N finally spoke. "This place is my home and for the first time in a while...with the team we have now...we can win a championship. And that's all I want to do. Win. And win one for LA...and then another...and then another."

Rob nodded and clapped his hands. "And as your manager, I will make sure we have a fighting chance every year for the foreseeable future."

Y/N smiled, looking at Hailee and Rob afterward. His agent nodded and agreed with his decision. Y/N picked up the pen and was ready to put the ink on the paper.

•• SOCIAL MEDIA ••

8-1-2018

@/wojespn
In a deal that cements him as the franchise's long-term cornerstone, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star guard Y/N L/N has agreed to a 5-year, $190M super-maximum extension, league sources tell ESPN.

6,112 Retweets 🔁| 20.2k Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/spideywriter657 look at all those dollars
^@/LifeSpectator "look at all those chickens"

@/MK11_EGY I have also signed a five year contract to be Dua Lipa's boyfriend
^@/_rxiewithvex I will track you down

@/ironboybooks Towns got the same money and he's better lol
^@/laserigneous88 and you're a broke boi lol
^@/ironboybooks look in the mirror bro lmao
^@/laserigneous88 didn't you tell me on discord that you got fired from Wendy's yesterday 💀💀💀
^@/Wendys can confirm

• •

8-1-2018

@/Lakers
"Y/N L/N is a star both on and off the court."

@/Original_L/N aka The Prodigy is in for the long haul with the Lakers.

12.6k Retweets 🔁 | 89.7k Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/DarkotheMapper I smell championship soon
^@/LordDarkness99 that's the smell of false hope sadly

@/Baddger Y/N x LeBron duo we shall call them LeY/N

@/liambrown7794 He will bring titles to LA just like Kobe did ✊🏽

• •

8-17-2018

@/_L/NsWorld_
Y/N L/N JUST INKED HIS DEAL!!! LOOK AT ALL DAT MONEEEEY!! HE MIGHT BE RICHER THAN BILL GATES NGL. THIS IS WHY HE IS THE GOAT AND WHY HE WILL WIN THE NEXT FIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! YOURE WELCOME LEBRON.

7 Retweets 🔁 | 13 Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/martinifrfr DICKRIDAAAAA

@/ironboybooks DICKRIDAAAAA

@/LockRequiem DICKRIDAAAAA

@/JokersFavoriteBoy DICKRIDAAAAA

@/OwenC13 Damn he getting flamed in the replies

@/Almod1119 DICKRIDAAAA

@/CobrasPhantom DICKRIDAAAA

@/TheGrimmReader_ DICKRIDAAAA

• • •

THE COUPLE TOOK a twenty minute drive north and passed through the valley into Encino. Y/N often went there since he, Hailee, and his friends grew up there. In the singer's case, it was until after middle school that she moved to Thousand Oaks.

They drove through the neighborhood. Down Libbit Avenue they turned into a private driveway and went up a hill. Hailee was still left in the dark and didn't know where they were going.

"You're not taking me to a field and killing me are you?" She asked jokingly. "Is this because I called Nick Jonas hot a few days ago?"

Y/N chuckled as he kept driving.

"I am not going to murder you. But you are banned from listening to any Jonas Brothers or watching that recent Jumanji movie." He joked back.

He ended up stopping at the top of the driveway which lead to a large empty lot of land. He got out of the car and ended up opening the passenger's side to help Hailee out himself.

"At least it's not a field." She remarked.

He laughed as she closed the door. Y/N gestured for her to follow him as they walked toward the empty space.

They stepped onto the dirt and walked on top of it. They made it to the other side, which was a hill that had a great overlook of the neighborhood and the skyline.

"It's beautiful." She said. "It's great to be back here. Feels like so long."

"Lots of memories made here." Y/N replied as he also looked out. He remembered the years spent in the neighborhood and the time in middle school with Hailee and his friends.

"You remember when I asked you to the dance? In eighth grade?" He abruptly asked.

She chuckled. "Yeah. Made you sad when I said I was going out of state, huh?"

"Yeah, cried like a baby." He said rather nonchalantly, then continued. "I...was thinking of finally asking you to be my girlfriend that night."

She turned to him. Hailee didn't say a word and let him continue.

"Those years after that I felt like I lost my chance for good. You were out there acting. I was determined to follow in Kobe's footsteps and make the league. It seemed like our differing paths weren't going to make it possible to work something out. But...here I am, standing with you now. My soulmate."

Hailee smiled and closed the space between them with a kiss. They embraced and she parted to look into his eyes.

"My soulmate." She repeated.

He smiled and nodded back, still holding her close.

"And how awesome would it be...to be able to live with my soulmate here?"

She didn't get what he was inferring at first. Y/N stepped away and stretched his arms out. Hailee looked around the empty lot.

"I bought this property. Now our property. So we can build the house of our dreams. In the city we grew up in. I thought it was quite poetic."

Hailee was taken aback by the revelation. This was the surprise. The next step in their relationship and ownership of a house together.

"Are you serious?" She asked, still in awe.

"Of course, Haiz." He replied with a slight chuckle. "I would never joke about this. This is it."

Y/N put his arms down and went up to her. "But it is your decision. We can wait if this seems too quick. The land will still be here."

He held her hand and continued. "Either way, anywhere with you is home."

The singer-slash-actress felt so many emotions at once. She was still in shock at the surprise but also felt so much love for Y/N after what he said. She also held his hand.

"Let's do it." Hailee finally said. "Continue this journey together."

Y/N beamed in delight and hugged Hailee again. He spoke as they embraced.

"Good. Because I already have so many ideas for this place. I have to let it all out and put it to paper or something."

Hailee laughed as she pulled away. She kissed him on the cheek and he smiled.

"A house, huh?" Hailee asked. "We're really entering true adulthood."

"Oh, and I'm definitely feeling it." He replied. "Even famous, taxes are a pain in the ass to understand."

The couple began to walk away. She held his hand as they continued talking.

"This is really big place. It might feel pretty empty with just ourselves." She remarked.

He nodded. "What do you propose?"

"How about a dog?"

"How about two dogs?"

"How about three?"

Y/N chuckled. "Uh, I think two's fine."

"Or maybe start with one." Hailee thought about it. "We're both kinda busy."

"Right. So let's start with one. Then some time later we got another."

"Great!" She beamed. "I already have the perfect names for them."

•• Y/N L/N's DISCOGRAPHY ••

* = Produced and/or co-written

The Spotlight - Produced w/ DeSean (2015)

Leave - Haddon (2015)

* Haiz EP - Hailee Steinfeld (2015)

Am I Wrong - Haddon feat. ScHoolboy Q (2015)

Pitfalls - Haddon feat. Hailee Steinfeld (2016)

Wasted - Haddon (2015)

Scared To Be Lonely - Haddon & Dua Lipa (2017)

* 8TEEN - Khalid (2017)

* Young, Dumb, & Broke - Khalid (2017)

It Ain't Me - Haddon and Selena Gomez (2017)

* Passionfruit - Drake (2017)

Let Me Go - Hailee Steinfeld and Haddon ft. Florida Georgia Line (2017)

Slide - Haddon feat. Frank Ocean and Migos (2017)

Capital Letters - Hailee Steinfeld and Haddon (2018)

One Kiss - Haddon and Dua Lipa (2018)

* God's Plan - Drake (2018)

* Mob Ties - Drake (2018)

Eastside - Haddon, Halsey, and Khalid (2018)

You and Me - Haddon (2018)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/53lNHmpUYyXfwXVHpJGlks?si=nV43U0QJRcil8CXZQIkyeQ

• • •

A/N: So I actually did make a Spotify playlist with Y/N's current discography lmao so if you want you can copy the link above and check it out. I'll update it with new music as the story goes along.

Hope y'all enjoyed the chapter and see you in the next part!