"Can I Style You Pt II"
After the Suns victory against the Washington Wizards, Tiny Jimenez was met at his locker with a delivery from a staffer.
"For you, Sir." the young man said as he handed over a collection of clothing prior to the post-game press conference.
Tiny hung the hangers on his locker before answering questions from the media presence within the locker room. Once the media was cleared out, he unzipped the bag & found a note on the shirt that simply read, "Can I style you?"
"Aye, yall!" Tiny shouted out to his teammates.
"You remember when that woman had the gall to ask me if she could style me in the middle of a game?"
"Yeah? So?" Aaron Christmas said as he tossed his jersey into the locker.
Tiny looked at the note & the signature that only read "Noor".
"She actually followed through. Aye.. I'm going to put this on for the presser."
--
"Tiny, over here. Arizona Sports Network. The Washington Wizards' defense had the offense figured out in the first half. What adjustments did you make to retake the lead in the second half?"
“Good question. First half they did a solid job of cutting off the pick & roll. They were daring us to beat them to our spots but we struggled to knock down open looks. At halftime we talked about shifting the spacing.. setting our screens a step deeper so their help had farther to travel. Once that happened, the floor opened up. Credit to them though. That’s a disciplined defense. They made us adjust, and I respect that. But when you stay patient and trust the reads, eventually something gives. Tonight it broke our way.”
"Over here.. Derrick Vance with ESPN. Tiny, tonight you looked especially locked in down the stretch. Was that something you consciously saved for late in the game, or did the flow just call for you to take over?"
"I'm glad it looked like that to you, haha. My teammates trusted me with the ball late, so I just stayed patient and took what the defense gave. That’s really all it was.”
"Tiny.. Over here! Imani Carr. New York Times. Do you think the public perception of you as a polarizing figure is something you’ve leaned into strategically, or—"
Tiny cut her off.
"Wait, wait, wait. Did you say the New York Times?
"Um, yes sir. I'm Imani Carr with the New York Times."
"No. I'm not interested in speaking with the New York Times. Who sent you here? Your boss, Stan Dover? He’s been dying to make me the villain in every Times piece."
"Heh.. Yeah, that's Stan." she said under her breathe.
"Well honestly, Tiny, my question is it because you disagree with how you’ve been covered, or because you think criticism distracts from your performance?
He sat back in his seat visibly uncomfortable.
“…I’ll answer you. Not for the paper. For you.”
"I’ve been in this league a long time, so I understand how coverage works. Some of it’s fair, some of it’s opinions, and that’s part of the game. Everybody’s got a job to do.. You included. I don’t really spend energy on narratives. I spend it on my family, my teammates, and figuring out what’s in front of me on the court to put this team ahead. That’s what actually affects winning. Everything else is just… conversation.”
"Thank you, Tiny." Imani said as she returned to her seat for another reporter to ask a question.
--
After the conclusion of the press conference, Tiny contacted his agent to find out more about Noor, who sent him the outfit to wear to the post-game press conference. His agent responded with her social media account that detailed an address to a fashion studio located in the center of Tempe, not far from ASU's campus.
The next day he visited the location.
As he walked into the building, no entourage or security, he witnessed a photographer & a model. She was modeling a Christmas theme before Tiny interrupted the session.
"Ahem... excuse me.." he apologetically said.
"I"m looking for a Noor. I have to return this to her."
At that time, the woman behind the camera stopped focusing on the model & gave him her undivided attention.
"I'm Noor.." she replied as her bright green eyes focused on him.
“Oh, Tiny! Welcome!" she said as she walked towards him.
"You brought it back yourself. That’s… very nice of you..”
“I mean, yeah. It’d be weird leaving it for someone else to handle, right?” he replied.
“And you actually wore it I saw.” she replied as she accepted the outfit back from him.
"Of course. What kind of person would turn down the chance to model free clothes?" he joked.
"But my question for you is how did you pull it off & get the clothes to my locker? & how did you know my exact size?"
"I have friends.. & I took a guess. Guess I got lucky."
"Look, if you want to try something new, I would absolutely love to style you again.. Even if the New York Times is trying to grill you on a new lead."
"Ha! I see you got jokes. Yeah, I'm definitely interested. I dig your vision.. We should talk collaboration. How about over lunch or dinner sometime? I’ll have my agent reach out & we'll figure out a time."
"Wait a second. You're asking me out to dinner?" she teased, completely stunned by the interaction entirely.
"Yeah. Just to pitch the next round. Just food, ideas, and fabrics."
"Okay. Dinner it is then."
"Cool. We'll keep it simple."
As the two stood there together, the awkwardness started to fill the air.
"Um.. Thanks again.. for returning this.. I have to get back to my client now."
"It's nice to meet you, Noor." Tiny said as he extended a handshake.
"It's nice to meet you too, Tiny.. Oh wait! Here.." she said as she wrote her personal number down on her business card.
"You know.. If you ever need to reach me directly instead of.. you know.. through your agent."
Tiny accepted the card & put it in his pocket.
"Okay, cool. We'll be in touch.."
The two said their farewells and Tiny returned to his driver waiting in the parking lot.
![[img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51066730087_8f014a0403_o.gif[/img]](./images/smilies/51066730087_8f014a0403_o.gif "Jonesy")
the fit was fitting 
Sounds like Noor did her job.
vs. 
