The DELINQUENT
by
Silvermoon
Chapter 3
"I think Darien is gay." Serena said seemingly out of the blue. Andrew who was drinking coffee almost choked at Serena's statement.
"What the fuck?" Andrew exclaimed, reacting quite violently at the notion that his best friend, the guy he hangs out with practically everyday was gay.
"Such a violent reaction, Andrew. I never knew you were homophobic." Serena snickered. She hasn't quite gotten over the incident last week. Sure, the kiss was meaningless, but it still does not negate the fact that he kissed her. How infuriating. And to actually having that man catch her fist just when it was about to smash in to his 'oh so perfect face' only annoyed her more. Damn his reflexes.
"How the hell did our conversation veer away from basketball to Darien's sexual orientation?" Andrew asked incredulously. The topic was really giving him the chills. It's not like he has anything against homosexuals but for Darien to be gay? It was freaking him out a bit.
Serena just shrugged. "So? There's nothing wrong about changing the topic and there's nothing wrong with being a homosexual or talking about it for that matter."
"Is this your idea of telling me that you prefer girls over guys?"
"This isn't about me and for the record, I still prefer men"
"What's up with you and Darien anyway?" Andrew asked, relieved that they were no longer talking about Darien's sexuality.
"Nothing, really. He just gets in to my nerves."
"Everything gets in to your nerves."
"How typical of me. I should be shot."
"Before we completely veer off the topic of basketball, have you ever thought of playing again?"
"I really don't know. It still hurts. It wasn't as bad as before but it's still there, always there, painful enough for me to be aware of it all the time." Serena said softly. Hope of ever playing again diminishes day by day. Every morning, she wakes only to feel the painful reminder of her glory days in the basketball court.
"I'm not even sure if my leg does heal that I'll still be able to play." Serena continued on. Andrew looked at her, startled at the revelation. As far as he knew, to play basketball is like breathing air for Serena.
"What do you mean by that, Serena?"
"Exactly as I said. I went to the basketball court by the park yesterday and just stood there. I just stood there trembling in fear because I saw myself playing, running and dribbling the ball. Then, once again I saw myself falling, with this unbearable pain in my leg." Serena closed her eyes in pain.
Andrew just stared at Serena, not knowing what to say. The pained expression in her face was enough for him to imagine the hell his cousin must be going through. He swore to himself that he will help his cousin go through this. They were Parkers, they were meant to legends.
---
History class for Serena with Darien sitting behind her was torture. As usual, class was a chore with sleep as a better alternative. To her defense, almost everyone in class was already asleep. But unlike everybody else, Serena didn't have a considerate 'back mate.' She had a rather inconsiderate one at that. Every time she was about to rest her head in her desk to catch some z's, Darien would start poking Serena at the back with his pencil. Today was not an exception.
Honestly, getting jabbed at the back with a pencil was not her ideal cup of tea. Serena turned to glare at the jackass also known as Darien Shields.
Darien just grinned and resumed taking down notes. For some reason, after getting over the incident wherein his masculinity was questioned, Darien found some perverse pleasure in ruining Serena's day. To just see Serena's pissed off face was enough to make his day worthwhile.
He heard Serena hiss. Darien grinned inwardly and shook his head.
Darien was about to turn his attention back to the lecture on the Battle of Thermopylae when he noticed Serena grabbing the eraser from the desk of her seatmate. He was able to duck in time when Serena chucked the eraser to his direction. The person sitting behind his back, however, wasn't as lucky.
The person sitting at the back was about to complain when the bell signaling the end of the class rang.
"You missed." Darien said leaning in behind Serena's seat to whisper to her ear. Know Serena's violent tendencies, He immediately stepped back just in time to miss the elbow that Serena was about to jab at his ribs.
"This must be your lucky day." Serena said darkly and got up. She had two more classes to go: Math and Physical Education.
Although she was injured, she was still required to attend her P.E. class. If it were any consolation, she just has to stay in the bleachers and watch. It was still a drag.
Not having any need to change her clothes in the locker room, she went straight to the gym only to be sent back by the coach telling her that she will be doing something during class albeit something not strenuous. Therefore, she has to change just like the rest of the class.
Just her luck, they were playing basketball. Apparently, she will act as the manager and take down the stats. Why she has to change to take down stats remain a mystery to her.
Being assigned to be the statistician of the girl's team, she didn't really have that much to do. The team was composed of girls who were non-athletes who would rather be putting on makeup than dribbling a basketball. As such, the game didn't really quite progress since almost every minute; someone was double dribbling or traveling.
As if her day couldn't get any worst, the gym doors opened and the guy's varsity team entered. Apparently, varsity has study period as a last class during Fridays. Instead of studying however, they'd play basketball instead to make headway with their training.
She saw Darien enter along with Andrew. Apparently Andrew was saying something funny since Darien burst out laughing. Of course, the great Darien laughing didn't go unnoticed. Majority of the basketball team members she was keeping track off stopped playing.
The coach gave up and told them to just sit in the bleachers and watch the practice for the duration of the class. Maybe, just maybe, they'd be able to pick up a thing or two from the experts like actually dribbling the ball when they move back and forth the gym.
Andrew then noticed Serena sitting by the bleachers with a clipboard in hand. He waved and Serena gave a nod of acknowledgement. Serena purposely ignored Darien. Darien only grinned at that.
The team started their stretching exercises and drills. Just when a mock game was going to start, the bell rang. Since this was Serena's last class, she decided to just stick around since leaving wouldn't do any good anyway. Her ride was still here, practicing.
She had to admit, their team was good. If she were to go against them with her former team, she'd bet that it would be a tough game. She noted that Andrew would definitely be a threat to them with his solid 3-point shooting but it was obvious that the biggest threat in their team was no other than Darien.
He directed the plays of the team as the point guard. In her estimation, Darien was too big to be a point guard. Watching him, however, made her realize that he was fast and agile for his size. He can basically shoot, steal, defend and rebound like the best of them. He was without a doubt a well rounded player that is considered as an asset to any team.
Time flew by without her noticing. Soon enough, practice came to an end. Everyone left the team with the exception of Andrew and Darien who continued shooting hoops.
"Oi! Andrew! Put a move on it. I'm bored."
"You could have walked have walked home, Rena."
"Blah blah." She said, getting up from her seat in the bleachers.
"Hey Serena! Catch!" Darien said as he threw the basketball for Serena to catch.
Serena almost froze but was able to gather her wits and catch the ball before it slammed in to her face. "That the fuck, dickwad. What am I suppose to do with this? I think it'd be a better idea if you practice those three pointers so you wouldn't look like a sissy in the three point line."
Instead of replying, Darien went to the three point line. He dribbled the ball. Once, then twice. He then held the ball. With his right hand, he raised the ball; His left hand supporting it. Exerting enough force, the ball flew in a perfect arc straight to the net.
"You were saying something?" Darien asked. He retrieved the ball and threw it back to Serena.
"Show off." Serena said, throwing the ball to Darien, a little harder this time. Before Darien can throw it back at her, she already had her back to him and was heading to the exit.
"Was that just me or did you cousin practically ran away? "Darien remarked. "I was half expecting her to take the challenge. What's wrong with her?"
"Hey Serena!" Darien called out. But Serena just kept on walking towards the exit, her back stiff.
It didn't escape Anderw's notice that Serena momentarily froze when Darien initially threw the ball for her to catch. Though she tried to look tough, he noticed fear in her eyes.
