Part Six
Betrayal
Trophies
"And where have you been?" He was asked even before he got back downstairs.
"I was at the library."
"Now where are you going?"
"The Billiard Hall."
"You have got to be kidding me."
"No, why was there some thing I suppose to do?"
"Gee I dunno… may be help celebrate Ryo's birth day."
"Ah, I completely forgot! What about Kento…?"
"He has an excuse."
"I'm really sorry but there's something I'm suppose to do and I'm late as it is."
"So what's more important?"
"… I have to meet some one."
Sage just gave him an inquisitive look. He knew he was up to some thing.
"Alright. I'm going to the pool hall to meet some one. They found me at the library and challenged me."
"So you're going to go hustle."
"No, it's just a challenge. I'd invite yous along, but I know how yous feel about that kind of environment."
"Hold on, we'll be ready in a few minutes." Sage said going downstairs.
"Besides… I'd like to see what you been up to in your long absent hours." He added.
He knew that was going to happen. That's why he tried to slip through the house as fast and quiet as he could. As it was he had spent more than two hours at the Library. And procrastinated on his way home. Stopping here and there.
Plus, a jaunt or two around the nearby park. So he was late, by about two hours or more. Now he had to wait for the other two to get ready and stop heckling enough to actually get something done. By the time they got to the Hall it was about six thirty. There was no problem however. Sage made it into a gallivant for Ryo's birthday. Ryo had no clue what they were really there for. Which would have been fine. But, when they got there. Will wasn't anywhere to be seen. They waited around for another twenty minutes when he seen him come through the door. And here he was afraid of being late.
"Sorry, I'm late. I have never had a good sense of time." He said smiling as he picked out a cue and checked it for its weight.
"I didn't notice." Sage said under his breath. But of course, Will heard it.
He gave a quick glance from the corner of his eye.
"So, what are yous' playing for?" Ryo said trying to make conversation.
"I don't play for money. What are you willing to part with?" Will said changing glances from Ryo to Rowen.
"So you play for trophies." Sage said sitting down next to the table that was near.
"In a way… what about that sweatband you got on your brow?" He said smiling again.
"And what are you going to part with?"
"What would you like?" His voice suddenly smug.
Rowen looked him up and down trying to figure out what the guy would part with ignoring what he had implied.
"What about that fancy barrette you have your hair tied up in?"
"Fair trade… Hey Blondie rack'em up." Will said putting chalk on his cue.
"I have a name you know." Sage said gathering the balls in the rack.
"Really? What is it?"
"Sage." He said giving him a glare.
"Well, thank you, Sage. I'll have to remember you when I want a loose rack." He said shooing away Sage from the table. And then made sure they were nice and tight.
"I'll break." Rowen said walking to the other end.
Watching Rowen break he leaned over to Ryo.
"And who are you?"
"Ryo." He said trying to voice over the crack of the connection of balls on the table.
"You play to?"
"Not really." He said as Rowen followed through with a few more balls into the side and corner pockets.
"Your turn." Rowen said as the ball stopped just on the edge of the pocket.
"Don't look so glum chum… you'll have another shot." He said walking around the table to find his game plan.
"Your lucky this isn't 9 ball." He added looking at what Rowen had left him.
"Stop your stualling and shoot."
"Staulling?" He bent over making his first shot in with out a problem. Then followed by few more in the same fashion.
Then his consistancy came to a halt. Upon his last shot his stripe had gone in followed by the cue ball.
"Tat went in slicker dan snnnnnot." They turned to see Sage watching intently.
"Are you drinking?" Ryo asked walking over to him.
"Ah, I think I like him like this." Will said giving the table to Rowen.
With only a couple left on the table, Rowen looked over everything carefully.
"I believe this game… Is mine." He said as the 8 ball sailed in gently.
"I believe your right." William said taking his hair out and handing his barrette over to its new owner.
"On for another game?" He said flipping his hair to the side.
"I'd say that game was a little too quick." He added.
Rowen looked to his friends… they seemed to be intrigued with the game so…
"You're on."
A few games later and a now more happy Sage. William had Rowen's blue jean jacket, his wristband, along with a few other miscellaneous items.
"Sorry, you must have beginners luck. You can have another chance at getting these back later if you wish. But, for now…" Will said turning to Ryo and Sage and said with a smile.
"Don't you's think this would look better red?" He said holding up his final victory which happen to be his sweatband.
"Hey, don't go thinking those are yours permanently. I'm going to get those back."
"Alright, I won't do any thing to them… or this." He said putting the sweatband in the pocket of the jean jacket and sliding it on.
"But you better practice. And enjoy the barrette." He said smugly leaving the Hall.
"Appy widdle ssucker eh?" Sage added as Will left.