A/N - "Thoughts"

Chapter 6 – Clear My Head

Gordo sat at his desk, with his feet propped up on it, staring out into space. Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes. A small smile tugged at his lips as an image of a certain brunette appeared.

Letting out a tired sigh, he rubbed his face with a hand. "Why can't I get her out of my head!" All week he couldn't focus on anything without his mind wondering to Miranda.

The past few months, Gordo knew his relationship with Miranda was changing. He tried to ignore it but the kiss on Monday, even though it was only on the cheek, cemented it. He was falling for her.

Gordo rubbed his face. "Why can't I fall for someone who isn't my best friend?" he joked to himself.

Sitting up, he ran a hand through his hair. "I gotta get out of here. Do something to get my mind off of it."

Throwing on a pair of sneakers, he walked out of his room and eventually out of the house. Reaching the street, he headed towards the park. It was a few minutes walk from his house.

Reaching the park, Gordo started wondering along the main path, not really heading anywhere specific.

After a few minutes, he found himself heading towards the basketball courts. Reaching the edge of the courts, he started to watch the game that was currently going on.

Gordo instantly recognized the tall blonde on the skins team. He watched Ethan grab a rebound, dribble once, and lay the ball back in.

As the teams raced to the other end, he spotted someone lagging behind and gasping for breath. Gordo grinned as he recognized him too. "Tudge," he thought with a laugh and a shake of the head.

During their freshman year, these three completely different guys somehow became friends. Each guy had his own reasons. It gave Gordo some close guy friends to counter the overload of estrogen from his best friends. Larry had what he called cool friends who didn't care about his little quirks. For Ethan, it gave him some real friends, not someone was only friend with him because of what he could do for them. Plus, in surprise to at least Larry and Gordo, they had fun hanging out together.

As the other team scored, Gordo yelled out to Larry. "Larry! You wanna sub?"

Larry gave him an extremely grateful look and dragged himself over to the sideline. Gordo took off his shirt and tossed it on the bench, next to where Larry was doubled over trying to catch his breath.

The game paused, waiting for Larry and Gordo to switch. As Gordo walked onto the court one of the guys from the shirts team snickered. "Better be careful tiny, I might run you over."

Gordo looked at him up and down, sizing him up. "You gotta catch me first," he answered with a grin.

Ethan stood out of bounds under the hoop with the ball and grinned. "Gordon." Passing Gordo the ball, Ethan ran up the court.

Catching the ball, he turned around and dribbled up-court. Meeting him at mid-court was the jerk. "Come on little man. Let's see what you got."

Gordo just grinned. He slowly dribbled towards the basket, slowly backing up his opponent. Reaching the top of the key, Gordo faked a pass to a teammate that got the other guy off balanced. Immediately, Gordo jumped and shot a jump shot.

As the ball swished through the net, Gordo pointed at him. "I aim to please."

The next few possessions, Gordo did the same thing, he showed him up.

On the following possession, the guy, completely frustrated by Gordo, waited until Gordo just made his cut to the hoop and forearmed Gordo in the face.

All Gordo knew was one minute he was heading towards the hoop and the next it felt like someone had tried to decapitate him. He didn't even feel crashing into ground, just the searing pain shooting through his head.

"Aw poor ba," the guy started to mock but before he could finish, Ethan decked him.

Ethan gently rubbed his fist and watched as the guy's nose bled. "You ever try a cheap shot like that again and I'll do more than break your nose," Ethan growled.

As Larry rushed the court, Ethan watched as the guy and his friends left. Turning around, he jogged over to where Larry was helping a disoriented Gordo sit up.

"You ok Gordon?" Ethan asked as he knelt down next to him.

"My head still attached?" Gordo joked as he held his head.

"Easy Gordo," Larry warned.

Gordo blinked a few times, trying to clear out the cobwebs. Gently touching his lip, he pulled his hand back to reveal blood. "How bad is it?" he asked still not completely sure how bad he was hurt.

Larry looked him over for a minute. "You lip's cut open but drying, you're gonna have a bruise under your left eye, and you may have a concussion. Other than that, nothing major."

Gordo laughed shakily. "Yea. Nothing major."

After Larry and Ethan helped him to his feet, the guys who were still there patted him on the back and some told him the guy was an asshole.

"I've had enough for today," Gordo said stretching his back and rubbing the back of his head.

"You want me to give you a ride home man?" Ethan asked.

"Nah. I'm okay. I'm a little groggy but ok. I talk to you guys later," Gordo walked over to the bench and put his shirt back on.

"See ya Gordon."

"Bye Gordo."

Gordo waved bye to his friends and walked down the path. As he walked, the pounding pain in his head lessened to a throbbing pain.

He chuckled softly as he gently touched the bump that was forming on his head. "This is the last time I play basketball without a helmet."