Chapter 13: Rematch (Part One)
Thanks for the support, constructive criticism, and feedback! Sorry for the wait and for procrastinating. "You're one of the ones I want to fight the
most." (Sasuke v.)
"Did you have to do that Dad?" Nate crossed his arms and shook his head.
"You're not allowed there." Dan growled through his teeth.
"Keith is my uncle too-"
Dan pulled over, and leapt at Nate, grabbing his shirt by the collar. He began to shake him. Nate's eyes filled with fear, and that drove Dan wild. It was as if he was
staring back at himself. Fear was for cowards, he'd told himself. His son would not be a coward like that mistake.
"Okay, Dad! Okay!" Nate's eyes filled with tears, as Dan let go. He put his hands on the steering wheel.
He stared straight ahead.
"Get out." He growled.
"Gladly, Dad." Nate said getting out and slamming the door behind him.
Dan sped off, paying no attention to his disheveled, scared, frustrated, and confused son. Nate was certainly at a crossroads. He hated his dad so much. He hated
living with him, looking like him, and never being enough for him. He saw an unfamiliar place and was drawn to it. He must have sat there on the bleachers at the
River Court for hours, because when he came to, it was dark. Someone was shooting a basketball.
This can't get any worse, he thought, knowing he looked as bad as he felt.
Luke saw him and held the basketball in one arm, wondering why Nathan was there.
"I'm sorry, am I ruining your day?"
"You would be if you didn't look so pitiful."
Nate had to laugh at that.
"You're a real punk, you know that?"
"I'm having a good day on account of your misery, remember?"
Nate laughed again.
"I feel so out of place."
"Welcome to my world. I'm sorry about Dan."
"He's your Dad too."
Nate didn't look at Luke when he said it.
"Is he? I thought I was a mistake."
Nate laughed again.
"He says that, so he doesn't have to acknowledge you."
Now it was Luke's turn to laugh.
"I'm kind of hard to miss."
"Welcome to my world."
"You're lucky."
"The grass always looks greener on the other side because you're not standing in it. He shook me like a ragdoll, and left me on the side of the road. You don't know
how free you are not to have a monster like Dan Scott breathing down your neck."
"At least you know him."
"Be careful what you wish for."
Luke sat down next to him. He handed Nate the ball. Nate took it hesitantly. Luke raised his hands in surrender.
"It's not the Space Jam ball, I promise."
"What's the catch?"
"It's part of my world." Luke said, with a smile.