The Basketball Boy From Beverly

All eyes were on him. He was used to the feeling of being new, already, like a curse. He looked up at the ceilings and the lockers. They were just like his previous school. A smile shaped out on his face “What are you smiling at?” A threatening voice roared beside him. He walked past, without taking a look. There was the innate feeling that no one in the school could beat him. Not in a fight, at least. “You weren’t staring at my girlfriend, were you?” He kept moving. He could tell the question was directed at him. *I haven’t even seen a girl cute enough to catch my attention* “Fool. I’m talking to you, newbie”, the voice roared again. “You wanna die?!” He stopped and smiled. “What do you want?”, he asked. He had really got the attention of everyone. He’d rather not let it remain. Gray turned around and looked at the student approaching him. “Why were you staring at my girl?” “I don’t even know who-“, Gray replied, looking up at the girl they referred to. “your girl is hot!” A punch landed on his face, swiftly. Gray looked at him and saw the short twitch on his face. Whoever the student was, he wasn’t very confident. “Say that again and get another one” *This is ridiculous* “I am sorry, alright? Go to your girl.” The student stared angrily at him, watching him walk away. “Brad”, a voice called from behind. The Basketball team captain approached him. “What was that? Did you guys fight?” “He was checking out my girl… right in front of me”, Brad replied. “But he’s damn strong” “Wait. Did he hit you?” “No, no… I hit him” **★** “... Then I’m not going to show up” “Come on!”, Kevin laughed. “You guys should really get along. You know you’re the real deal. She doesn’t even care” “Well, I care”, Chloe replied, running her fingers lightly on his chest. “She either stays away… or she comes around and she stays ten yards away from you” “Hey”, Kevin called, staring at the newbie battling with his locker. “Why did you do that?” Gray turned. “Do what? Because I can”, he glanced at Chloe. Now, that was one girl worthy of catching his attention. His stare lasted a while. Kevin proceeded towards him and hit him in the chest. “Were you checking my girl out?”, Kevin attacked. “You seem to have a knack for staring, don’t you?” “Stay away, man. I’m sorry for checking your-“ A student dashed past him, grabbing his bag from his hold. “Why does this look like a sack?”, he jested. “I’ll get rid of it for you. Should I?” They were on the same team. He could tell. “Give me my backpack, man. I don’t want trouble” “Are you going to catch me?”, he teased. “Come on. Come get me” Gray dashed towards him, swiftly. Kevin stepped right into the way, sweeping Gray off his feet. He slammed heavily on the ground. All eyes were on him again, with full attention. *I can’t let this happen again* “That’s enough, Will”, Kevin said, mocking. “He’s learned his lesson” Gray pushed himself up. The episode was probably over. He unintentionally glanced at the girl’s face, catching her sympathizing smile; a carefree pity. The ‘Will’ guy stepped closer and threw the bag at him. “Know your place, boy”. Kevin smiled, as Wilson walked away. He squatted in front of Gray. “You have learned your lesson, right?”, he threw a punch at Gray’s face, making him fall back down. “That sounds like a yes. Join the basketball team and save yourself from more humiliation” Gray rolled on his back, staring up at the ceilings. He smiled for a second. It was over, eventually. At least, that wasn’t the longest episode he had ever had. The girl stepped over to Kevin and looked at Gray on the ground. “I was expecting you to fight back”, she said, with a smile. “I guess you don’t deserve your size, after all” He should feel bad about that but it had happened again and again, everywhere he had been to. He was used to it already… and all the eyes that stared at him. “Hey”, a voice called. A girl stepped over to him, holding out her hand. “Come on, get up. You look too handsome for the ground” Gray smiled and took the hand, getting pulled up. “Thank you” “It’s funny. You still smile after getting that beating”, she said, freely. “Tell me. What’s the secret?” “There’s no secret”, Gray replied. “I just thought of how easy it is to bring someone like that down” Two guys walked over to them. “Hi”, one of them spoke. He was short and tanned. “Sorry about what happened” “No. I’m fine” “I am Jake”, the second guy said, shaking hands with Gray. He was tall and thin. Just from the looks, he could tell they were the persecuted ones in the school. “I am Harry”, the short one said too. “What’s your name?” “I am Gray”, he smiled. “It’s nice to meet you… How about you? You’re not going to say your name?” “You’re going to pay for that”, she replied, staring seductively. “You can’t run. You’ll need me, anyway, so you’ll still have to pay for a lot of things…. So what were you saying about bringing Kevin down?” “You mean that guy? I didn’t say I was going to bring him down”, Gray said. “But it’s easy to bring down someone who only garners support from his brute” “If you are talking about the Kevin that just kicked your ass, he’s not just brute”, Harry said. “He is the best basketball player the school has. He is strong. He has a lot of followers and he dates the hottest girl in the school” “I’m hot too, you know?”, the girl muttered and nudged him. “That’s it”, Gray muttered. “I am going to join the basketball team” “What?!”, Jake exclaimed. “If you’re not good enough, he will only bully you a lot more. If you turn out better than him, he will find a reason to kick you out of the team” “That’s totally fine. I can’t join the Loser’s club anyway… there’s a Loser’s club, right?” “How did you know there is a Loser’s club?” “Meeting you guys alone; that spreads the gospel”, Gray replied. “You don’t like the name but they use it on you anyway… I have been to two places and this is how it happens. That’s how I know” The girl stepped closer and put her hand across his shoulder. “You guys have to excuse us”, she said. “My boyfriend and I; we need to talk” His heart beat rapidly. He wasn’t a fan of that kind of joke. She looked beautiful enough to get anyone she wanted with just a stare so why would she choose him. “I’m kinda uncomfortable with this”, Gray muttered. “Can you take your hand off my shoulders?” “My ex also resisted at first”, She replied. “I won his heart… then I broke it… because he resisted” “You’re sure he’s not glad you broke his heart?”, Gray teased. “I mean; if he resisted, then he probably didn’t like you” “You don’t like me?”, she spoke sensually, gaping slightly with seductive eyes. “You sure you don’t?” Gray pushed her gently. “Don’t tempt me, please”, he said. “It’s my first day here” He walked on and left her standing. “I love you too!”, she yelled, staring at his back. He was the only one being stared at. They were already used to the girl’s absurdity, apparently. ………. His eyes darted around the classroom, frequently. While they seemed silent and focused, he could tell there was no competition. There was no zeal and no one would care if anyone had higher or lower grades. That was satisfying, at least. “Hi” A whisper slithered into his ear. It was almost too loud to not go around the class. “Hi, Gray” He turned. It was the girl. He smiled. “What do you want?”, he asked. “Stop being creepy” “We meet again”, she said. “I think it’s destiny” “Lena”, the tutor called. “And the new boy. What would you like to share with the rest of the class?” “It’s nothing, sir… sorry for the interruption”, Gray replied. Everyone glanced at him, one after the other. “Are you sure? ‘cause I think I heard you say something about the centripetal force”, the tutor said. “Can you give us the centripetal force formula?” “Uh…” “Mass multiplied by Velocity square… then divided by the radius”, the girl answered. “That is it, right?” The tutor stared back for a few seconds and nodded. “How about the centripetal acceleration formula?”, he asked again. “Give us, new boy” “Velocity square divided by radius”, Gray replied. “That is it” The tutor nodded and the continued the class. Gray leaned back. “You are more intelligent than you look,” he whispered. “You’re still the same i***t”, she whispered back. “We have a lot of things in common” ……………. “So you’re a nerd?”, Gray asked. “I’m not a nerd”, she replied, as they walked down the hallway. “I just don’t fail the tests” “That’s cool, though… Lena” She smiled. “I see you got my name quickly”, she said. “Now, you owe me” “No, I don’t. You didn’t tell me so I don’t have to pay you for anything”, he glanced at her. “How did you get classified among the losers?” She smiled. “I don’t get that question… No one’s a loser. I’m not a fan of these ones acting like they are better so I just mix with everyone…. And I’ve never been called a loser, actually. They are called losers because they refuse to fight back” “Looks like losers have started hooking up too”, a guy said, standing by his locker. He didn’t seem much of a physical bully. He looked much more like a nerd but he was rich. “I had that idea” “Say ‘Loser’ again, Matt, and I will shove your head up your ass”, Lena threatened, stepping closer. Gray pulled her gently by the hand. “Leave him, Lena”, he muttered. “He doesn’t deserve your attention” “What did you say, b***h?”, Matt stepped closer, daringly. “You got a pretty nice ass. You want me to-“ Lena slapped him hard, fuming angrily. Matt sprung towards her and Gray pulled her aside. “What are you trying to do?”, Gray asked. “You want to hit a girl?” “What are you doing? You want to be her superman?”, Matt howled and hit him on the chest. “Come on, fight me…. Fight me, now. Don’t be a coward” “I don’t want to knock you out, Matt or whatever you’re called”, he said and pulled Lena with him. “Let’s go” “I’m going to get you, some day, new boy”, Matt said, loudly. “I’ll make you beg” “You couldn’t hit him, uh?”, Lena muttered, angrily. “He called me a b***h and all you could do was talk” “Don’t get so sensitive about this”, Gray said. “People say things. You don’t have to react to everything” “You find excuses for everything. Matt always does that. I’m not going to hand out with someone who’s just going to let it go”, she pushed his chest and walked away. *Wow! That was short….. We didn’t even date and we already broke up. Saves me from attention, at least* “New boy!” Gray turned. It was Kevin. He was going to talk to him, anyway, so he walked over. “Hi, Kevin” “You already know my name”, Kevin said, proudly. “Sounds like you’re working hard enough to fit in” “You got quite the popularity”, Gray replied. “I thought about your offer” “Hmm… so are you going to play basketball? Are you good? I mean, you got the build” “Not good enough to break the records I hear of you”, Gray answered, confidently. “I’m going to join the basketball team” “Alright…. You are new. We will be needing you around to test out what you can do”, Kevin said. “So you have to join the boarding house” “I have joined already. See you around”, Gray replied and turned, walking away. Kevin’s girlfriend walked past him, staring with superiority. The pitiful smile was still on her face but she said nothing.