Can The Player PLAY The Player?

Point 16.

Z.B

I couldn't lie and say that I didn't feel much freer because that was the only thing that I felt. 

"Throw me the god damn ball so I can shoot it, Zaid!" I snapped from my daydream to see a sweaty Aaron holding his hands out in an impatient manner. I looked down to see that I was clutching the ball for dear life and I smirked. 

"Oh my bad," I smirked, watching as he rolled his eyes when I finally tossed him the ball. Now that the imaginary barrier between us was gone and there was no hatred or animosity brewing in the air anymore, it felt nice to be able to connect like this. We worked better than before, faster and in sync. 

The coach said it had to be a miracle because there was no other team that could take on this duo now. I couldn't imagine what we were before, but now, we were unstoppable. It was probably because we shared the same goals and the same dedication with the same ferocity and determination. I wanted nothing more to see Aaron smiling as he held the trophy at nationals, so I was going to do everything in my power to make sure that happened. 

"After this pass, I'm going to shoot it back to you when you get under the hoop so you can dunk it in," He explained and I nodded, knowing that he was trying to make use of the best asset I had: my height. I was arguably the tallest player on the team, so there was no mistaking that I had strong and long legs, one suitable enough to handle the constant jumping and dunking.

It was just Aaron and I practicing. Owen, Akito, and Omari had left earlier, and Aaron didn't seem like he was making moves to leave so I stayed with him.

Before, I would've done the same, but I would've hesitated. Now? I was going to be that annoying constant in his life and I wasn't ashamed to say so. I wanted to make sure that he was safe from harm, especially Paul, so what better way to protect him?

I was super happy when we slipped into old habits because I knew that I broke his heart. I knew that and I was going to make sure that I took my time putting it back together. I should've never done what I did to him, and that was something I was going to regret even in the grave. I was so thankful and so damn grateful that he accepted my apology because I didn't know what I was going to do with myself if he had broken off our friendship. 

There was a slight lie of omission though, not intentionally.

Me telling him that Paul didn't like him was the truth, but I didn't exactly tell him why. It was because my father realized I was bisexual and he knew that it was because of me being in love with Aaron. 

I wasn't sure if Aaron himself knew that he was the reason, not that I would ever tell him until I really had to. I've only just gotten his friendship back, so there was no way that I was going to push him away by saying, "Oh yeah, my father hates you because he knows you made me like boys. Whoops."

Aaron would drop kick me across the face of Earth before watching me burn in Hell. I didn't know that for sure, but I wasn't going to chance it. "You want to get dinner after we leave school?" I questioned and Aaron smiled before clapping his hands, a sign that I was going to regret asking. 

This man was a bottomless pit and my wallet cried every day because of him.

But alas, I didn't care.

"You're an idiot," I watched out for the ball that was heading incredibly fast in my direction, ducking just in the nick of time. I glared at Aaron who shrugged as if he had nothing to do with it, and I charged in his direction, putting him in a chokehold.

"Oi, bastard! Let me go!" He slapped at my arms and I let out a laugh, happiness and pure satisfaction being the only emotions that I was feeling. "Only if you say sorry."