Disparaging future

Chapter 17

Luke is doing swift movements, dramatically imitating an intense basketball game. He wipes off his face sweat and huffs heavily. Lifting the ball to the basket, he smoothly jumps and purposely bounces the ball off the basket board. "Oh no the star player missed his shoot. What will the team do! This shooting guard obviously needs lessons. He should try asking the pretty blond she detests." He grabs the ball again. He dramatically shoots the ball again and the ball goes in, "There you have it folks she was regained her fame. She doesn't suck at all, she might even be better than Perry." He shoots the ball a third time and misses the basket. 

I grab the ball and give him a sour look. "Are you done?" 

"Well, I was barely getting started, " He smirks.  

I clench my teeth and throw the ball as hard as I can right in his gut. "Oof," He falls backward. 

I look down at him, "I asked you to help me train. Not to make fun of me. I'm out."

I turn to leave when he grabs my arm. I shove his arm away. "Look, I'm sorry. I thought you would find it funny."

"Newsflash I didn't."

"Yeah, I can see that," He says in a mocking tone.

"Well, I don't need someone to mockingly show me I suck."

"Look, anyone would have laughed," He explains. 

"Not me!"

He rolls his eyes, "Ok, that's it. I give." He heads toward his house. 

"What?" I call after him.

"I give. I can't do this," He gestures in my direction.

"What do you mean?"

"Train you. I can't do it."

"Why! You promised."

He stops and turns around, "After that comment earlier, I decided I can't."

"First of all, that wasn't my fault. You're the one who crossed the line."

"Yes, I did. And I said I was sorry! But with your attitude, I can't. I literally don't know what is the big problem."

"My attitude? And who are you to tell me to fix my attitude?"

"I'm not. But I also don't want to deal with it."

 "So that's it. You're going back on your word."

"As much as it pains me, not everyone has a perfect family ok? Your lucky to have found a way to restart your life with your parents. I didn't Ok? I don't understand where this sour attitude of yours comes from. You have a home, a normal home. I have a family split apart, with complicated relationships. While you.... you have your blood-related sister, both parents, STILL married, living together."

 I stare at him speechless. My life is not perfect, my family is not normal. I hate that home. "I'm adopted, " I mumble. Does everyone think my life is perfect?

"What?"

"I'm adopted, you idiot!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Neither of us has spoken for a while. I try to avoid looking Luke's way. At last, Luke lets out a very huge sign and ruffs his fingers through his hair, "Ugh!" I look down at the stairs. After our outburst, we sat down on the back porch on its stairs. 

Luke has his face tucked in his lap. I bite my lip. I really want to leave, I look at the gate. Luke snaps his head up, "Why didn't you tell me." He turns his attentions to me. 

I scoff, "Right like you tell me everything."

"Well, I let you into my home in the few days I met you."

I bite my bottom lip. Look up to suppress any unnecessary tears. "My parents died when I was in highschool." I swallow. I've never told that to anyone but I feel at peace telling Luke. I never told Lura. I never even told Taylor back when we were close. 

It's already evening and the stars are becoming more visible. 

"Come on, I'll show you something cool." Luke gets up and walks inside. I follow. We enter his room and he opens the window. He climbs outside and gestures me to follow. 

The moon is up and the stars have lit up every inch of the house. It's beautiful. I look over at luke and sit next to him. 

He starts, "I don't expect you to tell me everything. You don't have to. But just to let you know not everyone is perfect, you already know. My mom went through a lot of stuff before she got her life together. So I want you to know that I will not judge."

I swallow hard. "Lura likes you," I blur out. 

"Lura? Tall brown sugar."

I look at him with my eyebrow furrowed. 

"She looks like a caramel stick." he shrugs.

"Anyway, she likes you and I guess you heard or probably saw the whole show we put up for everyone."

"I actually didn't see it, but I did hear about it."

"Well..... What do you say?"

"About what?" he asks puzzled.

"Well, you and her?" I ask unsure.

"There's nothing to say."

"Do you think I'm a freak?" I ask.

"Oh yeah." He pauses, " I'm joking. No, you have your things you're dealing with just like everyone else."

"Thanks" I mumble.

"But next time tell me if I'm wrong."

"Wrong?"

"Yeah, just like when I assumed you were happy."

'Well, One thing I can tell you is that I hate my home. I can't even call it home. I want to be a starter so I can get scouted and have a full-ride scholarship. That's why I was desperate and even asked you for help. I need to leave home."  

"Now, that I know that I promise that I will get you on that trip."

"Even, when I stink at point guard."

"From what I say at the game is that you need to concentrate and mostly forget about playing point guard. The coach put you as shooting guard which means that you have a shot to replace Jackie more than you have replacing Kyra."

Even though he can't see me, I nod. 

"What's your star sign?" Luke breaks the silence. 

"I actually don't know."

"when's your birthday?"

"May 20" This conversation sounds similar. Taurus?

"It's Taurus then."

"Do you regularly climb roofs?" I ask not sure how to word that question.

" I guess, you can say I do. I like looking at the stars. My birthday is-"

"Taurus," we both say at the same time. 

I can't clearly see Luke's face, but I know he's slightly confused. "Will? 

"Where did you hear that?"

"That day at Taylor's house. That was you!"