⊹₊⟡⋆ 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 ..! ⊹₊⟡⋆

. ݁₊ ⊹ (The Bascketball Diaries) .. #

"because you and i we were born to live"

The small diner was alive with the familiar buzz of students hanging out after school, chattering over baskets of fries and milkshakes served in tall, chilled glasses. The neon lights gave everything a warm, nostalgic glow, like something straight out of an old movie. Vinyl booths lined the walls, and in one of them, Sasha, Adrian, Lauren, and Jason sat, joined by a few of Jason’s teammates. Each group seemed comfortably split into their own conversations, yet close enough to interject every now and then.

𝑨𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌

At one end, Jason was deep in talk with his teammates, laughing about something probably only they found funny. Meanwhile, Adrian, Lauren, and Sasha sat together, letting their conversation drift as they picked at their food.

“Yeah, so Neutron,” Lauren started, leaning in, “I know he seems like he’s all about basketball now, but it’s more than that. He cares about his friends – really cares – he’s just... focused.” She glanced at Adrian, as if looking for some sign of understanding. “Like, he wants to make it, you know? But he doesn’t want to end up like Jim or Mickey. They kind of threw it all away.”

Adrian nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly as she thought about Jim’s recent actions. “I mean... I get it. Neutron’s just trying to do his own thing. Jim’s my friend, but lately... it’s been messy.”

Lauren lowered her voice and continued, “And like, I get why Jim’s going through it, but Neutron? He’s just trying to steer clear of all that. He distanced himself because, like... it’s just too much. It was fun when they could hang and still do well, but now it’s like, everything's different. Even Coach Swifty’s been really impressed by him.”

At the mention of Coach Swifty, Adrian’s smile faded. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, the memory of Swifty’s actions toward Jim flashing through her mind. Keeping her tone as even as she could, she muttered, “Yeah, well, Swifty has his... favorites.” She said it with enough edge that Lauren took notice.

Lauren glanced at her and quickly said, “Whoa, Adrian, I didn’t mean it like that.” She raised her hands as if to calm her down. “I just meant that Swifty thinks Neutron has a real shot, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Adrian shrugged, reaching for her soda to hide her annoyance. “It’s just... complicated. And Jim… well, he deserves more credit than people give him. And it’s not his fault that things went south.”

Lauren looked away, momentarily flustered, and then turned to Sasha, changing the subject. “Anyway, speaking of things we deserve—Friday is coming up, and we’re going shopping for your birthday party supplies, right?”

Sasha’s face lit up, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. “Oh, totally! I was thinking we could do something really over-the-top this year. I wanted us all there to pick out decorations and maybe grab some outfits.”

Then she glanced at Adrian and, with a slightly exaggerated pout, added, “But of course, some people will be sitting it out…”

Adrian gave her an apologetic look. “Hey, I’m just lucky I’m even here today. My mom gave me this 30-minute window before I have to get back.” She gestured over her shoulder, as if her mother were right there, watching every move. “It’s fine, though. I don’t want to mess it up.”

Sasha grinned. “Well, at least you’re here now. And don’t worry – I’ll take plenty of pictures so you don’t miss a thing.”

As if on cue, Jason leaned over, stealing a quick kiss from Sasha with a playful grin before he grabbed his plate of stir fry, claiming, “I love you, baby,” in an exaggerated, romantic tone.

Sasha returned his kiss with a giggle, while Adrian and Lauren both shared a look of disgust.

“Ugh, please,” Adrian mock-gagged. “Do you guys have to do the whole ‘I love you, baby’ thing every five minutes?”

Sasha rolled her eyes, playfully swatting at Adrian. “Oh, come on. Just because you don’t have anyone to say it to—”

“Excuse me,” Adrian shot back, laughing. “I don’t need to baby-talk anyone to prove my relationship status. Unlike some people.” She imitated Sasha’s voice with exaggerated sweetness. “Oh, Jason, I love you so much.”

Sasha crossed her arms, feigning offense, and raised an eyebrow. “Whatever, hater. Let’s see who you’re kissing at my party.”

Adrian raised her glass in a mock toast. “To being single and loving it.”

They all laughed, feeling the ease that only came with years of friendship, as the diner buzzed on around them.
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚

Adrian glanced at the clock on her phone—thirty minutes had come and gone. With a sigh, she slid out of the booth, glancing at her friends with a small, playful smirk as she grabbed her bag.

“I’ll catch you guys later,” she called, giving them a light wave as she walked toward the exit.

As she stepped out of the diner, she barely had a chance to take in the crisp evening air when a familiar voice caught her attention. Her chest tightened, and she froze. That voice... She recognized it instantly.

Slowly, she turned and saw Jim a few paces away, hunched in close conversation with a stranger who looked undeniably shady. Her stomach sank as she watched them exchange a couple of small packets before Jim slipped the man some cash. The man quickly pocketed it and walked off, disappearing into the night.

Jim turned to leave as well, but Adrian called out, “Jim.”

He flinched, stopping mid-step, and mumbled, “Oh, shit,” though he hadn’t noticed that she’d overheard him. She took a shaky breath, her confusion turning quickly into anger.

“What the hell are you doing, Jim?” she said, voice barely above a whisper but brimming with frustration. “Seriously, I should be furious with you. After everything you said to me last night….”

Jim didn’t respond. He just stood there, hands in his pockets, staring at her with that same unreadable look he’d had the night before. Her words spilled out in a heated rant, all her anger from last night surfacing again.

“Do you realize how messed up it was to just barge in, say all that crap to me, and then just leave?” she demanded, her voice catching in her throat. “Do you even care how I felt? You… you just walked out of my life like that, with no explanation, no apology. How can you say that to me, then just go?”

Her voice grew shaky, frustration morphing into desperation as Jim’s silence continued. His stare was intense, fixed, and unyielding. She bit her lip, her own confusion pushing her to demand an answer. “Why are you just standing there, not saying a damn thing? Why won’t you talk to me now?”

Still, Jim said nothing. Her chest tightened with the weight of his silence, and she let out a frustrated scoff, turning on her heel to leave.

But before she could take another step, she felt his hand wrap around her wrist, and in one swift motion, he pulled her back to him. She stumbled, colliding into him as he lowered his lips to hers with a fierce urgency. The world around them blurred, everything narrowing to that single point of contact. Her confusion melted into a heat that surged through her, and, without even thinking, she found herself kissing him back.

They stumbled backward against the diner's wall, their lips never parting. Jim’s hand gripped her waist, pulling her closer. She felt her own heartbeat quicken as she reached for his hand, guiding it downward until it rested on her hip, then lower.

His hand tightened, his fingers pressing into her, and he broke the kiss, breathing heavily, forehead pressed against hers.

For a moment, they just stood there, catching their breath, his gaze locking onto hers with that familiar intensity that had drawn her to him from the beginning. And with one last lingering kiss, he whispered,“I never wanted to hurt you, Adrian,” he murmurs. “But I hate myself for not being able to… be here for you all the time, to talk to you, to hold you like this.”

Adrian tries to catch his gaze, her own eyes softening. "Jim, you can still talk to me, you know? We don't have to be in my house to see each other." She gives a small, teasing smile, trying to lighten the weight of his words.

But Jim’s jaw tightens as he takes her hand, looking down at their fingers laced together. “It’s not that simple, Adrian. My life is… it’s too complicated right now. You wouldn’t understand.”

She raises an eyebrow, a familiar flicker of frustration crossing her face. "You're doing that thing again."

“What thing?” he smirks, but it fades quickly. "I’m serious, Adrian. I swear I’m not doing anything to hurt you." He searches her face, hoping she’ll believe him. "You have to trust me on this."

Adrian doesn’t respond with the anger or warmth he hoped for. Instead, she just nods quietly, her voice soft. “Goodbye, Jim. I hope you have a… a good day.” With a lingering look, she steps back and walks away.

Jim watches her retreating figure, a mix of guilt and frustration simmering inside him. After a few moments, he balls his fists, and in a surge of pent-up anger, he swings his fist into the rough bark of a nearby tree, wincing as pain jolts through his knuckles. His head falls forward as he leans against the tree, wrestling with his thoughts.

Just as he's trying to gather himself, he hears footsteps crunching in the snow. He glances up to see Jason and his group approaching, their expressions less than friendly.

“Hey, what’s up, dude?” Jason sneers, stopping just a few steps away. Jim meets his gaze, giving a slight nod, knowing full well these guys aren't here to be friendly.

Jason’s smirk deepens. "Saw you with Adrian back there. Pretty sure you’re not supposed to be hanging around her. Mr. Grayson was clear about that, wasn’t he? Told you he’s got eyes everywhere.”

Jim tenses, but keeps his cool. "I don’t want any trouble, Jason. Just… back off."

Jason chuckles, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. “Oh, come on, now. You beat up my boy Connor, and you think that’s something I’ll just forget? And you stole my dad's watch, Jim. Now it’s time to pay up.”

Jim straightens, giving Jason a cold, defiant look. "I didn’t take your dad’s watch."

“Oh, so now you’re lying, too?” Jason’s smirk twists into a snarl, and without another word, he throws the first punch, hitting Jim square in the jaw. Jim stumbles back, trying to steady himself, but Jason's friends close in, fists swinging.

Blow after blow, Jim tries to hold his ground, but the odds are stacked against him. After several hard hits, they finally knock him to the ground. Jason stands over him, eyes glinting with satisfaction as he grips a small, concealed blade and slashes at Jim’s side. A sharp pain sears through him as he gasps, clutching his bleeding side.

They leave him there, blood staining the snow, taunting him with final, cruel words. Jason kicks him one last time. "That’s what you get for messing with us," he sneers, laughing with his friends as they walk away, their mocking voices echoing in the frigid air.