⊹₊⟡⋆ 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 ..! ⊹₊⟡⋆

. ݁₊ ⊹ (The Bascketball Diaries) .. #

"because you and i we were born to live"

Adrian lay on her bed, her eyes following the sunlit patterns on the ceiling as she counted down the minutes until her mom and stepdad would leave for their dinner. It had been over a week since she’d last hung out with Jim. Since being grounded, she hadn’t been able to see him nearly as much as she wanted, and that left her restless, confined to the house under Grayson’s strict rules.

~𝑨𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌~

Jim wasn’t like the other boys she’d known. He had this way of making her feel seen, like her opinions actually mattered. They’d spent hours just walking around, talking, and sometimes his friends, Mikey, Pedro, and Neutron, would tag along. But it wasn’t always about them—Jim was different when it was just the two of them.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her mother’s voice drifting up the stairs. “Adrian! Come down here!” her mom’s voice cut through the silence.

With a heavy sigh, Adrian pushed herself off the bed and trudged down the stairs, finding her mom standing near the front door, already dressed for the dinner. Grayson, adjusting his tie, glanced over at her with a stern look.

“Listen,” her mom began, arms crossed, “we need to talk about this behavior of yours. The people you’ve been hanging out with lately—these new friends you’re making—we don’t know them, and we don’t like that you’re spending so much time with people we know nothing about.”

Adrian kept quiet, her face expressionless, though she could feel the frustration building up inside her. It wasn’t like she was going to explain herself—they wouldn’t understand anyway.

“You’ve barely seen Sasha or Lauren in weeks,” her mom continued. “Instead, you’re sneaking out and coming home late with people we don’t know. That’s why you’re grounded, Adrian. This behavior has to stop.”

Grayson stepped in, his voice as firm as always. “You need to start acting responsibly. We don’t know who these kids are, and we don’t trust them. You’re under my roof, and until you start making better decisions, things are going to change around here.”

Adrian felt her chest tighten, her hands clenching into fists at her sides, but she kept her mouth shut, knowing anything she said would just make things worse.

“Tonight, while we’re gone, you’re babysitting Wyatt,” her mom said, her tone softening a little. “He needs to be in bed by 8, and asleep by 9:30. There’s dinner on the stove. And Adrian, no visitors. I mean it.”

“I know,” Adrian mumbled, staring at the floor.

Grayson wasn’t done. He stepped closer, narrowing his eyes at her. “Don’t even think about letting anyone into this house. I’m serious, Adrian. We won’t tolerate you breaking the rules again.”

“I said I know,” Adrian snapped, her patience running thin. “I won’t let anyone in.”

Grayson frowned but didn’t push it further. Her mom sighed, then turned to Wyatt, who was quietly playing with his toys on the couch.

“Goodnight, baby,” she said softly, kissing him on the forehead. “Be good for your sister, okay?”

Wyatt nodded, still focused on his toy truck. Her mom looked at Adrian one last time, concern etched on her face, but said nothing more as she and Grayson finally headed out the door.

The moment the door closed behind them, Adrian let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. The house felt emptier, quieter now. She wandered into the living room, her eyes on Wyatt, who was still deep into his game, oblivious to the tension that had just filled the room.

⋆. 𐙚 ˚

Adrian lay sprawled on her bed, the open notebook in front of her long forgotten as she absentmindedly scribbled on the edge of the paper. She could hear the faint sounds of Wyatt playing with his toys in the living room, just down the hall. The door to her bedroom was open, letting the sounds of the TV drift in. Every now and then, she’d glance at her homework but quickly lost interest. Scribbling little stars, hearts, and random shapes filled more of her time than actual studying.

Her thoughts wandered back to her friends, the ones her parents were so concerned about her losing touch with. Sasha and Lauren—they used to be so close. And yet, ever since she started hanging out with Jim, things had felt different. Sure, at school, they still talked and hung out, but there was something off. It wasn’t just them either. Some of the guys from the basketball team, like Jason, had been distant too.

Adrian remembered the plans they'd made last week to celebrate a win after one of their games. The whole group was excited, talking about going out for dinner, maybe hitting up a party after. Except... no one really included her in the conversation. She hadn't been invited outright, and while she acted like she didn’t care, it stung a little. Why would I need to ask? she thought bitterly, flipping her pen between her fingers. If they wanted me there, they’d have said something.

Deep down, though, she wondered if maybe her parents were right. She had been acting differently lately, more withdrawn from the group. Jim’s world had been a new distraction, one that felt wild and freeing compared to her usual routine. But now that her social life was starting to fracture, she wasn’t sure if it had been the right trade-off.

Adrian sighed and let her pen drop onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling, a slight pang of guilt stirring inside her. Maybe I haven’t been the best friend lately...

Suddenly, a soft creaking noise pulled her attention. At first, she dismissed it as Wyatt moving around, but then she heard a rustling, followed by the unmistakable sound of her window slowly sliding open.

Adrian sat bolt upright, her heart racing as her eyes snapped to the window. For a split second, she froze, her brain struggling to make sense of what was happening. Her mind jumped to the worst—Is someone trying to break in?

Then, a leg swung through the window frame.

“What the hell?” Adrian whispered to herself, scooting back against her pillows, wide-eyed.

Adrian's pencil stilled on the page as the soft creak of her window jolted her out of her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat, eyes darting to the sound. The window slid open, and a figure climbed through, sending her into a brief state of shock. But when she recognized Jim’s familiar silhouette, a wave of confusion washed over her.

He didn’t look like his usual self. His face was pale, and his movements were hurried, almost frantic as he stepped into her room. His gaze darted around, avoiding her as if looking for something to latch onto.

“Jim?” Adrian finally said, her voice breaking the silence. “What are you doing? Why are you climbing through my window?”

Instead of answering her directly, Jim turned sharply, his expression tense. “Distract me.”

“What?” She furrowed her brow, utterly confused. “Distract you? What do you mean?”

“Just—” He sighed, his hands running through his hair as he paced the floor. “Tell me something. for fucks sake. Anything. I need to stop thinking. Just make me forget about... everything for a minute.”

Adrian watched him closely, noting the restless energy in his movements. His hands clenched and unclenched by his sides, and he wasn’t meeting her eyes. She swallowed nervously, standing up from the bed. “Jim, what’s going on? You’re freaking me out.”

“I don’t want to talk about it!” His voice was a little sharper than usual, but it cracked at the end. He gripped the edge of her vanity tightly, knuckles turning white, as if trying to ground himself.

Adrian hesitated. Something was definitely wrong, but she didn’t want to push him while he was in this state. She took a calming breath and glanced around, trying to think of something to say to distract him. “Uh... How did you even get in here? My room’s on the top floor.”

Jim paused his pacing, looking over at her, a small, strained smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You’ve got that... thing on the side of your house. The wooden trellis with the flowers? It wasn’t that hard to climb.”

She stared at him in disbelief. “Right… of course.” She shook her head slightly, unsure whether to be more concerned or impressed. But the fleeting moment of normalcy passed quickly as Jim resumed his frantic pacing.

Her eyes tracked his movements, her worry deepening. “Jim, seriously, are you okay?”

He stammered, his voice faltering. “I just... I just need to...” He trailed off, his hands shaking slightly as he pulled something out from under his pant leg, hidden beneath his sock. Adrian’s eyes widened as she realized what it was—a small bag of pills.

Jim sat down on the floor, leaning against her bed, his back slouched. “Do you mind?” he asked quietly, holding up the bag, as if seeking her permission.

Adrian's stomach tightened, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say. it wasn't like the first time was doing drugs infront of her. but something about the desperation in his voice made her nod slowly. “Go ahead.”

Without a second thought, Jim emptied the contents onto the floor, hastily breaking one of the pills apart with a credit card he pulled from his pocket. Adrian winced as she watched him line up the powder, barely able to process what was happening. His hand was shaky, and in his rush, the edge of the card slipped, slicing his skin.

“Shit!” Jim hissed, clutching his arm as a thin line of blood welled up.

Adriana snapped into action, her worry overriding everything else. “Relax, it’s just a paper cut,” she muttered, trying to keep her voice steady as her mind raced.
She shot a glance toward her bedroom door, swallowing the knot in her throat. “Hold on,” she muttered to Jim, who barely registered her words, too caught up in his thoughts.

She hurried over to the door, pulling it open just wide enough to peek out into the hallway. She could hear the faint hum of video games coming from Wyatt’s room down the hall. He wouldn’t think twice about barging in if he knew Jim was here, and Adrian had to keep this under wraps.

“Wyatt!” she yelled, keeping her voice steady, loud enough to cut through the noise of his game but not enough to raise suspicion. “I’m gonna take a shower, okay? Don’t bother me!”

She waited for a response, heart pounding. A few seconds later, Wyatt’s muffled voice came through the walls, “Yeah, okay!Just don’t take forever!”

Adrian rolled her eyes. “And I’m locking the door!” she added, just to make sure.

Before he could respond, she quietly shut her door and locked it, her fingers trembling slightly as she turned the key. She leaned her back against the door for a moment, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Her mind raced. How did things escalate to this so quickly?
She hurried to the bathroom, grabbing some tissues, antiseptic wipes, and a bandage from under the sink. Returning to where Jim sat, she knelt beside him, gently taking his arm.

“Sit still,” she ordered softly, dabbing at the small cut with the tissue. His skin was cool to the touch, and his breathing was still erratic. She wiped away the blood carefully, her own heart pounding in her chest, before pressing the antiseptic wipe to his arm.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" she mummbled

"no" he mumbled back.
Jim winced again but didn’t pull away, watching her with a strange, almost lost expression.
Adrian sat cross-legged on the floor, her fingers deftly grabbing the bandages from the small first-aid kit beside her. With a deep breath, she moved to Jim’s side, her heart racing as she settled next to him. He held out his palm, where a fresh cut marred the skin, and she focused on wrapping the bandage around it, careful not to touch too hard.

As she worked, a comfortable silence enveloped them, but her mind wandered. Jim’s hands were surprisingly soft against her fingers, making it hard for her to concentrate on the task at hand. The close proximity was distracting; she could feel the warmth radiating from him, and the scent of his shampoo lingered in the air, a mix of cedar and something faintly sweet.

“Does it hurt?” she finally asked, applying a gentle dab of disinfectant on his wound.

He smiled softly. “Not really. It’s just a scratch.”

Adriana looked up from her work, her eyes catching his gaze. “I never knew this is how your room looked like,” Jim suddenly said, breaking the silence.

“Really?” she replied, surprised.

“Yeah,” he continued, glancing around.

Adriana’s room was a sanctuary of every teenage girl's dreams: a pristine white space with a king-sized bed draped in fluffy comforters, a vintage vanity reflecting her cherished memories, and shelves overflowing with books. Fairy lights dangled like stars, illuminating her pictures and posters of friends.

“What did you think my room looked like?” she asked, a playful smile creeping onto her lips.

Jim shrugged. “I imagined it was kind of dark and brooding, maybe just one light bulb hanging from the ceiling.”

Adriana rolled her eyes, laughing as she grabbed a nearby pillow and playfully hit him with it. “fuck you!” They both shared a laugh, the tension easing between them.

After a moment of silence, Adriana asked, “Does it hurt when I touch you there?” She dabbed the disinfectant cautiously on his palm.

He whispered, “It could never hurt if you touch me.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and she raised an eyebrow, unsure if she had heard him right. “What was that?”

“I said it could never hurt,” he repeated, his voice earnest.

Adriana awkwardly chuckled, “Funny.”

But Jim’s expression was serious as he looked into her eyes. “I’m being serious.”

Their gazes locked, and she could feel the shift in the air around them, a magnetic pull that drew them closer.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He leaned in slightly, and something in her stirred—a part of her wanted him to continue, to close the distance between them. They were just inches apart, his gaze flickering between her eyes and her lips.

“Do I make you nervous?” he whispered, his breath warm against her skin.

Adrian found herself frozen, unable to respond. Just as he leaned in, she instinctively pulled back, confusion clouding her thoughts. “What the hell was that?”

Jim snapped back, eyes wide as he muttered under his breath, “Holy shit”

“Were you about to kiss me?” she asked, her heart racing.

He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “Never taking the pink ones again,” he muttered, almost to himself.

" So you were about.” she pressed again, needing an answer.

“What if I did?” he asked, his gaze intense.

Adrian felt her heart pounding. “Well, you didn’t,” she replied, a mixture of frustration and anticipation in her voice.

he laughed “Can I kiss you?” he asked, vulnerability lacing his words.

She hesitated for a heartbeat before nodding, “Okay.”

With that, they leaned in, their lips meeting in a soft, tentative kiss.
He held her neck steadily as the two kissed each other with equal hunger. Adrian's hands had now wrapped around his the back of his neck and were running through his hair, gently pulling him closer to her. Their bodies were pushed against each other as much as they could
be. adriana felt Jim bite her bottom lip slowly, causing her to open her mouth just enough for him to slip his tongue in and deepen the kiss. She felt herself go weak in the knees as he explored her mouth for the first time in months.She could taste the remnants of the pills on his lips-a faint bitterness mingled with the sweetness of the moment, creating an unexpected flavor that felt both foreign and familiar.

Caught up in the intensity of the
moment, they leaned into each other,
and before she knew it, they lost their

balance, falling to the ground with
Adriana landing softly on top of him.
For a heartbeat, the outside world
vanished, and all that existed was the
two of them, locked in this moment of
unexpected intimacy. She felt
exhilarated, their kiss deepening as the
connection between them
strengthened. Just as quickly as it began, they pulled back, both breathing heavily, the weight of what had just transpired settling in.

Adrian's cheeks flushed with warmth
as she looked into his eyes, and she

could see the same mix of surprise and
exhilaration reflected back at her.

'Hi," she breathed, her voice barely
above a whisper, heart racing
'Hi," he replied, a hint of a smile playing
on his lips as he met her gaze.

For a moment, they lay there, both still
processing what had just happened.
The air between them was charged,
their breaths mingling in the space that
felt too electric to break. The world
around them felt far away, and in that
fleeting moment, nothing else mattered
except the connection they had just
forged.

Just as the tension began to build again, their lips mere inches apart, Wyatt's voice broke through the moment like a splash of cold water. “Adri! Where did you keep the Cookie Monster boxes? I want some! I'm hungry!”

Adrian groaned, rolling her eyes as she turned back to him, still perched on Jim. “Oh, it's in the cupboard, like, on the second shelf in the pantry,” she called back, trying to keep her annoyance at bay.

“Okay!” Wyatt replied, but after a few seconds, she could hear him again, his voice echoing in the hallway. “Adri! I can’t find them! It’s not there! Come and show me where they are!”

Adrian sighed, her giddiness deflating slightly as she exchanged a glance with Jim. She could see his amusement in his eyes as he raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by her brother’s antics.

“Seriously?” Adrian muttered, rolling her eyes again. “What a little pest. Hold on!”

As Wyatt shouted once more, “Adri, please!” she reluctantly slid off Jim, her heart still racing from their earlier kiss. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry! Let me just go and quickly do that. I’ll be back,” she said, her laughter bubbling up despite her frustration.

“Yeah, don’t worry. You’re fine,”