⊹₊⟡⋆ 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 ..! ⊹₊⟡⋆

. ݁₊ ⊹ (The Bascketball Diaries) .. #

"because you and i we were born to live"

𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙻𝙾𝚆𝙴𝙴𝙽 ( Special)

Adrian walked through the hallways of school, her heart pounding in her chest. It had been weeks since she’d spoken to Sasha or louren and even longer since she’d really been present with any of her friends. The isolation she’d fallen into was heavy, but after having time to reflect, she knew she needed them now more than ever. There was so much she needed to share—about Jim, about her life spiraling—but more than anything, she wanted to make things right.

𝑨𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌

She spotted them by their lockers, Sasha and Lauren, chatting like everything was normal. Her stomach twisted as she approached, forcing a smile.

“Hey, guys,” she said softly.

Both girls looked up at her, a little surprised but masking it with a casual, “Oh, hey.”

Adrian fidgeted, unsure how to start. Small talk. She’d ease into it. “How’ve you been? I feel like it’s been forever.”

They exchanged glances, the silence hanging awkwardly between them before Sasha shrugged. “Yeah, it has.”

Lauren, playing with the zipper on her jacket, glanced at Adrian. “We were just about to head out. Gotta get to class.”

Adrian could feel her window closing. She took a deep breath and blurted, “Wait—please. I know I’ve been a terrible friend.”

Sasha raised an eyebrow. “You think?”

“Let me finish,” Adrian said, her voice shaking slightly. “I know I haven’t been around, I’ve been distant, and there’s no excuse. I’ve been going through a lot, but that doesn’t mean I should’ve shut you guys out. I get it if you don’t want to be my friend anymore... Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be friends with me either.”

The words tumbled out of her faster than she could control, and for a moment, the weight of everything hit her all at once. She was ready for them to walk away, to leave her standing there alone like she deserved.

Lauren sighed. “Okay, if we forgive you, will you shut up?”

Adrian blinked, her heart skipping a beat. She nodded quickly. “Yeah.”

Before she could think, they pulled her into a hug. The weight of their arms around her was enough to bring a sense of relief she didn’t know she needed. As they pulled away, Adrian wiped at her eyes and smiled.

“I missed you guys,” she muttered.

“Yeah, we know,” Sasha teased, grinning.

Adrian took a deep breath. “Okay, there’s something I have to tell you.”

Both Sasha and Lauren looked at her, confused.

“You guys were right,” she admitted, her voice quiet but firm. “About Jim.”

Sasha’s eyes widened, and a grin spread across her face. “I knew it! I knew there was something going on!”

Lauren looked more shocked, taking a moment to process. “Wait... seriously?”

Adrian nodded. “Yeah.”

“So... you guys are like... together?” Sasha asked, curiosity bubbling over.

Adrian shrugged. “I don’t know if it’s, like, official or anything. He’s not really the type to do labels, but we’re... together, I guess. And it’s not like we’re seeing other people.”

They stood there, stunned for a moment before Sasha elbowed Lauren, who was still processing. “See? I told you.”

Adrian laughed, shaking her head. “Okay, okay, I get it. But listen, that brings me to something else.”

“What now?” Lauren asked, still recovering from the Jim news.

“I was thinking... since we haven’t hung out in forever, maybe we could do something. Like, go to the movies or dinner? Or... I saw this karaoke place...”

Sasha lit up immediately. “Ooh, karaoke sounds fun.”

Lauren smirked. “Yeah, but I think movies are more of an intmiate area.'

Adrian hesitated, then added, “Or... there’s this horror maze thing going on in Central Park Avenue. You know, with Halloween coming up, it could be fun.”

Both girls exchanged glances before grinning.

“Okay, now that sounds awesome,” Sasha said.

Lauren nodded. “Yeah, I can drag that guy from calculus along, too. It'll be a blast.”

Adrian smiled, finally feeling a little lighter. “Alright, I’ll call you guys tonight to set things up.”

As she turned to walk away, Sasha gave her a knowing look. “Oh, by the way, have fun wherever you’re heading next.”

Adrian flipped them off playfully, her cheeks flushing. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you guys anything!”

Laughing, she pushed the doors open and stepped into the crisp autumn air, her heart beating a little lighter.

⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚

Adrian walks down the dimly lit hallway, her footsteps quiet against the
hardwood floor. She hesitates for a
moment at Jim's door before pushing it
open with a playful smile.

"Hey," she says softly, leaning against
the doorframe. Jim, lying on his bed
with a notebook in hand, quickly
straightens up. She catches the swift
movement of his hand pushing
something off his chest-small packets
of white powder and a couple of pills.
He hides them under his pillow, trying
to act casual.

"Hey," he replies, his voice strained as
he wipes his nose with the back of his
hand, trying to mask any trace of what

"what are you doing-?"
but Before he could finish, she moves
toward him, playfully climbing onto the
bed. She straddles him, her arms
draped over his shoulders.

"You look like you need a distraction," she teases leaning in to kiss him softly on the lips. Jim relaxes slightly beneath her, though there's a tightness in his jaw that lingers. As their lips part, he lets out a quiet sigh, his hands resting on her
hips 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, gentlybpuling him closer to her. Their bodies were pushed against each other as much as they could be. Adrian 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 kissed him back, one hand in his hair and the other under his shirt, stroking his  abdomen.

"Didn't expect to see you here," he
mutters, trying to refocus on the
moment, but Adrian notices the way his
eyes flicker toward the pillow-toward
what he was trying to hide.

Adrian's hand slid under Jim's shirt, her fingers brushing over his abdomen. The warmth of her touch sent a ripple through him, but just as her hand moved further up, Jim broke the kiss. His breathing was uneven, and he gently pulled away.

Adrian blinked at him, confused but silent, her eyes searching his face for an explanation.

"My mom's here," Jim finally muttered, almost in disbelief. Then, a thought hit him. "Wait... my mom's here. How did you get in?"

Adrian chuckled softly and sat up, still straddling him but giving him some space. "I asked her if I could see you. She was surprised, but super nice about it. Your mom is actually really sweet." She smiled playfully. "She even offered me cookies."

Jim raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Cookies?"

"Yeah," Adrian laughed. "She was asking me all these questions—how we met and everything. I don’t know why you find her so obnoxious. She seems great."

Jim just shrugged. "I don’t know." He huffed lightly, not willing to argue the point, but clearly not convinced.

Adrian smirked, leaning forward slightly. "So... why’d you think I came here, anyway?" she asked playfully, brushing her lips against his for a brief peck before pulling back.

Jim’s gaze narrowed with a playful glint as he moved his notebook aside. "Good question. Why did you come?"

Adrian leaned down again, kissing him briefly while her hand slid under his pillow. When she pulled away, her fingers wrapped around something small and familiar—the packet of pills. She lifted it up, holding it in front of him, her expression neutral but questioning. "I thought this was just a Saturday thing," she said softly. "It’s Wednesday."

Jim glanced at the packet, his face nonchalant. "I’m bored," he replied, voice low. "Nothing else to do, so I figured... why not?"

Adrian raised her eyebrows slightly, but after a moment, she let it slide and tucked the pills back under the pillow. Jim pulled her back into another kiss, this one lingering longer, before Adrian slowly pulled away, their foreheads resting together.

"I can’t stay long," she murmured, her voice soft but firm.

Jim frowned, his arms still loosely around her waist. "Why not?"

"I have to pick up Wyatt from soccer practice. I thought I’d stop by here first," Adrian explained.

Jim sighed but nodded, his fingers absentmindedly brushing the fabric of her shirt.

"Also," Adrian continued, her tone shifting, "there’s one more thing."

Jim's gaze hardened slightly, already sensing something he wasn’t going to like. "I already don’t love whatever’s about to come out of your mouth," he said dryly.

Adrian smiled a little, but there was nervousness in her eyes. "Well, since we’re... you know, together, I thought it’d be fun to hang out with some of my friends for a change. You’re always with Mikey, Neutron, and Pedro. Why not hang out with mine?"

Jim groaned inwardly. "Your friends? the assholes right." He sounded unimpressed.

Adrian nudged him gently. "They’re not that Assholes. And i think it would be nice. You could bond with Jason—he likes basketball, too. if you remember"

Jim stared at her blankly, not giving her the reaction she was hoping for. She sighed, knowing he was dreading the idea.

"Come on," she pressed. "I always hang out with your friends. It’s just one night. It could be fun."

After a moment of silence, Jim’s lips curled into a smirk. "Fine. I’ll hang out with your friends... if they hang out with mine."

Adrian blinked, surprised. She knew deep down it was a terrible idea, but if it meant Jim would go along with her plan, she forced a smile. "Sure... they can come too, I guess."

"Good," Jim said with a mischievous grin.

Adrian shook her head with a soft laugh, giving him one last quick kiss on the lips and then another on his cheek. "Just don’t overdo it with the pills, okay?"

Jim rolled his eyes but nodded. "Yeah, yeah."

"I’ll call you when I get home," Adrian said as she stood up, adjusting her clothes.

"Alright," Jim responded, watching her leave before his gaze shifted back to the pillow where the pills were hidden.

⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚

Scattered around the entrance were carved pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, their toothy grins lit from within by old, waxy candles. Some pumpkins had more elaborate faces, with wicked eyes and sharp teeth, while others were simple, adding a rustic charm to the spooky scene. Skeletons, their bony arms outstretched, were posed in various menacing positions, some hanging from trees, others slumped against the fence like guards long forgotten.

𝑨𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒇𝒊𝒕

The sound of distant screams echoed from inside the maze, adding to the anticipation. A scarecrow, dressed in tattered flannel and straw, stood ominously by the entrance, its wide-brimmed hat casting a shadow over its hollow eyes. The ground was littered with leaves, crunching beneath their feet, and cobwebs—thick and sticky—dripped from the twisted tree branches above. Every detail, from the cold gust of wind to the faint whispers in the air, made it clear: this was no ordinary Halloween attraction.

The group stood impatiently in front of the towering gate, the buzz of the city behind them providing a dull hum in the background. Adrian glanced at the wall clock, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Sasha, leaning against the metal gate, sighed dramatically.

"My feet are killing me," Sasha groaned, rolling her eyes.

"well thats because, you decided to wear high pumped heels instead of flats like i told you too"

"jason really likes these shoes on me." sasha comments making adrian roll her eyes

"ofcourse he dose" she mutters

"How long are we gonna stand here waiting for them? They’re late, Adrian. Like, seriously." sasha says going back to their last conversation.

"They’re coming," Adrian replied, glancing up. "Jim told me—they had to take care of something. Won’t be long now."

Sasha shot her a strange look but chose to ignore it, folding her arms across her chest. "Define 'not long.' It’s been over 20 minutes. A little late is five minutes."

Adrian chuckled. "They’re probably just held up, that’s all. Maybe something came up."

Sasha raised an eyebrow. "Wow, you’re really waiting for them. I mean, usually, you'd be the first to ditch, go somewhere more 'sensible,' or just head back home. This is a first. Guess you really like this boyfriend, huh?"

Adrian rolled her eyes and gave Sasha a playful shove. "Shut up." They both laughed, the tension breaking for a moment.

"hes not my boyfriend . . . well i dont think he is."
sasha nods," well he better hurry up and ask you,befor someone else swings you away."

Their laughter faded as they turned toward Lauren, who was standing near a candy apple stand, talking animatedly to her date. Sasha squinted, catching bits of the conversation.

"Oh my God, Lori, baby, thanks so much for the candy apples! You’re such a doll!" Lauren’s date squealed, his voice unnaturally high.

Adrian and Sasha exchanged incredulous looks.

"Did you hear that?" Sasha whispered.

"Yup," Adrian nodded, smirking. "Lori!"

Lauren turned at the sound of her name. "What’s up?"

Adrian grinned. "So... who’s your date tonight?"

Lauren pointed over her shoulder to the guy they had just heard. "That’s Derek."

Adrian and Sasha shared another look.

"Derek?" Adrian said, trying to suppress a laugh. "Are you sure?"

Lauren frowned, stepping toward them. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Sasha stifled a giggle. "Nothing! It’s just, you know... your guy seems pretty comfortable in his own... skin."

Lauren’s expression darkened. "What are you trying to say? Derek’s had girlfriends before! He’s not into guys!"

Adrian held up her hands defensively. "Hey, I’m just saying, it’s possible for people to act a little... feminine sometimes. No judgment."

"Whatever," Lauren muttered, crossing her arms.

Before the conversation could go any further, Jason approached, his impatience written all over his face. "Seriously, how much longer are we gonna stand here? It’s bad enough we’re waiting for these guys. We’ve been here forever."

"They’re coming, okay?" Sasha snapped. "Jim said they had to do something first. They’ll be here soon."

Jason scoffed. "Yeah, just like the motherfuckers  promised they didn’t steal my dad’s watch, right?" His tone dripped with sarcasm, and he shot Adrian a sharp look. "But hey, you keep playing boyfriend and girlfriend with him. Go ahead, I’m sure that’s going to end well."

Adrian’s jaw tightened, her patience wearing thin. "Unlike you, Jason, everyone isnt an egotistical narcissist dick like you."

Jason opened his mouth to respond, but Sasha quickly intervened. "Let’s not, okay? We’ve been waiting for thirty minutes. They’ll be here soon."

Adrian sighed, stepping away from the group slightly, trying to cool her head. As she stood a little apart from the others, she caught sight of someone familiar approaching—Connor.

Her stomach clenched. She had hoped she wouldn’t have to see him tonight. After what happened at the party a while ago, she wasn’t exactly in the mood to deal with him.

Connor grinned as he neared Jason, giving him a handshake. "Sorry I’m late. Had to drop my sister at the airport."

Jason turned toward Adrian, a smug grin on his face. "Hope you dont mind. sensing that you could invite just anybody.."

Adrian's eyes narrowed, feeling her anger bubble up. Connor flashed her a cocky smile, clearly aware of the tension between them. He started walking towards her, a lazy grin on his face. "Adrian,  could we  to talk."

Before he could get too close, a familiar blonde figure appeared in the distance. Adrian’s heart leaped. "They're here," she said, quickly turning away from Connor.

Jim and his group finally arrived, walking toward them with easy confidence. Jim smiled at Adrian, his expression relaxing her in an instant. As soon as he reached her, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"Where have you been?" she whispered.

Jim smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Had to deal with some guy, but it’s all good now."

Adrian gave him a questioning look but decided to let it go for now. Turning back to the group, she gestured toward them. "Okay, introductions. Jim, this is Sasha, Lauren, and Jason. You and Jason played against each other once, right?"

Jim nodded, his smile fading slightly as he eyed Jason. "Yeah, I remember."

Jason crossed his arms, his gaze cold. "Yeah, I remember too."

The tension between them was palpable. Adrian nudged Jim slightly, prompting him to offer his hand for a shake. Jason looked Jim up and down before muttering something under his breath and walking away, ignoring the gesture entirely.

Adrian exhaled, feeling the weight of the night’s drama building. Connor, still hovering nearby, continued to watch her, but Jim’s presence kept her grounded—for now.

As the group gathered at the entrance, the iron gates loomed over them, creaking slightly as the wind rustled through. The eerie decorations, from twisted, grinning pumpkins to tattered scarecrows, cast flickering