⊹₊⟡⋆ 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 ..! ⊹₊⟡⋆

. ݁₊ ⊹ (The Bascketball Diaries) .. #

"because you and i we were born to live"

The echoes of sneakers squeaking on the polished wooden floor filled the gym as Adrian opened the door to the school's basketball court. The game hadn't started yet, but the energy was already buzzing. Students from both teams packed the stands, creating a wave of chatter, and the atmosphere hummed with anticipation.

Adrian had come here for one reason—to support Jim. After their last conversation, she knew he needed that from her. It still made her stomach churn to think of the situation with his coach, the things Jim had told her in confidence. He'd asked her not to act angry or frustrated in front of him today, to just be there for him, and she promised she would. So, despite the unease she felt about what he was going through, she was determined to be happy for him.

Today, she would try. For him.

She made her way up the stands, wearing Jim's initials, G.I.M, printed across the back of her t-shirt, along with his number, 07, proudly displayed.

𝑨𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏'𝒔 𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌

A

s soon as she spotted him across the court, sitting with his friends Mikey and Pedro, Jim looked up and saw her. A grin spread across his face as he immediately left his friends, jogging over to meet her.

"Hey," he said, leaning in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek, his eyes quickly dropping to the shirt she wore.

"Hi," she smiled back, a little nervously.  "You like it?" She motioned to the shirt.

He hesitated for just a second, a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he smiled again. "Yeah, I do. Looks...good on you."

Adrian could sense the slight strain in his voice, like he was saying it to please her, but she let it go. Maybe he wasn’t used to someone making such a gesture. “It’s my first basketball game, that ill actually try paying attention to” she admitted with a grin. “You better make it worth my while and win.”

He laughed softly, but there was a warmth in his eyes as he squeezed her hand. “I’ll try my best.”

"Seriously," she added, leaning in a little. "You better win."

"I will," Jim said, his voice soft but confident. “And... we’re good, right? I mean, after everything?”

Adrian nodded, her eyes meeting his. “Yeah. More than good. We're on the same page now.”

Jim smiled, and it felt like a quiet reassurance between them. Just then, Mikey and Pedro stood up from where they’d been sitting.

“Jim, come on, man,” Miki called out, clicking his tongue. “Pedro’s ready. Let’s go.”

Before leaving, Jim gave Adrian one more glance. “I better head to the locker room. I'll be back before the game.”

“Okay, go. I’ll be right here,” she replied, smiling as he leaned in to kiss her cheek again.

As Jim jogged back towards his friends, Adrian waved at Pedro, who gave her a friendly nod. “Hey, Adrian,” Pedro called out in his usual upbeat way.

Mikey, on the other hand, gave her a smirk, his eyes lingering a little too long. “Hey, Adrian,” he said in that teasing tone, his eyes not exactly subtle as he gave her a once-over. Adrian didn’t catch it, but Jim did.

Mikey did a playful whistle behind her back, earning a glare from Jim as he shoved Miki’s shoulder playfully, half annoyed but laughing it off.

"Cut it out," Jim muttered as he pushed his friend toward the locker rooms.

Adrian smiled, shaking her head at their antics. She glanced over at the opposite stands and noticed Neutron sitting alone, sipping from a water bottle. Deciding she had a little time before the game started, she made her way over.

Adrian joins Neutron, sitting down next to him.

"Oh, hey, Adrian," Neutron greets casually, a bit surprised.

"Hi," she responds with a smile, settling in.

"I didn't know you were gonna show up today," he says, glancing at her.

Adrienne raises an eyebrow, "Why wouldn't I?"

Neutron hesitates, then waves it off. "No reason. Forget about it."

She narrows her eyes for a moment, but lets it go. "Okay." After a beat, she gestures toward the locker room. "Aren't you gonna head to the locker room with your friends?"

"Nah," Neutron shrugs. "Whatever they're doing, it doesn't really fit with the team has these days."

Adrienne frowns slightly, curious. "Why not?"

Neutron sighs, deciding to shift the conversation. "Actually, Adrian, I need to talk to you about something."

"Alright, shoot," she says, giving him her full attention.

He looks at her seriously. "Before, it was all about basketball... you know, basketball and getting high. But these last few weeks, it's just been... getting high. We're all worried about Jim. Haven't you noticed? He’s barely sleeping, always nodding off in class, moping around, scribbling in his notebook. Even Swifty’s worried."

At the mention of Swifty, Jim’s coach, Adrienne tenses. The weight of the situation seems to settle on her shoulders.

"I mean..." she starts, trying to sound reassuring, "he's going through a lot. But, you know Jim—he’s always been like this. right?He bounces back."

"Yeah, he will," Neutron nods, though there’s a lingering doubt in his voice. "He always does."

They sit in silence for a moment, an awkward lull in the conversation.

Then Neutron breaks it. "Hey, uh, your friend—the one with the dark brown hair? The one we met at the horror maze? Is she single or taken?"

Adrian blinks, caught off guard, but quickly realizes he’s talking about Lauren. She pauses for a beat, then answers. "Lauren? Yeah, she’s single."

Neutron grins, clearly intrigued. "Single, huh? Well, next time you see her, tell her Neutron says hey."

Adrian nods, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I will."

With that, Neutron stands, heading toward the locker room, leaving Adrian deep in thought. As soon as he's out of sight, her mind starts racing, already plotting how quickly she can get home to call Lauren and Sasha.
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚
The gym was buzzing with the usual pre-game energy. Neutron and the rest of the team were getting ready, lacing up their shoes, adjusting their jerseys, and hyping each other up. The air was thick with anticipation as the crowd began to fill the stands.

Adrian sat with Jim, her brow furrowed with concern. She could see the weariness in his eyes, the way he seemed drowsy, not his usual sharp self. She nudged him lightly. "Are you sure you're okay? You look... off."

Jim gave her a half-hearted smile, his eyes glazed. "I'm fine, really. Perfectly good." But Adrian could tell he had taken something—his sluggish movements and distant gaze gave it away.

"You sure?" she pressed, her worry evident.

Jim leaned in, brushing off her concern with a smile that barely reached his eyes. "Yeah, don't worry. I got this."

Adrian hesitated but then playfully wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a long, deep kiss. For a moment, everything seemed to disappear—the noise of the gym, the tension in her mind, the drowsiness in his eyes. It was just the two of them, locked in a tender moment.

As they parted, Adrian caught a glimpse of Swifty, Jim’s coach, chewing gum as usual, but his eyes locked on them with a look of frustration—maybe even jealousy. There was a tightness in his jaw, like he was holding back something. Adrian felt a flicker of unease as Swifty's gaze lingered.

Suddenly, Swifty shouted across the gym, his voice sharp. "Alright, you two! Get your asses on the court, now! Jim, leave that for the bedroom!" He chuckled sarcastically, and the rest of the team erupted in laughter.

Jim ignored the comment, his face betraying no emotion, but Adrian could feel the tension in the air. She squeezed his hand and whispered, "Ignore him."

Jim just nodded, giving her a brief kiss on the lips before jogging over to join the rest of the team. Adrian watched him go, biting her lip. She had a bad feeling about tonight.

As the game started, Adrian settled back in the stands, trying to shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at her. For the first ten minutes, everything seemed normal enough, but then it became clear—something was very wrong. Jim wasn’t himself. He moved like he was in slow motion, chasing the ball like a kid chasing a squirrel, completely out of sync with the team.

Adrian heart sank. He wasn’t playing with his usual precision or energy. Instead, it was like he was on another planet, lost and unfocused. Even Mikey, usually sharp, was fumbling, missing passes, and playing erratically.

Adrian  watched in horror, her hands gripping the edge of her seat. What was happening? She tried to force herself to keep a supportive face, making excuses in her mind—maybe Jim just had an off day, maybe it was nothing. But as the game dragged on, it was clear: this wasn’t the Jim she knew. The entire team was falling apart.

Suddenly, the doors to the gym burst open, and the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the space. Adrian turned, her heart pounding as she saw two police officers walk in, followed by Jim's father and one of their teachers. The teacher was the one who had once angrily threatened to shoot Jim with a rifle during an outburst—a face that made her stomach twist.

Adrian’s mind raced, a whirlwind of confusion and dread. What the hell was going on?

The police officers didn’t waste time. They headed straight for the team, and without a word, Jim, Mikey, and Neutron were pulled aside and escorted back into the locker rooms. The gym fell silent, the game forgotten.

Adrian sat frozen, her mind swirling with questions. drugs? What substances? She didn’t know anything about it. The confusion gripped her tighter as she scanned the gym, trying to make sense of what was happening.

She stood up, searching for a familiar face, for answers. But Jim was nowhere to be found, and the pit in her stomach grew deeper. This wasn’t just a bad game—this was something much worse.
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚
Adrian felt a knot tightening in her chest as she searched the empty hallways of the gym. Jim and the others had been taken away by the police, but no one was giving her any answers. She spotted Neutron leaning against the lockers, his face hard and distant.

"Neutron," she called, walking toward him. "Do you know where they are?"

He shrugged, barely glancing at her. "No idea." His voice was clipped, colder than usual, and Adrian could sense the wall he was putting up. It was clear that he didn’t want to be questioned any further.

Before she could press him, Swifty’s voice came from behind her. "You’re the reason, you know."

Adrian turned to face him, eyes narrowing. "Excuse me?"

Swifty leaned against the doorframe, his chewing gum popping loudly in his mouth. "You’ve been messing with Jim’s head. He was supposed to be focused, supposed to have a bright future, and now look at him.  ruined his chances."

Her hands clenched into fists, but she remembered Jim’s request, his voice in her head telling her not to make a scene. So instead, she glared coldly at Swifty before turning back to Neutron. "If you see him, tell him to come talk to me," she said, her voice icy.

Without waiting for a response, Adrian left, walking out of the gym and heading home.
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚
Later that evening, Adrian sat in her room, the glow of the dim lamp casting soft shadows on the walls. She tried to distract herself with a book, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Jim. What had really happened? Where had they taken him? Her mind buzzed with worry, and she felt helpless.

Suddenly, a soft knock on her window interrupted her thoughts. Startled, Adrian got up and peered outside to see Jim standing below, looking up at her with a small smile. Without thinking, she unlocked the window and let him in.

He climbed in with ease, leaning in to give her a kiss before she pulled back slightly, confusion written across her face. "Where the hell have you been?" she asked, searching his face for answers.

Jim shrugged casually, a little too casually. "I just…headed out for a bit," he said, his tone nonchalant. But something was off. His voice was too light, his movements a little sluggish.

Adrian studied him, her concern growing. "Jim, are you high right now?"

He shook his head quickly. "No, no. I'm fine." But his eyes told a different story. They were glassy, distant, and Adrian could tell he was lying.

Sighing, she closed the window behind him, trying to block out the cool night air. Jim collapsed onto her bed, looking up at her with a lazy grin. "It was just a bad game. Happens to everyone."

She sat down next to him, her mind still reeling. "You know you're going to have to cut back on the pills, right?" she said softly. "Is that why the cops came?"

Jim’s expression darkened. He looked away, his smile fading. "I don't want to talk about that," he muttered.

Adrian bit her lip, sensing how fragile the moment was. "Fine," she said quietly, letting the subject drop. She leaned back, but Jim sat up, his expression suddenly serious.

"But I do have something to ask you," he said, reaching into his pocket.

Adrian’s heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" She watched him closely, her nerves on edge.

Jim pulled out a small, red heart-shaped pill. It had the word "Valentine" etched into its surface. He held it up between his fingers, his gaze never leaving hers.

He placed it gently on her tongue before asking, "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Adrian blinked, her mind racing. "I thought you said you weren't into labels," she murmured, still processing everything.

Jim leaned in, his lips close to hers. "I’m into you."

Her heart fluttered, and without thinking, she swallowed the pill. She kissed him, softly at first, then deeper. The night seemed to melt away as they sat there, wrapped up in the strange intensity of the moment.
⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚
As they sneak out into the cool night, Adrian moves quietly, making sure not to disturb the house as she climbs out her window. Her mom and Grayson are away, but Wyatt and his nanny are still inside, so she couldn’t risk staying in her room with Jim for too long. Once she's outside, Jim is already waiting, leaning against the side of her house with that signature smirk. Together, they head off, hand-in-hand, wandering through the park under the dim glow of streetlights.

Their conversation is lighthearted, nothing too deep or serious, just random topics that pop into their heads as they stroll. Jim, in his usual playful manner, walks a few steps ahead and suddenly plucks a flower from a nearby bush, handing it to her with a small bow, making Adrian laugh.

"Wow, how sweet of you," she teases, but her smile is genuine. She tucks the flower behind her ear, feeling the soft breeze play with her hair.

They walk on, and as they pass a water fountain, Jim looks over and says, "You know, water fountains... I don't know, there's something about them."

Adrian glances at him with a grin. "I fucking hate water fountains."

Jim looks at her with wide eyes, "Me too," and they both laugh at the strange but shared opinion.

The night seems endless as they kiss between their conversation, the weight of any previous stress disappearing. For a moment, Adrian forgets about the world outside of this park, about her worries or the things Jim doesn’t want to talk about. It’s just the two of them, the dark sky, and the quiet buzz of the city in the background.

Eventually, they find a spot on the grass and lie down. Adrian rests her head on Jim's chest, his arm wrapped comfortably around her. She listens to the steady rhythm of his breathing, feeling at ease, like this is where she's supposed to be. She stares up at the stars, then glances over at Jim and asks quietly, "What do you want to do when you grow up?"

Jim's answer comes unexpectedly. "Die."

Adrian sits up, frowning slightly but knowing Jim well enough to understand the humor laced with something darker beneath it. She plucks a couple of petals from the flower he gave her earlier, delicately placing one on his eyelid and the other on his lips. Jim blows the one on his mouth off with a huff, making her laugh.

She leans closer, her voice playful yet soft, "Well, if you die, we can't be together. I can't be with you if you're dead."

Jim chuckles softly, looking at her with a faint smile. "That's true."

They play around for a bit, Adrian giggling as she plucks more petals and playfully shoves them at him. Jim laughs, trying to dodge her efforts as she laughs harder, and soon enough, they’re both out of breath, lying back in the grass, content and carefree. For now, in this moment, the world feels far away.

⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚
They made their way back to Adrian's
house, still riding the high of their night
together, giggling softly. Adrian
playfully dragged Jim by the hand as
they tiptoed toward the front door.
"Shh, keep quiet," she whispered
stifling a laugh. "she could come
up any second now."

They exchanged grins, trying to hold
back their laughter, as they quietly

snuck through the hallways, every creak
in the floorboards making them both
freeze for a moment. They finally
reached her bedroom, and the second
the door closed behind them, Jim
swiftly turned the lock.

Without missing a beat, he leaned in, his lips crashing onto hers in a passionate kiss.

Adrian melted into him, and they
stumbled toward the bed, the energy
between them uncontainable. They fell
onto the mattress, laughing into the
kiss, the world outside her room
forgotten.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning her back onto the bed and hovering over her as he began kissing and sucking on her neck. She hummed in response, a few involuntary moans escaping her mouth as his hands trailed her body and pulled her top off. She ran her's under his shirt and pulled it over his head, her fingers then tracing the sharp edges of his muscles. As his hips ground against hers, she felt his hard-on beneath his trousers. But just as she was about to tug them down, she froze.

Jim, noticing the hesitation, pulled back
slightly, concern flickering in his