Covington Gymnasium, Game Time!

[Miss Sofie]

[Trevor]

Trevor couldn't eat, couldn't sleep and definitely couldn't focus on anyone or anything. His mind was elsewhere, dealing with the torment of what Julia had gone through at the hands of Brent Parker.

The name just sent of surge of heat and anger through Trevor's body. He never, ever wanted to hurt anyone and he surely wasn't the violent type. But this had stirred up some passionate hatred for the man, Trevor didn't know how to let it out.

Taking that energy, he headed to the gym where he decided to just shot some hoops to take his mind off of the current situation. Julia had always told him when he needed to focus on nothing else, he should play some recreational ball. It did always ease his pain and frustrations.

He was getting ready for that free throw when a voice hit his ears. He didn't look to see who it was but he knew. A small smile graced his lips as he lowered, preparing to make the shot. With ease, the ball went into the basket and was followed by a clapping cheer.

"Your skills never cease to amaze me," said Rachel, reaching down for the ball that rolled over to her. She picked it up and passed it to Trevor.

"Like you don't have any! You shouldn't talk," he said, passing the ball back and signaling them to have a little one on one. Rachel's company would at least help distract his mind.

"I know. We are pretty good. We've earned out titles. This season was real good. I'm excited for the next," said Rachel, as Trevor crowded her space as she tried to throw the ball.

"This season was great and successful. I've been receiving letters from other schools to join and they offered to pay but I'm going to stay right here in Covington. I couldn't think of leaving Metropolis, ever."

"I'm glad you're staying then," she said with a smile.

They played for what seemed a couple of hours before they tired out. Trevor was leaning his hands against his thighs, his forehead dripped with sweat as Rachel plopped down on the floor.

"I'm never playing with you again Trevor."

He laughed and then held the ball in his arms. "That was fun. I definitely needed that," he admitted and wiped the sweat off with his shirt.

"Most definitely but I think I need to run. Ben and I are having dinner together. He said he wanted to talk to me about something so I need to get going. But don't think I haven't noticed that look on your face. We need to talk but my brother really needs me right now."

She lifted off her legs and reached around Trevor for a hug.

"I'm ok," he lied. "Besides, I have something to do so I need to get going too."

"Liar. I'll get you later," she said, running towards the girls locker room with a wave.

Trevor was now all alone in the basketball court, lifting his eyes to stare at their championship flag that hung from the ceiling. He was just about to head off in the direction of the boys locker room when a noise caught his ear. As he turned around, the heat returned and Trevor couldn't restrain himself. There was sick look all over the mans face and just the thought of what he'd done to Julia, was Trevor's motivation.

It took only a few seconds for him to run across the court and drop Brent to the floor with a loud thud. The sound echoed around the walls. Even as big and built Brent was, the element of surprise caught him off guard. They struggled against each other for a little while, both getting in punches but with all the aggression built inside, Trevor didn't stop. He nearly beat Brent unconscious.

If it wasn't for the coaches and Rachel's yelp, it could have gotten very ugly. It took both of the coaches plus another teacher to pull Trevor off of Brent.

"You're going to pay, I swear!" he screamed, as his basketball coach held Trevor against his chest. "For what you did, you're going to get it and if I have to do it, so be it." His breath was coming deep and hard, his chest rising and falling. If they could have seen him, no one would have believed it was Trevor.

Rachel stood only a feet away, her jaw slack and mouth open wide. She didn't know what was going on or what was happening but to see Trevor so violent told hold of her heart. Something happened ... and it was bad. She wanted to go over to him and help calm him down but her coach directed her to the exit door. Getting the hint, Rachel ran out no sure what to do or who to call or find.

"Off to the Deans office you two go," said Coach Harmon, dragging both boys out of the gym and the short distance to the administration building to see Dean Covington.

[Damien]

Damien absentmindedly dribbled the basketball on the gym's court. It was early, so there weren't a lot of people in the gym. He was just waiting on Tre and Jaleel.

"You're here early," a voice called out from behind him. Damien turned to see his little brother grinning at him.

"I had to talk to the transcript people, so I was already here," Damien replied, dabbing Tre up. "What's good witcha?"

Tre shrugged. "It's been a long week. A good pickup would help me relieve some stress from these exams and papers."

"Now I can finally say that I know what you mean," Damien laughed before passing his brother the ball. "How about some HORSE?"

"What about Jaleel?"

What about him? Damien thought. "It's just a warmup. We can start forreal when he gets here."

[Jaleel]

Jaleel arrived in the gym to see the two brother talking trash to each other on the court furthest from the entrance. "Good," he slipped his backpack off of his shoulders and tossed it towards the bleachers, "Y'all are getting some practice in before I school you in the art of basketball."

[Tre]

Tre rolled his eyes before taking a shot, watching the ball glide into the net with only a swoosh. ''You're cocky...and late. Not a good combination."

"My b--I was at Chelle's," Jaleel smiled helplessly. "We were doing some catching up." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, earning a grimace from Tre.

"Yeah, dawg...nobody cares."

Beside him, Damien's fists clenched at Jaleel's words. It was getting harder and harder to keep his cool. He liked Jaleel a lot, but Rochelle...

[Jaleel]

Jaleel grinned, mischief all over his face. "Jokes. We just talked a little. Lately, we haven't been on the same page, so we figured things out, so I think we're back on the right track...hopefully. Then again, you never know with girls."

Tre nodded in agreement. "True...very true."

Noticing how quiet Damien had been, Jaleel jerked his hand towards him. "What's up, D?"

[Damien]

"Long week," he replied casually, his fists still clenched in his pockets. So that was Rochelle's way of working things out? Damien didn't even pretend that he wasn't hurt, but he pushed his feelings aside. "You got another player? We were gonna do a pickup, but it's uneven."

[Jaleel]

"Yeah. I called Marcus, so hopefully he'll be here. But with work and everything, I'm not sure."

"In the meantime," Jaleel stretched his arms behind his back, "How about this game of HORSE?"

[Marcus]

Marcus opened the door to the gym slowly. It felt like it had been ages since he'd stepped foot on a court. Denying that he missed it was like trying not to breathe. He'd made his choices though and made most of them too late. Basketball was no longer in the cards for him.

He ran a hand over his head and wondered for the millionth time was he was doing there. He'd gotten the invitation from the guys but brushed it off, claiming he was busy. Most of the time it was just easier not to play ball at all rather than remember what he'd given up. A well timed text from Rochelle combined with the first night off in a while and the continuing silence between him and Morgan and he hadn't been able to deny himself. So he'd shown up.

"All of you get together just to get whooped up on?" he taunted easily as he crossed the court to join Damien and the others. Never let 'em see you hurting. And the situation with Morgan definitely had him hurting. She had been one of the few constants in his life, the one person he could always count on to be in his corner. She'd shown him that she was no longer that person. He shook his head, hoping to shake loose the thoughts. They weren't what he needed right now.

[Damien]

A corner of Damien's mouth lifted as he nodded towards Marcus who was joining them on the court. Another good kid who he liked.

"No HORSE," Tre grinned, reaching over with his free hand to slap Marcus on the back. "I guess it's 2 on 2." Obviously, it would be him and his brother against Jaleel and Marcus.

[Marcus]

"Two on two works for me." Marcus tossed his keys onto the bleachers and shook his arms out. "Alright kids. I don't have all night. Show up so I can remind you all how a real man plays ball."

[Jaleel]

"Guess it's me and my boy," Jaleel smiled. He hadn't played basketball with this group for awhile. It felt like he was in middle school again, shooting hoops with Tre and Marcus in the neighborhood court.

Tre scoffed at Marcus' words. "You know we used to crash you on the court, right bro?" He dribbled the ball a couple of times before passing it to Damien. "I'm guarding you, Marc."

[Damien]

Damien agreed wordlessly before turning his eyes to Jaleel. His competitive side was sure to surface during this game, but at new levels. Winning this game wouldn't just be for fun; Damien felt like he had something to prove.

Once Tre passed him the ball, Damien was ready to go. "You're defense," he tossed to Jaleel, who nodded.

[Marcus]

Marcus just laughed. It felt good to be back on the court again, to be with his boys and let the rest be set aside for a while. The man to man defense would give him a good outlet for all the frustration. He focused on Tre with a quiet intensity, ready to work off that edge.

"Let's do it."

[Jaleel]

And so it began. All four of the young men were seasoned basketball players, so the game was as fast-paced and as serious as expected. But Jaleel could feel a different kind of tension, especially between him and Damien. As he guarded Damien, Jaleel could see something burning in his eyes and wasn't sure what it was. Every layup or rim-shaking dunk that Damien made seemed to fuel him to go even harder.

Finally, the game was over with the August brothers ahead 76-69. Jaleel lay sprawled on the court, his chest heaving as he stared up at the ceiling.