(Debut of Jason Stevens)
It was one of those rare days that the gym wasn't being used by a team for practice right after school. He hadn't played basketball for the school since junior high, but he still liked to come in and shoot around. He had his own ball, emblazoned with the emblem of the State school. He'd won it off a carnival game a few years back and decided he liked it. He didn't actually care much for college basketball to tell the truth though. He was a football fan through and through. Basketball was just something he liked to do in the off-season, and when he was really bored.
Jason took the shot. It bounced off the rim and hit the floor once before bouncing back to him. Free throws had never been his thing. He always worked best when he had some momentum. He shook his head and tried again. This time the ball bounced to the side and he had to chase it down.
Not a good start...
He abandoned free throws in favor of layups, which he was much better at. He almost never missed an unguarded layup. Scoring a few made him feel alright, no matter what was going on. It didn't take him long to get confident enough with the ball to start trying a few jump shots. Soon enough he was back to the free throw line.
He took the shot. The ball bounced off the backboard hard back toward him. He caught it and went back to layups. It seemed like he would never be any good at free throws.
So not my thing...
Shot in the dark
(Marion Summers continued from Simply Studying )
Marion stepped into the gym and found it surprisingly empty. She was supposed to be here doing some fluff piece on how hard the basketball team was preparing for their semi-final game. She hated these pieces. There were so much more important things to report on, like the fact that the cafeteria still didn't offer vegetarian choices everyday. She glanced at the watch and discovered that she was a half hour early for practice. Sighing she walked around the gym to the bleachers watching the only other person there shot baskets. He was Jason something a football player. Although, why he was here practicing basketball, she didn't know.
She found a spot on the bleachers and pulled out a notebook and a pencil. She opened to a clean page and began jotting down ideas that she could use as an opening for this stupid article. She had only written down a couple of ideas when Jason switched to lay-ups and she had to admit he was much better at them. She sat and watched him for a while, knowing she had plenty of time to get the article written. After he switched back to free throws she decided she was bored and called out, "Hey, are you planning on joining the basketball team?"
Marion stepped into the gym and found it surprisingly empty. She was supposed to be here doing some fluff piece on how hard the basketball team was preparing for their semi-final game. She hated these pieces. There were so much more important things to report on, like the fact that the cafeteria still didn't offer vegetarian choices everyday. She glanced at the watch and discovered that she was a half hour early for practice. Sighing she walked around the gym to the bleachers watching the only other person there shot baskets. He was Jason something a football player. Although, why he was here practicing basketball, she didn't know.
She found a spot on the bleachers and pulled out a notebook and a pencil. She opened to a clean page and began jotting down ideas that she could use as an opening for this stupid article. She had only written down a couple of ideas when Jason switched to lay-ups and she had to admit he was much better at them. She sat and watched him for a while, knowing she had plenty of time to get the article written. After he switched back to free throws she decided she was bored and called out, "Hey, are you planning on joining the basketball team?"
The voice jarred him very slightly. He hadn't realized he had an audience. He shrugged and shook his head once he had processed her question. Realizing she probably couldn't actually pick up on his gesture from that distance he spoke up.
"Naw, I just got bored and felt like shooting a few. Haven't played for the school since junior high, not really fixing to start now y'know?" He attempted one more free throw, actually making the shot this time. He smiled and collected his ball, tucking it under his arm and walking toward the bleachers. He looked the girl over, trying to figure out if he knew her. He probably did, he just couldn't remember offhand. Then again he didn't really hang around much of his class. He mostly just stuck with the jocks and a few underclassmen that he got along with.
"I figure I should stick to what I do best anyhow. That ain't basketball for sure." Jason paused for a second before pointing and asking his watcher "what's in your notebook anyhow?"
"Naw, I just got bored and felt like shooting a few. Haven't played for the school since junior high, not really fixing to start now y'know?" He attempted one more free throw, actually making the shot this time. He smiled and collected his ball, tucking it under his arm and walking toward the bleachers. He looked the girl over, trying to figure out if he knew her. He probably did, he just couldn't remember offhand. Then again he didn't really hang around much of his class. He mostly just stuck with the jocks and a few underclassmen that he got along with.
"I figure I should stick to what I do best anyhow. That ain't basketball for sure." Jason paused for a second before pointing and asking his watcher "what's in your notebook anyhow?"
"Naw, I just got bored and felt like shooting a few. Haven't played for the school since junior high, not really fixing to start now y'know?" She watched as he actually made his free throw attempt and smiled back at the look on this face as he tried to figure out who she was when he joined her on the bleachers.
"I figure I should stick to what I do best anyhow. That ain't basketball for sure." Jason paused for a second before pointing and asking his watcher "what's in your notebook anyhow?"
Marion shrugged at his comment. "We can't all be stars in everything. I'm trying to come up with an introduction form my basketball article," she explained motioning to the three words she'd managed to jot down.
"I'm Marion by the way," she said extending her hand. "I'm supposed to be writing an article about how hard the basketball team is preparing for the upcoming finals. I don't know basketball's not really my thing, but then again I'm not into sports anyway, well traditional sports. Got any suggestions for an opening? I mean it's not like I can even open with the roar of the crowd stuff, it's just a practice."
"I figure I should stick to what I do best anyhow. That ain't basketball for sure." Jason paused for a second before pointing and asking his watcher "what's in your notebook anyhow?"
Marion shrugged at his comment. "We can't all be stars in everything. I'm trying to come up with an introduction form my basketball article," she explained motioning to the three words she'd managed to jot down.
"I'm Marion by the way," she said extending her hand. "I'm supposed to be writing an article about how hard the basketball team is preparing for the upcoming finals. I don't know basketball's not really my thing, but then again I'm not into sports anyway, well traditional sports. Got any suggestions for an opening? I mean it's not like I can even open with the roar of the crowd stuff, it's just a practice."
He shrugged apologetically. "If I could help you with that at all, I'd probably be writing it myself. I'm just tryin' to get through English right now y'know? I'm not so good with words." He took her hand limply and introduced himself. "Jason, you a senior?"
He stretched a little and sat in the bleachers near her. "Practices are boring anyhow. The drills don't mean much to people that don't play. How long is it supposed to be anyhow? Hope it's not too long. There ain't much to say. It'll probably be a boring read anyhow, the only thing worse than that is long and boring..." almost as an afterthought, he added "not that you're boring or anything."
He scratched his head and thought for a second. Then he forgot what he was thinking about. The frustration of feeling like an enormous goldfish gave him a headache. He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.
"Ugh..."
He stretched a little and sat in the bleachers near her. "Practices are boring anyhow. The drills don't mean much to people that don't play. How long is it supposed to be anyhow? Hope it's not too long. There ain't much to say. It'll probably be a boring read anyhow, the only thing worse than that is long and boring..." almost as an afterthought, he added "not that you're boring or anything."
He scratched his head and thought for a second. Then he forgot what he was thinking about. The frustration of feeling like an enormous goldfish gave him a headache. He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.
"Ugh..."
He shrugged apologetically. "If I could help you with that at all, I'd probably be writing it myself. I'm just tryin' to get through English right now y'know? I'm not so good with words." He took her hand limply and introduced himself. "Jason, you a senior?"
He stretched a little and sat in the bleachers near her. "Practices are boring anyhow. The drills don't mean much to people that don't play. How long is it supposed to be anyhow? Hope it's not too long. There ain't much to say. It'll probably be a boring read anyhow, the only thing worse than that is long and boring..." almost as an afterthought, he added "not that you're boring or anything."
Marion stared at Jason in amazement. Did he even take a breath? For not being good at English or basketball he sure has a lot to say on that subject. she thought. Instead of voicing those opinons however she laughed and said. "Oh, I've never been called boring before. Lots of other things but never boring. Yes, I'm a senior, and if you count the newspaper technically I'm taking two English classes this year. Although, newspaper counts as an elective for me this year. Although right now it doesn't look like that was one of my better choices."
She slid her pencil through the loops of her spiral notebook and set it aside. "To be honest I think this is so sort of punishment cooked up by our advisor. He feels that my articles are too limited and wanted me to branch out. So here I am waiting for a boring practice to start."
She waited a moment as he scratched his head, thinking that he had something more to add to the conversation. When he closed his eyes and let out a small groan she continued. I'm as bad a he is, rambling on and on, she thought. "I assume that the practice is about an hour, but I don't know for sure. That's usually how long my practice sessions run. You feeling okay?"
He stretched a little and sat in the bleachers near her. "Practices are boring anyhow. The drills don't mean much to people that don't play. How long is it supposed to be anyhow? Hope it's not too long. There ain't much to say. It'll probably be a boring read anyhow, the only thing worse than that is long and boring..." almost as an afterthought, he added "not that you're boring or anything."
Marion stared at Jason in amazement. Did he even take a breath? For not being good at English or basketball he sure has a lot to say on that subject. she thought. Instead of voicing those opinons however she laughed and said. "Oh, I've never been called boring before. Lots of other things but never boring. Yes, I'm a senior, and if you count the newspaper technically I'm taking two English classes this year. Although, newspaper counts as an elective for me this year. Although right now it doesn't look like that was one of my better choices."
She slid her pencil through the loops of her spiral notebook and set it aside. "To be honest I think this is so sort of punishment cooked up by our advisor. He feels that my articles are too limited and wanted me to branch out. So here I am waiting for a boring practice to start."
She waited a moment as he scratched his head, thinking that he had something more to add to the conversation. When he closed his eyes and let out a small groan she continued. I'm as bad a he is, rambling on and on, she thought. "I assume that the practice is about an hour, but I don't know for sure. That's usually how long my practice sessions run. You feeling okay?"
He nodded his head a little. "Just got a headache. I'll be fine once I get some Monster. I'll probably stop at BP and grab one in a little bit." Jason didn't function so well in the afternoon. He started forgetting things and really wanted caffiene. The vending machines at the school didn't have soda in them anymore. The PTA ruined a lot of things for students. Not being able to feed his addiction made life hard for Jason. He could make it up to around lunchtime on a morning latte, but after that he started going downhill and needed a pick-me-up. Once he had his afternoon fix he was fine until he went to bed. Normally he'd stuff a can in his bag on the way out the door, but that day he was in a hurry and forgot. So he'd have to grab one on his way home. Or wait. But who ever wants to wait?
"Practice might be a little longer today since it's semi-finals." He rubbed his temples a little and tried to shake off the headache. It got worse.
"Ugh...I think I'm getting withdrawls...can you get withdrawls from caffiene?"
"Practice might be a little longer today since it's semi-finals." He rubbed his temples a little and tried to shake off the headache. It got worse.
"Ugh...I think I'm getting withdrawls...can you get withdrawls from caffiene?"
(I apologize for any grammar and spelling mistakes, my computer is being very strange. 
"You can totally go into caffine withdrawals, at least in my opinion," she said motioning to her carafe that currently held tea. "Although if you need it that much, why don't you carry some in your bag? You could even get a resusable container for it, that way you can have it all day. That's what I do anyway."
Marion made a face at his comment about practice and said, "I knew it. I just knew. How much of the practice do you think I'll actually have to stay for? I mean when I practice it's usually stretching and then a set of drills. At least when it's not a sparring day." She huffed a little and set the pad of paper and pencil aside.
"Yes," she said as the basketball team finally started to trickle into the gym. "It's about time. So are you gonna hang around for a bit and keep my company. I could really use any details you can give me. I'm not much into basketball, or even better introduce me to some of the players."
"You can totally go into caffine withdrawals, at least in my opinion," she said motioning to her carafe that currently held tea. "Although if you need it that much, why don't you carry some in your bag? You could even get a resusable container for it, that way you can have it all day. That's what I do anyway."
Marion made a face at his comment about practice and said, "I knew it. I just knew. How much of the practice do you think I'll actually have to stay for? I mean when I practice it's usually stretching and then a set of drills. At least when it's not a sparring day." She huffed a little and set the pad of paper and pencil aside.
"Yes," she said as the basketball team finally started to trickle into the gym. "It's about time. So are you gonna hang around for a bit and keep my company. I could really use any details you can give me. I'm not much into basketball, or even better introduce me to some of the players."
((Totally understand.))
"I normally do grab a can before I leave, but I was in a rush today, so I forgot. I should probably try to kick the habit, but the headaches are pretty bad." He massaged his temples. He had put his bag in his truck so he couldn't check to see if he had any aspirin. If he wanted to stay, he'd just have to tough it out.
"I guess I can hang around. I don't really have anywhere to be. I might not be very helpful introducing you to any players. I only know the ones that play football. I mean, I kind of know them, you know, but not really. Anyhow, I used to play, so I know some things about it..." he trailed off and seemed to space out. He was looking in the general direction of the players, his eye's looking half-glazed over. He realized he was out of it and shook his head to try snap out of it.
"I forgot what I was talking about...uhh...my head hurts."
"I normally do grab a can before I leave, but I was in a rush today, so I forgot. I should probably try to kick the habit, but the headaches are pretty bad." He massaged his temples. He had put his bag in his truck so he couldn't check to see if he had any aspirin. If he wanted to stay, he'd just have to tough it out.
"I guess I can hang around. I don't really have anywhere to be. I might not be very helpful introducing you to any players. I only know the ones that play football. I mean, I kind of know them, you know, but not really. Anyhow, I used to play, so I know some things about it..." he trailed off and seemed to space out. He was looking in the general direction of the players, his eye's looking half-glazed over. He realized he was out of it and shook his head to try snap out of it.
"I forgot what I was talking about...uhh...my head hurts."
"I forgot what I was talking about...uhh...my head hurts."
Marion watched as Jason rubbed his temples and then followed his gaze towards the boys that had begun their warm-up routines. She watched the boys for a while admiring there um . athleticism. She watched as they began to jog around the court and followed them with her eyes until Jason once again came back into her field of vision. Her attention focused back on him and after a moment made a decision.
Snapping her notebook closed she slipped it back into her bag and said, "You know what I've got some aspirin in my locker. Why don't we walk down and grab some and then maybe we can get that soda you wanted. I mean this is a practice so it's not like I actually have to be here to record the highlights. You can give me the basics, and then I can hit up one of the players tomorrow during school for their thoughts. What d'you think?"
Marion watched as Jason rubbed his temples and then followed his gaze towards the boys that had begun their warm-up routines. She watched the boys for a while admiring there um . athleticism. She watched as they began to jog around the court and followed them with her eyes until Jason once again came back into her field of vision. Her attention focused back on him and after a moment made a decision.
Snapping her notebook closed she slipped it back into her bag and said, "You know what I've got some aspirin in my locker. Why don't we walk down and grab some and then maybe we can get that soda you wanted. I mean this is a practice so it's not like I actually have to be here to record the highlights. You can give me the basics, and then I can hit up one of the players tomorrow during school for their thoughts. What d'you think?"
He nodded and smiled a little. It was at that moment that he admitted to himself that he had a problem. A problem that he needed to work on. Until he managed to beat it though, it was side-effect management and weaning. If he could move off energy drinks, he'd be happy.
"That would be nice...I think you'd get more out of talking to a player than watching anyhow. The only people who are interested in what practice was like is the players." Jason stretched out a little and scooped up his ball.
"Lead the way."
"That would be nice...I think you'd get more out of talking to a player than watching anyhow. The only people who are interested in what practice was like is the players." Jason stretched out a little and scooped up his ball.
"Lead the way."
Marion stood and grunted as she pulled her backpack onto her back. "My locker is back in the main hall," she said giving the court a wide berth. She paused at the doorway giving the boys a final once over and then pushed through them leading the way to her locker.
"So are you only involved in football," she asked as they walked making conversation.
Reaching her locker, she quickly twisted her lock to finding the proper combination and swung the door open. She cursed as things began raining out on her. She managed to catch most of it and placed it on the floor in a messy pile in front of the locker, before reaching in again to find the aspirin. After a minute search she came up with the bottle, holding it up, smiling proudly.
"Here we go," she said with a smile handing him the bottle. "Just give me a minute to get all this back in here and we can go." She grabbed the pile on the floor, which consisted mostly of fliers from various environmental groups, and a couple ballroom dancing pamphlets. After several minutes and a hastily slammed door she turned her attention back to him.
"So are you only involved in football," she asked as they walked making conversation.
Reaching her locker, she quickly twisted her lock to finding the proper combination and swung the door open. She cursed as things began raining out on her. She managed to catch most of it and placed it on the floor in a messy pile in front of the locker, before reaching in again to find the aspirin. After a minute search she came up with the bottle, holding it up, smiling proudly.
"Here we go," she said with a smile handing him the bottle. "Just give me a minute to get all this back in here and we can go." She grabbed the pile on the floor, which consisted mostly of fliers from various environmental groups, and a couple ballroom dancing pamphlets. After several minutes and a hastily slammed door she turned her attention back to him.
Jason nodded. "Just football. I used to play basketball, but after Junior High I decided that I wanted to enjoy the off season. Nice not having a coach yell at you all year." He beamed when she pressed the bottle into his hand. Now he just had to find a drink machine. Dry swallowing pills was not something he was very good at.
"Thanks. Once I find a drink I'll be very happy. Had a cousin that could swallow these things dry. I tried it and almost choked. Didn't feel like trying it again."
He looked down at the fliers that had attacked her. "Those all yours, or do people just put paper in your locker?"
"Thanks. Once I find a drink I'll be very happy. Had a cousin that could swallow these things dry. I tried it and almost choked. Didn't feel like trying it again."
He looked down at the fliers that had attacked her. "Those all yours, or do people just put paper in your locker?"
Marion turned and motioned for him to walk with her down the hall on her way to find a soda. "Both actually. I'm involved in several environmental groups, but several of our classmates have taken great pleasure in stuffing any environmental information they can find in my locker. I have no idea why, my mom works for Greenpeace so half the time I know about environmental issues before they become news. You'd think they'd have something more important to do with their time. If bothered me at first, but then I realized that I'd rather them give the fliers to me, then throw it on the ground. At least I'll recycle it," she took a deep breath and realized she'd been rambling.
"Sorry," she said. "Caring about the environment's kind of hardwired into me. I don't really have an off season; I have to practice jiu-jitsu year round. Otherwise my mom'll decide to try and put me in something else more feminine like cheerleading." She made a face and then continued. "Let's see if we can't find you that soda."
"Sorry," she said. "Caring about the environment's kind of hardwired into me. I don't really have an off season; I have to practice jiu-jitsu year round. Otherwise my mom'll decide to try and put me in something else more feminine like cheerleading." She made a face and then continued. "Let's see if we can't find you that soda."
Jason nodded a little. He didn't really know much about the environment. He had a vague awareness that people were affecting it somehow, but he didn't think about it much. He didn't litter and he tried to keep his truck running as cleanly and efficiently as possible, mostly because it was cheaper on fuel and he didn't have to deal with a cloud of exhaust following him wherever he went and looking gross.
A little bit ahead he saw a drink machine. If he remembered right it had juices and flavored water, maybe a tea or two. It would do. He vaguely recalled that most teas had a little caffeine, so that would probably be pretty good for him to switch to if he wanted to try to lessen his addiction. He patted his pockets and as luck would have it, he remembered his wallet. He had a habit of leaving it on his dresser when he left for any place. He rarely needed it at school, but he'd planned to restock on caffeine after school, so he slipped it into his pocket before he left.
As they came near the machine Jason slid his wallet out. It was a rather plain wallet, made of slightly beat up brown leather. He fished a wrinkled single out of it and fed it to the brightly lit machine. It was one of those new ones that the customer could see inside of and had the robot arm that grabbed the drink and brought it back. Jason liked them because they were pretty cool to watch, and he never ran the risk of the machine getting something other than what he'd chosen. He scanned the machine and decided on a citrus flavored green tea. He entered its code and watched as the arm started to move.
A little bit ahead he saw a drink machine. If he remembered right it had juices and flavored water, maybe a tea or two. It would do. He vaguely recalled that most teas had a little caffeine, so that would probably be pretty good for him to switch to if he wanted to try to lessen his addiction. He patted his pockets and as luck would have it, he remembered his wallet. He had a habit of leaving it on his dresser when he left for any place. He rarely needed it at school, but he'd planned to restock on caffeine after school, so he slipped it into his pocket before he left.
As they came near the machine Jason slid his wallet out. It was a rather plain wallet, made of slightly beat up brown leather. He fished a wrinkled single out of it and fed it to the brightly lit machine. It was one of those new ones that the customer could see inside of and had the robot arm that grabbed the drink and brought it back. Jason liked them because they were pretty cool to watch, and he never ran the risk of the machine getting something other than what he'd chosen. He scanned the machine and decided on a citrus flavored green tea. He entered its code and watched as the arm started to move.