Jeffrey lay in his bed, his mind was in consternation staring at the ceiling and then at his phone. eventually Jeffrey got out of bed and started typing, hoping that he could escape his frustration.
The street light outside his window glowing a bright yellow glow. The morning sky was a dark blue gray with dark gray clouds.
____
Returning to 2007, Preston's house.
"Hey Preston, thanks for inviting me", Jeffrey said to his friend.
"Yeah, no problem. So what do you want to do?", Preston asked Jeffrey.
"I don't know what do you want to do?", Jeffrey said his almost obligatory response.
Preston as a good host, deferred to his friend, "I don't know that's why I'm asking you."
Jeffrey sighed with a smile on his face, some things never change.
"You play any games or something?", Jeffrey asked if they had any common interests.
"Nope, my parents don't let me play computer or video games", Preston responded.
"You don't watch any tv or have a wii, maybe?", Jeffrey asked.
"Nope", Preston responded.
"Yeah, same. Except we have a wii", Jeffrey and Preston just started a conversation.
They talked about classes, the teachers they liked, friends, what their parents were doing and more. It was just an average playdate.
"Hey boys", Preston's mom talked to them.
"What do you want for dinner? Is Fish and Green beans ok with Jeffrey? He's not allergic to anything is he", Preston's mom asked Preston.
"Sure mom", Preston responded "Jeffrey's not allergic to anything and he's fine with asian food."
Preston rolled his eyes, but Jeffrey smiled at the relationship Preston had with his parents. Preston's dad was still at the office, but he was headed home.
"You play some basketball?", Preston asked his book reading friend.
"I'm not good at it, but if you go easy on me I could probably play a little", Jeffrey offered.
Usually if an Asian says he's not good, he's good. However in Jeffrey's case, he sucked, one might say at the time he sucked eggs.
Preston sunk another basket, his tall height allowed him to make baskets easily. He was a rare Asian that played basketball, although to be honest a lot of Asian students did play basketball.
Jeffrey had his hands on his knees panting futilely trying to defend against his taller friend. Soon Jeffrey just started fouling Preston.
"I'm going to stop you from making the shot this time", Jeffrey announced to his friend.
"I'd like to see you try", Preston took on the challenge.
Preston easily blew past Jeffrey and sunk another basket.
"My ball", Jeffrey declared his eyes still determined to fight.
Jeffrey dribbled the ball, stopped for a moment and kept dribbling.
"Double dribble", Preston pointed out to Jeffrey.
Jeffrey threw the ball and...
the ball hit the rim and bounced out.
"Come on man, it's 18-2. You really going to call me out for double dribbling?", Jeffrey asked Preston.
"Yep, those are the rules", Preston jeered at Jeffrey.
Jeffrey originally was a kid lacking in self-confidence. He hated being incompetent at something and displaying his incompetence openly was pretty much worse than death for an introverted kid like him. However, in life no one was perfect and eventually that feeling of self-loathing and hatred diminished.
the basketball court lights were turning on as the sky got darker and the weather got colder.
"One more basket and then let's head back", Jeffrey suggested to Preston.
"Sure, but it'll be quick", Preston quipped.
"Why you-", Jeffrey didn't even get to finish that sentence as Preston made a three pointer as soon as he was about to speak.
"Let's head back", Preston declared confidently. Preston grabbed the basketball and walked in front back to his house.
"That was fun", Jeffrey said with a smile on his face.
"Yeah it was", Preston agreed with him.
Preston took care of his friend's large self-ego and usually Jeffrey would talk about some interesting ideas. Jeffrey was just a weird guy and general outcast, but it was also that weirdness that made him unique and different.
Jeffrey honestly didn't know what he did to deserve such good friends, but at the very least he'd make sure to do his best to deserve them.