As much as Ryan hated the fact that he and KK had to work together, he had no other option but to tolerate him for the time being.
Furthermore, find out what he has got under his sleeves. He wanted to know if his best friend was safe being around the dude.
KK arrived on the scene after the game had started, bearing a black bag in his right hand. He hurriedly found himself a sit and later realized that the person sitting directly opposite him in front was Skylar with three of her friends beside her.
He reached out and lightly touched her shoulder and she tilted her head to look, and then smiled at him.
"Hey,"
He chuckled "Hey, you too"
Ian, Ruby, and Remi completely ignored him.
She fully turned to KK not paying attention to the boys on the court anymore. "I was wondering where you were since I didn't see you on the court playing. Why?"
"Um... I um..."
She said in a rush "It's okay if you don't wonna tell me"
"It's... It's not that. It's just..."
She cut in again just when a thought struck her, "Wait! Did Ryan take you off the team?"
"No. Nothing of that sort. I wanted to quit the team on my own. I've given it some thought and I figured I should start afresh." He replied.
He lost his memories and it felt like no one on that court liked him. He had told himself that if he was going to apologize for anything then he should have an idea what for. But for now, he needed a break from everything.
The other day in the cafeteria when he had an episode, he had seen himself aiming a gun at the only person who seemed to care about him around there. And since then he has been trying hard to recall why he did that but nothing seems to be forthcoming. Just throbbing headaches.
Skylar didn't fully understand what he meant by starting afresh but thought it was a great idea. "I understand," She simply said.
Ryan noticed Skykar's attention was no more on them and when he saw the distraction, he was not pleased.
KK. Again?
"Ryan!" Steven called jolting him back to earth and tossed the ball to him. Ryan didn't miss it and the next moment the audience was cheering as the ball entered into the net.
That was when Skylar looked back and saw Hamilton's basketball team embracing each other and celebrating. They won the game!
She was proud "Go Best Friend!" she yelled, proudly.
The quatro friends joined others as they celebrated their duo friends in the court with a round of applause, and a standing ovation.
Laughter, chatter, the sound of water running, lockers shutting and opening. KK noticed all these after he walked into the locker room holding the same bag from earlier.
Everyone paused to look at him when they noticed his presence. "Congratulations, you guys were amazing back there," An awkward silence stretched and when no one said a word, he went on. "Here," he placed the bag on a bench "My kits"
"So it's true what they say. That he's changed?" A player whispered to another but KK heard.
"I'm quitting the team, not permanently though" He completed his announcement.
"Why?" Ryan inquired about his motive. When no answer was forthcoming from KK, Ryan threw his towel on his shoulder "John, please inform the manager to announce that there will be tryouts next week" He said not to anyone in particular before trailing past KK to the bathroom.
"Roger that, Cap." A player wearing waves replied before picking a folded towel white from his locker.
Steven approached KK and let his hand fall on his shoulder. He said, sincerely "Take your time" He had only his boots off.
KK gave him a nod but a nod nonetheless and retreated, out of the locker room.
*******
A knock fell on the door to Skylar's room. She was lying on the bed against her back, a fictional romance novel over her head.
"Come in!" She announced not ceasing the reading. A moment passed and no one walked in. She discontinued reading and jumped off the bed to go answer the door. "Best? Knocking like a stranger." She went back in and he followed suit.
After they settled down on the bed together. Skylar folded a part of the page and closed the book.
"I hate it when we fight" Ryan let out.
"Me too," Skylar said. Ryan asked for an embrace with spread arms and Skylar accepted. "Let's not fight anymore?" She added, in his arms.
"No more lies between us?"
"Let's see reasons before getting pissed at each other?"
"Let's not let anyone come between us. Promise?"
"Promise"
Then, they let go and beamed at each other "Stubborn girl" Ryan teased and flicked her forehead.
"Ouch! What did you do that for?" She asked rubbing the spot.
"For making me miss you so much" Ryan confessed "And..." He couldn't complete the sentence.
"And what? Jealous? I knew you were jealous of the fact that KK was suddenly in the picture" She said squinting her eyes at him.
Ryan scoffed, denying it "You wish" He alighted the bed and hid his hands in the hoodie's pockets.
"Where are you going?" Skylar asked hoping it wasn't what she guessed.
"Home," He said whirling to back her.
Skylar opened her mouth to talk but no word found its way through her lungs. She let it shut and said when it opened again "Really? You literally just got here. Stay for dinner? Dad said they got a lead on the case."
He turned around to stare at her, inquiringly. "Fill me in"
"Um... Don't really have all the details but maybe if you stayed for dinner..." She trailed off and shrugged.
Ryan knew what she was doing. He chuckled and hummed teasingly "Coming downstairs or what?"
Skylar smiled victoriously and was off the bed in a moment. The duo best friends left the room holding hands.
Ryan had thought that Skylar mentioned a lead on the case just to make him stay for dinner but turned out there was actually one. They listened carefully, seated in the dining as Maverick filled them in on the details.
He had mentioned that someone had come in willingly to the precinct to rat out the organ trafficking, drug smuggling, and other related crimes syndicate involved in the attempted kidnap to the police the other day. Gave every information needed for their infiltration and arrest and all were accurate.
"That's it but the stranger is nowhere to be found now."
Ryan hummed shockingly, "Didn't the police like think of keeping whomever that was in custody? Having such info about a syndicate could mean two things: either he's a part of the group or an escaped victim."
"He was a police officer and he led the arrest and information on him or where he came from is still a mystery. They've tried reaching out to other divisions but none acknowledged that they have an officer with that name registered under the division"
"Strange" Ryan muttered.
"Strange indeed" agreed
"What was his name?" Skylar asked
"Micheal. Micheal Davison or something" Maverick replied.
Skylar hummed in thought. There was someone she could ask about this mystery. Later tonight when Saint Micheal comes. She'd talk about it with him.
But, later that night, Micheal didn't show up. She stayed up past bedtime, midnight, into the morning but he didn't come. Not even a feeling of his presence.
Skylar gave up and went to bed feeling disappointed.
Maybe he was busy. She had told herself.
She wasn't his only Guardient and he was a Guardian. He was probably somewhere saving or protecting lives.
Meanwhile, He was having the caution of his life from Alphaomega.
Knowing fully well that nothing could be hidden under the sun from his Father, Micheal still went ahead and interfered with the laws of nature or humanity.
"Disguising as one of them? I let it slide the first time this happened and you did it again? What is wrong with you, Micheal?!" His brothers stood silently by the side of the throne compartment as they listened to their father caution their brother. "What do you think would happen if they found out the truth?"
"That there's a God up here, watching over them, and has got their backs?"
"Don't be ridiculous, boy." Alphaomega took a breath. "Your excessive freedom is beginning to get into your head, Mich. And something has to be done about it. I don't wonna see you on earth again."
"But I've got Guardients to Guard."
"Your brothers will take care of them"
"What?!"
"Disobey me and you won't like the consequences. Out of my sight. Now!"
Micheal hesitantly backed away, he was so pissed that he forgot to bow to his father. His brothers took their bow and followed out of the throne compartment.
*******
Just after the group of friends found their table in the school's general cafeteria, a lady wearing a beam approached them bearing a full tray.
"Hi," She smiled but at Steven in particular. All eyes went to her but no one said a word waiting for her to state her mission.
"I'm... I was wondering if I could join your table. My name is Lisa, I'm Steven's partner for our recent project assignment."
Ian glanced at Steven before picking up his drink to take a sip.
"Sure, Lisa" Steven smiled up at her.
She sat where Steven had moved a bit to create, her smile not disappearing, she said to him "Thanks" She dropped a banana from her tray into his "I picked this for you"
"Thank you," He accepted. His friends were waiting for his next move but were surprised at Steven when nothing happened.
"He doesn't like bananas" Remi eventually said it out loud.
"Oh!" Lisa stared at Steven "I didn't know ..."
"It's okay. I eat it sometimes" Steven lied and Ian frowned. Then reached out into the tray and the next moment he had the banana in his possession peeling off the cover.
After he took a bite, he said to Steven "You don't have to."
Lisa put her hand over Steven's on the table and smiled "Next time I'd pick something else."
The little action made Ian roll his eyes, but carefully not to let anyone notice.
Steven glanced up at his friends before moving his hand away from hers "It's okay. You don't have to worry about picking anything for me."
"But I want to. Now, that we're project partners, I'd like to take care of you" Lisa replied.
"Do you take care of all your project partners?" Ruby found the Lisa girl clingy and annoying.
"Not really but if I like you, I do" Lisa replied confidently. She sighed, "I heard about your break up with Celine."
"That was months ago," Steven responded, not liking the turn of topic.
"Yeah, right. That's in the past now. You don't have to worry about the past but the present and future."
Ryan and Skylar as if sharing the same brain cells glanced at each other at the same time and communicated with their eyes.
"Where do you want us to work on the report? Your place or mine?" Lisa asked, looking at Steven like she wanted something more.
"Uh, Lisa, Right? Do you mind?" Skylar asked.
"Excuse me?"
"Do you mind? We wonna talk about something within the friendship circle and you're not invited. No offense." Skylar said as politely as she could.
"Saying no offense doesn't make it any less offensive. Anyway," She reached for a pen in her handbag and wrote something on Steven's palm "Call me?" That said, she picked up the tray and left the table.
Steven sighed "Thanks Sky."
"Thanks, Sky? Really?" Ian sounded offended "You could have just told her to leave, that she was being a nuisance."
"I am not as straightforward as you Ian, I care about people's feelings" Steven defended.
"Wow! Now I'm the bad guy? You don't like bananas but were willing to make an exception for her. All for what, a pant removal?"
Steven's jaws dropped in disbelief. He had no words to defend himself this time. Probably because Ian was right. Or because he was caught off guard.
"Ian! That was going too far" Skylar cautioned. Remi and Ruby also gave him a no-supportive look for the statement.
He sighed "I'm sorry." He picked up his tray and walked away to the counter.
"What is wrong with him?" Steven asked, frowning critically.
*******
With the car parked properly out of the road in front of the house. KK made his way further and started up the flight of steps to click on the door button and he heard the bell announce someone at the entrance.
It was the first he had ever been to Ryan's. The house was quite large but not as enormous as his.
An older lady dressed in a uniform; a mixture of grey and milk answered the door and smiled up at him.
"You must be KK? Please come in." She asked, politely.
"Yeah. Good day," He smiled back entering the house.
"Ryan's been expecting you. He's in the back study cabinet just after the living room by the end of the hallway." She directed.
"Thank you" He walked away following the instruction until he came in contact with the room.
He didn't find Ryan in there but saw his kits lying on the table and a few on the floor. KK went ahead to set up his. He was almost at the table when he heard a creak as the executive chair behind the desk spun, revealing Ryan who was eating an apple, just a few bites off the fruit in his hand.
You invited me to your house to creep me up?! KK was startled.
"First things foremost. What do you want with my best friend?"
"I don't understand"
"Okay, let's break it down. What plans have you got up your sleeves? You don't expect me to believe that you suddenly turned a new leaf 'cause you came back to life, do you?"
"With the look of things, I must have been a jerk to everyone but believe me when I say that I don't remember that KK anymore. The last thing I remember was me involved in an accident with my little brother, Kenton, a rod pierced through his chest. And he's no more. I apologize for whatever I've done to you in the past that I don't remember but I'd like you to put the differences aside as we work on the project."
He lost a brother? It must have been so hard on him. Ryan thought, feeling sorry for him. But showing it would be encouraging him.
"Alright, alright. Enough with the sentiment, let's get to work" He said almost nonchalantly.
*******