Saturday October 31 2009
"Here we go" a teenager could be heard sighing while adjusting his costume in the mirror to go to a party he had no desire to go to
"How the hell did I get to accept this" Aaron thought with a resigned look thinking of some way to avoid going to the party and stay home watching horror movies
But unfortunately Drew foreseeing that Aaron could retract or not want to go to the party convinced his father to stop by for Aaron and go to the party together
"Damn you Drew" Aaron cursed in a low voice to his friend thinking of ways to take revenge tomorrow in the training they would have on Sunday
"You will see tomorrow" Aaron said with a sinister smile already thinking how his friend would suffer
"Just hold on until tomorrow" Aaron murmured more to himself than to anyone else trying to find the strength to go to the party
The truth Aaron was never a party guy neither in this life nor in the previous one it simply was not an environment in which he felt comfortable surrounded by sweaty people and loud music he went to some of course he was not a total antisocial either but that he go voluntarily was something rare
"The faster I go the faster I will finish this" Aaron thought while taking the mask of his costume and leaving his room to go to the living room and wait for Drew to pass by for him
Once in the living room seeing that the apartment was empty and his mother still did not return Aaron decided to sit on the sofa to watch television while waiting for Drew and his father
Once with the television on instinctively Aaron changed the channel to TNT to see if there was any game playing currently and it seems he got lucky because at the moment he changed the channel he could see two teams playing
One team wore blue uniforms with orange stripes while the opposing team wore red and white uniforms seeing the scoreboard Aaron realized that they were halfway through the 1st quarter so the game started recently
Knicks vs 76ers 22-10 scoreboard 5:20 minutes remaining of the 1st quarter
A bitter smile was seen on Aaron's face seeing that the Knicks were down by 12 points and the record of the team in the new season was 0-3 while Philadelphia had a better record of 2-1
As a native of New York Aaron had a love-hate relationship with the Knicks especially because he knew how dark the outlook will be for the team being able only to qualify for 3 play offs in 10 years
While Aaron lamented on the screen Andre Iguodala was seen giving a pass to Lou Williams who shot calmly to add another 2 points to Philadelphia
24-13 current scoreboard in favor of Philadelphia
"what are you doing!!" Aaron could not help but shout with fury seeing how at the moment williams shot Nate Robinson committed a foul on him making Philadelphia win a free throw for an extra point
Shaking his head resigned Aaron concentrated on watching the game with an impassive look on his face while remembering the conversation he had yesterday with coach Joe in his office after class yesterday
Flashback
Ringing the bell for the end of classes it could be seen how the students dispersed like a tide in direction toward the exit door
Some ran as if the door were going to disappear or fearing that it would close preventing them from starting their Halloween weekend
Others walked in groups chatting and making plans for the Halloween weekend
But Aaron got up slowly while readying his things to head toward the gym and know what it was the coach wanted to discuss with him
"Do you want me to go with you?" Drew asked while also saving his things to leave
"It's not necessary" Aaron said knowing that Drew would get bored waiting outside the office while he and coach Joe discussed whatever they were going to discuss
"Ok" Drew said relieved to know that he would not have to wait for Aaron
Once he saw the face of relief of his friend Aaron rolled his eyes in his direction while starting to walk toward the gym where the coach's office was located
But before he could cross the door he saw how his path was interrupted by a girl somewhat insistent
"Aaron" Meghan said sweetly raising her head toward the mentioned
"Meghan" Aaron responded dryly toward the girl in question
After that an awkward silence installed between both as if they expected the other to break the ice or say what they had to say
"You didn't respond to my messages" Meghan Said after a few seconds seeing that Aaron would not take the initiative to talk to her
"I was occupied" was Aaron's dry response while passing by one side believing that that would be the end of the conversation
"Wait" Meghan said quickly grabbing Aaron's arm to prevent him from leaving
"Something else" Aaron asked while gently moving his arm away from Meghan's
At that Meghan felt a hit to her pride usually it was the boys who fought for her attention not the other way around she was never one of those who begged for attention
"Focus" Meghan thought while she composed herself "I wanted to know if you saw the photos I sent you" Meghan said while looking at Aaron's reaction and smiled proudly seeing a slight blush behind his ears
"I saw it" Aaron said while pretending to cough putting his hand over his mouth
"And well?" Meghan asked invading Aaron's personal space raising her head once she was close enough to him
"Well what?" Aaron asked without understanding what it was Meghan wanted
"Which costume would look better on me for the party" Meghan said putting her hands on her hips while making a pose
"Any one with which you feel comfortable is fine" Aaron said hurriedly wanting to leave once and for all from this situation
"Seriously is there none that attracted you more?" Meghan asked more insistent this time wanting to know what Aaron liked
Aaron knowing that if he did not give a quick answer Meghan would not leave him in peace so he said the first one that came to mind as soon as he thought about the photos he received
"Cat" as soon as he said that Aaron saw how Meghan had a triumphant smile while she approached and stood on her tiptoes until being right in Aaron's ear
"If you are lucky I can be your kitty tomorrow" Meghan said in a seductive tone while moving away toward the exit with the clicking of her heels as the only sound that was heard in the hallways
"Friend" Drew said witnessing all the interaction wishing to be him instead of Aaron
Aaron gave a blank look to Drew while seeing his friend try to process all the previous scene
"What photos was she talking to you about?" Drew Asked curious by not understanding
"Nothing important" Aaron said downplaying the matter knowing that those photos were something private and that he should not show them to anyone even if that someone were his best friend
"Come on tell me" said an insistent Drew with curiosity at maximum but seeing that Aaron had the stoic look he stopped insisting after the 10th tell me knowing that his friend would say nothing
"Well then tomorrow I pass for you and we go to the party" Drew said with enthusiasm changing the subject while he also headed toward the school exit
"Ok" Aaron said although on his face a nuance of reluctance could be appreciated knowing that what he least wanted to do was to go to a party
Once he saw how Drew lost himself in the high school hallways Aaron set out to go in the opposite direction straight to the gym thinking about what it is that the coach wants to talk about
When he arrived at the gym Aaron headed to the door that was at the back of the gym where could be read in big letters "coach" when he was in front of the door Aaron gave some small knocks giving to understand that he had arrived
"Come in" a muffled voice was heard from inside the room
What received Aaron once he entered was the sight of the coach along with Derick Phelps who was his coach on the yellow team and giving a quick look through all the room Aaron saw the framed photos of past teams along with trophies won in the glorious history of the Royals
"Take a seat" coach Joe said once he saw it was Aaron who knocked on the door
Once Aaron took a seat a silence installed in the room while Aaron waited for the coach to start talking
"Do you know why we called you here Aaron?" coach Joe began saying with a question directed toward Aaron
"I imagine it is because I will play at the varsity level" Aaron responded after weighing the reason why he was called after classes to the coach's office
"Yes and no" coach Joe began saying while looking at Aaron "The reason also why you are here is because I want to discuss your role and position in the team" coach Joe began while putting his hands in front of the desk
"Agreed" Aaron said waiting for the coach's explanation
"First of all surely you will wonder why I put you as power-forward instead of center" after hearing that phrase Aaron's brain remembered the conversation he had with his mother after the game about the same subject
"More than anything it is not because I doubt your talent or anything technically speaking you have the perfect profile to play as center" coach Joe began to say starting by flattering Aaron before saying the but
"But" Joe began "physically you are not yet ready to play as center because if you remember yesterday's game although technically you jumped better than Dominykas physically you could not compete with him" coach Joe explained seriously trying to make Aaron understand why he changed him from his natural position
At that Aaron could not help but remember yesterday's game and how effectively he was surpassed in strength by Dominykas and not so much by the jump technique itself
"Then why put me as power-forward?" Aaron asked this time wanting to know the coach's answer
At that coach Joe straightened up to begin with the explanation "Because although physically you are not yet ready to fight under the paint it would be a waste not to put you to play" he explained while a smile formed on his face
"The junior varsity level would be a waste for someone with your skills and reviewing your statistics you have qualities to play as power-forward only that you haven't realized it yet" coach Joe finished saying while showing him a sheet with Aaron's data
"I understand" Aaron said now that he understood the coach's decision for not putting him in the paint
"But" coach Joe said taking Aaron out of his thoughts
"To play power-forward you will have to train more than the rest after all you will play a new position against players who have a trajectory in that position" coach Joe added making Aaron know that he will not have it easy
"That's why he is here" Joe finished pointing with his finger at Derick who was behind Aaron
Taking a step forward Derick put a folder on the table with a training plan and data on Aaron
"The primordial thing is that we work on your footwork" Derick began while showing him his plan and the objectives for the month of November before the season
After that Derick went deeper into more data and technical details with the objective that he can transform his role without problems while recommending him to watch videos of plays of players like Duncan and Nowitzki
"Based on your performance in November I will put you as a starter in the games while I will put you as center in some games" coach Joe finished saying while waiting for Aaron's response toward his plan
"Let's do it" Aaron said while getting up and extending his hand to coach Joe for a handshake
To which coach Joe shook his with his own while a smile showed on his face while neither of the two knew that that handshake was the beginning of something bigger than they could think
End of flashback
While Aaron watched distracted the television screen outside the sound of a horn was heard while Aaron's cell phone vibrated indicating that a message from Drew had arrived
Drew: We are downstairs
After that Aaron turned off the TV while getting up from the sofa and stretched decontracting the rigid body
"Time to go to the party" Aaron murmured taking his keys and going out the door of his apartment
Author's thoughts
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