The basketball diaries - Leonardo DiCaprio fanfic

9

When the last lesson of the day finishes on Friday and the weekend is just around the corner, I want to scream out in happiness. Apparently Jim had gone around and told everyone what big of a bitch I am because I've been catching dark glares and rude remarks from everyone. I couldn't even walk through the corridor without having someone push me or give me a mocking poke in the side. I don't know what to do if things keep going this way; I hope they'll get bored of it soon because I'm not sure I can take it for much longer.

I start off my Saturday with a walk through Inwood Hill park. It's quite a nice place with big green lawns and nice roads into the forest. The only thing that destroys the experience is when you look through the treetops and see New York city's high rises. 

I'm having a real good time and all until loud screams cuts through the quietness. What the hell? It's barely eight in the morning and the madness has already began?

I stay completely still for a while, trying to comprehend where the sound is coming from. Then I start running towards it. As far as my ears are working right it sounds like an old woman's screaming and that means no good news.

Through the trees the forest opens up and across the outgrown field I spot a group of boys, attacking an elderly woman who seems to be fighting for her life. They're pulling at her purse, starting to push her around when she doesn't give in. 

"Stop that! Stop it!" I roar and start sprinting over the field. Tears are building up in my eyes, I'm not sure if it is the strong winds's cause or if I'm just scared. 

"Let her go!" I keep yelling but they're too far away to even notice me.

By the time I've almost reached them the lady has faltered far away, her purse in the hands' of the boys. I come to a dead stop and realize what I'm doing is incredibly, incredibly stupid. I'm all alone now and these boys are obviously out of their minds.

"The fuck you think you're staring at?" one of them yells as they suddenly spot me. I freeze and can't even make a run for it when they slowly start approaching me. Oh, I'm so dead. My jaw goes slack as I realize that I know one of them; in a very bad way, and the chances of me dying are suddenly even bigger. 

"Who do we have here?" Jim grins and pulls down his hood. He walks right onto me, bumping into me over and over again as I stumble back on my shaking legs. His tall length frightens me, but the shimmery object peaking out of his pocket frightens me even more.

"Let me go Carroll." I hiss, reminding myself that these guys are kids like me and not as tough as they look. His friends; one skinny and one fat guy are looking quite uncomprehending over what's going on.

"Oh, you've remembered my name already? That's cute. You probably write down the names of the people you tryna' get kicked outa' school, huh? Dumb fuck."

"I'm not trying to get you kicked out." I contradict which only makes me receive a push from him in the chest.

"Yeah, you are."

"I'm not!"

"I'll make your life fucking hell, don't you get that?" he threatens and grabs the collar of my jacket, pulling my face closer to his so I can feel his warm, somewhat soothing breath against my forehead.

"You have already." I hiss, giving him a hard push in the chest so he trips back. To my misfortune he grabs ahold of me so that we fall down on the soft grass together; me straddling his lap. Holy shit. Jim growls at me, clearly upset that I'm the one who has him pinned down. In a quick move he flips us over which makes a loud yelp escape my lips. His weight on me makes it impossible to move how much I even try to get away.

I glare at Jim who during a few seconds looks down at our connected bodies, almost looking a bit awkward over it.

"So, are you going to keep me stuck here all day?" I snap, feeling a bit confident.

"You bet your ass I am." Okay, now he's back to normal.

"I would be really thankful if you could let me go. I have better things to do than this."

"Oh yeah? You mean being all nerdy and studying, or doing some other faggot, christian shit?"

"Well at least I don't steal or abuse people!"

Jim huffs something unbearable before standing up and walking over to his friends. He doesn't even look back or yell something rude as he walks away through the park. What the actual hell? He really just bailed out like that?

With an exasperated sigh I slowly sit up, brushing the grass away from my shirt and hair before letting my palms wipe over the soft lawn. My brows furrow as my left hand touches something hard, yet fragile like a paper. When I look down I see a notebook. It's quite worn and I'm not sure I even want to touch it. 

I can't remember that I ever saw a book laying on the ground as Jim and I were arguing. It must have fell out of his pocket or something? With a boost of curiosity I pick it up and flip it around in my hands for a while. Why in the world was he carrying around this?

With pupils dilated I open up the book, a gasp quickly escapes my lips. No way... The pages are filled with handwritten text and I don't have to give it a second look to see that it's not a school notebook. It looks more like the type of notebook you want to keep secret at all costs...