The Black & White ~ A Harringrove Story

11 - Unexpected Kiss

The school basketball court is dappled with the late afternoon sun. Steve was passing by when he found Billy practising on his own, so he joined in. Less than ten minutes in, the two are locked in an intense competition.

The squeak of sneakers, the rhythmic bounce of the ball, and the controlled breaths of exertion fill the air.

Billy lunges, trying to block Steve's shot, but Steve ducks and spins, managing to shoot the ball. It hits the rim, rolls around, and then drops in.

'Too slow, Hargrove,' Steve taunts. 'Maybe you're just letting the pretty boy score?'

Billy catches the ball, his body glistening with moisture. 'Dream on. I'm just giving you a head start.'

The game intensifies. Every point scored is met with a retort, every block with a challenge.

'You think you can keep up, Harrington?' Billy dribbles the ball deftly between his legs.

'I've seen better moves from middle schoolers.' Steve shoots back, shadowing Billy's every move.

Billy laughs, pushing past Steve with a powerful stride and landing a two-pointer. 'Like that one, princess?'

Steve regains possession of the ball, and they clash on the court. Their rivalry is laced with something more intense than just a simple basketball game. Billy traps Steve against the fence, and their bodies cling. Lost in the rush of blood in his veins, and the onslaught of sensations, Steve forgets the ball. Yet ... the memory of Billy's brutal nature, his ruthless acts of aggression, his relentless efforts to belittle and dominate add a sour note to the symphony of pleasure.

'What's the matter, pretty boy?' Billy's blue eyes blaze. 'Can't handle a little heat?' A fraction of hesitation betrays his voice.

Billy Hargrove is a complex enigma of volatile aggression and seductive dominance.

'Try me.' Steve ducks and breaks free, feeling as if he had ripped away himself from something fundamental to him.

Steve sprints towards the hoop to score a basket. Their game continues in this manner. The line between rivalry and desire blurs with every jump, every shot, every snide comment. The ball swooshes through the net as Billy lands a shot.

Steve pauses to catch his breath. 'You know.' He wipes sweat from his brow. 'I saw you with that kid today, Jamie Carter.'

'And what's that got to do with you?'

Steve takes a step closer. 'You can be better than that.'

A smirk touches Billy's lips, but it lacks its usual confidence. 'What are you, my conscience now?'

Steve looks Billy straight in the eye. 'Stop bullying kids.'

'You think you have any say in what I do?' Billy's expression intensifies. 'That night in the woods was just ... a thing of the moment. Don't mistake it for more, Harrington.'

Steve swallows a hard lump. Their kiss is a sweet poison that he's still willingly ingesting. 'Was it?'

'It was fun.' Billy throws the ball in the air and catches it. 'Don't get it twisted, pretty boy.'

Billy uses his size to shove Steve hard. Steve's feet skid on the court, and he hits the ground with a thud, the wind knocked out of him.

He lays there, as Billy, with a determined look, takes the shot. The ball sails through the hoop, sealing Billy's victory. Steve's heart races for reasons that have nothing to do with their game.

Billy looks at him. 'Remember, Harrington, stay out of my business.'

Instead of Billy walking away as Steve expected, he remains there, his gaze distant. Steve notices Billy's chest heaving, the culmination of adrenaline, exertion, and intense emotions evident in every breath.

The echoing click of heels against the floor cuts through Steve's reflections. Nancy enters the room, her eyes darting between Steve—who's still on the ground—and Billy, whose posture straightens.

'Steve?'

Pushing himself up, Steve walks over to Nancy, feeling Billy's attention on him. 'Nancy ... what are you doing here?'

She trades glances between the two of them. 'I was looking for the coach, Mr Smithers.' She frowns. 'Why are you playing against him?'

Steve regards Nancy for a lingering moment, and the thought of maybe evoking jealousy in Billy surges in his chest. Steve lets his impulse take over, leans in, and plants a kiss on Nancy's lips. But the satisfaction of imagining Billy watching them soon fades away, as a twinge of guilt passes through him.

Nancy doesn't deserve this. Steve draws apart, still tasting the bitter regret in his mouth. He had let his emotions cloud his judgment.

He's met with Nancy's surprised look. 'Steve ...'

'I'm sorry, Nance,' he says, turns, and leaves the gymnasium without another word.

******

Why did Steve do this? Nancy ponders, fiddling with her necklace. Is he still caught in the tangles of our past?

Nancy can still feel the pressure and taste of Steve's lips, unexpected and yet familiar, triggering a myriad of sensations within her.

Confusion bubbles to the surface. Why did he kiss me ... now?

After the breakup, they eventually became good friends.

Does he still have feelings for me, and I was just too blind to see it?

Was it a desperate attempt to rekindle the flames of their relationship? A last-ditch effort to hold onto a dying ember?

Despite his flaws, she believes that Steve is honest in his emotions.

Nancy thinks about her rocky relationship with Jonathan. This unexpected twist with Steve only adds salt to it.

For a moment, she wonders if she'd been too hasty, too impulsive when she broke up with Steve and let him go. Nancy feels more lost than ever.

She scratches her arm and vacates the gymnasium, still contemplating. Billy follows and passes her. A heavy frown marks his features, and his arm ruthlessly bumps into her.

'Hey! What's your problem, Hargrove?' Arsehole!