[THE WAYARKE SERIES, BOOK #1]
"Take it easy."
"It's never easy with you."
"Good."
୨୧
Ever since Austin Chanler was young, the NBA has been his dream. The one thing he's wanted for himself. Now a 19 year old sophomore, eligible for an academy one ste...
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AUSTIN
Watching Akia complain about me makes me smile to myself. They were all jokingly ignoring me and it felt different. I was used to chaos with my dad, luckily not everyday. But this type of chaos made me feel like I wasn't alone. Fighting with Akia over those stupid wedded animals was chaos that I invited into my life— that I wanted. Since that first day, I knew she was something—breathtaking. She can hate me for a reason not even I'm aware of, but she can't deny that for a split second she didn't. She liked hanging out with me not nearly enough as I do with her. I couldn't help myself from being so distracted by her when we were shooting hoops. As soon as the game started, I was swishing them with no thoughts but when I caught sight of her only scoring one from my peripheral vision, I couldn't stop myself from slowing down. I watched how funny she threw the ball, her eyes squinting closed. I studied her, attempting to throw them like her. I readjusted my hands, looking between hers and mine— mirroring her. When I shot it that way, it felt like my wrist was going to snap. I swear I felt a bone pop. I don't even know how she was making any shots with that method. She was definitely not the basketball professional she claimed to be. I couldn't help the laugh I let out at noticing her lie. When her eyes flicked open, my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. She didn't even notice that I was staring at her since I looked away so fast, covering it up with a boastful joke. The last thing I expected her to do in that moment was to smile— to laugh. I was in an actual trance, still watching her as she continued her shots. That was the first time she's ever smiled at me. She always either glared, or smiled sarcastically. But this one— it was real and it was for me. I couldn't care less about the game anymore because the only important score was right here. I scored a point with Akia. A smile, from Ms. Hateful herself.
"Dean?" Lizzie's screech pulls myself back into the moment. When I follow where the three of them are looking, I see Dean approaching.
"Practice ended early." Dean explains. "Thought I'd join you guys." The way Liz gapes at him, Dean pauses. "If I'm still invited." This time, Hayden comes around to pull him into a headlock, messing with his hair.
"Are you crazy? Obviously you're invited, dumbass!" Hayden chuckles. I walk over, my voice cutting in.
"Stop trying to give away your title. You're dumbass. He's..." I scan over Dean. "He's smartass." Lizzie and Akia laugh.
"Dumbass and Smartass?" Akia repeats, fighting back a smile. The complete opposite of my sister who's still openly giggling.
"That's smart." Lizzie airs, finally taking oxygen in. "Now that we're all here, we're so going on a ride together."
"My title? I thought that was a horse." Hayden says, casually.
I watch him with a full sense of curiosity. "You're used to the name now?"
