Mia Mircada's News Book

King's Court Excerpt: The Cemetery

January 19, 2018

"What is wrong with you guys?!" Hunter, Audriana, and Mikaela overheard Coach Matt yelling at the players.

"I would really love to give that guy an asskickin," Hunter whispered in Mikaela's ear.

"Hunter, focus. We've gotta get evidence to show Callus," Audriana got out her phone and began recording Coach Matt's lecture.

"Okay, you do that while Hunter and I go on," Mikaela shrugged.

"Where are you guys going?"

"Somewhere," Hunter murmured. "C'mon, Mikaela. I wanna show you something,"

"Okay, where are we going?"

"We're gonna visit Lucas," Hunter announced as he and Mikaela left Kingsley's campus. Their destination wasn't too far from campus. Just like the day after the 'incident', it was raining cats and dogs. Maybe even harder. Just like before, Hunter was calmed by the raindrops soaring from the sky. This strongly reminded him of his trip to the mailbox, when he went to mail the letter to Abiel and Zenobia Tripp.

Alas, they reached their destination. Mikaela was rather anxious to visit Lucas. Ever since the 'incident', Mikaela had not seen him. What would they catch up on? It was impossible.

"So you decided to come," a voice behind them stated. Marina, Perry, and Kate had seemingly followed them to their destination.

"Have you even talked about the 'incident'?" Kate asked.

"No," Hunter shook his head.

"You've kept it hidden all this time? Dean told me how you'd rudely shove the topic under the rug, Hunt," Marina stated. "Understandable, but Dean hates being kept in the dark,"

"I think now would be a good time to tell Dean what really happened to Lucas," Kate nodded.

"Why during the basketball season?" Perry challenged. "Isn't it gonna make Dean miserable?"

"Who told you that?" another voice called. Dean had also seemingly followed the quartet to their destination. "Why are you guys here? Audri told me where you were,"

"Aren't you supposed to be in basketball practice?" Marina tilted her head to the side.

"I'm ditching,"

"Why?!" Marina gasped. Dean, ditching basketball practice? That was so unlike him. Marina remembered Dean playing basketball since forever ago. Believe it or not, it was the first thing she noticed about him.

---

"Hey, you're really good," a seven-year-old Marina approached Dean as he scored a basket.

"Thanks. I'm new here," a younger Dean smiled as he noticed Marina watching him play. Things were much different back then, the main difference was Dean being able to use his legs. "My dad is American, my mom is Filipino,"

"Same here," Marina nodded. "What's your name? I'm Marina Campbell,"

"I'm Dean Andrews, nice to meet you, Marina," Dean stuck out his hand and the two shook hands.

---

"Are you giving up on basketball?" Marina asked.

"No," Dean shook his head.

"Don't quit," Marina snapped. The most notable things about Dean's character were his enthusiasm for basketball and his undying optimism. "Don't let Coach Matt beat you down. If you really are the Dean Andrews I know, you'd keep on playing to prove him wrong. Please don't quit. I love how you're enthusiastic about basketball and it makes me sad that you're losing your passion for the sport,"

"I really want to quit, but I can't because Coach Matt will call me names,"

"Better to be name-called than to be stuck with an abusive coach. If there's an abusive situation, you need to get out fast before it gets worse," Perry interjected. "A lot of people made the mistake of staying on the teams when I was at Kingsley and they ended up hating basketball. I don't want you to end up like that,"

"I'm gonna stay on the team to show Coach Matt that I am a man,"

"If you're gonna do that, you have to report this to Callus," Kate said. "What he's doing is madness,"

"On second thought, why are you guys even here?"

"We're visiting Lucas," Hunter ejaculated.

"Oh," Dean's face fell. "I didn't know Lucas was six feet under. What happened to him? I really wanna