Chapter Thirty-Eight

"You're the worst," I said out of breath. I watched as a smile spread across those full lips of his as he walked in my direction.

"How am I the worst?" The smile on his face was smug, and if I could hit him I would.

"You really have to ask that," I said as I sat down. My body felt like a truck hit it. The adrenaline that had once pumped through my system was gone, and that only left the soreness behind. It would probably get worse when I took a shower and lay down for bed. Why did I even continue to play this game when I knew it would end up like this?

I wanted to continue to scold myself but when Ba Wei sat down beside me my mind went blank. I don't know why, but it did. We sat there in silence not saying anything to each other for a good minute. I glanced over him quickly, and couldn't help but notice how the sun beamed off the sweat on his body. How erotic.

I don't know how long we sat there in silence because the silence itself wasn't unpleasant. It was comfortable to the point that I didn't feel the need to break it, but I was curious about something.

"How did you learn basketball?"

He sighed, "I play with my friends a lot, but my father taught me."

"Really," I asked shocked? "I bet your father was easier on your than you were on me."

Ba Wei let out a full throat laugh, "you would've died if my father taught you. He plays dirty."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you see this scar," he pointed at a small scar on his waist, "I got this from being taught basketball."

It didn't look like a bad scar, but it still looked like it would be painful. Without thinking I reached out and ran my fingers across it. The skin around it was rough. It reminded me of someone who I use to call a friend. Don't think about him.

Ba Wei cleated his throat and I quickly removed my hand. I looked up at him and I was surprised to see that he wasn't looking in my direction. He was looking off in the distance.

"Uh, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For...touching-"

"It's alright," he said cutting me off, "it's not a big deal.

I nodded my head and took the initiative to change the subject because I knew the silence that followed that would make me feel even more embarrassed than I already was.

"Your friends," I started, "anyone I know?"

He glanced at me, "I doubt it. They don't go to the school."

"Oh, another high school?"

"Nah, they're not in high school. They're a bit older than me."

"Oh." Strange. I wonder how he acts around them?

"Don't get the wrong idea," he said chuckling, "I grew up with them."

"When did you first meet them?"

"Well I met the oldest one when I was twelve. he was four years older but he never acted like the other ones did."

As he spoke about this guy his face seemed to light up and I felt an unfamiliar feeling wash over me. I can't describe that feeling, but it made me slightly uncomfortable.

"The other ones are idiots really, but they're the only people that make me feel like myself."

When that last word left his mouth anger flooded over me and a small frown plastered itself on my face. If someone was to ask me why I was angry, I wouldn't be able to tell them why; I just was.

I pushed my hair behind my ear and didn't say anything, and this seemed to catch Ba Wei's attention. Even though I was looking straight foreword, I could sense that he was staring at me.

"Why are you frowning?"

"I'm not."

"You little liar." I didn't say anything back to him and I heard him smack his teeth. He was silent for a minute before he said something that made my face burn. "Are you jealous?"

"No, why would I be jealous," I asked as my cheeks slowly painted fire red.

"What's with that reaction then?"

"What reaction." I turned away from him.

"Why are you jealous," he asked as he pulled one of my legs towards him.

I raised an eyebrow at this, but just stayed quiet. Only when I felt his hand wrap around my calf did I regret it. He immediately squeezed it hard making me suck in air. It wasn't that it hurt, but it was more that it felt good. Too good.

"Stop."

"Tell me why you're jealous."

"I'm not jealous," I said raising my voice. His grip loosened but he didn't let go. Instead he leaned his body against them.

"You're so easy to tease," he said chuckling.

"Dick," I mumbled under my breath.

"I'll let you meet them one day."

"Who?"

"My friends, just don't act cute like that in front of them."

I pushed him, "what did I tell you about making jokes like that?"

He rested his chin in my knee and softly said, "who said I was joking."

I was going to say something but in the end I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to respond nor did I know how to act. How can he say something so bold with a straight face. He's still joking around. That has to be why he would say something like that.

I stared at him for a while in silence, and I couldn't help but ask my self why I was jealous. That unfamiliar feeling that I was feeling was definitely jealously, but why? I wish I could answer that but I can't. I can't wrap my head around why him talking about his other friend made me upset. Weird.

I pushed those thoughts in back of my mind and leaned back on my hands. I looked up at the now colorful sky with a troubled mind. I took in a deep breath before I looked back over to Ba Wei, and unintentionally caught him staring.

"What?"

He laid his head down on my knee, "nothing, just looking."

As I stared at this handsome boy with his head on my knee I couldn't help but feel a bit happy. I reached out yanked a piece of his hair.

"Don't suck up to me because you lost."

"Let's be clear," he stood up, "you barley even scored any and I was being nice." I laughed and got to my feet.

"Sure keep telling yourself that."

I watched as his once calm face came to life. Something about seeing his cold face become warm makes my heart skip a beat. Is this the feeling of liking someone?