Chapter Eighty-One: Shooting Hoops

[A U S T I N]

The air outside the facility felt surprisingly warm, a sharp contrast to the sterile chill that seemed to permeate every corner of the building. Austin tilted his head back for a moment, letting the sun hit his face as he followed the others toward the worn-out basketball court tucked away near the far end of the grounds. The court was old, with faded lines and a hoop that creaked in the breeze, but to Austin, it felt like a rare slice of normalcy.

They'd just been released for a free period after the bonding session, and Tess had been escorted back to her dorm. She'd insisted on resting, claiming she was too exhausted to do anything else after the tower-building task. Darrick, reluctant as always to leave her side, had finally agreed when Tess practically shoved his fingers away from her, assuring him that he should spend some time with his friends.

Austin glanced at Darrick, who walked a step ahead of him. The guy had been quiet ever since they left the recreation room, his jaw tight and his shoulders stiff. It wasn't hard to tell where his mind was. Darrick wasn't exactly subtle when it came to Tess.

"She told you to go, you know," Austin said, breaking the silence as they approached the court.

Darrick's hazel eyes flicked to him briefly before looking forward again. "I know," he muttered.

"Then quit acting like someone's about to steal her while you're gone," Austin said with a smirk. "You've got to let her breathe, man."

Darrick's lips quirked slightly, but the tension in his jaw didn't ease. "I just don't like leaving her alone in this place."

Austin didn't argue. He couldn't blame Darrick for being overprotective, not after everything that had happened. Still, it was hard not to find his possessiveness a little excessive sometimes.

As they reached the court, Cole and Jace had already claimed a spot on the sidelines. Cole unzipped the sleeves of his jumpsuit and tied them around his waist, crouching he grabbed the scuffed basketball lying nearby, bouncing it a few times before passing it to Austin.

"Alright, athletes," Cole said with a grin, gesturing toward the hoop. "Show us what you've got."

Austin caught the ball easily, spinning it on his fingertip before tossing it to Darrick. "Ready to lose?" he teased, his competitive streak kicking in.

Darrick's smirk widened as he caught the ball and dribbled it once. "You wish."

The game started quickly, with Austin and Darrick falling into a natural rhythm. They moved across the court with ease, their years of athletic experience evident in the way they passed the ball back and forth, anticipating each other's movements. The steady thud of the ball against the concrete and the squeak of their sneakers filled the air as they pushed each other harder with every play.

Austin hadn't realized just how much he'd missed this—the rhythm, the motion, the adrenaline. The ball in his hands felt familiar, grounding, as though it was reconnecting him to a version of himself he'd almost forgotten. It had been so long since he'd let himself really play a sport, not since practice when Lenny clocked him with the bat in the head. He felt a slight throb as he crossed the court now, his minding drifting to the memory

The bat. Lenny. That goddamn practice game of Backnott when everything had gone wrong. The sharp crack of metal against his skull still echoed in his mind sometimes, especially on the bad days. The recovery that followed had been painful, physically and mentally. He'd lost more than just a game that day—he'd lost his confidence, his drive, his sense of control. He could picture his father's look ingrained in his memory.. crying under his hospital sheets, Tess sitting by his bed in a chair she could barely fit in.

He dribbled the ball quickly, his sneakers squeaking against the court as he darted around Cole with ease. His heart raced, not from nerves but from exhilaration, his muscles firing on instinct as he moved. Across the court, Darrick was waiting, his towering frame planted firmly near the makeshift hoop, his stance ready.

Austin launched forward, faking left before pivoting right, his movements quick and precise. He could feel the sweat forming on his brow, the burn in his legs, and he welcomed it. For the first time in a month—maybe longer—he felt like himself again.

They launched into another round, their movements quick and competitive as the ball zipped between them. Austin felt alive, the pain of the past momentarily dulled by the rush of the game. He wasn't thinking about the program, or the recreation sessions, or the way everything had spiraled out of control. Right now, it was just him, Darrick, and the game.

Cole stood at the edge of the court, watching with a bemused expression. "You two need to slow down," he said, holding up his hands in mock. "You're making the rest of us look bad."

Austin grinned, throwing the ball to Cole. "Then get in the game, theater boy."

Cole rolled his eyes but joined in, his movements less polished but still enthusiastic. He wasn't as fast or as strong as Austin and Darrick, but he wasn't completely useless either. He managed to land a few decent shots, though his aim was hit or miss.

Jace, however, was a different story.

After a bit of coaxing, Jace reluctantly stepped onto the court, his face set in a grimace that said he'd rather be anywhere else. He shuffled awkwardly as Austin passed him the ball, fumbling it so badly it nearly rolled out of bounds.

"Smooth," Austin said, laughing as Jace scrambled to retrieve it. "You sure you've played a sport before?"

"Shut up, Austin," Jace muttered, dribbling the ball with all the grace of a baby deer. "Not everyone lives for this."

"Clearly," Austin teased, dodging as Jace attempted a shot that missed the hoop entirely. The ball bounced off the backboard and rolled toward the fence.

Cole burst out laughing, clutching his sides. "Oh, man, that was brutal."

"Alright, that's enough," Jace said, his face flushing red as he bent to pick up the ball. "I'm not here to be a punching bag."

"You're doing great," Darrick said, his voice warm with encouragement. He passed the ball back to Jace, who looked at it like it might explode.

Austin shook his head, still grinning. "Come on, Jace. It's just a game. Don't take it so seriously."

Jace sighed, giving the ball a weak dribble before attempting another shot. This time, it hit the rim and bounced off, but at least it was closer. The rest of them cheered like he'd just won a championship, though Austin's laugh carried a teasing edge.

"See? Progress," Austin said, clapping Jace on the back. "Maybe by the end of the year, you'll actually score."

"Funny," Jace muttered, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward in a reluctant smile.

As the game went on, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the court. The air was filled with the sound of laughter and the rhythmic pounding of the basketball against the ground. For a moment, it felt like they were just a group of friends hanging out, the weight of the program and its rules forgotten.

Austin looked around at his friends, his chest tightening slightly. This—this was what he missed most. The simplicity of being together, of playing and teasing each other like nothing else mattered. Even if things were different now, even if their circumstances were anything but normal, moments like this reminded him of what they still had.

And for now, that was enough.

From the sidelines Cole and Jace watched, tried and unable to keep up, but their laughter ringing out as Cole attempted to dribble the ball around Jace, who lunged awkwardly but missed.

"You guys are ridiculous," Austin called out, laughing as Cole nearly tripped over his own feet trying to avoid Jace.

"You're just jealous you don't have my moves," Cole shot back, grinning as he tossed the ball to Austin.

Austin caught it easily, spinning it on his finger again with practiced precision. He glanced at Darrick, his grin widening. "One more round?"

~

[J A C E] The court continued to echo with the rhythmic thud of the ball as Austin passed it to Darrick, their movements sharp and fluid, a reflection of years spent in sync. Watching them play was mesmerizing in its own way—Austin with his explosive speed and Darrick with his deliberate, calculated movements. Even now, Darrick's height gave him an undeniable edge, allowing him to easily tower over Austin's attempts to block him.

Jace leaned against the fence for a moment, catching his breath as he watched them, sliding to the ground he felt as if he were sitting in the grand stand again watching a game of Backnott. He'd always admired how naturally the two of them clicked on the court or the field, their instincts perfectly aligned. Back home, Jace used to love watching them play Backnott, the sport their high school was obsessed with. The game was faster, more intense than basketball, and Austin had been the star captain of their team, leading them to championship after championship. But Darrick—despite not being the captain—had always been a force to be reckoned with.

Jace remembered the way Darrick played with ruthless precision, almost predatory in how he controlled the field. He wasn't flashy like Austin, but he was relentless, and it was impossible not to be in awe of his sheer power and strategy. Basketball, however, had never been Jace's thing. He'd tried to get into it once or twice, but the rules didn't come as naturally to him, and his coordination... well, that was a different story.

But the distraction was nice, for a little while, everything else faded away.