"For?...oh, of course not "

Her leaving the way she did wasn't part of his concerns really. Though he had questions.

His thoughts and concerns were more in the form of: 'who the hell was Cayden? and was he part of the people Mr. Swack instructed him to protect her from?'

"You had your reasons" He continued.

"I know. But I needed to apologize for the way I left, I should have given you a heads up "

He chuckled. "I think you did, you informed me before hand remember?"

She gave a weak smile. "I guess.... So what you up to?...are you free later?"

Before Nathan could respond, a big brown ball landed on his head and bounced off and the girl giggled.

"Oops, my bad" Drew bounded towards them, a tall guy with chestnut skin and curly black hair, on yellow Lakers was with him, and he got back the ball, bouncing it in his hands.

gods. Drew.

"Oopsie--doosie," Drew said. He wore a checkered red shirt with the sleeves rolled up, on a white vest and black jeans. "And who's this hot auburn babe?"

"What are you doing here Drew?" Nathan asked.

"Can you believe I lost the one piece of paper I had written the names of people who finally volunteered. After so much work, I feel like screaming. " Drew closed his eyes.

Nathan rolled his eyes. " Of all things to worry about. " He whispered. "Just ask them for their names again"

"Like you'd listen to me a second time if I was careless enough to forget your name" Drew scorned.

"I'd agree with that part"

"But the good news is I get to play in the basketball team. Meet one of my teammates, Nicolas"

Nicolas shaked them. "Nice to meet you two"

"We're actually heading over to train at the half-court...if you'd like to join us?" Drew asked.

Well he had nothing to do for the meantime. "Sure,"

"I'd like to join too" The lady chimed in excitedly, "I'm sure it'll be fun"

...............

They entered the medium room with creamy walls, furbished marble-tiled floors, intricate basketball designs, a ball hoop on the wall and four large windows.

Drew had come in first with Nicolas, then Nathan and the girl.

"I still don't know your name" Nathan spoke to her.

"I'm Velma " She said.

"Velma. That's a unique name... I guess this is where we officially introduce ourselves" He offered her a handshake. "I'm Nathan "

She beamed. "Nathan." She spoke like she was analysing it's taste on her buds. "Your name is common, unfortunately"

Nathan raised a brow, then laughed. "Was that an attempt at a joke?"

She giggled. "Maybe."

Nicolas was bouncing the ball against the wall and then across his legs.

"Then it was a bad one." Nathan smiled.

"I guess" She said.

"So where do you stay? Off-campus with your brother I guess?"

"Enough chit-chat fellas. Let's get started " Nicolas exclaimed, his voice bubbling with excitement.

Nicolas threw the ball to Drew.

"Alright, why don't you start Nat?" He bounced the ball to Nathan who caught it, more out of sharp-trained reflexes than it was he knew what to do with the ball.

He stared at them. "What should I do? I don't know how to play"

Drew and Nicolas gave him an incredulous stare.

Nicolas said. "I doubt there's no kid or teenage boy here in the States that doesn't know how to play "

Drew said. "What, did you like grow up in a cave or something?"

"Something like that " Nathan responsed.

He was trained far up in the Cold mountains. He had made his home and abode there . But who would believe him if he revealed the truth about his life?

"Really?" Drew said

"Oh, he's just joking" Nicolas said. "You're just going to have to come after us then"

They played for a while, Nathan and Velma on one team being thrashed by Drew and Nicolas on the other.

But they paused when the glass door to the room opened. Cayden stepped in, a big glower on his face immediately he spotted Nathan. "Velma...what are you doing here?"

Shit.

Everything clicked in Nathan's mind then. Cayden was Velma's brother.

The red hair....they both had it.

Well, he refused to let that change anything, he'd kick the jerks ass again if there was any reason to.

"Cayden" Velma replied in stupor . "How did you...find me?"

"Come on, let's go" He said, his voice mean.

Velma hesitated, glancing between Nathan and Cayden.

Nicolas butted in. "I think she still wants to play. Why don't you come check up on her later? she'll be done in a bit "

Cayden glared at him, a look that could have been punches to his gut. "Last I checked Nicolas, your name didn't escape my lips....

to warrant you swinging those shriveled charcoal-balls of yours in this matter"

"Hey!' Drew shouted. "I know how much of a nuisance you and your crew are to us freshers.... But be careful how you insult people!" The annoyance was clear on his face.

Nathan held Velma. "Don't go yet...if you don't want to" He looked at her.

Cayden scoffed, a smug look on his chiseled face. He looked at Nathan's hands on his sisters. "I hope you'll be in the games Nathan, I can't wait to kick your ass.... All of you actually "

He glared at them before leaving the glass door.

Nathan turned to Drew. "Do you think your team could take one more person?"

.................

The games stadium was a large hall with white painted walls, sufficient lightening bulbs connected to a network of white steel roofings.

Then the polished marble floors, sporty and designed with the sophisticated, metallic ball hoops, on both ends of the court.

The students crowded and packed the stadium. Their voices both muffled and clamorous, loud voices blended into a steady constant buzz of excitement that waded round the stadium.

The two school teams were warming up on the court. The Red Rovers on one end, had Cayden---with a deep scowl on his face-- and his team, including the guys Nathan had fought.

The other team were the Black Cats, with Drew, and Nicolas on the team.

A number of ladies were cheering with flower confetti and making light acrobatic displays

Nathan hunted for Rose as he sat on one of the chairs in the front row.

She sat far back, with her friends, and it looked like she was debating over something.

At least she seemed safe. That part of his to-do list was checked. His eyes drifted to Cayden, who had searched him out as well, his scowl deepening.

Nathan smiled. He didn't trust Cayden, especially where Rose was concerned, but he was a waste of his time nonetheless.

If he wanted to take care of Cayden, he would have done it long back. Not as a threat, but as some form of entertaining challenge.

He wasn't one to back down from some action, especially with imps like Cayden.

Drew jogged up to him, dressed in their teams black singlets and shorts. "Hey man. So I was able to talk to coach. I said you're good, but you haven't trained for a while.

"But you trained with us earlier. So you won't be playing..but you'll be on standby in case we need a helping hand"

"Sounds useful to me" Nathan said.

"Guess who's joining our cheerleading gang?" Drew nodded in a direction and Nathan followed.

Letha, on a black striped top and short skirt like the rest of the cheerleading group for the Black Cats, waded into the line, struggling with her dress and confetti, and grimacing.

Nathan laughed with Drew, who patted him. "Later man, the games are starting" Drew hurried off to join the others.

Nathan came over to where Letha was.