Chương 3: Consequences 2

Getting in my bed, I tuck myself in and face the wall hearing the front door. I know it's my brother coming, and I don't hate him for what he did, he should have a good reason for it, like everything. But that doesn't mean I liked it, waiting and wondering where he was. But I still love him, he's my brother after all.

(Switch POV)

Closing the door behind me, I could see the figure of my little brother, sleeping, towards the wall. I walk up, and hang over him a bit in self wallow.

"I'm sorry for being a bad brother today, that I left you alone. I'm sure you were probably scared, but even though I had a good reason, it doesn't excuse what I did… I don't even know why I'm talking like you can hear me… Just know that I love you, and everything is for you and May, you're the most important things to me." I then walk over to my own bed, and just take off my shirt and throw it on the floor.

(Week Later)

Like always after my game end, I go to a separate court with my brother. But the strange thing is that neither Justin or Brian was here, so I had to get picked up.

"Alright, I can see you've been improving on the basics, but still not up to par. Remember that the basics are foundation of the building your making, if it's not strong everything else will come out weak. And when one pillar is taken out, it'll all fall apart." I start explaining to him seeing the annoyed look on his face.

"You want to get better than me one day, right? So-"

"Yo Pete!" Suddenly a voice interrupts me, and looking over to the direction it came from, I see Brian.

"What happened?" I questioned seeing the tired look on his face, probably from running.

"We gonna be brawling right now, T told me to come get ya." He explained between tired breaths.

"What's he talking about?" My little brother innocently asked.

"Shit." I whisper to myself, I never want to show this side of my life now to him.

"It's nothing, just gotta go do something with some friends. You know the drills, right?"

"Yeah." He answered plainly, but I could hear an indescribable emotion in his voice, and not a good one, but I can't deal with it right now, he'll be alright.

"Alright, I'm sorry but I'll be back in an hour latest, see you in a bit." I say and at my words I prompt Brian to start going and he does as I follow.

Eventually an hour later I did actually get back, but with a couple bruises I gotta hide. But it gave me a good fighting experience of fighting multiple guys at once at least, even if I was delegated to being a punching bag that dodged.

Anyways, getting back, I see my little brother on the bench, but with his head down, prompting me to speed up.

"Hey, what happened?" I asked concerned, also noticing the lack of a basketball, specifically the one Uncle Ben gave as his last gift.

"Nothing." He responded, muffled. But it was very clear something did happen, so I sat beside him and pulled him into a side hug.

"Hey, what happened?" I asked and forced him to look in my eyes, and I noticed the certain black and purple mark around his eye.

"Nothing." He said again while looking down and away from me.

"Hey. Who did this to you?" I asked while pulling his face with both hands to look at me, though he still tried a futile attempt to look away by looking down and to the side.

"… It was little Rodney." He eventually answered, realizing he's gonna have to answer me. And at his answer I let go of his face as his head immediately went down and away, like it was before.

"Alright, let's go." I say while getting up.

"What? Where?" He asked while looking up at me.

"To get back that ball, and for you to get your get backs." I say and start walking away, I already saw the little shit on my way here, so I know where he is.

"We don't need to this." He said, catching up beside me and following me.

"Yes we do. If we don't everyone finna think that we push overs and can just mess with us. Plus I'm not letting that little turd take Ben's last gift." I explain whole still walking, and he doesn't object anymore as we eventually get to the court where he's at. He's by himself and still hasn't realized we're here, though eventually he does and tries to run while leaving the ball behind, but I'm to fast for him.

"So you like picking on little kids, right? How about you deal with someone your own size." I say after I eventually tackle him and restrain his arms behind his back.

"Fuck off me man! It's just a basketball! You can have it back! It's shit anyway!" He starts exclaiming, and by the end I punch him in the cheek, slamming his head against the tar and recoiling.

"Keep talking and I dislocate your knees first, and I'll tell you right now, that it hurts like a bitch." I say as he shuts up, and honestly he's right about the ball being shit. He was getting it as a gift, but then ended up in a car crash where the ball got popped by something stabbing it. But we made it work with some tape, it's not something we'll ever throw away.

"Honestly it seems like you don't get it, sure half of this is for the ball. But the other is to make a statement, that no one will fuck with us and get away." I say and eventually drag him up and off the ground, still restraining him though.

"Alright Ethan, punch him, as hard as you can." I say as I honestly struggle a bit to hold him still, sure my muscles are more developed than most people from me always being active, but I'm still young.

"No, I don't want to do that." He said, and sure he's still little, but he needs to learn that the block is unforgiving… but isn't that the point of dealing right now? So he doesn't have to experience this?

Realizing that I've actually been contradicting myself, I get the guy back in the floor.

"Fine, start heading back home, I'll catch up." I say and focus back on Rodney.

"Your lucky my brother still innocent. But if you ever pull some shit again, I'm jumping your ass and your not just gonna some pain, got it?"

"Yeah man, whatever." He says defiantly, so I pick his head up before slamming it down in the side, I don't wanna break his nose if E still watching, but I might've fucked up his temple instead… meh.

"Do. I. Make. My. Self. Clear?" I ask slowly.

"Yes… sir." He said slowly.

"Good." I respond and slowly get up while still holding him down, forcing me to at this point bend over. I've also already searched him for weapons so I'm good to get away I'm pretty sure… but just for good measure.

"Argh!" He exclaimed as I kick him in the liver, not to hard though to possibly rupture it, but definitely enough to force a natural reaction out of him.

Then I walk away.