Of Love and Basketball
Darnel was stuffing the last of his clothes into his suitcase when he began to hear what sounded like an argument coming through the wall from Reggie's room. He paused for a moment from packing and turned his ear towards the wall trying to eavesdrop and gather what was going on. Darnel could sense anger in the muffled words as they grew louder. Suddenly there was a resounding crash against the wall which rattled the picture frames on his side of it.
Darnel bolted out of his room and towards Reggie's. His first thought was that his friend was getting jumped, and it was on. He burst into Reggie's dorm but as he looked around he saw no one but his friend standing in the middle of the room. Darnel studied Reggie for a moment who did not seem to take notice of his friend's entrance. Darnel did notice however, what appeared to be a small lamp lying shattered on the floor and a sizeable dent in the drywall above it.
Not wanting to startle his home skillet, Darnel called to him softly but Reggie just continued to stand there silent and emotionless, gazing out towards some unknown distance transfixed. It reminded Darnel of what he had heard referred to as the thousand-yard stare. In a few mere seconds, Reggie had seemingly swung from having a violent outburst into a catatonic state currently. Darnel wondered if his friend had smoked a dusted joint or something.
"Yo... NBA..." Darnel whispered. He could see Reggie's eyelids flutter and he began to chew on his lip as if fidgeting. "Talk to me dawg," requested Darnel. Reggie continued to blink rapidly trying to hold back his tears and when he realized that he could not, he turned his back to his compatriot. Heavily he breathed in and out while shaking his head. "I can't believe this shit man," said Reggie sounding distressed. Darnel asked, "What's going on?" as he cautiously took a step towards his friend.
Reggie stood there continuing to shake his head for several seconds before turning back around. "If I show you this," proffered Reggie as he raised his hand showing Darnel his cell phone which he was holding, "you will never speak about it to no one," he instructed.
"Word!" replied Darnel.
"Because if you do, I will end your life," stated Reggie resolutely.
"This is me," said Darnel emphatically while patting his chest with his hand, "I'm your boy."
Reggie extended his arm out in front of himself so they both could view the phone's screen. Darnel moved in closer for a better view as Reggie tapped the display with his free hand while warning his friend, "I'm not fucking around Dee--Not one fucking word ever."
* * *
Mick and Sean slipped through the opened portal and into the vestibule. The young woman placed her hands against the door as it returned to keep it from slamming shut and making any noise. She did not bother with introductions because she was well aware of the nature of their visit. "Wait here," she told them before bounding up the stairs to the first landing.
Mick watched as she peered up the stairway for several seconds before beckoning them up to where she was standing. Once reunited the girl again indicated for the pair to stay put before she gingerly moved up the steps to the next landing. The young lady cautiously looked through the window of the door to the second floor to ensure that the corridor was empty. Again she surveyed the flights above before motioning to the both of them to move towards her.
The process repeated itself until the trio was standing together behind the stairwell door to the third-floor corridor. Like before, the girl peered through the window to be sure the coast was clear. "Quietly now," their chaperone instructed as she opened door and ushered the duo out into the hallway. Mick thought about how much he hated all of "this cloak and dagger bullshit," which was ironic seeing he had served in the military.
They did not go far at all before the girl turned to face one of the doors. She glanced over her shoulder down the hall to make sure it was clear of any students before tapping lightly on the entryway with her index finger four times. When the door opened, Sean slipped into the room without hesitation prompting Mick to instinctively follow.
Mick looked around as he stood inside the small entryway. Immediately to his left was a small kitchenette complete with a sink, under-counter refrigerator and shelf-mounted microwave. Glancing to his right he spied what seemed to a rather lavish in-room lavatory.
"Come in," invited Gabrielle as she passed between the two having secured the door. As he followed her into the room, Mick's attention was immediately drawn to the sound coming from the large flat screen television sitting on top of a media cabinet. There were two leather armchairs in the center of the room facing the television with small side table between them.
Sean leaned over and whispered to his friend, "These are some crazy digs."
"That's just what I was thinking," replied Mick, who thought it was a pretty nice living arrangement. He had to admit to himself, this room put his to shame.