Beyond Average [COMPLETED]✔️

Chapter 7-

I'm about to head over to the park to practice for try outs.
Bring ring ring!!
Ugh, talk about timing..
"Hello?"
"Asher..."
Ugh...
"Hi Dad." I reply, dribbling my favorite navy blue basketball.
"Hello. I want to know how your first day of school was."
Wink wink wink
Ughhhhhh
I continue walking toward the courts.
"Fine."
"Fine? That's it?" Dad questions.
My arm twitches violently so I immediately hand my phone over to my other hand.
"It was just alright. It's school."
"Did you make friends?" Dad asks.
"I guess. Our neighbor plays basketball so I met him and his friends."
"Alright. How's Zoey?"
"I don't know. I think she likes it here."
I grunt and cough.
"Oh...how is school educationally? Are you getting any services? Anyone bullying you?"
"DAD!"
"Asher, I need to know these things."
"I'll leave that to Mom! And no, nobody has given me a hard time about my Tourette's...yet."
He doesn't need to know about the plane incident.
I don't even know if I'm entitled to any services at this new school. But I'm sure if I do it shouldn't be much, and only I would know about it.
"Yo, Asher!"
I smile and wave.
"I got to go now. I'll speak to you soon, alright?"
"Of course. Have fun, Ash."
I hang up.
"Pick up game?" Todd asks as he dribbles his Ohio State basketball.
"Course!" I respond as I blink hard.
I throw my ball to the side as I jump right in with him and Chris.
"So? What's your alter ego?" Todd licks his lips as he guards me from the ball.
"My who?" I ask as I run toward Chris.
"Well, when I play ball I am Tommy."
"What?!" I peck an eyebrow.
"Yeah, Tommy is my alter ego. He is a beast and lives in the land of nothingness."
I laugh.
"What the heck, Man!" I giggle.
"Is that just your thing?" I ask.
"Oh no, I've got one too. Bill. He is bipolar." Chris says all seriously as he snatches the ball away.
"Are you guys trying to distract me?!" I laugh as I watch the ball constantly landing between the two of them and not me.
"No, you just got to keep up, Philly boy!"
I roll my eyes.
"Fine. I'm Philly. That's my alter ego. I'm unpredictable."
"Nope, Speedo is unpredictable!" Maya runs over from out of no where.
Man, she's good! She snatched the ball from Todd in an instant!
"Didn't think I can play, huh?"
"I never thought that. I just didn't know you did." I admit.
"Well this year, prepare for two Logans on the team, Todd. MAYA LOGAN WILL PLAY FOR THE BOYS!"
"Perv much?" Chris teases.
With a flick of the ankle, Maya kicks Chris down in an instant, her messy reddish braids flow in the wind.
"Oww! Watch after your cousin, Dude!"
I FINALLY get hold of the ball and dunk it in.
"Nice one, Rookie." Maya jokes going for the rebound.
"No way!" I scream as I dive for it.
Bad idea...
Now I slid my knee into concrete as Maya AND Todd fall on top of me!!
"Are you alright, Asher?!" Todd asks.
I hold back the tears and limp my way to my feet.
"You did that on purpose! You, you YOU JUST DIDN'T WANT THE NEW KID ON YOUR TEAM!!"
"Asher, it was an accident!"
Of course it is. Why am I getting so bent out of shape?...
I sigh.
"I know.."
"Here, let me help you."
Todd reaches out to help me gain my balance.
"You alright?"
"I should be fine by tomorrow."
"You should go home and rest." Maya suggests.
"Rest is not in my vocabulary." I snicker as my neck twitches.
I kick my foot up-ugh it's my good foot, so I'm balancing here on my bum leg.
"Owwww..." I moan.
"Why would you do that?" Chris laughs.
I just shake my head. I jump back into the game, and my leg just gives out and I fall back down.
"If you want any chance of being able to play for the team, you should go home." Maya suggests again.
"You're right.." I sigh.
Wink wink wink...
"That again? I guess we aren't over, Asher." Maya laughs.
I turn beat red.
Do I tell her, or should I not tell her...
It's too soon isn't it?
But I don't want her to think...
"Maya, I can't help it."
"What, that you like me?" She laughs while shooting a perfect shot.
"No, it's just something I do. I'd rather not talk about it though...."
Maya just ignores me as she continues to shoot hoops.
I turn around and limp my way back to my house.
These people are not my friends...
Friends can't be competitors.
I dribble my ball as I limp all the way back home.
The streets are completely empty except for one girl around my age holding a younger boy's hand. But she turns the other way as soon as she notices me. What am I, an alien around here?!

I stumble up to the door, and Mom opens the door before I can even reach for my house keys.
"Did you finish your homework?"
I roll my eyes.
"No homework today."
My arm twitches.
I walk inside and plop on the couch.
"What happened to your knee?!"
"Relax...it's nothing.."
"I get the feel these boys play a bit rough."
I shrug.
"A little bit..."
"Well, there's something I want to tell you."
My heart skips a beat. That's the line she used to reveal the divorce and then the move. Please don't be more bad news.
"Aren't you going to wait to tell me with Zoey?"
Mom shakes her head.
"It pertains to you."
Great....
"I know there is a lot going on right now for you. I was doing some research about your school and activities...and even spoke to Dad..."
Where is this going...
"And I signed you up for the school's buddy program."
Now I obviously can't see my face, but if I could it's probably blank as a piece of printer paper.
"The what?..."
"Well, it's a program where you are assigned a peer mentor to guide you around school and be your buddy. I think this will be good for you."
My eyes widen.
"That's for losers..." I mumble.
"No it's not!" Mom protests.
"Just give it a try, alright?"
I roll my eyes.
Blink blink blink wink wink
Oh my goodness, will it ever friggin STOP!!!