Kane made the throw, the ball hit the back board and rebounded just enough for Harley to get his hand to it, and then slam it into the hoop. Becky and Demi shot to their feet and cheered with everyone else.

"Did you see that?" Demi swung around, her mouth agape and her eyes wide. "My Harley is a magician!"

Becky hip bumped her. "Without my Kane's almost three pointer shot there'd have been no goal. Kane's the magician. Harley's just the apprentice," she said with a laugh.

"Oh, Becky, how you jest?" Demi flicked her hands to wave away Becky's words.

"Yeah. I am jesting," Becky said giving her friend a cuddle. "It was brilliant. Harley is a genius when it comes to slam dunking." She mused, "I wonder if he's any good at golf. Balls in holes seem to be his thing." She gave Demi a sideways look and tried to remain serious. "From all the noise that comes through the wall of my unit it sounds like he's certainly mastered the art of slam dunking ba..."

"Becky! You little perve!" Demi feigned shock, and then tilted her head with a smirk. "Has there been any slam dunking in your room yet?"

"I think that's my business, Demi," Becky said with a sly grin.

"Hmm... thought as much." Demi turned to face the basketball court adding, "I'll take that as a no. Poor Kane."

Becky tweaked her friend's ear saying, "He knows I'm not ready for it and is very good about it. In fact I thought I was ready the night of the concert but he turned me down."

"Ow..." Demi pulled out of Becky's grip. "That hurt."

"Did it? I'm sorry," Becky lied, and then added, "Not."

"In all seriousness, Becky, why haven't you done it yet?" The crowd cheered again as another goal went in but Demi never shifted her gaze from Becky's face.

"It just hasn't been the right moment yet." Becky shrugged. "And it's not all up to me you know. Besides, now I'm working at The Square Circle I've been extra busy most weekend nights and Kane's been really preoccupied with his mid-year exams, as am I. He doesn't like me to come over while he's studying and I completely understand, with it being his final year and all."

"So... you do want to do it then?" Demi wriggled her eyebrows and waited for Becky's answer.

"Yes... Demi..." Becky drawled. "You are such a stickybeak." She paused and murmured, "Since he's been studying, he sometimes seems like he's not completely in the moment."

The crowd roared again and Demi with them. "The duo machine has done it again," she declared as she looked back, her face lit up with a beaming smile. "What did you say, Becky? I didn't quite catch that last thing."

"It doesn't matter." Becky shook her head. She was probably worrying for nothing so redirected the conversation saying, "I can't stay long after the game. I'm on the late shift tonight."

Demi turned fully and put her hands on Becky's shoulders. "Tell me."

"Okay..." Becky gave in because she really wanted Demi's opinion. "It's just that since Kane's been studying he seems different. Like when he comes over. Like... he's in a dream or something."

"I'm lost." Demi shook her head and scrunched her eyes. "Can you be more specific?"

Becky looked over each shoulder and put her mouth to Demi's ear. "We may not have done it yet but we've fooled around and well, he's different. Usually he's like a... well... ah... cucumber." She flicked her forearm and hand out stiff and straight. "Now he's like a um... banana." With that she wilted her wrist and added, "A mushy one."

"Oh... shit!" Demi slammed her hand over her mouth and looked at Becky bug eyed while trying not to laugh.

"It's not funny, Demi, because not only is that happening he seems off, as if he's tired and often when he's touching me he falls asleep." Becky sucked in a large lungful of air and crossed her arms. "I'm worried he's lost interest in me."

"No way." Demi shook her head with conviction. "Harley says he never shuts up about you so it can't be that." She paused in thought. "Have you asked him about it?"

"No. Not really. It seems too personal."

"You're kidding me, right?" Demi pulled a face and said, "Becky you're touching each other intimately. Isn't that personal enough to be able to ask him what's going on?"

The crowd booed so the girls looked down at the court. There must have been a foul against Kane because he was arguing with the umpire who had awarded the other team a free throw.

"I've never seen him go off like that before," Demi mused pointing down at the scene. "Something must be wrong." She turned and looked at Becky. "How long has his weird behaviour been going on?"

"Three weeks." Becky nibbled on the corner of her thumb and watched the commotion on the court. She added, "Since he started to seriously study."

"It must really be getting at him." Demi pointed at the players saying, "Kane's just been sat out." She turned to Becky and smiled. "That proves it's not you. He's never fouled out before so it has to be the pressure of all that study."

"You're probably right, Demi. He did tell me he turned into a complete mess when he studied and that it wasn't a pretty sight." She gave Demi a big smile as she said, "I'll have to be extra kind to him."

*

When the game finished the girls waited just outside the building giggling and chatting with some of their friends until Kane and Harley came out showered and changed.

Kane hooked his arm around Becky's shoulders, bent and kissed her saying, "Hey."

"Hey." She cupped his jaw and kissed him with more passion.

"What was that for?" Kane eased away from her, smiled and gave her a curious look.

"You look like you had a hard night so I wanted to let you know I'm here for you if there's anything that's upsetting you," Becky said and kissed him again.

"Ah..." Kane laughed and lifted her bride style. "You saw my tantrum huh?"

Becky put her arms around his neck as he started to move off. "Is that what it was?"

"Yeah. Not my best moment," he said with a sorrowful expression.

"Is something wrong, Kane? I mean, more than just the pressure of exams and study. You seem different, like distant even. If you've changed your mind about me, I'll understand."

He put her back on her feet, ran his fingers over his hair, blew out his breath and thrust his hands out at her. "Why would you think it's about you? It has nothing to do with you. Shit, Becky. Not everything is about you." Kane made to move along the path, and then turned to face her. "I'm sorry. Okay. I told you, me and study weren't pretty so just forgive me, alright? I don't deal with pressure very well and at the moment I'm under the pump." He bent and kissed her on the cheek. "Don't you have to work tonight?"

"Yes."

"You better get going then." Kane put his palm to the side of her face. "Honestly. It's not you. It's me. I'll see you tomorrow."

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