Notes:

Additional Cast:

Jojo Kushner as Kate Parker   

Meghan Ory as Claire 

Booboo Stewart as Grant Simmons

Nathan's POV

I've been in bed for 2 days now. And when I say in bed, I don't mean it in a good way. What the fuck was I thinking trying to help that annoying freak? I usually don't get in others' business. I have my own to worry about. Let's start with the fact that I missed fucking practice these past 2 days. Definitely not a good start for the season or the team. Being this year's so called big talent has created much anticipation to my team players and the coach. I have to be punctual and let them know fast that I'm not a dick with a big ego. I just want to play basketball. That's what I'm good at, what I've always been good at. At first, I was only looking forward to spend some time with my old man. Dr Parker still passes most of his days and nights at his clinic. That's how it has always been. But he always tried to steal time for some father-son bonding, playing basketball at our backyard. Somehow this growed on me and I became good. Real good without even trying that hard. Some call it being a natural, I don't know how to call it, so I'll agree with them.

I was the captain of our high school team and the key player to every single game. That brought much attention to my name. I chose this university just to keep the tradition alive as my dad studied here too. That's the reason why I also entered the ΚΕΓ house. Legacy and all that shit got me in without any initials or tests that fraternities put their candidates into. I won't complain. It seems like a decent place to socialize. Plus, being on the basketball team and a ΚΕΓ brother is a plus plus for the ladies. Not that I ever had a problem with that really. I also was a natural at charming girls since elementary school. I was the class president, prom king...All this nonsense attracted them for no reason obvious to me. I must admit high school years were entertaining and so I intent to make my college ones. Basketball, parties, sex and messing around. I don't have time for commitment or anything serious. I never had or wanted something like that to be honest. My phone rings and I see my mom's picture on the screen.

"Yeah." I pick it up.

"Hellooo, Nathan!" I move my phone away from my ear before I lose my ability to hear.

"Hey, little monster. When will you learn how to use the phone properly? You're already 7." I tease her.

"You mean almost 8! I would punch you in the face if you were here." I can say she misses me by the tone of her voice. "Are you feeling any better? Mommy asks if you still have fever."

"It's almost gone, I feel okay."

"Terrific! Eat some soup and you'll feel even better tomorrow!"

"Haha, you became a doctor now?"

"Well, I might be one day. Who knows. If I don't become a teacher. Or a singer. Or an astronaut."

"Yeap, 'cause you're clearly qualified for all of the above."

"Hey! If you were her, I would so punch you in the face again! Mummy says we should leave you rest so I guess I have to say goodbye. Kisses from the both of us big bro!"

"Take care, Kate."

My younger sister has driven me nuts since the day I left for college. Actually, way longer considering she kept calling me everyday during my summer trip. What a trip it was indeed! Let's just say that accompanying my friend George to his trip to Greece was the best decision I took as a graduate. Staying at the beach all day long, then waiting for the sun to come up at the local clubs. Yeah, that was good. Adding Elena to all this, makes it even better. Oh the things she could do with her tongue. Yeah, even better no doubt. We stayed at George's relatives for about a month, then I came home and left right away for college due to my practice schedule. Kate kept complaining but my parents seemed understanding. I haven't seen them that much or talked to them really but we are all busy. Me with college, my father with clinic, my mother trying to tame that little monster I have for a sister and attending these social boring as hell events she likes to go.

Well, it's fun to think about good memories but not as fun as making new ones. I grab my phone and take a look at my contacts. Thea is at the swimming team and most likely has practice now. Mary is back at her hometown to break up wit her boyfriend, not that I asked, encouraged or promised anything after she told me she was into a relationship. Robin plays for the other team, damn it. Susan? Susan will be fine for now and she always comes the minute I call. I text her and in no time she's standing at my door. I think she will make my afternoon more interesting.

Joseph's POV

Here I am again, at my favourite bar! I love this place, not only because it has amazing and cheap beer, but because it serves it to the underage too. Beer is what I need to relax after day full of classes. That's why I took up right away a friend's invitation to hang out.

New semester has started for only 2 days and many project deadlines have already been set. Fuck! This year looks tougher than the previous one, but since I am an upperclassman I should have foreseen that. Anyway I don't stress out unlike Sophie, since everything goes well in the end and also I see pressure as a motive to test my abilities.

The bar has more people than I expected, but it's not full and it's the same as always. It has pop and rock culture posters and paintings on the wooden walls, except behind the bar, because there are two LCD televisions.

We are sitting at the wooden tables, at the middle of the bar drinking our beers and chatting. Sometimes my eye catches a few interesting chicks passing by me. I can't ignore beautiful presences when I see them. Unfortunately I can't afford a pleasant companion tonight, because I have to attend an important lab tomorrow at 7 am. That means I have to get my ass up really early, which leads to get rid of my night company first thing in the morning. Plus Sophie would go completely insane if she saw a stranger in our apartment. Too much trouble for just one laid. There're still plenty of nights, so no worries.

"Guys I am going to take another beer." I inform my friends sitting around the table, when I notice that I have drank the first glass. "Does anyone want anything?"

"The barwoman." Grant chimes in with a smirk.

"Are you not tired of Claire rejecting you?" I smirk.

"A man can always try." he defends himself.

"Twice or trice, not a thousand times." I answer him back.

"You say that because you got her without a try!" I roll my eyes and leave the table to go to the bar.

When I get there I observe that there is a basketball game taking place.

It's the Celtics against the Bulls.

There was a game tonight! I totally forgot it! I watch obsessively the New Yorks Knicks since it's my favourite team, but I enjoy watching other games too. NBA is just incredible and the heat of this season is over the top.

As I am waiting to order my beer I watch the game. Suddenly a Celtic's player did a foul on a Bool's one, but the referee just passed by it.

"Hey you asshole! That was a clear foul." I shout and I tend my hand angrily to the TV.

"My words exactly! What does the fucking referee think he's doing?" A dark haired tall guy,wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans,standing next to me comments.

"I don't know and I believe that he doesn't know either. He'd better review the manual!" I answer to him.

"This is bullshit! I'm gonna need a beer." He nods at the barwoman.

"Yeah you are right! Get me a large Paulaner, Claire!" I nod to the black long haired barwoman, who has a sword in a heart with roses tattoo on her right arm and a piercing at the side of her lower lip.

"Make them two." The guy next to me tells her. "You know her?" He asks me.

"Yes! She works here since I was a freshman. I am Joseph by the way." I stretch my hand for a shake.

"Nice to meet you, man. I am Nathan." He returns the handshake. "She's a good one." He points his head to Claire.

"You have a good taste there. But be careful she's a wild one." I chuckle a bit.

"I am ok with that." He laughs. "Plus, she has a hell of an ass."

"You have no idea!"I exhale with a smirk "So I haven't seen you around. Are you in SCU too?" I ask him.

"Yeap, but I am just a freshman. What are you studying?"

"So you're a noob! Welcome! I am an upperclassman in Computer Science."

"Woah, that sounds intimidating." he says impressed.

"Here are your beers, pretty boys!" Claire brings two large glasses full of blonde beer and winks at me and then looks at Nathan with a curious flirting look.

"Who's your hot friend?" She asks me pointing at Nathan.

"Well, it's insulting referring to another guy as hot in front of me, but you're lucky that my confidence is too difficult to get hurt." She chuckles and gives me a light punch on my arm. "That's Nathan! He's a freshman so go easy on him for the first time."

She turns her green eyes to Nathan with a captivating look.

"Hello Nathan. I am Claire!"

"Well, hello to you too, Claire. And by the way, you are hot too."

"I like him." She gives an approving nod. "Here's my number, handsome and I finish at 12. I hope it's not already bed time for you. We're going to have some fun together."

"Don't you worry about it. We are definitely going to have some fun together." He smirks at her.

"Ok Claire you've found your victim for tonight. Now stop flirting in front of me! It's ruining my image." I chime in pretending I am offended.

"Ok Joss! I see no luck for you tonight? That's a first!" She wonders and inclines her head a bit.

"The night is still young, go easy on my friend Joseph." Nathan says grabbing my shoulder.

"That's what I call a good back up!" I exclaim pointing at him. "Well tonight I am not really interested. I gotta wake up really early tomorrow, so I am in no mood, and basically there's no time for a girl who wants to cuddle in the morning." I answer to her question and take a sip from my beer.

"Exactly! Like who said anything about cuddling? I want you," he points at Claire, "you want me" he points back at himself, "That's enough if you want to have fun. Chicks do that all the time, like expecting something it was never promised."

"Well said man well said. I like you already!" I raise my beer to clink it with his.

"We should celebrate it with another round, you're going to drink with us too, beautiful." He raises an eyebrow at Claire.

"I'll get tequila shots. That's on me!" She turns around,she grabs a tequila bottle from a shelve and she fills three shots. "You know how it goes right? Salt, drink, lemon." She gives us 2 slices of lemon.

We lick the salt from our hands, we drink and then we taste the lemon. How many good nights started this way.

"Aaah! That burn feels good!" Nathan says shaking his head.

"You're right! Thank you Claire!"I nod to her.

"Thank your cute friend!" She winks at him.

Then she nods her head to a company at the edge of the bar, who is waiting to order.

"Duty calls guys! I'll catch up with you later I hope. If I don't, Joseph don't be a stranger and you handsome, call me!" She points to her mobile and leaves.

"Wow, she's really up straight." Nathan notices.

"Yeah she is! She just wants to have fun and she doesn't care. I like her style. She's very polite and nice though. So I didn't ask you... What brings you to SCU?"

"I got here mainly for basketball, I'm on the team." He informs me.

"Really? You must be really good to be on this college team. They are very serious about it. I watch the college team every year, but the last one was a complete disaster. Titanic had a better course."

"So I've heard." He chortles. "They lost their main playmaker last year and things went shit. I hope this year I can do my best and help the team get back on track."

"I hope so, because they had a streak of taking the championship, so we need to get it this year. Just put your head in the game and don't let the beautiful presences distract you too much." I chortle.

"I'll try to do my best." He chuckles. "There's always time for that but not in the court. Do you live in campus?" He asks.

"No, I rent an apartment close to SCU. My best friend moved in with me this year. I used to live at a dorm, as a freshman, but you don't have any privacy. Especially the late hours!" I tell him with a light smirk.

"Yeap, I've been there at late hours for the obvious reasons so I get what you mean. Ι am better off at the frat house. And extremely lucky to have my own room there."

"You have joined a fraternity? Why? Don't get me wrong you seem like a nice guy, but the majority are assholes. I had my arguments with a bunch of them in the past, but truth be told I enjoy going to their parties every now and then."

"Yeah, we have a lot of assholes around. I just try to avoid all the damn drama. They wanted me a lot, you know, it's good for the ΚΕΓ house to have a basketball player among them. I just joined because it seemed like a good way to meet people. Plus, my dad was also in this very frat house, so there's also this legacy thing."

"That's so stupid. I can't stand all this bullshit about legacy and stuff. You have to feel obligated to fill your father's shoes." I exasperate and turn to look at him.

"No, not at all. That's not the case. He didn't pressure me or kept on brainwashing me to follow his steps like some shitty parents do. It was my choice to join the frat house. We'll see in the future if it was the right one." He explains.

"Maybe you will be one of the few frat guys that I'll get along."

"And you might be one of the few guys I actually like to hang out with."

"Anytime dude. I just hope you won't get kicked out of the basketball team." I laugh.

"Ha, I hope that too."

"Yo Joseph! How long do you need for one beer?" Grant shouts and I roll my eyes.

"Why?Did you miss me?" I turn to look at my table where Grant sits with the rest.

"Oh, I've totally bailed on my friends too. Hey, give me your number in case I can't stand them anymore." He suggests laughing and gives me his phone.

I add my contact, before handing his phone over.

"Download some cleaning app. It's a bit rusty." My geek nature can't leave things like that unnoticed.

"Sure, brainiac." He smirks. "Do you come by the gym?"

"A genius can't hide" I brag. "Yes! I have to preserve this gorgeous body for the ladies." I present to him by moving my hands with a smile my body and he can't help but laugh.

"You're a true punster, aren't you? Let's see what you can do over there, we have to keep the ladies happy. Goodnight, Joseph! Nice to meet you,man." He nods as he leaves.

"Goodnight Nathan!" I nod back and return to my friends.

A/N Note: Thanks for reading, any feedback is welcome. :)