Accepted

5.

Evi.

I looked up at him startled before punching him the chest. He chuckled, holding his chest as I continued to mug him.

"Really Niko?"

" I was looking for you and somebody said you was in the bathroom." He replied, the stench of liquor lingering from his mouth just as his words.

I gave him a face with my eyebrows raised. Looking around the bathroom for dramatics, I faced back towards him.

"Obviously I needed privacy."

"Then why you leave the door unlocked?" Before I could answer, he came closer to my face. I placed my hand over his mouth, furrowing my eyebrows.

"What are you doing?"

Taking my hand from his mouth, he said, "well I was going to try get a kiss but I guess not."

"Niko we're good friends. No." I shook my head, getting out the trap he had me in between him and the counter. He nodded with his eyes low, licking his lips.

"I've always kind of liked you though." He grinned widely. I side smiled as he raised his hands to the back of his neck, unclamping the necklace that hung from it.

"I wanna give you this." He finally said, allowing me to look at it. I focused over it, viewing the charms of a basketball–both one single and in a goal–, his Jersey number, and his name.

"Why exactly?" I asked, not knowing the true intentions behind this gift. Walking behind me, he lifted my hair causing the chilly air to hit my neck. The coolness of the metal of the necklace hit it also not long after as he clamped it.

I looked down at it as it dangled right above the v line of my shirt. "Because you been there from the beginning. If it wasn't for you and your dad playing it with me and making me better, I wouldn't be the Oh Great Niko Nets today." He finally answered, making me laugh.

He sniggered along with me before evident tension formed in the bathroom, that we were still in.

"You uh.. heard from him in a while?" He asked as I kept my head downward, fiddling with the charms of the necklace.

"No. The last time I saw him was nine years ago.." I answered truthfully as a lump formed in my throat.

I missed my dad so much. I just couldn't believe he would just leave after the divorce and not bother to communicate with his only daughter–only child. It had to have something to do with my mom, it's gotta be something she's not telling me.