Chapter 1 — BasketOne
Basketball sat right inside the entrance of the hotel, the morning of yesterday aching her mind as she stared at the ground. She had been eliminated from the show the day prior, now without needing to be on the show what was she going to do? She had asked two to stay here and just not compete, Hardly getting an answer from them as they layed in bed. Gosh, Why is she doing this? The girl wandered outside to take a breather, To clear her mind from everything that had been going on. Basketball sighed as she walked, eventually into a small forested area. Not too compacted with plants, but enough to be a nice difference in scenery for a change. She closed one of her eyes, breathing quietly to let the grass and twigs break underneath her feet while she wandered off how far, the breeze ever so slightly colder than normal at about this time.
Basketball hadn't known how long she was walking for, but it felt like forever, and she knew that these woods were NOT large enough for however long she could tell she was there for. Her movements came to a halt, looking around. She could feel a presence watching her, and she was almost certain she knew exactly who it was. She took a step back and turned around, only to frantically look around again when she hear the alarmingly close sound of a stick breaking echoing through the trees and bushes.
She looked around again, taking a few cautious steps now in a direction unknown to her. She had no idea where she had cane here from. Basketball tightly shut her eyes, she knew who was here and maybe, while it was likley she had put basketball in this situation in the first place, maybe she'd help her out. The world sounded like it was spinning around her as she squeezed her eyes shut. The distant crickets quieting and the world around her stilling. She shivered, her surroundings now colder than the previous breeze over late spring heat and humidity. She took a deep breath, about to calm down before a feminine voice spoke from almost right infront of her
" Sit down, Basketball. "
The leather materialed girls' eyes shot open– slightly stumbling backwards , falling onto the elongated sofa she was instructed to sit on. The room around her wasnt like where she had been before, though similar-esq? Four pale yellow walls and a couch with small stands on either end and a small coffee table with a coffee mug full of pens. The couch was what was the most offputting, the pink colour was normal, but it wrapped around in almost half a circle, the furniture being much larger than she had seen it before.
Basketball stared at the number sitting a persons height away from her on the couch. She knew this would happen someday, but she didn't expect it to be so soon. Basketball knew the other was watching her eyes dart as metaphorical gears turned in her head. Was Basketball the first she had taken to do their side of the deals? What would she have to do, what would happen if she refused? Was everyone who made a deal going to be doing the same things? What the hell did she sign likley her life away to do?
Basketballs thought process slowly calmed, her gaze now fixed on One.
" What did you bring me here for . "
Basketball focused her eyes, demanding answers.
One laughed lightly, smiling as she looked Basketball back in the eye, lacking the struggle the other was clearly experiencing.
" You know why I brought you here silly~! You need to pay up on your side of our deal ! "
Basketball rolled her eyes at the others newfound singsong tone, again struggling to maintain eye contact afterwards.
" Well no duh, No i thought you brought me here to.. I dont know make me watch my friends suffer again. "
The algebrailen laughed in response to the others umusually smarky tone– standing up and walking to stand directly infront of Basketball. Looking down at the girl infront of her, Ones slow footsteps walking over made Basketball subconsciously flinch, holding her posture further back.
" What do you even want me to do?! "
Basketball almost yelled her question, fear now prominent in her voice.
One closed their eyes, the scenery around them changing. The walls now a deeper yellow and the couch much, much smaller– room for maybe three people on it.
" Easy ! I just need you to cooperate with a few tasks, maybe sayyy... any 10 days a month! More or less? "
Basketball calmed again, looking at the blue alien infront of her, questioning them
" Really? Thats it? No catch? "
" Do you want there to be a catch? "
One almost snapped back, her tone just off from irritation. They sat on the couch next to Basketball
" But right now your task for me us to calm the hell down and quit overthinking you getting out. Can you do that? "
Basketball stared at One , confused, why did they want that?? The algebrailen spoke again, responding to the girls thought almost like they could read her mind.
" You can't work effectively if youre stressed out you knowww~ "
One leaned a bit towards Basketball in a teasing manner, letting the other know that she knew EXACTLY what she felt and that she wouldn't be able to hide it. Basketball scooted away as One did that, and in retaliation One moved again closer to Basketball . One glared at the girl in a way that almost had it's own tone, the algebrailen glaring from centimeters away from the others face, ones face flushed a slightly deeper tone of blue– While the others pissed look was accompanied by a faint flush just below her eyes.
" Relax, you need that first "
" And why do you care ? "
" I already told you why. "
One backed away, just a bit, so they could both see the other a bit better, the corners of their mouth pricking into a smile as she spoke
" And you can't un-sign a contract, you know . "
Basketball looked up at the being above her, nodding, while scared, she couldn't admit she liked the fact that One seemed to be so careful with her words, Basketball could tell she cared more for than just the contract. And the warmth on the algebrailens face being that much less subtle than her own, Basketball knew what it was. And while she just knew that she could NEVER feel anything like that for someone who hurt her and her friends like that– just maybe she could get.. used to being cared for on that level. Nothing more, nothing less, their relationship was purley contractual.