Chapter 62: Movie Night

Drew PoV

I watched as Sylvester retreated to his room. His shoulders were slumped. I really messed up.

Had I been too harsh? Too much of a zealot? I thought back to our conversation earlier, where I had been so adamant that college basketball wasn't just for fun but to win.

Had my intensity about winning overshadowed his love for the game? Maybe I should have listened more, been more understanding. Sylvester wasn't like me. He had his own dreams, his own reasons for playing basketball. But in my determination to push him, I had overlooked what truly mattered to him.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I knew I should probably talk to him, maybe even apologize. But I felt a stubborn pride welling up inside me. I believed in hard work and the pursuit of excellence. Was it wrong to want the same for him?

As I wrestled with my thoughts, I heard a soft creak. I looked up to see Sylvester poking his head out of his room, his eyes red from crying. He looked at me, and for a moment, I saw a plea for understanding in his eyes.

But then, the words caught in my throat. Apologizing felt like admitting I was wrong about something I deeply believed in. I glanced away, unsure of what to say.

"What is it, Drew?" Sylvester asked, his voice tinged with both hope and wariness.

For a moment, I considered swallowing my pride and telling him that I understood. But instead, I fell back on my conviction. "I just wanted to check on you," I said, keeping my tone neutral.

He gasped and smiled a little. "Thanks, but I'm not that soft."

His eyes told me otherwise. He just didn't want to make me worry or feel guilty over what happened.

I sighed. "Sorry."

He blinked. "What was that?"

I grumbled. "Don't make me repeat myself...".

Sylvester let out a cute laugh for a dude, and I couldn't help but crack a smile in response. It was nice to see him light up, even if just for a moment.

"Alright, I'll let it go this time," he said, retreating back into his room. 

I turned to head to my own room, a sense of relief washing over me. I needed to make sure I didn't ruin movie night later. I'd have to keep things light and fun—no pressure, no talk of basketball or winning. Just a night to laugh and enjoy.

As I settled into my room, I glanced at the clock. We still had hours before we needed to head out. I took a moment to work out again.

---

I knocked on the door of Wilt's dorm room, glancing at Sylvester beside me. He looked a bit more relaxed now, the earlier tension from our conversation easing as we focused on the evening ahead.

"Here goes nothing," I said, giving Sylvester a reassuring nod.

The door swung open, and Wilt, the redhead with a perpetual grin, greeted us. "Hey, you two! Ready for some action?"

"Absolutely!" Sylvester replied, feeling the excitement of the night take over. 

"Come on in!" Wilt stepped aside, gesturing for us to enter. "I've got the popcorn ready, and the movie's all queued up!"

As we stepped into the room. The familiar smell of popcorn and the soft hum of the projector made it feel cozy.

Natasha meanwhile helped Loxus bag the popcorn.

Loxus laughed as soon as he saw me. "Didn't think His Highness would dare to grace us."

I grumbled at his sarcasm. "If you want, I can leave."

"No, no!" Natasha said, running over and grabbing my arm.

My face warmed up slightly.

Wilt snickered as he closed the door. "Sorry, Your Highness, but you got to finish the movie first before you can leave us!"

"Yeah, can't abandon Princess," Loxus said, pointing at Wilt.

Wilt rolled his teal eyes at Loxus. "Call me that again and I'll give you a good knuckle sandwich."

Natasha giggled at their antics, clearly amused by the playful banter. "You guys are ridiculous! Just let Drew enjoy his time without all this nonsense."

"Ridiculous? We prefer 'entertaining,' thank you very much," Wilt shot back, a grin plastered on his face.

"Right, because the world needs more of your 'entertaining' selves," I added, shaking my head but unable to suppress a smile. The lightheartedness was infectious, and I felt the tension from earlier slip away.

Wilt grinned and puffed his chest out. "Exactly! We're here to keep things lively!"

"Speak for yourself, clown," Loxus said, trying not to smile.

Sylvester chuckled, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. "Just try not to scare Drew away with your charm."

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it!" Wilt replied, feigning innocence. "I'm just here to make sure everyone has a good time!"

I settled into a corner of the couch, feeling more at ease now. With friends like these, it was hard not to smile. The chatter continued as Natasha and Loxus helped distribute the popcorn, and I felt grateful for the distraction.

"Alright, enough talking! Let's get this movie started!" Loxus said, eager to dive into the film and let the night unfold. 

We all sat down and grabbed some popcorn as the movie rolled. The action picked up quickly, and I found myself getting absorbed in the story. 

Suddenly, a massive explosion lit up the screen, and Natasha bounced in her seat, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Whoa! Did you see that?" she exclaimed, practically vibrating with energy. 

Loxus laughed, shaking his head. "Looks like Wilt was right about you being a tomboy, Natasha! You're all about the action!"

She shot him a playful glare but couldn't hide her grin. "What's wrong with loving explosions and fight scenes? It just makes the movie more fun!"

"Nothing at all!" Loxus replied, chuckling. "Just stating the obvious. You're definitely not the delicate type."

"Hey, I can be delicate! Just not when there are cool explosions happening!" she retorted, tossing a piece of popcorn at him.

He laughed. "No wonder you and Wilt get along, you're both like bunnies."

Wilt blushed and crossed his arms. "Shut it!"

The banter continued as the movie unfolded, with Natasha and Wilt bouncing in their seats every time something exciting happened. I couldn't help but smile at the dynamic between everyone. It was refreshing to see Sylvester laughing along with the others.

"Drew, what do you think?" Wilt asked, turning to me as another dramatic scene played out on screen.

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "It's entertaining. Just like you guys."

"Yay! Even His Highness agrees!" Wilt said with a wink, and I felt my face heat up again.

As the film reached its climax, I found myself leaning forward, completely engrossed. The laughter and camaraderie in the room made me realize how important these moments were. It was good to just be here, surrounded by friends, sharing in the excitement and fun.

With each explosion and twist in the plot, I felt the weight of the day lift off my shoulders. Sadly, my personality made such moments hard to come by. I had no friends left. Jensen and these guys were the closest thing I had now. But even then, I butt heads with them too much for this to be something I can expect to last.