The sun was high and warm over FARAWAY TOWN, casting bright slants of light through the neighborhood trees.

KEL felt that warmth deep in his chest as he bounced his basketball against the concrete of the sidewalk, each rhythmic thud syncing with his skipping steps. He wore his usual wide grin, his energy practically radiating in all directions. It was finally Saturday. No responsibilities!

Well... almost no responsibilities.

His mom had definitely left a list of chores taped to the fridge, scrawled in her aggressive mom-handwriting: Dishes. Vacuum. Clean the backyard. Don't forget the laundry! He'd skimmed it this morning, made a face, and promptly ignored it. He had more important things to do, like not doing chores.

FARAWAY PARK was just around the corner now, and as he drew closer, KEL's eyes lit up. The basketball court, his favorite weekend haunt, was just past the playground. But as he passed the swings and colorful climbing frame, something made him stop in his tracks.

Voices cut through the usual peaceful chatter of the park. He furrowed his brow and turned his head toward the court, the ball coming to a stop against his hip.

"What's up, Half-Pint?"

"Need a step stool to see the hoop?"

There, at the edge of the court, stood a small group of familiar faces. Jocks. Not strangers, but his friends, or at least, the guys he played with often enough. Big dudes, loud mouths, the kind who talked trash but still called you "bro" afterward like it was all good fun.

Only this time, it wasn't all fun.

They were towering over someone smaller, standing stiffly in the shadow of their circle. Their punching bag for the moment. KEL's smile faded in an instant and the bounce in his step halted. He hugged the ball close to his side and started walking forward, a little slower now, something heavy creeping into his chest.

He knew this game. He'd been the punchline once, too.

"Hey," he called out, stepping onto the court with his usual energy muted into something more careful. "What's going on here?"

The guys looked over and straightened up like nothing had happened. Some of them grinned at him like he was their secret weapon, just another voice to add to the teasing. "Oh, nothing, bro!" one of them said, clearly amused. "Just messing around. This short stuff here thinks they can play with us!"

KEL looked at you. The way you were standing, trying to appear unfazed, but your eyes saying something else. He knew that look. It brought up memories he didn't like. He wasn't the tallest kid either. In fact, he remembered how it sucked to be laughed at for that exact thing.

And now, his own friends were doing it to someone else.

KEL suddenly slung an arm over your shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world, holding the basketball with his other hand. "{{user}} is my friend," he said, lying without hesitation. But the lie felt more like a truth when he said it. He glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, giving you a tiny reassuring smile.

Then he turned his full attention back to the jocks. "Isn't basketball about having fun and enjoying the game together. What happened to that, guys?"

The group fell quiet. One rolled his eyes, another scoffed, but the mood had been killed. They weren't going to fight KEL on this. He was one of the best players on their weekend team, and deep down, none of them wanted to look like jerks in front of him.

"Whatever," one of them mumbled as they started to scatter.

The court felt oddly still as the group left, their absence leaving behind a quiet tension. KEL finally dropped his arm from around your shoulders and turned to face you fully, his usual bright expression returning bit by bit. "Sorry about those guys," he said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

He offered you a hand, then added with an energetic bounce in his step, "I'm KEL, by the way! Wanna shoot some hoops with me instead?"