The sound of a basketball being dribbled echoed throughout the gym. Seconds later, a louder smashing sound pierced the deafening silence.  

Kaede Rukawa dangled from the hoop, smirking down at the imaginary opponent he had eluded. He landed gracefully on his feet as the satisfying feeling of triumph made him tingle all over. 

A perfect ending for today’s practice, he thought smugly, letting the ball lazily roll away. 

He padded towards the sideline benches where his towel and cool can of energy drink waited. He lifted the tab and let the drink sizzle. He lifted the drink to his dry lips and let the liquid soothe down his burning throat. 

Halfway through his drink, he felt another’s presence. He tensed.  

No one, not even his craziest fan, would dare visit the gym at a time like this and risk being the object of his wrath.  

10:30 pm, the clock read. Who could be out in the school at a time like this? 

“Who’s there?,” he asked tersely, the muscles on his arms tensing, preparing for a fight. 

From the corner of his eye, he saw the stranger step out of the shadows.  

He should’ve known. Another fan girl. 

He peered at her from the corner of his eye as she bent over to pick up the ball which had rolled at her feet. Not bothering to answer his question, she dribbled the basketball lazily by her side. 

Funny, any fan girl would’ve grabbed the chance to let their idol know that they existed, he thought smugly. What the heck, they’re all crazy one way or the other… 

He was about to face her and send her away for good when she suddenly launched herself a few feet off the ground, aiming the ball straight for the basket. 

The loud smashing sound, made him drop his drink. Not to mention his jaw. 

The girl slowly turned to face him. The enchanting smile on her lips would forever be engraved in his mind. She glided towards him, her smile turning mischievous as she came closer and closer. He would’ve ran for it if his feet would only budge. 

In his frozen state, he stared in horror – and in fascination – as she gently laid a hand over his chest. Her eyes were of a deep tantalizing shade of violet shade and she smelled strongly of jasmines. 

“Kaedeeee,” she breathed into his ear, her hands gliding up to his shoulder. The feel of her tongue snaking into his ear made him jump a feet away. 

This girl is going mental, he thought, his heart racing as he looked around wildly. 

All attempts of escape were foiled as she launched herself towards him, making them crash onto the ground, the back of his head cracking smartly against the cool vinyl. 

The growl that escaped from the back of his throat was silenced when her soft lips came down to cover his.  

He was immobilized beneath her. He tried pushing her away but his hands stubbornly refused to move from where they rested by the round curve of her backside. Her intoxicating fragrance was not helping either as he felt his head spin with sensation. 

She moved lazily on top of him as she felt him finally relax, his mouth opening to hers in an urgent need to deepen the kiss. She lifted her head, abruptly ending the wave of sensations. 

But Kaede wouldn’t have any of it. He grabbed the back of her neck and brought her lips back down to his with crushing force. His growl dropped an octave lower when he felt her grind her hips against his. 

“Do you want me?” she whispered breathlessly against his lips. 

He rolled them over, pinning her beneath him. “I want you,” he responded with equal urgency as he nuzzled her neck. 

She laughed against his ear, her violet eyes twinkling with mischief. 

That’s when he woke up. 

The bright gym light shone overhead and Rukawa lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the accursed thing. What a really nice time to wake up… 

He lazily opened a sleepy eye to peer at the clock at the far side of the hall. 10:30 pm. 

He grudgingly tried to get to his feet. Unfortunately they felt numb and refused to move. He laid back down with a frustrated groan against the cool, shiny floor he’d been slaving over for hours.  

His thoughts flew back to her. Her creamy skin. Her soft lips. Her expressive violet eyes. Her long curtain of midnight black hair…Crap. So many adjectives. He wasn’t  the poetic type. Not now. Not ever…. Heck, especially not over some imaginary girl. But…. 

“What a dream,” he sighed breathlessly. 

Though he’d give anything to see her again, he decided that waking up all sweaty and excited over some hot babe who was about to seduce him in the middle of the basketball court wasn’t exactly the nicest feeling. 

He got up abruptly, longing for a cold shower to vanquish the heat and appease his troubled mind.

To be continued….