hey, jean. jean valjean. hey. hey. hello.

Neil was glad for the distraction, since it kept him from looking at Kevin, and he readily accepted the hand Nicholas offered.

Neil meant to go after them but he’d made the mistake of looking at Kevin. Once he met Kevin’s eyes, it was hard to look away.

Kevin got right on his face and tangled his fingers through the netting on Neil’s racquet. When he started to pull it away, Neil held on tighter, silently refusing to let go. Kevin probably could have wrenched it away if he tried a little harder, but he seemed content to just hold on.

"If you won’t play with me you’ll play for me." Kevin said. "You’re never going to get there on your own, so give your game to me.“ […] Kevin must’ve seen that in the unimpressed look on his face because he reached up and covered Neil’s eyes with his few hand. "See it the only way it really matters, where Exy is the only road to take. What do you see?" […] "You"

Neil watched them [Kevin and Andrew] over his shoulder. "I saw him first," Nicky said. "I thought you had Erik," Neil said.

"Now you [Neil] sound like Kevin."

Kevin checked Neil into the wall and pinned him there with a gloved hand to his chest

Kevin got his hands on Neil’s neck in an instant ans slammed him up against the opposite wall. […] He tried to knee Kevin, but Kevin crushed him against the wall with his own body.

Why did Kevin deserve all that? Why did he deserve Neil?

Neil could leave until he knew Kevin would be okay. He didn’t want to find out from half of the world away.

He’d just cut the water off when Kevin knocked on his shower stall door. "The next time I come for you, you will follow me," Kevin said. "Why?" Neil asked. "It’s time to collect what’s mine."

As Neil surveyed Kevin’s damage he felt inspired again. On its heels was a hungry, desperate rush.

Neil was halfway through the men’s door when Kevin snagged his collar and hauled him down the hall to the back door. Kevin pulled it open and pushed Neil ahead of him through it. Neil stumbled a step, caught his balance a second later, and went to the inner court.

Kevin caught Neil’s shoulder and pushed him after her. Neil twisted out of his grip and swatted Kevin’s hand. Kevin made a second grab at him, but Matt reached over and shoved Kevin back.

Despite Kevin’s angry words and despite his rude impatience, Kevin believed in Neil’s potential. Kevin wanted to train Neil. He wanted to play with Neil, he wanted to shape Neil into the star he’d once been.

"So what are you going to tell Kathy?" Kevin asked. "That I hate you," Neil muttered. "You don’t."