Free A Penny's Worth (The Cephas Bourdon Series) by A.M. Hooper

thing," I replied. "So, thank you" He nodded his head once, still looking forward. Silence prevailed for a moment, so I changed the subject.
    "So, where'd you come from?" I asked. That was an innocent enough question — right?
    "My parents died a couple of weeks ago. I moved away to finish out my senior year." His voice was cold. I wasn't sure how to respond.
    "I'm so sorry. That's horrible," was the b est I could come up with. "Why did you move here?" I couldn't help but asking. He must have thought it entertaining that I would pursue the conversation, because the corner of his mouth twitched upward again.
    "I just wanted to get away from everything, and I love basketball.” His smile was brilliant. "And why are you here?" The question took me by surprise.
    "Well," I stammered, "I've always lived here."
    "And why did your parents move here?" he urged. I thought a moment — I wasn't sure.
    "Something to think about," he replied to my lack of a response, shrugging his shoulders. He laughed and shifted his weight.
    "This bag really is heavy. I can't believe a little thing like you was carrying this," he replied in a lighthearted voice. He stopped walking and set the bag down on the ground.
    “What are you doing?” I asked, stopping next to him. He jiggled a latch on the fence and grabbed my hand.
    “Follow me,” he muttered, tugging my hand. He walked backward, pulling me after him.
    “Where are we going?” I laughed. I looked down at my feet, careful not to trip on the cracks in the asphalt pathway. We rounded the corner of a white, wood - slat building. The black pathway enlarged into a makeshift basketball court. An old basketball hoop stood waiting at the other side of the court, the chain net rusting with age. Cephas released my hand and bent down to pick up a basketball.
    “Where are we?” I asked, trying to restrain my elation at the surprise.
    “I found this place the other day,” he said, standing up straight. “And it even comes with a basketball.” He lifted the basketball in the air.
    “You any good?” he asked, bouncing the ball in place.
    “Not really,” I said, pushing up my sleeves. “But I could probably beat you.” He raised his eyebrows and took a step backward, still bouncing the ball.
    “You think, huh?” he asked, moving farther away toward the hoop. I shook my head and lifted my hands in the air.
    “Yeah, but I think I should get the ball first,” I argued. Cephas stopped bouncing the ball and tossed it to me. I caught it and began dribbling.
    “So you must be pretty good at basketball if Chase used you to replace his guard,” I said, not moving much from the half line.
    “I'm alright,” he replied. I moved to the left, then to the right, moving easily around Cephas. The ball bounced a few times and I went for a layup. The ball bounced off the backboard and swooshed easily through the chain net. I caught it before it hit the ground.
    “You let me do that,” I complained, throwing the ball to him. “Or else you really suck.” Cephas stopped and held the ball with one hand, feigning surprise.
    “Well aren't you all flattery,” he complained, dribbling the ball again. “You aren't like most girls.”
    “Yeah, like the ones dancing around you earlier?” I teased, moving in front of him to block his dribbling path. “Did you let those girls beat you at something, too?” Cephas faked right, then spun around me, laying the ball up to the hoop. The ball swished through the net.
    “I don't let anyone beat me,” he argued, sounding kind of serious . “I just wanted to confuse you. Y ou know, let your confidence grow so it's easier for me to beat you.”
    “Why? You don't think you can beat me on your own?” I held up my hands to receive his pass. I bounced the ball a few times and bent my knees. I sprung upward and flicked my wrist, then watched the ball fall through the hoop without even touching the net. Hands on hips, Cephas walked toward the ball.
    “Wow, you really