Darren Lewis: From Small Kid to Bully

"Everybody, get with your team," instructed Coach Maxwell, clapping his hands. Darren, along with the rest of his teammates, rushed out onto the basketball court, ready to begin. Somebody who Darren couldn't see pushed him in the back of the head, causing him to whirl around with a savage glare on his face. He heard a couple of the other kids chuckle, apparently finding his anger a big, fat, joke. He stretched out his legs by bending down and touching his shoes, getting to his arm stretches, next.

"Now, I want everyone to continue with the passing drills, same as yesterday. I'll be gone for the first ten minutes because I have to talk to your principal about something. " Coach Maxwell straightened the necklace with the whistle attached to it, before blowing into it, which meant they had to get going. Everyone gathered into a line, with another kid standing next to the basket with a basketball in his hands.

The frst player in line ran to the basket with his hands up, before having the ball passed to him. As soon as it was his turn, he held up his hands, ready to catch the ball, when someone quickly went out of line, holding their own ball, then tossing it so it hit the side of Darren's head. He set his eyes on the offender, hoping his glare was enough to melt the other boy into a stinking pile of sludge. The kid who threw the ball, curled his fingers toward himself, and said with malevelance, "Come on."' Darren hesitated,unsure of what to do,in the room full of kids who looked at them eagerly. He then took off to the other boy who was too full of himself, at least, in his opinion. Darren didn't hesitate swinging his fists, aiming directly for his face. One more hit to the nose had the boy sink to the ground. A small smile crept up his face as everyone else in the room started to cheer.

...

A couple months later, he walked through the school with his new friends like he owned it, giving anyone who stared at them the evil eye. He knew being some nice guy who talked to others like he was their mommy would only make him the victim of a vicious attack, and he didn't want to tke any chances. He came to an abrupt stop when he saw a kid trying to shoot a basketball on the court in the back of the school. The ball would hit the rim of thehoop before bouncing to the ground.

"Hey!" shouted Darren, grabbing the ball from the boy who he thougt did't know what he was doing. "What are you doing on my court? Shooting like that? " He didn't do anything except keep the ball in his hands.

"Hey..." the boy who had been ready to shoot the ball protested, reaching for the ball, back.

Darren grabbed him by theecollar of his shirt before snarling, "I said this is my court." He then shoved the other boy to the ground, bounced the ball twice, before taking a shot.