S.T.A.L.K.E.R: The Duel Page #4

you could steal me a whip?

Excuse me. Lena, stop.

Give me a minute.

Just let me explain.

Explain what, Vance?

How you think

I'm some prize you can win?

How I'm some trophy

you and Maurice can compete for?

- It's not like that.

- Yes, it is.

And don't try

to tell me different.

You're just like Maurice.

You treat people like objects,

and I'm through with that.

- That's not it at all.

- Get out of my way, Vance.

I can prove it to you.

That's just it.

You always think

you need to prove something.

Maybe because

you're new here.

But all you're proving

is how insecure you really are.

Lena, I'm sorry.

Oh, snap, son.

That's 0 for 2.

Okay, everyone, settle down.

We're gonna pick up

where we left off last week.

Where was that again?

What are you doing here?

Turns out you had

an open spot in the class,

so here I am.

This isn't an adult's class, Vance.

Who says I'm an adult?

Well, if you're a kid,

you're gonna need a guardian.

Will you be my guardian?

Whatever.

Okay, everyone.

Let's get started.

Hey.

Hey, girly,

what are you doing here?

Just waiting.

My class is after this one.

- That's cool.

- By the way,

I never thanked you

for helping me.

You know, at school?

I wish there was something

I could do for you.

You know what?

Maybe there is.

Come here.

Somebody help him!

Lena, he's drowning!

Help him!

He's drowning!

Somebody save him!

Get him out of the water!

Lena, he's drowning!

Help! Help him!

Maybe swimming isn't

so bad after all.

You jerk!

Thanks.

Lena, what's wrong?

Come on.

I was just kidding.

So that was interesting.

I think you might wanna

stick with basketball.

Yeah, definitely.

Do you have to go home right now?

Why? What do you have

in mind, Mr. Swimmer?

I don't know.

I don't know

the city that well,

and I was hoping that maybe

you could show me around.

So now I'm your tour guide.

No, never mind.

I didn't mean it like that.

It was a stupid idea.

I know just the place.

Yeah? Let's go.

So, what do you think?

I mean, when most people say

they wanna see New York,

they usually mean, like,

the Statue of Liberty

or the Empire State Building

or something.

Well, who wants to be

like most people?

I know I don't.

I love it.

How'd you find this place?

My dad used to bring me here

when I was little.

He always told me that

all my dreams could come true.

He said it was as simple

as dropping a coin in the fountain

and wishing hard enough.

- What'd you wish for?

- You know you can't say.

You know,

you were right, Lena,

the other day

when you told me

that you weren't

some trophy to be won.

Oh, yeah?

So what am I then?

I don't know if I've

figured that out yet,

but I want to.

And what about you, huh?

What are you,

Mr. Vance Halden?

What do you mean?

Are you some master car thief

straight out of juvie,

or are you some basketball prodigy

that can play with his eyes closed?

I'm neither.

So what are you then?

I...

I'm my father's

Frankenstein monster,

his phony creation.

Your father?

Yeah.

He's a real basketball player.

Or at least he wanted to be.

He never made it.

I guess he thought his son

was his last chance to...

I don't know... taste some kind

of glory or something.

So he pushed me and trained me

and tried his hardest

to turn me into the player

that he never was.

So what happened?

I failed.

It was the Northbelt tournament,

and my high school was down one

with under a minute to go.

The ball was passed to me...

it always was...

and, I...

I don't understand this.

I mean, that is a shot

that you have made

thousands of times.

A shot you can make

with your eyes shut.

You cannot lose! Ever!

The next day,

my mom packed us up,

and we moved to New York.

Haven't seen him since.

I'm so sorry.

You don't have to be

anyone's creation.

You can live your own dreams.

Then maybe I should make some.

Come on.

Wow.

Watch this.

Wanna know what I wished for?

You're not supposed to say.

Who said anything

about saying anything?

I can't do this.

Why?

I can't get involved with a dueler.

I don't want anything to do

with that stupid, violent game.

No. You said I don't

have to be anyone's creation.

You said I could choose what I want.

I want you.

More than a duel,

more than anything.

I think I know what I want

my prize to be.

Shoot.

I want you to promise me

that you're never gonna hurt me.

I won't.

Ever.

Yo, Jules.

Jules, Jules, wait up.

I was looking all over

for you yesterday, man.

- You weren't at school.

- Yeah. And what's it to you?

Look, man, I know you're mad

at me for losing the $300.

Mad? Mad?

I get mad when I lose $20.

- When it's 300, I get pissed!

- I'm sorry, man.

I'll figure out a way to get it back.

Man, there's a tournament today.

It's a start.

I can't.

Crony, you're just trying

to push all my buttons, ain't you?

What is it?

Another hot date?

No, man. I can't play.

What do you mean,

you can't play?

I promised Lena

I'd give it up.

Oh, come on, man.

You gotta be kidding me, man.

- I'm sorry.

- Are you?

Are you, new white boy?

- You sorry for selling me out?

- I didn't mean to!

But you did, though, 'cause this is

all just a game to you, right?

Just a way to have fun during

your short stay in my hood.

It's not like that!

But this ain't a game to me, crony!

This is real life.

This is what keeps a brother

from selling dope on the streets

and robbing QuikStops for money.

- Listen, Jules, I just...

- Don't touch me, all right?

If you're gonna betray me,

don't do it with kindness.

Be a man about it.

I'm sorry, man.

You're a liar, crony,

and I ain't gonna forget this.

What's up?

Come on, man!

I didn't lose!

Now can I have it?

Get out! Look, get outta here!

Stay out of my room, Rody!

Come on!

What are we doing here?

What's the matter?

Don't you trust me?

You know I do.

It's just that it's late,

and I'm pretty sure

that this right here is illegal.

Shh. Security will hear us.

Wait a second.

This is risky.

Is there anyone there?

No, but...

Yo, I didn't even bring

a bathing suit.

Who says you need one?

Come on.

You're so dead.

Jules, what are you doing here?

You're supposed to be at school.

- Thinking.

- Thinking?

That's what you're supposed

to be doing at school.

You wanna

tell me about it, baby?

I let you down, Mama.

You've never let me down

one day in your life.

You've made me nothing but proud.

I wanted to get you outta here,

to protect you.

I thought I was the one

supposed to be doing

the protecting around here.

I just wanted to get you

to a better place.

Someplace nicer.

The only place I care about being

is with my children.

I can't think of anyplace nicer.

Now get to school.

All right.

I'm gonna go get my bag.

The end of another

wasted day of un-education.

Are we still meeting tonight?

Our spot?

I don't know.

Are you going to make

it worth my while?

Don't I always?

I just need to pass by the pool

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