Black Ball (Contributors Welcome!)

It was spherical, obsidian-black, the size of a small plum. Hillman polished it within the folds of his shirt. Despite having found it amongst a scattering of rocks and brambles, the ball's surface bore no scratches or scuffs. Instead it shone like a drop of dark translucent liquid.

"Cooool." Hillman palmed the ball. He pushed himself upright and winced. He'd almost forgotten he'd just been thrown down a steep hill.

"Hillman! Hill!"

Hillman crossed his arms and watched Becca pick her way down the incline. It was slow-going for her. Her shoes had thick three-inch heels and she was ever-mindful of how her exertions were affecting her hair. He thought she looked ridiculous--perhaps even more so than he had during his descent.

By the time she reached him she was breathing heavily. Rebecca Parsons. Childhood "friend". She wasn't that bad-looking anymore. He hated the thought, but whenever he cast a furtive look her way it would return like a brick through a window. Hillman had watched her transform from a homely, overweight little brat to a shapely, somewhat attractive brat. Even without the stilts she wore, she stood a few inches taller than him. Her greatest asset however, one that had snared more than a few unsuspecting men, was her hair. Strawberry blonde, long, the strands so fine and lustrous, bound together they made her coif look like molten brass.

At the moment however, Hillman would've liked nothing better than to strangle her with it. The vision must've brought a smile to his face.

"Are you okay?" she said. "Why are you smiling?"

Hillman saw genuine fear in her eyes. Good, he thought, let her sweat a bit. "I've just been hurled down a 30-foot abyss. No, I'm NOT okay."

"I'm so sorry." She reached over a plucked a twig out of his hair. "Brad's such a dork when he's drunk. He went way too far this time."

"I went way too far this time."

As always, it took a few seconds for Becca to register that. She smiled. "C'mon, the party's just heating up." She did not offer her hand however. Contact with another male would certainly result in that male's demise. Although Becca was often amused by Brad's jealous rampages, Hillman didn't think she wanted to see anyone die.

He followed her sullenly up the hill. Her height plus the added elevation placed her ass right in his line of sight.