Hi, everyone! This is to make up for not posting last week on time. I hope everyone has been enjoying the story so far, and have a great day or night!
At the end of the day, I found Evvie and Haven standing at my locker, both of them trying their best to open up my locker. I don’t know why Haven was pretending she was that dumb. She figured out the code to my locker on the third day of last year.
“What are you guys doing?” I asked, throwing my backpack down on the floor next to me. Sam, who had moved his locker space about three times now, looked at it for a few seconds before returning to slamming his locker shut and then giving me a quick wave.
Evvie gave me a friendly smile. “Nothing,”
“Did you...leave something in my locker or something?”
Haven finally got my locker unlocked, and she made a satisfied noise before turning around to face me. “Member that little teddy bear I gave you in 9th grade?”
The teddy bear.
Did she give me a teddy bear?
Oh crap. I should’ve given that to Emmanuel.
Maybe I hesitated for too long, but Haven didn’t seem to mind too much. “I was just wanting to know if you still had it or not.”
I smiled, moving past the two of them to get into my locker. The second I set my hand on the shelf that my dad always made sure I at least had in my locker (perfectly fitting everything I would need for the year and a little box cabinet for “when I’m in the mood.” But typically, I just shoved anything I didn’t need in there. I remembered the teddy bear Haven was talking about.
It was November, a few weeks before people would begin expecting to be asked for the Winter Formal. Haven had pulled me away from everyone I typically sat with, and we went outside to these rocks where people mostly went to smoke, make out, or both. But it had always been a nice area, with fresh gardens and a small flowing water system, it was always nice to see.
Haven pushed her body next to mine, her face buried into my coat. I would have felt awkward from the experience, but it was freezing cold outside, and she was wearing her cheer uniform, which didn’t give much warmth at all. “I can’t believe we’re almost done with the school year,” she said, her voice muffled in my thick coat.
I nodded, watching as a sketchy-looking guy walked down the back road behind EastLand, smoking a large cigar. “I know,” I told her. “Are you nervous about trying out for captain?”
There was no need to look down; I already knew Haven was smiling to herself. “Not really,” she said. “I mean, everyone on the team loves me, and Coach Laura knows I work my butt off. There’s no reason for me not to get it.”721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt5lfSQmHO
“Unless we have some prodigy come into this school and wipe out the entire competition,” I replied.
Haven made a shocked sound, hitting my shoulder as I began laughing. “Whose side are you on, jerk?!"
“I’m sorry,” I told her. She shrugged, wrapping her hands around my arm. After a moment of silence, I started to talk again. The wind was blowing in my face, probably ruining how both of us looked, but it really didn’t matter too much at that moment. “You seem like something is on your mind.” I wrapped an arm around her, feeling a pang in my chest for doing this. “Care to elaborate?”
Haven sighed, and then she got off of me, straightening her back. I moved my eyes up and down as I watched her, trying to see if there was still a bit of me that could be interested in her. Nothing romantic popped into my mind, other than the fact that her cheerleading uniform looked good on her. “I wanted to give you something.”
“Okay?”
Haven reached the pocket of her cheerleading jacket, slowly pulling out something she was holding like a prize. I watched her curiously, wondering what on Earth she could possibly be giving me. As it turned out, Haven was holding a small black teddy bear in her hands, the teddy bear holding a baby heart in its.
“I thought you would like it,” she said. “I...was at the store when I just saw this and thought of you, Ezie. Really. I would have bought a bigger one, but that’s nothing close to what my budget was at all for boyfriends. So..behold! Baby Ezra.”
I smiled. “That’s really sweet, Haven. Thank you.”
I never noticed it before, but I remembered her practically pushing the small teddy bear into my hands. The teddy bear only fits in the palm of my hand. “It’s nothing big,” Haven shrugged, falling back into where she was sitting.
Haven and I were silent for a moment before I finally asked a question. “May I ask why a teddy bear made you think of me?”
My girlfriend had perked up, a look like she had almost forgotten I was even there. “Oh, yeah!” she exclaimed. She flipped her dark brown hair behind her back before she held her hands out, ready to begin explaining. “I always think of you like a teddy bear because...because you’ve always been huge.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Oh, oh no! Not like that! Your body is-” Haven scratched her head. “I meant that you were tall. Tall, like how those big teddy bears are. That’s what I meant. Ignoring that...you’ve been a really big supporter, and you’re really sweet and huggable like a teddy bear is. I also just kinda thought it was a cute pet name.”
More pet names.
I forced a smile onto my face, putting the small teddy bear into one of my coat pockets. “Thank you so much, Haven. I’m sorry that I didn’t buy you anything.”
Haven pulled herself onto me again, and without even meaning to, I wrapped my arm around her. She kissed the top of my cheek before she had started to talk again. “It’s no big deal,” she said. Then I knew that she had started to smile. “Teddy bear.”
I snapped my fingers, both Haven and Evvie glancing over to me. “I know where it is!” I exclaimed. “Give me until tomorrow to find it, alright? I promise you, I have it.”
Haven nodded. “Okay.”
I closed my locker again, turning my head to where the science wing leads out to. He was probably home, getting prepared to post the smartest things on Instagram and Snapchat. “Do you need it back, Haven?”721Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloLldkaErA
Haven, who was digging in her pockets for something, shook her head, dark brown hair falling over her face. “I’m not really sure. I mean...you do know it wasn’t for you, right?”
I turned my body to face her. “Yeah?”
She shrugged, her cheeks clear with blush. “Alright, cool. So...just give it back to me when you can. Or tell me you gave it to your little brother. Either excuse works, really.” She was blushing like crazy.
“Alright,” I smiled.
Evvie, who probably didn’t know how much information I now did, cleared her throat. “I was also called to make you go to someone...so I’ll need you to walk straight, turn to the left, and sit down.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Okay...who asked you to do that?”
“I can’t tell you that,” Evvie said. I was more than surprised she was keeping a straight face. When I was thirteen, she wanted to throw a birthday party for me (secretly making a rainbow slice for me because she thought it would make me “feel better.” But throughout the two weeks, she and everyone else was trying to keep it a secret, she would continue to giggle every time I mentioned my birthday. “That ruins the fun.”
Haven looked over to Evvie, her eyes wide. “Oh, wait. Is it-” Evvie snapped at her to stop her from speaking. “Geez, okay. I’ll ask you later.”
“Can I ask when this was planned?” I pressed, checking the time on my phone. It was almost 3:40, meaning I had another twenty minutes before Evelyn would get out of basketball practice. I guess I would have time.
Evvie shrugged. “I think...five in the morning, maybe?”
“Who calls at five in the morning?”
Evvie smiled. “The person who really needs to have a conversation.”
Haven grabbed my arm, and she began to pull me along the hallway. “Then why are we stalling?” she raised her voice, which was filled with excitement. “That phone call was serious, Ezra Gatley. And that person was-oh it was so funny. It’s important, trust me.”
I keep on looking at the two of them. Does anyone seriously ever tell me anything this important?”
“Look,” I said. “I’m sure they can text me, alright? I just wanna sit in the gym and get my homework done.”
Evvie shrugged. “Homework can wait. I’ll send you the answers.”
“But-”
Both Evvie and Haven had started walking in front of me, neither one of them turning back to see if I was following. Honestly, I could just walk out of the door now. Make up some excuse that I didn’t feel well and ignore confrontation, but something told me that wasn’t the smartest plan. For whatever reason, Evvie and Haven’s excitement was affecting the blood in my veins, pushing me on.
I turned down the hallway that led to the cafeteria a few moments after I lost track of Haven, expecting to see the football guys tricking me into some prank. But instead, I was surprised by Delcan and Adam standing next to each other.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Delcan so nervous. He was fidgeting with his hands while complaining to Adam about something, while running his hands through his hair, ruining how it typically stuck up. Adam, on the other hand, seemed like he would rather be dealing with anything else at the moment.
“Hey, man,” Adam called, waving a hand over to us. I furrowed my eyebrows. Who else would he be talking to?
I continued to walk until I was in perfect alignment with Evvie and Haven. “What’s up?” I asked, my eyes instantly going to Delcan. He was wearing that blue sweatshirt again, with black skinny jeans that just screamed I hate today.
Adam hit Delcan with his shoulder. “Delcan’s got something to tell you.”
“Okay,” I said.
Delcan, who’s skin complexion looked close to his sister’s, bit his lip. “I thought you would…”
“Me?”
Delcan nodded slowly. “Yup.”
I heard Evvie and Haven giggle excessively.
Adam glared at Delcan before he turned his body to face me. “I guess I have something to tell you.”
This is so weird. “Okay?”
“Would you...um, like to go-Jesus this is so weird. Would you like to go on a date with Delcan?”
A date?
The realization just hit me that the closest thing we’ve had to a date was when Delcan’s parents weren’t home for twenty minutes, or when I was helping him understand the math homework before he finally just hacked into getting the answers.
And on top of all of that, I couldn’t really think of how it would look in public. There was already three sets of eyes watching me for an answer now...I don’t know if I could handle being around him while others can make their own assumptions. I liked Delcan, yes, but others seeing us worried me.
Then again, it’s not like my dad had spies watching me.
At least, I hope they don’t.
“Where?” I asked. My voice cracked, and I winced.
Delcan shrugged. His lips were pressed together, a sign he was either nervous, or he wasn’t going to say what was on his mind. I watched him for a few more seconds before Adam started to speak again. “The old movie theater near the ice cream shop that just got closed down.”
I didn’t even know we had an old theater.
“It’s downtown,” Adam explained. I looked at Delcan as he rolled his eyes. “Near Paris Heights.”
And that is why I’ve never heard of it.
Paris Heights was where Oakwood students typically lived. It’s not a good neighborhood, and I’d been told about the drug dealing and murder that happens there. Of course, that was from my dad, so I have no clue that's facts. Paris Heights was also around large businesses- owned by primarily black people - all of which I’ve never been to.
“Oh, okay,” I said.
Adam continued speaking for Delcan because I’m positive he didn’t know that much about Paris Heights. “There’s...this BBQ place that’s pretty good, I guess. Plus, Delcan knows the area well.”
“How?” Evvie asked from behind me.
Delcan looked at her like she was an idiot. “I used to live there,” he told me.
He lived there? “Why?” I asked, my voice coming out high. Hopefully, he doesn’t know how much I believe my dad's words on Paris Heights.
“Because,” Delcan said. He was finally talking. “My mom and dad were poor people who didn’t have too much money to raise two children. We moved when I turned twelve.”
I guess there were things I didn’t know about him.
“You’ll learn all about it if you accept-“
“Oh! What is happening?!” I turned my head to see Evelyn running over to us, still wearing her basketball jersey and a pair of athletic shorts. Adam covered his face. She gave Delcan some type of look before interlocking her arm in mine. “Hi, Ezie.”
“Hey,” I told her. “We can do this later.”
Evelyn’s smile faded. “Do what later?” She turned her head to look at Delcan, and then to Adam. She was still watching Adam when she started speaking. “What happened?”
“Adam is asking Ezra out,” Haven giggled.
Evelyn shrugged, her arms now wrapped around me. I glared at Haven. “I always liked you two together,” she looked up at me, crossing her fingers. Behind her smile, I knew for a fact she wasn’t actually serious. “Bromance.”
“Stop it,” I said.
Evelyn put her head back into my shoulder. “No,” she said. Evelyn had calmed down after leaving the house, but she was practically gluing herself to me each time we were in the same room. When I playfully hit her head, she laughed. “Love you,” she said.
“Cute,” Delcan announced. “But back to me, the cuter one.”
“Both of you are cute in your own ways,” I declared, smiling as my sister hit my arm.
Adam was looking behind him, at the banner that reminded us everything matters! “I should probably go,” he said. Adam turned his head back, keeping his eyes on Delcan. “Can I leave?”
Delcan shook his head. “No.”
“Seriously, man, I have things to do,” Adam complained. Like what I wanted to ask. Adam doesn’t try out for basketball, regardless of how many people beg him to due to his “height”. Evelyn’s head popped up, and she began chewing on her lip.
Delcan smiled. “Too bad.”
“Ez,” Evelyn said. “We have to go, member? Dad wanted us to be home early.”
“No, he didn’t,” I told her. She pouted. “That was Monday.”
Evvie, who had made her way next to me, placed her hand over her mouth. “No ⟴ way,” she said. When Delcan turned his attention to her, she began speaking in Spanish (I’m learning that the two of them love speaking in Spanish when they think I don’t understand something). “¿Ellos estan saliendo?”
Delcan shrugged.
And then there was an awkward moment of silence for thirty-one seconds.
I cleared my throat. “I’ll text you, Delcan,” I said, turning my back. Evelyn seemed surprised by my gesture, but she still had her arm locked with mine. “Do you know where Eric is?”
“Uh-no,” Haven said, holding up her pointer finger. “I did not make an excuse about missing half of practice for this. I came here for a yes or no answer, Ezra Ace.”
I shrugged. “I guess you wasted your time, then.”
Delcan chucked to himself, his arms crossed over his chest. “It seems like it, Ezra.”
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