Midweek (not so midweek) update everyone!! I declare this part OPENNNN
**
AMANDA'S POV
(Amanda Aderinsola Akinde)
"And dunk!" Eddy yells for the 100th time as he jumps high in the air and dunks the ball in the net
"At this point you're just showing off because I don't think basketball players actually say 'dunk'" I roll my eyes playfully
"Maybe I am" he chuckles then throws the ball at me
Due to the fact that I wasn't expecting the throw- and also that I may have never actually held a basketball- I don't succeed in catching the ball, instead it slips out of my fingers and bounces towards the audience stairs, I run after it in a pathetic attempt to catch it, how embarrassing
His laughter echoes throughout the gym as I pat the ball in an attempt to bounce it. I stand in front of the net- which is about twice my height by the way- and try to score at least once. Technically he said it wouldn't be dunking considering the height and angle I'm throwing it from- who made the rules of this game?!
The ball doesn't even make it to the net, it hits the pole and if not for the slight duck of my head it would have hit me square in the nose
Eddy walks over, picks the ball and throws it at me. Luckily, this time I catch it, I feel my cheeks swell with pride
"I know you've never played basketball but I didn't think you wouldn't be able to land a single basket" he says with an amused expression
"Uh- Incase you've not noticed, I'm closer to the ground than I am to the net"
He chuckles lowly as he shakes his head
"Technically that's not completely true but even if it was, you're taller than Espn now or are you not?" He takes two long strides then stands beside me shoulder to shoulder- shoulder to head actually considering the heights
He places his hand on my head and traces it to his shoulder, he nods his head
"Espn is a basketball player, I've NEVER been on a court" I throw my hands up in the air
He takes few backward steps then places his two palms separate in front of him for me to pass the ball to him, I throw it into the space between his hands and his grip tightens
"Okay what I want you to do is prevent me from scoring by blocking and collecting the ball" he maintains eye contact to let the message sink
Okay this should be easy
"Piece of cake, let's go" I say with a growing smirk
He bounces the ball on the hard wood floors of the court, maintaining challenging eye contact. He does this thing ballers on TV do- bouncing the ball between his legs then taking it in and out, confusing my eyesight in the process
I move fast towards him to collect the ball, the look on his face shows he wasn't expecting the speed too but he dodges my attack and does a ball fake towards the left causing me to dive and jump in that direction while he simply throws a three pointer forward, a small smile forming on his lips
"You were saying?" He wiggles his eyebrows
"You were just lucky" I say as I adjust my stance and prepare to defend my hoop again
I blamed it on luck a million more times, this boy is unbelievably good Or maybe I'm just unbelievably terrible
"If there was a scoreboard it'll probably be reading team Edmond 75, team Amanda better luck next time" he says with a chuckle as he offers his hand to pull me up from the floor
I let out a tired groan before I lift my hand up to accept his so he drags me off the floor
"You're playing so hard with me when I've never even played this game before" I roll my eyes and dust my uniform
"I went easy on you actually, play with Kylian or Hassan then you'll understand the meaning of playing hard"
"If I was on the same court as Kylian, I wouldn't even dare try to score that guy is SO scary" I shudder at the thought
Kylian is easily the bulkiest guy in school, he's an inch or so shorter than Eddy but every inch of him is pure muscle. I've never seen him smile or talk to anyone other than his teammates, rumors have it that he can chew glass- not rumors really, it's a comment Nancy made the last time we watched their match
"And I'm not scary?" He raises his eyebrows
"You don't look like you can kill a cockroach"
His eyes expand at my unexpected comment before he bursts out in a loud booming laughter, I don't laugh with him I just watch him and memorize how melodic his laughter sounds like. He notices my stare and a wave of uncertainty flashes in his eyes causing him to shield his teeth with his palm as his laughter subsides
"Why do you do that?" I ask keenly watching his expression
"Do what?" He asks as he breaks eye contact and looks at my ear instead of my face
"This" I slap my palm over my mouth and mimic his laughter from before
He smiles nervously but doesn't answer my question
"Is it because of the braces?" I hold his shoulder back so he looks directly at me
"Sorta" he says under his breath
"Your smile looks wonderful" the edge of his lips curl up slightly "even with the braces"
He breaks the eye contact as his cheeks swell up at the compliment, is he blushing?
For someone like Edmond, star basketball player, brains and looks, how does a comment that small make him blush?
"Thanks, I've not gotten that one before" he clears his throat to clear the awkwardness
The awkwardness hits me at the same time as I notice my hand still on his shoulder and how close we were standing. I retract my hand sharply, clearing my throat as someone plunges into the gym with a loud noise. She walks in without noticing our presence till she comes closer and pauses in her tracks. Her lips break into a wide smile
"Don't tell me you chose to practice basketball and you let someone else teach you" she gasps dramatically
"This is definitely my last time" I say with a dry chuckle
"Whyyyyyy" she stumps her little feet on the floor
She makes a brief eye contact with Eddy and I notice how her lips tighten before she returns her gaze to me
"Espn" he says quietly
"Tell your friend I'm not talking to him" Espn says, obviously referring to Eddy but looking at me instead
Eddy sighs beside me as he drags his fingers down his face, massaging his jaw. The bell sounds and for once I'm happy because that's my cue to escape the awkwardness
"Hey- guys- gotta go- Physics class now" I say as I leave the both of them in the middle of the gymnasium, throwing a slight wave their way
Eddy is in the same class as I am, meaning he also has Physics but it definitely doesn't look like he's going to be meeting the first twenty minutes of the class. I sneak a quick final glance at the both of them and I see Edmond speaking words I can't articulate due to distance and Espn folding her arms but obviously listening. My feet step out of the barrier and I hear Espn's laughter break out and Eddy's following
I guess their fights don't last long
I walk out through the balcony and run through the lawn to the academic building, of course I checked to see no one was coming
No one saw, no week of lunch duty
"Stay outside, why are you just coming to my class" the physics teacher's repulsive voice says
"Sir the bell just rang a minute ago" I say, checking my watch
I peer in to see only seven students in class, what is this man's stress?
"For that statement you're staying out of my class" he walks towards the door angrily
"Ha sir-" he slams the door in my face mid sentence
My mouth stays open in utter shock and complete loss of words. The bell was only rang a minute ago! The only students in the class are people like Noel and the rest that don't have practice, all athletes are not even in class!
"What is going on" a voice over my shoulder
I jump in fright, causing my shoulder to slam into his lower jaw, he groans in pain from the impact
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry but don't ever do that again!" I whisper yell so the teacher doesn't hear me
"I definitely won't" he massages his jaw
"Sorry why are you outside and why is the door closed?" He eyes me then eyes the door
"I don't know for the man oh, I came in straight from the gym when I heard the bell and he still locked me out when I was just a minute late" I roll my eyes and swing my fist as if I want it to connect with the door
He hisses
"Teachers will just be passing aggression from their homes to us" he spins around and starts to take long strides towards the exit
"Where are you going?"
"You don't expect me to beg him do you? It's not like I want to have the class anyway" he says with his hands still deep in his pockets as he steps out of the building
"Erling waittt" I call out after him "I'm coming with you" I bolt out through the door right behind him
He slows down his pace letting me catch up as the both of us walk towards the shed beside the cafeteria. The space is roofed with palm fronds and neat brown paving block tiles give the place a sort of traditional but refined look. According to Nana it was a project by a past set of seniors, a project definitely well thought
Erling seats on a three seater wooden bench and just as I'm about to sit on the other edge he stretches his legs fully on it, acting like he didn't know that was where I was going to sit. I move to sit on the black woven chair adjacent instead
"Were you practicing too? Was that why you came late?" I ask him
He hesitates for a moment before he replies
"I was at the pool but I wasn't practicing, not today" he drums on the chair
"Have you been practicing at all?"
He looks at me for a brief moment, smiles then looks forward again
"Nope, not since last year"
"What happened?" I ask quietly
"I was swimming at home then I injured my shoulder from a dive" he fixes his gaze on me then continues "that's the story everybody's heard" he sighs
"But that's not the real story is it?" I move forward in my chair and stair him deep into his brown eyes
His gaze shifts between my two eyes before he lets out another sigh
"There's a story only my dad, Aidan and I know"
"Not even Idara?" I wonder confusingly
"No not even Idara"
I keep staring at him but I don't say anything, he'll tell me if he wants to. I'm sure he feels my gaze boring into the side of his head when he starts speaking
"On a Friday night, 14th July last year, Aidan and I went to a college party. It was fun, majorly because we were the youngest there but we weren't acting like it. It was definitely more wild compared to our highschool parties but we loved it anyway-
We got very drunk that day, I could barely walk but somehow stupid me decided it was okay to have just a little more fun" he closes his eyes tightly as he relishes the memory
I don't encourage him to tell his story faster so he doesn't stop telling it all the same, instead I wait for him to continue
"I was dared to dive from the roof of the pent house into the pool on camera" his eyes pop open, staring ahead with a dead look in his eye
My eyes widen in shock at how stupid that sounded, even in a normal state of mind that would still be regarded at outrageous talk less of a drunk swimmer
"And you did it" I say in a whisper
He looks at me with so much regret in his eyes, I almost feel sorry for the dude. He gives a smile that doesn't reach his eyes as he pulls his leg from he chair and sits up
"I don't even know what made me tell you, what did you use on me?" He looks at me suspiciously
I gasp from the accusation while a mocking chuckle erupts from his lips
"Does your arm still hurt?"
"I clipped my shoulder that day, it was really really bad but it's fully healed now" he swings his arm forward and backward to show me
"You guys have a pool at home right? You can warm up there before we start having official rehearsals for the competition" I suggest
"Definitely" he says with a grin
**
"Toke- Toke- Adetoke" I yell as I try to catch up with the girl with longer strides
She pulls out a bud of her Air pods out to confirm if she actually heard her name
"Toke! Yes I'm calling you" I say as she looks my way
She pauses in her steps as I try to catch up. She continues walking as soon as we are at the same level, not bothering to say a word of greeting
"Is something wrong? I hardly ever see you these days" I ask her
"Uh- I've been busy"
"It's the beginning of the term, what could you have been busy with" I give her a questioning look
"Stuff" she picks up her pace, I pick mine up too
"I noticed you've been avoiding me, did I do something wrong?"
She gives me a quick glance that shows the question caught her off guard but she clears her throat to save herself
"No, like I said I've just been caught up with stuff" she adjusts her grip on her bag strap
I step in front of her causing her to stumble
"What about our library appointments? I've been there three times since we resumed and I've not seen you once"
"We are still doing that?" She asks tilts her head to the side
"Of course! This term is even going to be tougher than the last we need to start early" I shake her shoulders vigorously
She places her hands on my shoulders to stop me from shaking her but I don't miss the small smile that makes it's way to her lips
"Okay okay I get it" she sighs deeply "we start on Monday"
I pump my fists in the air and swat her arm, she winces from the contact
"Now you're talking" I say with a smirk
I hear my mum's horn then look up to see the familiar grey Lexus waiting for me with the driver bobbing her head to music. I lift my imaginary hat to salute Toke as I walk away
"Oh and Khloe sends her greetings" she calls out
I run over to her and grab her in a bone brushing hug
"Give that to her for me" I pull away from the hug then pinch both her cheeks
"Ow" she winces painfully
"Give that to baby Kaiden for me" I turn around and run towards my mum's car, settling into the passengers seat
"Good afternoon mum" I say as I go in for a slight embrace
"Good afternoon sweetie how was school today?" She asks with her usual broad smile
"It was good, eventful if you ask me" I strap my seatbelt on and stretch my hand to grab the pack of chips beside the gear
I look through the window and spot Nana and Erling walking through the silver gates outside
"Se kin se ore e yen niyen, Idara abi kiloruko e?" My mum asks
(Isn't that your friend, Idara or what's her name again?")
She points her index finger at the both of them as Nana slaps the back of his neck
"Yes that's her mum"
"Is that her brother? Won jora (they look alike)" she remarks as she keeps staring at them
"Cousin actually but yeah"
"Ehen"
She winds the car window at my side down and starts to honk the horn
"Jesus mummy what are you doing" my eyelids expand in shock
She waves her hand to call them over and I see as Nana's face lighten up in a bright smile, she starts to walk towards the car giving Erling a pull gesturing him to come with her
"Good afternoon ma" Nana says as she ducks to greet my mum
She uses two of her fingers to hit my forehead playfully. Erling walks in behind her and also ducks his head in greeting
"Good afternoon dear how are you?"
"I'm doing very good ma'am, how are you?"
"Good afternoon ma" Erling finally mutters
My mum pauses a second to take a good look at the person speaking
"Good afternoon-
"Erling" he answers
"Wow Erling" my mum says but keeps staring at him "You look even more handsome up close"
Ehn what am I hearing, mummy please what are you saying?
Poop face on the other hand just smiles confidently, flashing my mum his straight white teeth
"It's nice to meet you" my mum stretches her hand out for a handshake. He accepts it and shakes it firmly, still smiling like a goat
"And it's nice to see you again Idara" my mum says and switches her hand to shake Idara who grips it equally as hard
"Good bye ma, drive safe" Nancy says as my mum starts the engine
They move back from the car and wave while I wave back, Erling sticking his tongue out at me when my mum looks away. The windows wind up as we pull out of the parking lot
"Is that boy in your class?" My mum asks
"Yes he is" I say with a sigh, knowing where she's going
"Hmm you people have fine boys in this your school oh" she smiles then looks at me through the corner of her eye
I laugh then adjust my seat so I can recline while she drives
Well thank God it wasn't Eddy we saw, it would have been a hundred times more embarrassing
*
End of chapter people ð
Erling told Amanda a secret only a few know, do you think he'll regret it?
What do you think of smiles with braces on them? As for me I low-key love it, someone tell Eddy they're actually very cute ð¥º
Y'all know the drill, I'll be coming back tomorrow to edit since it's minutes to twelve atm (PS I've edited all previous chapters)
VOTE AND COMMENT GUYS