breathe. | lamelo ball

five

*unedited*
August 4th, 2018

"Shawtaaayyyyyy," Melo said into the phone with his big ass head filling Rumi's phone screen. It was still early so she was wrapped up in her blanket, the only thing visible being her face blinging due to her nose piercings.

"LaMelo LaFrance, why are you calling me at nine in the morning?"

Melo sucked his teeth, "Chill with the government name. I had training at six but you need to get up cause I'm rey come get you."

Rumi felt excitement bubble in her stomach. She hadn't seen Melo since he left her house last weekend and even though they had been texting and Facetiming every day, she was excited to see his goofy ass. Melo felt the same way. He couldn't stop himself from seeing her today knowing it was a free day. Plus he finally had a break from recording that damn show every day, so he had no intentions of going home today.

Conditioning had started too and on top of that him and Gelo were in the gym outside of practice together. Melo hit the gym by himself a lot too. Any time he needed to not think, which was often. Shit was his dad was a little better, but that's only because he was working out and coming home.

"What should I wear?"

Melo smirked, "Adventure clothes."

Rumi couldn't contain the squeal of delight that exploded from her mouth. She was just telling Melo stories of her adventures in Washington last night. That was caused him to plan this lil day out. As a friend, of course.

"You tired? You bein' quiet," Melo asked Rumi after a few moments of silence. She smiled sleepily, "No, I'm just thinking."

"Thinking about what?" Melo questioned the girl again, getting comfortable because he knew she would beautifully explain whatever it was, even if it was the most boring subject on the planet. She got dreamy at night and Melo loved it.

"This one time we did shrooms for the second time this summer and spent an entire day and night in the wo—"

"Hollup you did what?"

Rumi laughed, "We did mushrooms."

"I know what mushrooms are Rumi. You be on that shit?" Melo's voice was sort of scared. He didn't like tweakers and he didn't really believe her when she had mentioned it the first night they met.

Rumi blew out a sigh, choosing her words carefully. She spoke after a second, "You know how I'm spiritual right?"

"Yeah you be into the chakras and meditating and shit."

"Exactly," she continued. "Psychedelics activate a part in your brain called the pineal gland. It looks like the symbol for the Third Eye, or the Ajna. The pineal gland only activates when you're born, and when you die. Or if you take psychedelics. I'm not really into anything other than shrooms. You know my first love is the Earth so I trust something that comes from it."

"That's why you're a pothead too," Melo joked. Rumi rolled her eyes playfully, "Are you understanding?"

Melo nodded in the camera, licking his lips. He liked that Rumi always made sure he was following her ranting. She seemed to realize her thoughts were all over the place so Melo was glad she pulled it together cause otherwise she would just sound crazy.

"Okay, so we went into the woods while the sun was rising, pitched a tent in our normal place, gave thanks to the Earth, drank the shrooms in some smoothies, lit some incense and meditated on the come up. Usually when people do shrooms you feel really anxious. Not nervous anxious but like, that waiting anxious," Rumi explained deeply, passionate for her beliefs evident in her voice. Melo was hooked, "What do you mean anxious?"