breathe. | lamelo ball

eight

just a cute little filler chapter

August 17th, 2018

The thud of the ball hitting the wood had filled Rumi's ears for two hours now. She paid it no mind, racking her brain as she solved the math problems that had been assigned to her and Melo. They had done this every day since school started. Rumi would go home and nap after school, Melo would come get her after practice and she would do homework while he shot around to take his mind off things.

The season with Chino was starting soon and he needed to win the State championship or this would've all been for nothing. He could've went to Lithuania with Gelo but instead he chose to stay home and at least finish his senior year of high school, resulting in Gelo staying at UCLA. Melo had shaken things up for him and his brother, and he had to win. Gelo's future seemed kind of undecided at the moment and it put stress on Melo to figure out his as soon as possible.

Rumi quickly learned that being on the court was like mediation for Melo. She enjoyed the quiet and glancing up from whatever she was doing to watch him for a moment. When Melo got bored or wanted to take a break he would saunter over and throw his sweaty ass arm around her just to watch Rumi's nose scrunch cutely.

Melo actually liked having Rumi in the gym with him. She didn't bother him unless he asked her to rebound for him. Rumi took the small job so seriously and Melo found it adorable. When he had asked her why last week she exclaimed, "If I don't take it seriously your goofy ass won't!"

Melo smiled at the memory as he lifted his arms and effortlessly threw another shot into the basket.

She knew him too well already.

He glanced over, watching her chew on a pencil as her eyebrows furrowed deeply. It was her thinking face. He walked over and sat down on the bleachers, mushing her head lightly.

She clicked her tongue in annoyance, "I wish you would not do that."

"That's why I do it."

Rumi rolled her eyes, sliding the notebook towards him. She used the pencil to point at the paper, "Here's your homework answers, Your Highness."

"Bro we're in the same class, you woulda had to do it anyway," Melo laughed at her dramatics. Rumi stifled a smile, "Still! You spoiled brat. I'm going to have to explain how I got the answers."

Melo whipped out his phone to snap a pic of the paper as he asked, "Why is that?"

She groaned and slapped her hand to her face, "Because Melo, you have to learn the content."

"Why is that?"

"So you can graduate!" Rumi laughed as she pushed his shoulder hard. He smirked cheekily, "Okay, little tutor."

The girl scoffed at her best friend, "Yeah right. You'd be a lost cause to everyone else."

Melo jabbed her side with his long finger making Rumi giggle cutely. He jabbed her again, "You sound like Courtney. Always tryna make a joke about my intelligence."

"You're smart as hell Melo, you're just lazy," Rumi revealed with a breathy laugh while smacking his hands away so he would stop assaulting her ribs.

Rumi started putting her things away since she was finished while Melo took a picture of the empty gym. As he typed a caption Rumi whined, "I'm hunrgryyy."

Melo chuckled and posted it before turning to the small girl beside him, "Let me shoot like 15 more and we'll go getchu some food shawty."

Rumi's eyes lit up, "Let me play!"