Head Over Sneakers | on hold

[ 6 ]

BEFORE DEVON COULD enter his side of the car, I masked the smile that dared to etch across my lips.
   Sliding onto the seat smoothly, Devon glanced towards me, I could feel his eyes linger on me but I refused to return a glance. I agreed to allow him to 'woo' me, but now that I had realised what I had done, I grew awkward and now unsure how to function.
   "So—..." I trailed off, my fingers pulling the fabric of my jumper down, fiddling with a loose thread, basically doing anything to distract myself from the awkwardness of the situation. I prayed he wouldn't catch on to the change in atmosphere, but it was hard since my usual loud mouth had been trapped shut.
   Devon simply chuckled and I couldn't help but scoff. He was always confident and he was always able to keep a cool, calm composure and I hated that about him too. If he ever felt anything less than confident, he certainly didn't show it.
   "What happened, ace? Have I already rendered you speechless?"
   Grumbling under my breath, I crossed my arms over my chest. "You wish, hunters."
   He flashed me his signature 'Devon Hunters' grin: the kind of grin that people melted over because he was simply just that charming. He started the engine and drove.
   I sucked in a breath of air and watched the scenery pass by, trying to focus on anything but the grinding devil who was sat beside me. "How have you been?"
   A puzzled look began to form.
   "Good." I gave him a short answer. Not because I wanted to, but because I'd never really been asked 'How have you been?' by him.
   In all the years I'd known Devon, it was always him tormenting me, playing childish pranks or doing absolutely anything he possibly could do to rile me up, but he never asked such a simple question like that. It seemed almost ridiculous that I was pondering over it so much.
   How have you been? It felt as though those words didn't have any business coming from his mouth, but they did and I decided to elaborate. I grew curious to see the further changes I'd be seeing in Devon.
   "...I've been taking part in track competitions." I started and Devon's brow rose by a fraction, though he concealed it almost instantly and the right side of his lips curled upwards into a smirk.
   It wasn't the mischievous kind, not the 'Devin Hunters' kind either, but more of a smile, like he was content with the fact I was elaborating further.
   "I also think I know what I want to do it in the future." I smiled a little, excited for what the future may hold. "Sports therapy." I told him.
   Devon nodded, like he wasn't surprised. "Yeah, Mike told me, it's nice you know what you want to do. I can definitely see you being one, too."
   I turned to him this time and wondered why Mike told him.
   "He did?" I asked and Devon glanced at me briefly, his dark eyes softening as he did so.
   "Yeah, I asked."
   With a teasing look, I nudged him.  
   "You like me a lot, huh?" I smirked.
   Devon rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his dark locks. In a voice no louder than a whisper he replied. "You have no idea."
    My cheeks flushed at his words but I didn't press on the matter, simply because I wasn't expecting him to reply.
   If anything, I thought he'd laugh or nudge me back or crack a joke...but he did neither of those things and I felt slightly awkward all over again.
   Ignoring the way the conversation had taken a turn from comfortable and back to awkward, I rested my head back against the cushion of the seat and sunk into the material, wishing I could eject myself from the passenger seat of Devon's car.
   Suddenly, finally, Devon took a turn into the parking lot and concentrated on finding a suitable place to park up.  
   In doing so, I readied myself to jump out and run as soon as the car had come to a halt.
   The car stopped and I grabbed my bag, swerving round to click the red button to my left that was keeping my seat belt locked in place.
   'Click' Nothing.
   'Click, Click, Click, Click.' The belt was still strapped tightly across my body.
   How Embarrassing! I internally screamed at myself, leaning my head forward so that my brown locks would pool around my face, allowing me to avoid making eye contact with Devon.
   That, however, didn't do much good as I could feel the amusement radiating off of him: it was almost as strong as his cologne.
   Before I could utter a word, he unclipped his own belt which flew back to its place with ease and I rolled my eyes.
   Show off.
   He exited his side of the car and jogged around the front.
   Now, he was standing by my side of the car, reaching forward to open the door.
   As he did so, a breeze bit the right side of my body, until Devon leaned in and his body heat began to battle away the chilly breeze. "Do you mind?" He gestured to the seat belt and I nodded.
   It's not a big deal. I yelled at myself and the next thing I knew, he was reaching over me to click the button. He was inches away at this point and I couldn't help but stare.
   His brown eyes found my own and then he flashed a smirk. This time, it was the 'Devon Hunters' kind.
   With ease, he clicked the button and the belt retracted to its rightful place.
   "That was cliché. Way too cliché." I murmured in disbelief...but then I laughed and Devon chuckled, our laugher filling the awkward silence.

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