Capture The Moment

Chapter 18

Jalen POV
I was finally back from the hospital and it turns out I had a stomach infection. They gave me medicine and made sure I had no larger issues in my stomach. I was now heading to Laylah's place with a pair of clothes for the next two days and extra since I might take multiple showers. You know, hygiene. Anyways, Laylah wanted me to stay with her since she was worried I wouldn't take care of myself. Like fam, I am not 12 anymore. I might need my mom but I can take care of myself.  I pulled up at the building and saw a familiar car, but I couldn't tell whose it was. A lot of people have the same car.
I made my way to Laylah's penthouse door and knocked on it. She took quite the time but eventually opened it.
"He- Ceedee?" Why was he here and answering her door.
"Hey Jalen, long time no see. Come on in," he said, sticking his hand out so I can dap him up. I smacked his hand out of my way and looked around for Laylah putting my duffel bag to the side.
"Laylah, where you at?" I yelled.
"Kitchen, come here," she yelled back.
"Gril, what Ceedee doin here," I quickly asked.
"He's here to apologize, but before you kick him out. I don't care bout him anymore cause I have moved on," she explained.
"Well that's... healthy." Dang she really moved on. She never mentions him as an issue or as a comparison, he's just a human to her.
"I guess, how's your stomach, you hungry," she asked. I got an idea.
"My stomach hurts and yes I am. Whatcha making?"
"Noodles, go lay down on the couch. And can you pleaaseee act like my boyfriend and tell Ceedee to leave. Pretty please," she begged.
"Not really, he gon tell people," I explained. If he wasn't a big name in the league then I would've but I got a reputation to uphold here.
"Fine just go tell him to leave and lay down," she instructed. I walked over to the living room and saw Ceedee sitting on his phone. Ah, poor Ceedee, sike I lied, Laylah is gon be mines.
"Ceedee, she said to leave and move ima lay down my stomach hurts," I demanded.
"Aight bye, Hurts be ready when we play y'all. Y'all gon lose. You don't know bout them, Cowboys." He practically threatened like I cared.
"Ok and. You don't know bout them Eagles but that ain't a problem. Now leave lemme sleep," I demanded. He left and closed the door behind him which I got up to lock. Some people just can't take a no for an answer and I ain't tryna be a victim.
"Alright Hurts, here are your noodles, you need anything else?"
"Come sit with me, I'm lonely," I whined like a little baby.
"You are such a baby, but just for my sanity I will sit with you."
"Yes!" I exclaimed like a child who won his first game. "I'm bout to 'can you take care of me' into yo heart." I whispered.
"I heard that and now it won't work."
"Watch, it already has and tomorrow we gotta get the stuff ready. We have the entire day off. When yo school start?" I asked.
"September 7th," she replied.
"Nicee, I expect you to be in Atlanta on Sunday."
"We'll see. Only cause it's med school I do not want to be behind."
"I was joking, you just have to watch," I instructed.
"And I will, now eat," she replied. She's like the mom of the group, but also very dumb and smart at the same time. You just never know with this girl, that's the best part.
"I'm done. Now I'm bored," I complained.
"You are such a child. Let's watch a movie," she said. Hmm, I ain't think of that. But no one gotta know.
"Let's watch the second conjuring," I said.
"Aight I don't even remember the first one but it's whatever," Laylah replied, grabbing the remote to the TV. She put the movie on, on Netflix and it began with the weirdest stuff. Eventually the movie explained the background story and said it was based on true events, oh sh*t.
"Jalen I swear to god if you get scared tonight," Laylah threatened as she watched the movie.
"Why would I get scared," I questioned.
"Because you are a giant child," wow what a great reason.
"Nah Harris, you better not get scared and hug me and hide behind me and stuff," I joked.
"Well Hurts if I were to get scared I wouldn't even touch you. I would hide under this blanket," She joked back, well I was hoping it was a joke.
"Don't make me smickity smack yo ass. Bubble gum looking."
"Wow you are so mean. I don't like you anymore," Laylah said, actually getting mad.
"Aww I'm sorry I was joking." I apologized while hugging her. "We gotta get the stuff ready for tomorrow. I'll go grab the groceries if you need me to," I insisted.
"No, I already did it," she avoided my apology. She was being hella dry cause I was being an ass.
"I won't smack you, I was joking,"
"I don't carrrreee," she replied, getting up.
"Where you going?"
"Sleep."
"Hold up, I'm coming. Am I still allowed in your bed?"
"Maybe come and find out," she replied. What is happening? If she ain't bipolar I don't know what is- Kanye. I grabbed my bed and went upstairs to Layah's room. She was currently in the bathroom so I started playing music. I hate being bored, like what am I supposed to do? But first I gotta figure out how to make Laylah more than a friend. I feel like we get somewhere I get right back to the just friends stage. I really gotta figure this out.
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Laylah POV
Jalen was being a complete ass, but did I still like him, yes. He was just training to be his funny self but went a little too far.
"Laylah, I'm sorry I was joking." Jalen apologized as I stepped out of the bathroom.
"It's fine. Just don't be an idiot again. Cause you tend to be one."
"Woowww, now you're being mean. I'm kidding, don't cry. But, what do you plan on doing tomorrow?" Jalen asked.
"I'll probably clean the house. We gotta make some food and you gotta grab some drinks." I responded.
"Well I'll help you clean, cook, and I'll grab cans of soda from Walmart."
"Okay, if you insist." I kept my responses simple, but there was an awkward tension. Jalen wanted to say something, but why won't he say it? "You have something to say don't you?" I asked, looking over at him for the first time since the little fight on the couch.
"I mean yeah, but I don't know if I want to say it," he responded.
"Look, we are best friends right? So that means no secrets and that's an unwritten rule you should know."
"Okay fine, I'm not the one to express my feelings with anyone but, we both like each other. Whenever we get more than friendly we go right back to just friends. What is going on with us?" He asked. Now facing the other side of the bed.
"Jalen, you know I like you. The future is now up to you." I told him. I was simply hinting that I am waiting for him to ask me out. But he has yet to do that.
"Goodnight, Lay," Jalen said.
"Goodnight J." This boy is something else.
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*the morning*
"Laylah you still aren't awake?" Jalen woke me up.
"No," I responded, turning around and looking at my phone to see the time. It was 9 am.
"I got the soda, I got like 4 boxes full of cans so you'll have extra. Also I have something for you, so hurry up and come," he said leaving. Ooo a surprise, I love surprises. As long as they are good which normally they are. Hopefully it was food, if Jalen really knew me he would know I love food. Like the way to my heart is literally food.
I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. I quickly showered and put some clothes on. I wore a Penn State football t-shirt. I know I go to UPenn but growing up I was a huge Penn State fan during college football. But the Eagles were always my number one priority even though Tobias and I played basketball growing up.
I made my way downstairs with some wet hair. My hair is annoying sometimes, it is always tangly and can't make up its mind between, curly, straight, or wavy. Like it's everything at the same time.
"Well that sure is something," Jalen said.
"What do you mean?" I asked even though I think I knew what he meant. Jalen went to college at Alabama then transferred to Oklahoma to increase his chances to make the NFL and have a better career.
"You know, I went to Oklahoma and Alabama so therefore Penn State ain't it," He explained.
"Nah because Penn State is exactly it. You tweakin." Jalen started laughing at me not liking his teams. Like ok and Oklahoma is not my place and neither is Alabama, just gotta learn to accept it. "What is my surprise," I asked, sounding like a little kid.
"Go check the living room table," he instructed with a smile on his face. I walked towards the living room and saw 2 boxes. I opened the bigger one first which had a bouquet of roses in it. They were my favorite flower. It also had a teddy bear with a card that wrote sorry in it. Damn, this dude really felt bad.
"I forgive you," I said, giving him a hug. He hugged me back and kissed my forehead, mannnn this man.
"Go open the second box, shortcake." That was a new nickname.
"I'm 5'8, sir I need you to acknowledge my height correctly," I joked.
"Fine, just open the second box."
"Ooo, food. You got me chocolate waffles from IHOP. Ooo and cheesesteaks for lunch. Those are for the both of us though," I jumped with joy grabbing the roses. I hugged Jalen again watching him smile out of joy. I put the roses in a vase and Jalen brought the food over the kitchen island.
"Eat up, so we can clean and cook. And for tonight what we making," Jalen asked, stuffing his food with some waffles he bought for himself as well.
"I was thinking we can make some bread and dip and nachos. We can put out some chips, fries, cheese platter, and some garlic knots. I'll make some Caprese Salad bites," I told Jalen. "For dinner we can make pasta, pizza, and mac and cheese. For dessert I bought 3 apple pies and 3 tubs of vanilla ice cream to eat with it."
"Daaamnn, that is a lot. I'm here to help. But see that's yo problem, apple pie with ice cream," Jalen laughed. He knew that it tasted good. But now it was time to get to work and make sure this little celebration is great for Matisse and Paris and all our guests.

A/n: almost 2000 words