Racing to You ✓

15 | boundaries

Wait, what?

I glanced around, not seeing anyone looking suspicious.

Deandre stiffened, noticing my irateness. "Are you alright?"

"How did she know?" I murmured to myself.

👩🏽‍🦱 : Huh??

👱🏻‍♀️: I SAW U ON PHOENIXFELIXS LIVE

Ah, PhoenixFelix, our neighbourhood streamer. I scanned the crowd once more before replying, my heart thudding a little harder in my chest.

👱🏻‍♀️: I thought u said u were gonna avoid him

👱🏻‍♀️: he's bad news

👱🏻‍♀️: n not in the hot bad boy way

👱🏻‍♀️: he's actually bad

I gripped my phone harder in my hand as I inspected the screenshot she had sent me. There was no mistaking Deandre standing right in front of me as I was talking half-way, looking a bit too excited.

Yeah, it would be a little tricky to get out of this one.

👩🏽‍🦱 : it's alright, my dad is with me

👱🏻‍♀️: even yulissa is worried

👱🏻‍♀️: weve gotta talk abt this

"Lei?"

I jerked my head up. "Yes!"

Deandre eyed me carefully. "What's wrong?"

I was about to dismiss it, but knowing he would see right through it, I let out exhaled sharply instead. "Joy found out about me being here."

His eyebrows knitted together.

"She saw me on a livestream," I rambled on. "She saw us talking. Dang, that timing is cursed. She rarely watches PhoenixFelix. Did you even see him here? I've been here the whole time and didn't see him. Shoot, if Ida, of all people saw it, it's likely other people from school saw me--"

"Hold up--"

I continued to spiral, my thoughts running ahead miles per second. "Then Twitter will see it. My mom is going to freak. Ohgosh--"

He grabbed my wrist. "Leilani."

I flinched, which made him flinch. He dropped his hand quickly.

Before either of us could say anything, Makua stalked back to us, looking rather grim. Oh no.

"We've got to get back," he told me, waving his phone. "Your māmā is demanding us to."

I groaned and covered my face. "Did she hear about it already?"

Giorgi appeared with Gramps from out of the blue. "Hear about what?"

Makua turned to Giorgi. "I'm so sorry, I've got to get Lani back now. It was nice meeting you, and solid race again, Deandre. Keep it up." 

Deandre visibly took a step back and nodded once. "Thank you, sir." 

After bidding farewell to Gramps and Giorgi, I glanced up at Deandre, as I couldn't meet his piercing eyes. "Bye, Deandre." 

The silence stretched. Finally, he said, "Goodbye, Leilani." 

You know how Sam Smith claims he's Too Good at Goodbyes? Yeah, could never be me. 

***

It had been a while since I had seen Māmā this agitated. 

"I was just trying to enjoy my latté," she fumed as she paced back and forth. "And then I hear our keiki's name being thrown around by a group of school kids next to me in the café." 

Makua and I exchanged a look, not daring to interrupt yet. I pulled on my damp hair -- it was still air-drying from the shower I had nearly scalded myself in. 

"I can't believe this," she said, exasperated, and turned to us. 

"It was bad timing," Makua offered with a wince. 

"No, as in the extent of the badmouthing the boy gets," Māmā snapped. "I get it, you might be wary of a kid with a history of drugs and gangs, but he's clearly trying to get better -- he hasn't relapsed or anything, right? What he needs is more support, not alienation." 

I started, pleasantly surprised. Makua raised his eyebrows. "Oh, we thought you were mad that we got seen with the kid." 

Māmā waved a hand dismissively. "I knew it was bound to happen, with Lani hanging out with him anyways. But I can't believe how horrible people can be to one another." 

"So, what now?" I piped up. "People have seen me with him. On PhoenixFelix's channel. He's got quite a number of viewers and subscribers. You've always lectured me about my reputation, Māmā." 

To my surprise, it was Makua who said, "I would suggest you give him space in school. Hold on, now, I know you'd refute this but hear me out. There would be more eyes on the both of you, and that may stress him out even more. He might feel guilty for 'getting' you into this -- which we know was your choice as well, but other people don't -- and that'll blow things up." 

I hesitated. "But--"

"That may be a good option for now," Māmā added. "Let things die down. We don't want you to get distracted from your studies or your rehearsals because of gossip. Just focus on yourself, yeah?" 

"Wasn't there a cover song you have yet to publish?" Makua pushed. "Why don't you start with that?" 

My phone vibrated aggressively in my pocket and I pulled it out. There was an incoming FaceTime call from the group chat I had with Joy and Yulissa. 

"My friends are calling me," I said tiredly. "I'll be in my room." 

I trudged upstairs and collapsed onto my bed before accepting the call. Joy's scream shot from my phone. 

"Damn it, calm down," Yulissa muttered. 

"Can you blame me?" Joy fired back. "Lani has been talking to Williams. After everything we said about staying away." 

I massaged my temples. "Call me names, but what's done is done." 

"Right, we should move onto damage control now," Joy insisted. "Do your parents know?" 

"Yeah, you're a bit more freaked out than them, though," I half-joked. 

"What did they say?" Yulissa asked. 

"They told me to give him space so the gossip dies down for now. And focus on myself."

"As you should," Joy scoffed. "It's alright. Yulissa and I will protect you from rumour-mongers." 

Yulissa sighed. "Just stick with us until the hols." 

Joy nodded. "Hockey season is picking up soon too, so hopefully people will talk about that."

"Alright," I gave in, defeated. "No Deandre until the hols." 

"How did you even connect with him, though?" Joy asked. "Are you safe? Being blackmailed? You know you can talk to us."

I chuckled, finding humour in the ridiculousness. 

"It's the Lani charm, Joy," Yulissa said matter-of-factly. "We should let her rest. Operation ProtectLani will take place at the front doors of school on Monday."  

"Lie low this weekend, ma'am," Joy instructed as she saluted. "I've actually got to go for my counselling appointment soon. Sorry girls." 

"All good, I think Imma knock out anyways," I yawned. 

"Well, see you all on Monday," Yulissa concluded before the call ended. 

I shut my phone in my bedside drawer firmly and closed my eyes. I consciously slowed my breathing and picturing a black hole in my mind to slow the thoughts and my heart. I welcomed sleep with open arms, ignoring the impending hell Monday was going to bring.