Sincerely, Vantae

TENTH GRADE

Subject: Basketball tryouts.

I think I'm going to try out for the practice squad next week. If I get selected, they say I won't be eligible to play varsity until my junior year. You think I'll make the cut?

Sincerely, VANTAE

Subject: Re: Basketball tryouts.

Yeah. From what I recall, you're pretty good, although I think your ego is already big enough. Do you really need any more attention from the girls at our school? ... You may also have to explain those two tattoos you have on your arm when you get your uniform. (Still can't believe your mom took you, a minor, to get them...)

Wait a minute...Isn't the reading of your dad's will today? (It's rude to email during stuff like that...)

Hoping you're okay, LILI

Subject: Re: Re: Basketball tryouts.

I already told the coach I have tattoos. He said that if I'm any good, most people won't care, and that I wouldn't be the first high school basketball player to have tattoos. (I still can't believe that she acknowledges she's a "mom.")

My dad's will reading is over. (It's rude to leave your only son and cheat on your wife...)

I'm more than okay.

Sincerely, VANTAE

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Basketball tryouts.

Where are you?

Still hoping you're okay, LILI

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Basketball Tryouts

In my room.

I told you I was okay already. (Trust me.)

Sincerely, VANTAE

I put my phone on silent and leaned back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Today had been one of the worst days of my life, so I was lining up things to make tomorrow better: I was going to have sex after school with my girlfriend if she wasn't still upset with me for not telling her why I hadn't been to school for the past three days. (I refused to talk about my family with anyone.) I was also going to go back to my favorite sketchy tattoo parlor and get another tattoo on the inside of my arm—some type of tree so I could add onto it for years to come. Then, I'd probably need to spend some time with Lili at the end of the day. Being around her always made things better for some reason.

I grabbed my white earbuds from the nightstand and placed them into my ears, shutting my eyes and drifting to sleep.

Or, so I thought.

Just as my favorite album began to play, one of the earbuds was ripped from my ear, and a blur of pink and purple crawled over me and took over the left side of my bed.

Lili.

"What the hell are you doing?" I narrowed my eyes at her. "Did my mom let you in?"

"You really think that?" She dangled a silver bracelet in front of my face. "I told you I made a copy of your house key in shop class months ago. Your mom is passed out on the couch..."

"Of course she is..." I said. "Well, I need to be alone so I can think. So, no offense, but I don't really want your goddamn company right now, and since you had to literally break into my house to even see me, I'm going to ask you to leave."

"Okay." She stared at me, blinking. Then she put my left earbud into her ear and reclined against my pillows.

"Did you hear what I said, lili? Do I need to repeat it?"

"I heard you perfectly," she said, motioning for me to lie back down next to her. "You said you were going to ask me to leave because you don't want my company. So, when you actually ask me to leave, I will..."

Her eyes met mine and I knew she could tell that I was far from okay, that I was an emotional wreck today, and that I did really want her to stay.

Instead of fighting the facts, I lay next to her and put the other earbud in my right ear. "You being here today and seeing me like this didn't happen."

"It never does..."

......

i don't actually know why i picked this kind of genre... two bffs who's really obsess with sex but at the same time i find my work pretty wholesome knowing that they're both open minded... if i ever made you uncomfortable i apologize...i will try my best to write a soft and clean one when my brain starts to bake another cake again!!toodles....