Her and the Basketball Champion

chapter 11

I peek out of the window next to the front door, noticing there's no one outside. I let out a breath and move to open the door, scurrying outside with my head bent into my chest. 

I use the tip of my forefinger to lift open the lid to the green bin and swing over the bag in my left hand, emptying the contents. 

I quickly run back inside and push the door closed with my back.

That was hard work. 

My mum told me to take the recycling bin out today and I couldn't be bothered to put on my hijab for only a few seconds, so I just legged it, hoping that no one saw me with my hair out. 

The struggles of being a hijabi.

It's been a few days since the 'incident' at the Cafe, and my pains were virtually nonexistent now which is a relief because I don't know how long I could have coped in bed. Don't get me wrong, I love my bed but after spending two whole days in it, it was starting to get really boring.

I missed a few days of school so I just emailed my teachers about the work and they sent over the relevant power points, which I went over, making notes as I went along. 

Me and Lily are meeting up for a shopping date in twenty minutes and I only got out of bed half an hour ago, so I dump the reusable bin bag back into it's slot next to the dishwasher in the kitchen, and run upstairs, swiping through the clothes in my wardrobe so I can pick out a half decent outfit. 

I opt for a green sweater and off black baggy boyfriend jeans, pairing it up with my docs and a cream coloured scarf. 

I unplug my phone from it's charging spot next to my bed and open up Whatsapp, seeing a message from Lily telling me she'll be here in 10. 

I don't need to take a bag with me, since my wallet is basically my phone, and I start to head downstairs, putting my phone in my back pocket as I make my way down the stairs. 

I go into the kitchen and open up the 'secret' cupboard, which is basically a very much visible cupboard which sits higher than the rest. My mum stashes biscuits and extra boxes of food and packets of pasta up there, so we don't run out. It's not secret at all, but we pretend to act like it is, just to appease her. She's not stupid though.

I grab a breakfast bar and munch on it whilst scrolling through instagram seeing a message notification from a few days ago. 

It's a message request from Jonas. I completely forgot to accept his follow request, and he probably thinks I'm trying to avoid him. 

I am actually. He seems to just be popping up everywhere at the moment. 

I click on the message.

Hey, it's me Jonas. I guess you already figured that though. Anyway, I just wanted to check in and see if you're okay? You seemed pretty bad the other day.

I laugh at his rambling and accept the message request before starting to reply.

"Where are you going?" 

I look up before I send the message and see my brother standing at the fridge, staring at what's inside. He always does that. One minute he closes the fridge, and the next thing you know it's open again, and he's back to staring at it. Like food will magically appear. 

"Out with Lily. We're going shopping. What, u wanna come with us?" I grin, seeing him glare at me before saying, "shut up. I'm just asking."

I look back down at my phone and press 'send'.

Haha yes, I'm fine now. Thanks for bringing me home the other day by the way:)

Before I exit the chat, I see him typing and decide to wait for him to respond, leaning back on the chair and crossing my legs over one another.

No problem, princess.

I roll my eyes at his response and get up when I hear the doorbell ring. 

I walk around the table and up to the front door, opening it to reveal Lily with a cream tote bag on her shoulder and leather trousers and a black top. She always dresses with one black piece of clothing on.

I smile at her and step outside, turning to close the door and lock it. 

"So, which shops do you wanna go to?" I ask, looking up at her as we start to make out way towards Luke's car parked in the driveway. 

Luke is Lily's brother and whenever we want to go out into town, he is our chauffeur. 

It's honestly a life saver, because then we don't need to spend money on a bus, and God knows who likes to take a bus. 

"Well, I just need to go to Waterstones. I have that free voucher thing that I need to use and there's a book I really want anyway."

"Okay, thats good because I don't need to go anywhere else either."

Waterstones is my comfort shop. I could literally stand in there all day and look through books,  pointing out ones that I have either read or need to read. 

I love smelling the books too.

We walk around to either side of the car and I jump in the back as Lily gets in the front, asking her brother something in Lithuanian. 

I hear a buzz from my back pocket and lift half my body up to reach and slide my phone out from underneath me, as we pull out of the driveway.

I look at the locked screen which instantly unlocks at my face and shows the messages. 

Are you ignoring me, princess? 

Ugh, what is it with him and calling me that. I really need to think up a stupid name so I can rile him up as well. 

Champ? No, that will probably just inflate his ego even more and he doesn't need that. 

Baller. Hm that could work. 

Maybe I am, baller.

I cringe at myself, but resolve to send it, my goal set on annoying him as much as I can. 

Typing...

Thats it. The typing stops and I smirk in satisfaction deciding to pull one last stunt.

Are you ignoring me, princess?

I let out a laugh as I send it and hear Lily ask, "Who are you texting?" as she turns around in her seat, narrowing her eyes at me. 

"Oh, just Jonas. He was asking how I was from the other day." I tell her. She already knows what happened since I filled her in the day after on FaceTime. She insisted to know why I was in bed at 3pm, and I had no reason not to tell her. 

"Mhm. That's sweet of him. Why are you laughing then?" She wriggles her eyebrows and I stick up my middle finger at her suggestion, looking back down at my phone. 

I frown when I see that the message has been sent and he's still active, but hasn't responded. Judging by how fast he was replying before, I consider why he hasn't responded. He probably has someone less annoying to text over me. 

I don't bother accepting his friend request and just push down the annoyance that's building up inside of me.

Turning to stare out of the window, I watch the passing strangers living their lives.

We pull up the the curb just outside of the shopping centre, and I scramble out of the door, walking around the car waiting for Lily to get out. 

She comes up next to me and squints up at the building, blocking the sun from her eyes, so she doesn't blind herself. She turns back to wave goodbye to her brother and we both enter, arm in arm.