Circus of Emotions

Boyfriend?

The summer in Miami always gets crazy. Beaches full, tan lines, sunburns, ice cream, you get the idea.

Neteyam was on a walk with Sammi when he got a phone call. "Hey, what's up, Lo'ak?" "Uhm.. we need your help..." "Who's we?" "Me, Kiri, Rotxo, and mostly Tuk." "Dude.. what happened to Tuk..." Lo'ak was silent for a moment. "She's stuck in a basketball hoop.." "You're serious?" "Kinda hard not to be when she's sitting in a net 6 feet in the air". Neteyam sighed. "How did- never mind. I'm on my way."

"Who's that?" Sammi looked over. "Lo'ak. I gotta go, Tuk's stuck in a basketball hoop-..." Neteyam said as he started to walk in the other direction. "Wow. At this point I'm not surprised" Sammi laughed. "I'll call you later!" Neteyam started to walk faster.

Lo'ak texted him the location. When he arrived, he looked up at Tuk sitting in a basketball hoop, giggling and smiling. "Tuk... why are you up there..?" "I don't know..." Neteyam turned to Lo'ak. "How much?" "What?" "How much did you pay her to not tell me why she's stuck in a basketball hoop." "20 dollars..." "If mom finds out about this, you're getting a literal prison sentence in your room." Kiri and Rotxo look at each other trying not to laugh. "I can't get her out, it's a little too high" "Call Ao'nung or something. Bro's tall as hell" Neteyam squinted his eyes at Lo'ak. "I can't tell if that was offensive or a compliment" "Both I guess" Lo'ak shrugged.

Neteyam called Ao'nung to tell him to come to the public basketball court at the park. "Why, what's going on?" "You'll see" Ao'nung drove to the park and got out of his car. "What the hell is going on..." "Honestly, I have no idea." Kiri replied. Neteyam ran to Ao'nung. "Hi! Uhm.. could you get Tuk out of a basketball hoop, please?" "Sure.." Ao'nung laughed and looked at Tuk with a confused smile. He walked over to her and looked up. She was in a fetal position with her legs to her chest. "Okay. Tuk, listen. Can you straighten your legs?" "I think so.." "Okay good. When you straighten your legs, you're gonna slip out of the hoop alright?" Tuk looked down and realized how high up she was. "No.. I'm scared.." Ao'nung sighed. "It's okay, I got you. Deep breaths" "Okay..."

Tuk straightened her legs and slipped out of the hoop into Ao'nung's arms. She instantly latched onto him tightly. Ao'nung took her to Neteyam, but she wouldn't let go. "Tuk, you can let go now," he whispered. She shook her head with her face in his shirt. "Nooo, you're so warm" Tuk whined. "Ao'nung, I think you got a new best friend" Neteyam chuckled. "Fine by me."

After a while, Kiri and Lo'ak managed to pry Tuk off of Ao'nung.

—

It was around mid afternoon, when Ao'nung called Neteyam. "Oh hey! I was just about to call you! What's up?" "Hi, so, there's this party tonight, I was wondering if you'd come with me as a witness of my death" "Ao'nung, you aren't gonna die chill out. And sure, I could probably come. Let me talk to my parents. I'm glad you're getting out more. I'm proud of you." "Yeah yeah, don't get all weepy now, I might change my mind." Neteyam laughed. "Alright alright, I won't. I'll talk to my parents in a bit. I'll text you with the answer okay?" "Alright. I'll see you later, I hope." "Me too. Bye!"
Neteyam texted Jake.

N: dad

J: ?

N: could you come upstairs to my room?
I need to talk to you about something
maybe mom too

J: yeah hold on

N: thanks

After a bit, Jake and Neytiri walked up to Neteyam's room. "What's going on?" Jake walked in the door. "So, there's a party tonight and I was planning on going with someone. I wanted to run it by you guys first" "Who's that someone?" "Ao'nung, why?" "Your boyfriend?" That caught Neteyam a little off guard. "No.. where'd you hear that?" "Kiri was talking about it with Lo'ak in the living room. I was doing the dishes and I overheard." "Ki- What? Never mind. But yes, Ao'nung. It's not a "date" it's more of me being a chaperone I guess."