Then There Was You

Chapter 11: Them Highs and Lows

Theo

"Are we going to the pep rally?" Clover asked Delilah as they joined Tyreek and me at our usual picnic table.

The early November air blew around us, sending Delilah's straightened hair all over her face.

"Duh, it's mandatory for us, remember?" she replied from behind a curtain of loose strands.

Tyreek, Clover, and I exchanged an amused look as we witnessed Delilah's struggle. Each time she brushed her hair away, the wind blew it right back into her mouth.

"Argh! I can't stand it!" she groaned before plopping down on the bench in defeat.

"You found the worst day to wear your hair down," Tyreek remarked.

Delilah sighed," I had it in a ponytail this morning, but it broke during homeroom. I look like a damn lion" she complained referring to the big cloud of hair on her head.

"On the day that I left all mine at home. That's just your luck," Clover said.

"My sister usually uses shoe laces for exactly that reason. Those things ain't built for your hair volume, Tyreek said and Delilah nodded in agreement.

Just then, an idea came to me and I began untying my shoelace.

"Come here," I motioned to Delilah once I'd successfully removed it.

Realizing what I was about to do, she shook her head, "Theo, no. You don't have to do that," she protested.

"What? It's not like I need it," I shrugged and wheeled myself over to her.

"Got a brush?" I asked her.

Delilah just gawked at me. I turned to Clover and found her already digging into her bag.

"Here you go," she said while handing me a bristle brush.

Now that I was ready, I looked at Delilah. She seemed uncertain about what to do.

   With a sigh, she pushed aside her tray of food and proceeded to lay down on the table. Her head was right at the edge, dropping her hair down right in front of me. I adjusted my brakes and gathered her hair with the brush.

"You're pretty agile with those brush strokes," she teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

I smirked, "Who do you think takes care of these luscious locks," I said while brushing some hair off my forehead for emphasis.

"I'll give you that. You have gorgeous hair," she said and reached for the strands near my ears.

   Her warm fingers grazed my skin, sending a spark through my body. I marveled at the feeling, focusing on her hair to keep from losing myself in those curious doe eyes.

"Are you going to the pep rally?" she asked after a while.

My jaw tightened at the mention of the event that celebrated the start of the basketball season. I'd hoped she wouldn't ask, but since she had, I answered, "I'd rather not."

   Upside down, I watched her brown pinch together. We'd never been this close before and with nowhere else to look, I noticed the thin line of hair that linked her brows together. Soon, they raised in realization and she let out a faint, "Oh," nodding understandingly while I finished tying the shoelace around her puff of hair.

"Sorry," she apologized.

I shrugged, "It's fine. I'd just rather not think about it."

"It must be difficult," she said in that sympathetic tone I knew all too well.