One-on-One

Chapter 7: The Space Between Us

Amira found herself back at the coffee shop with Jada, the familiar aroma of coffee and baked goods wrapping around them like a warm hug. Yet, today felt different. As she stirred her drink, her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts about Jordan's recent behavior.

"Okay, spill the tea! What's up with you and Jordan?" Jada leaned in, her brow furrowed with concern. "He's been acting kinda weird lately, huh?"

Amira sighed, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup. "Yeah, it's like he's been... jealous. I mentioned I was hanging out with Zyair and some other friends, and he seemed ready to blow a gasket."

Jada's expression shifted to one of disapproval. "That's not cool. If he's feeling jealous, it sounds like he's not sure what he wants. You deserve someone who lifts you up, not makes you feel guilty for having other connections."

"Exactly! But what if he's just having a moment? He's a good friend, and I don't want to hurt him," Amira said, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Listen, I get it, but you need to be true to yourself. If he's acting like that, it might be a sign," Jada encouraged. "You can't ignore how you feel, especially if you've got other things going on."

Amira nodded, but a small part of her hesitated. "It's complicated. I don't want to hurt Jordan, but I can't help thinking about how much fun I have playing basketball with Zyair."

Jada's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Then figure it out! But don't let his jealousy cloud your judgment. You need to see where your heart really is."

As they finished their drinks, Amira felt a mix of determination and confusion. Later that day, she ran into Jordan at the park, where he was trying to capture the golden hour with his camera.

"Hey, Amira," he said, glancing up and giving her a soft smile. "Can we talk for a sec?"

"Sure," she replied, her heart fluttering. She sensed the tension in the air but wasn't sure how to address it.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier," Jordan admitted, his tone sincere. "I didn't mean to come off all jealous. It's just... seeing you with Zyair and the way you light up when you talk about basketball made me realize how much I care about you."

Amira felt a twinge in her chest at his words. "I appreciate you saying that, but I'm just trying to figure things out. It's not about picking one over the other."

Jordan nodded, but she could see the wheels turning in his mind. "You know, I really enjoy spending time with you. And I've been thinking... what if we had a little fun on the court? Just us, maybe to clear the air?"

"Are you suggesting a one-on-one?" Amira asked, surprised by the idea.

"Yeah, why not? I could use the practice," he said, a light laugh escaping him. "It'll be good to get back to just having fun, you know?"

"Alright, I'm down," Amira replied, feeling a spark of excitement at the thought.

As they began to walk towards the basketball court, the sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow around them. They talked about random things—favorite songs, upcoming photography projects—while the air grew more relaxed.

Amira couldn't help but notice the way Jordan's smile lit up when he talked about his latest photography. It reminded her of the passion she felt when playing ball, and it made her wonder if they could bridge their interests together.

When they finally reached the court, Amira felt a mix of anticipation and nerves. Jordan wasn't the most skilled player, but his enthusiasm was infectious. They started shooting hoops, laughter spilling from their lips as they played around.