Loving the Game

* Finals *

       • Deshawn's POV •

"So nice of you to join us Mr. Harris," Mr. Lyles greeted as I took my seat next to Bri. For some reason I stayed late in this class, but Mr. Lyles was a cool teacher for the most part so he didn't say much about it.
"As you all should know by now, today is presentation day!" Mr. Lyles cheered. A few people clapped and cheered. Bri was burning a whole in the side of my head. She had been staring at me for a good minute. But I refused to say something to her first. She said nothing either but she did let out a sigh.
"So while everyone is presenting you will be grading your classmates work. I will grade as well so don't fret, but this gives you the opportunity to take constructive criticism from your classmates about your work. Also, whomever is presenting at the moment must use the poetry you either wrote or researched to describe your piece."
The class groaned. I found it to be a piece of cake. This was my favorite class but I never told anyone that. I was really good at art and poetry. That's why Mr. Lyles was so fond of me as well.
I had written a poem but that was before Brianne and I got into it.
"Deshawn," she whispered tapping her pencil on her binder.
I looked at her.
"I don't want to fight with you," Bri explained," because I do care."
"And since he made such an intro this evening, why don't you go first Mr. Harris." Mr. Lyles suggested. I sighed and turned back to Brianne,"I care, too. I just have a different way of showing it but I guess you don't understand that." I replied getting up from my seat, grabbing my book bag, and going to the front of the classroom.

• Brianne's POV •
What does he mean? I do understand. I think I do at least. I can see how he thought something was going on between me Chris yesterday because we did look lovey dicey to an on looker but if he heard the conversation he'd think otherwise.
I don't get how an unmade decision on what I want to do with my life blew up in my face like this. Deshawn turned to look at me once again before he began his presentation.
"So who are you betraying in your piece," Mr. Lyles said unveiling my work to the class from under a cloth.
"My partner," he answered.
"I know that, but whom is your partner? Just something for the class in case they didn't know."
"Ms. King," he answered nodding in my direction.
"Ahh," Mr. Lyles nodded," and explain why you chose to do it in this way."
"It best at suits her personality."
"Which is?"
I didn't want to hear his answer to this. I had a feeling he was going to say something shady.
"She's um...," he looked up at me with his arms crossed," she's shy yet very outspoken. She's nice...mostly. Smart. Very stubborn at times. All around good person though."
I squinted my eyes at him. It was nice but still had its jabs but I couldn't deny it was the truth.
Mr. Lyles nodded," I see. So what poem did you research to define the piece you illustrated after and Ms.King."
"I wrote one," Deshawn said digging in his pocket. I noticed Brooklyn was looking back at me with a curious look. She mouthed to me 'did you know that.' I shook my head. I didn't know that Deshawn could even write poetry. You wouldn't think someone who was 'street' had a mindset to do that anyways. He didn't get overly personal a lot. He said some things like the thing with his dad but that was about it.
"You wrote one?" The teacher asked and Deshawn nodded.
"Well please do read it to us and your presentation will be over."
"Alright. It's entitled 'Would It Be Ok?"
Deshawn cleared his throat and began to read his poem aloud:

"Would it be ok? if I took some of your time
Maybe try to assure you
Possibly write you a rhyme and take you out sometime
Show you something new, an incredible view
Get to know what makes you smile then I could hold you for a while
Would you be ok? If you knew it takes a while for me to open my heart
That I can't be the perfect guy from the start
But it does take a real one to admit
That it's a task for him to commit
But willing to compromise
And yet tell you no lies when I stare into your tear filled eyes
Would it be ok? Is it safe to say
That I want to be the one to take your problems away
So selfish of me, honestly
I want it to be only me, even if you can't put all your trust in we
The feelings we share are rare for me
A fear I hate so dreadfully
But would you mind?
Would it be ok? If I...
At any given time
Wrote you a rhyme
One to make you mine
And convince you that all I want is to spend my time," Deshawn took a small pause from reading off the paper and looked at me. His facial expression was emotionless and empty but I knew he noticed how my eyes were filled with tears because of all the beautiful words he had spoken. Words I didn't even know were in him to say. Deshawn licked his lips and finished his poetry,"With you and only you
But if I must say
I don't think that would be ok..."

The entire class stood up and gave him a round of applause. Almost every girl in the room was crying or on the verge of crying like myself. D set the paper down on Mr. Lyles' desk. "Can I go now?" He asked rubbing his chin and face.
Mr. Lyles was still struck as well by his writing but he was able to nod yes. Deshawn grabbed his book bag from off the floor and walked casually out the classroom. Where is he going? I thought to my self as I wiped some tears from my eyes.
"You may go too Ms. King," Mr. Lyles said once he realized my mind was elsewhere. I got my things and went out and the door. "Deshawn!" I called my voice was cracking so you could tell I had been sobbing," Deshawn!" I walked around the entire building but he was no where to be found. Where did he go so quickly? And why?

Text to: Bae😻😊💕
Time: 2:39 p.m.
Message: where r u? We have to talk. That was so beautiful btw....

  • Message Read at 2:42 p.m. •