This Winter

Chapter 5

Love and Basketball is out!!! Grab yourself a copy on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and Xlbris (My publishers website). Link on wall. Enjoy!

"Morning," Leila muttered cheerfully as Devin walked into the kitchen, waking from his sleep.

"Morning," he replied, not making eye contact as he opened the fridge and grabbed fruits to make his shake. 

"How do you like your eggs?" 

"Scrambled, thanks."

"Coming right up," Leila muttered as she begun to scramble the eggs sizzling in the pan. Silence sat between the two as they cooked their foods and Leila couldn't help but think about their almost kiss the day before. This is ridiculous, Leila thought to herself.

"Devin, we need to talk."

"Can it wait? I have to run to practice," he replied grabbing his shake and heading to the door.

"You don't have practice on Friday's."

"It's an emergency practice. I'll uh... See you. Bye," Devin rushed out before quickly escaping out the room leaving Leila alone.

"Emergency Practice my behind," Leila muttered to herself before placing his breakfast into a tubleware and into the fridge so he could have later. Checking the time, she quickly hurried to her room and changed from her PJ's to her dance uniform which consisted of a black Adidas jacket, gray tank top, and athletic tights.

This girl that I came here with

That's my main!

The one that's sharing these drinks

That's my main!

"What's up, Harmony?" Leila answered as she slipped on her white air forces.

"I'm outside your place."

"Coming." Quickly grabbing her Adidas bag, Leila shut off the lights in her apartment before hurrying outside where Harmony stood in an identical outfit.

"You can never be on time, can you?"

"I love you too Harmony," Leila teased rolling her eyes as they headed out of the building and towards the football team. Due to the closeness of her place, the girls walked to their campus and enjoyed the good weather as they talked.

"So living with Devin? How has it been?"

"Not as bad as expected."

"Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

"Whatever Harmony. Don't act so surprised."

"Oh, I'm not acting. This is as genuine as it gets," Harmony replied with a smile before their dance instructor came into view as well as Candy.

"Girls, when I say the practice is at 10am I mean I want you warmed up and ready to go for 10am, understand?" Their teacher scolded and the two girls nodded.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good let's not make this a habit. Shall we?" She said before strutting onto the field with Candy following behind like a lost puppy. Rolling their eyes the girls followed behind before getting into formation.

"Oh no, you two need to warm up first," the dance teacher said.

"I already did at home," Harmony said with a smile before all eyes were on Leila.

"And you Ms. Harter?"

"Yeah I did too," Leila lied with a smile before the teacher smiled and clapped her hands three times to get everyone's attention.

"Good. Since everyone is warmed up we can jump right in. I want Candy and Jenifer to go up first and show us their routine that they have come up with. Candy. Jenifer. The field is yours," she finished before the two girls made their way in front of the entire dance team and got into position. Before starting, Leila noticed Candy waving to someone and nearly threw up when she realized the person had been Devin. Maybe he did have a game but I thought he didn't know Candy? 

"It's a good thing we warmed up first Leila or else we would be in serious trouble," Harmony whispered to her as Candy and Jenifer did their dance.

"Yeah, good thing," Leila mumbled looking anywhere besides Harmony.

"You did warm up right?"

"I was going to but--"

"Harmony! Leila! Since you two are so talkative why don't you two go up next," the dance teacher yelled angrily and Leila smiled nervously before walking up to the front. Hitting play on Harmony's phone, the beginning of Controlla remix begun to play. The two girls got into formation facing the other direction before breaking out in dance. The moves were precise and even the football team was cheering until Harmony tripped and fell, screaming from the pain.

"Oh, my god! Leila are you okay?" Harmony asked dropping to her friend's side as Leila held her ankle, hissing in pain as she rocked back and forth. 

"Yo, what happened?" A familiar voice barked and Leila glanced up only for a second to notice Devin hovering over her.

"She tripped and fell."

"Is it broken?" Devin asked alarmed.

"Oh god no," the dance teacher said waving her hand. "The most it is sprained. Can someone please bring her to her room so she can put up her foot and rest."

"I'll do it," Devin said causing all the girls to gasp. "I'm her roommate."

"Good. Now next two up." The dance teacher said dismissing them.

"Alright on three I'm going to grab you okay?" Devin said and Leila nodded, unable to talk from the pain.

"One. Two. Three," scooping her up into his arms, Devin headed towards their apartment, grabbing her Adidas bag on the way, as if she didn't way anything. Leila couldn't help but smile as she snuggled up closer to Devin. This had been the closest the two had been since the kiss and Leila was glad the tension was gone.

"Alright, I'm gonna heat up some soup from yesterday, don't move okay?"

"Yes sir," Leila said with a laugh before Devin headed into the kitchen. Grabbing the remote, Leila switched on the TV before sinking into the couch and enjoying the reruns of her favorite show; Revenge.

"Alright, sit up," Devin instructed as he came back into the room with a bowl a soup. Licking her lips at the thought of it, Leila grabbed her food before devouring it, not having time to even mutter a thank you.

"Damn girl. Slow down it ain't going anywhere."

"Sorry," she replied with a small laugh. "This was good."

"Glad I have your approval," Devin replied before the two locked gazes. His eyes slowly drifted to her mouth and back up to her face before he leaned in slowly. This was it, Leila thought to herself. 

"Fuck, I can't do this. I'll be back in like five minutes. Don't go anywhere," Devin rushed out before grabbing his coat and storming out. Shaking her head, Leila sighed before drinking more of her soup that had started to get cold. More for me then.