ASHLEY

15

   Jessica waits with me and Angela until Isaiah shows up. He changed out of his uniform and is now wearing basketball shorts and a hoodie. He kiss his mom goodnight. I give her a hug before climbing in the front seat of his car. Angela slides in the back of course.

   "Where do y'all want to eat?"

   "Arby's," Angela and I say in unison. I haven't had Arby's in a while and I have a taste for their cheesy beef sandwich. I can just taste the sauce in my mouth.

   "Y'all must think I got money. I'm on a McDonald's budget so McDonald's it is." Isaiah says.

   Angela scoffs. "Bria I told you about messing with these broke niggas."

   "Angela shut up. You always got something to say," Isaiah barks.

   "Okay 'cause you always starting with me. You talking about McDonald's. We don't eat there. And in that case we could of went home."

   "You-"

   "Will y'all shut up? Y'all about to give me a headache." Whenever Angela and Isaiah get together they start cracking jokes on each other and going back and forth with these little petty arguments. They really could have been siblings. They act like it already. They're just playing of course.

   Isaiah cranks up the car and is about to pull out of the parking spot when one of his teammates I met earlier, Chase I think his name is, knocks on the window. Chase is an average height white guy with messy blonde hair. His muscles buldge through his tight shirt. Isaiah rills down the window. "I need a ride. Ruby acting crazy again." Isaiah looks to me and I shrug, letting him know it's cool with me. I'm not going to make him turn down his friend. No way.

   "Get it and hurry up," Isaiah demands clearly agitated with his friend. Chase gets into the back seat with a huge smile on his face, seemingly ignoring Isaiah's comment, and Angela scoots over.

   We pull up to Arby's and I order a beef and cheese sandwich and two chicken sliders. Isaiah and Chase order a long list of stuff and Angela settles for a beef burger and fries. We order our drinks and pull up to the next window after being told our price. I pull a ten out of my wallet but Isaiah tells me not to worry. You won't see me arguing with that. Chase let's him know he'll pay him back. I laugh when he gives Chase a sour look. "Its okay baby."

   "Yeah, it's okay baby," Chase pinch Isaiah's cheeks rougly and Isaiah push him off.

   He turns around and ask Angela where her money is so she can pay for her stuff. Angela scoffs and begrudgingly tells him she doesn't have any on her. Isaiah burst into a fit of laughter. "Oh I forgot; you broke," he says between laughs.

   I punch him hard in the arm. He whines in protest. "You don't gotta do my sister like that."

   "My bad babe. I'll leave that little chicken head girl alone."

   "She do got a chicken head," Chase agrees with a nod. I cant help but laugh. I apologize to Angela for laughing. I forget how sensitive she can be sometimes.

   "Uh-you know what? I'm not going to even say anything to you." Angela rolls her eyes and mumble a 'thanks'. The woman at the window hands us our food and I waste no time digging in after I pass Angela her food. As we eat we talk about the game. Isaiah gets a little too cocky talking about himself but I must say he does have reason too.

   "You're mom's nice," Angela complements.

   "She was. I like her. She reminds me a bit of my mom," I agree. My voice trails off at the end and I cover it up with a forced smile. I don't want to start thinking about her or dad. That way I won't get in my feelings about it.

   Isaiah place a comforting hand on my thigh. I place my hand over his's. I lean over and he plants a kiss on my glossed lips.

   Angela fakes a gag. I roll my eyes but pull away from the kiss. "You can go inside if you don't want to watch us kiss."

   "I'm going inside too. All this lovey-dovey stuff making me jealous." They get out and take their food inside. I watch the two through the glass windows as they sit down. Angela laughs at something Chase says, making her deep dimple pop out. She smiles at him through her thick eyelashes.

   Isaiah grabs my hand. "Hey. Don't worry about them. Chase a good guy and plus he has a girlfriend." I nod. "I'm so happy I have you. You're so amazing and beautiful and sweet and-"

   "Stop," I giggle. Isaiah loves telling me how wonderful I am. Don't get me wrong I like hearing it but I never know what to say and he makes me blush like a little kid.

   He turns in his seat so he's facing me completely. "No I want you to know this. I know I sound cheesey or what not but I like you and not just because of that ass."

   A smile forms on my face when he says this. Isaiah is so sweet. I hadn't intended on anything serious happening between us but it's starting to feel like it's getting serious. I met his mom and sisters for crying out loud. Those are the people that mean the most to him. I really hope I don't screw this up. I have a tendency of doing that.