LaMelo Ball - By Ari

Nine

Over the course of the next week, LaMelo remained protective over me, which was only half-surprising. He made it very clear that he didn't want to lose me as a friend again so I figured he would try his best to do little things for me to secure our relationship, like buy me a lunch at school or get me a new necklace from a jewelry store. It was so weird because this is what I wanted so long ago, and now, I wasn't so sure. Don't get me wrong, I still loved Melo as a friend and of course more than that, but I didn't need someone to go out of their way to buy me unnecessary shit for me to like them. I liked LaMelo just the way he was, his goofy, childish self kept me on my toes. I never knew what was going to come out of his mouth and it kept me interested. Ever since I had that whole ordeal with confessing my love and then losing him, I realized that I would much rather be just friends and containing my feelings than not even associating with him at all. But being just friends with him meant that he was fair game with any other girl in the school. I had to realize that Melo wasn't mine to keep and it fucking sucked.

On Saturday, he asked me to hang out with him at his house for a bit while his parents were out. Lonzo, of course, would be back at UCLA and LiAngelo was supposedly with friends. The idea of being alone with LaMelo in his house got me fucking hyped but I couldn't get my hopes up. He'd asked for me to come over so casually, as if it weren't even a big deal at all. But, the adrenaline that rushed through my veins and my pulsing heart continued on my way to his lovely home, which was only a little ways away from mine.

"Ahh, just the girl I wanted to see," LaMelo swung open his front door a few moments after I rang the doorbell. He looked so cute even when he was lounging around the house and didn't try to look decent. He was wearing a red shirt with the words, "Big Baller Brand" stretched out across the front, grey shorts that had obviously been cut from sweatpants (it looked so hot, FYI), and some Nike socks. I stepped inside and gaped at the nice-looking atmosphere, slipping off my shoes at the door while doing so.

"So...wanna see my room?" he questioned and I nodded quietly. It wasn't awkward, but it was basically silent between us. I had never been to his house before and I think we'd both be less nervous if his family were there, but oh well.

His room turned out to be pretty plain and basketball-themed, as I expected, with posters plastered all over the walls and also some dirty clothes askew in a few spots. His bed was huge, though, with a soft-looking comforter laid gently on top.

Walking around a little bit while he sat in a black bean bag in a corner, I caught sight of a few picture frames and gazed at them for a little bit, adoring young LaMelo, then taking a final viewing of the whole room.

"Wow, your room is as basic as you are," I teased and he rolled his eyes playfully as I stepped past a whole basket full of what looked like DVD cases. Curious, I picked one up and noticed that they were all movies. The one in my hand was The Lion King.

"Hey, I love The Lion King," I breathed and LaMelo jumped up from the bean bag he was sitting in and stood over my shoulder. He agreed with me and I opened up the DVD case, seeing the disk inside.

"Wanna watch it?" he offered and picked a remote off his dresser that was sitting right next to his flat screen TV. Nodding my head, he took the disk from me and popped it in a DVD player that sat on a small desk beside the dresser, and tossed himself onto his bed. A little hesitant, I leaned over to the light switch and flicked the light off, making the room darker.

LaMelo patted the spot next to him and slowly but surely, I climbed onto his bed and laid right next to him, his arm snaking around me to pull me closer. I was comfortable but I wasn't at the same time. My heart was beating so fast, I wondered if he could hear it. God, so embarrassing! I was watching a movie with my guy friend, so what?

The next few scenes played until the first song of the movie came on, and I could almost hear LaMelo smiling. Once he began singing along, I tilted my head and looked up at him with admiration, as he kept his eyes glued to the screen and the words flowed past his lips. He definitely had the whole song memorized and it was. so. fucking. cute.

"I think you should stick to basketball," I mumbled and his gaze attached itself to me, an angelic giggle bubbled out of him.

"Hey, I didn't know I was trying out for American Idol, Simon Cowell wannabe."

"Oh, great, another nickname!" Grinning from ear to ear, he sent a playful wink that made my heart flutter.

The movie continued playing and we were silent for a moment before LaMelo whispered, "You're pretty when you smile."

My heart rate increased faster than ever before, and my cheeks began to grow hot. I kept my eyes on the screen. "Thank you," I whispered back, and tilted my head up to look at him again. His eyes were already on me and before I could react, I noticed his head slowly moving closer and closer.

He was going to kiss me!

LaMelo Ball was going to kiss me!

My eyes fluttered closed and soon enough, I felt his lips connected to mine. Instant bolts of electricity traveled throughout my body. So many emotions were going through my head, but the feeling in my heart was a happiness that I'll never forget. His lips were so soft.

I had kissed guys before but this was a whole new level. This was the most popular guy in school, this was the most talked about sophomore in the entire basketball world! This was the guy I had been in love with for almost three months.

But we were just friends.

Friends don't kiss friends.

Cori Lorraine Yaris, what do you think you're doing?

I pulled away.

The electricity seemed to die down as if something pulled the plug.

The glowing in my heart stopped.
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(A/N) i had to update earlier bc of school and i'd probably forget to update if i waited until later. hey, i have a question for you guys; how do you imagine cori in your head? what do you think she looks like? answer in the comments!