New Native Land (The Next Step) (Book II)

Chapter 32 (Closer)

I woke up in the arms of Ahm, and as always I heard the news on. I shifted some and I looked over at my clock that read 6:12. I yawned and I turned to Ahm who was watching me curiously. "Early bird." I said "He gets the worm." Ahm replied and I nodded at his metaphor.

"You're going to hate me." I looked at him weird, He finished, "I gotta go." I shook my head and pouted. I grabbed him and wrapped my arms around him which made him chuckle a little bit, he told me, "You'll fall asleep and I'll sneak out." I shook my head again. "Not if I hold you like this." I protested and he sighed, "Alright." He gave in and I smiled.

"You always leave when you're not supposed to." I said softly, he replied disappointedly, "I know." I was trying to let him go but he pulled me back and he wrapped my arms around him again, "I like when you do that." I made an disappointed face, but I hid it as I held him a little longer, "I'll come back." He assured me. "In like three days." I said out loud but it was meant to be for myself.

He didn't say anything. I frowned sadly and let him go and turned around and balled myself up because that's how I liked to sleep. "Get some sleep, and take your meds." He instructed. "Yeah, yeah, yeah." I said to him. "Lock the door." He said getting up and I sucked my teeth. "I need to get you some keys or something." I said to myself. "If you do that, I'll come here and I'll try to fuck you every day. You want that?" I gave him a duh face, "Uh duh! That's all I ever wanted!" I joked and it made him smile really hard a rare event.

"You a trip. Come on ma." He said to me and I got up and felt a little twinge of pain in my legs. He saw it and smirked, "Dick got you hurtin huh?" He was extra arrogant now, I didn't think this would happen, so I had no come back for him. "Make sure your brothers don't notice." He instructed. "You're just going to leave me when I need to be taken care of?" I asked appalled, he just laughed.

We walked downstairs to the door and we stood there. He hurried and pulled me in and kissed me with passion. I pulled away and he went back to his normal self. "Be safe, and careful. If you run into Cooley again let me know." Ahm showing his care was weird, but it still made me happy inside that he did indeed care. I nodded. He pulled me in for a tight hug, "You're my everything ma." He told me and I smiled, "Don't stay out all night." He nodded, "I'll call you." I let him go because I saw I was the one who was really in control of this hug, and that he wasn't going to stop hugging me if I didn't stop first.

"I see I got you all about me now. You caring and stuff. It's cute." He poked my dimple. I smacked my lips and plainly said, "Get out." He shook his head, "I've been used." He turned, opened the door and walked out. I closed it, locked it and sighed because I already missed him.

Few days later, I was at Volleyball practice. We started in July because we had to get and stay in shape. I was starting this year and so was Draya and we're pretty happy because our team was better than ever. Most of our old girls graduated and stuff but for the most part we got back our heavy hitters like Emily, and she promised, she and I would take us to the top. I'm keeping her to that promise.

"50 suicides, go!" Couch Tillman yelled and we got to it. "Ugh! Stop dropping the pass Penny!" Taylor whined and I shook my head. "Don't blame others just run." I told Taylor, a new rookie and they stopped bickering. Honestly, it's so hard being a captain, even if it's the co-captain because you have extra to do and sometimes it's very vexing. And I know coach is going to try to make me captain next year after Emily graduates, I am so not ready for that.

We finished up and then coach blew her whistle. "Come in ladies." She shouted and we ran to her. "Nice job today! I'll let you out a little early today because I know your legs are jelly now. Tomorrow, come in with a better attitude and more focus. We cannot go anywhere if we're not focused. Alright, bring it in. Lady jags on three. One, two, three!" "Lady jags." We said. "Captains on me." Coach said right when I was about to turn around and leave.

Emily and I walked towards here and she waited until the girls were a little further away. "Emily, how's recruitment?" Coach asked Emily nodded "Alright." She answered and coach nodded. "Alright, well, you two need to step it up. I know you have great chemistry with each other, but I want to see that reflecting on the girls too." We nodded, "Yes, ma'am." I said. "Yes, Coach." Em replied and she dismissed us.

We went to the locker room and I went to shower and change. When I got out Draya was waiting for me. "Hey what did Coach wanna talk about?" I groaned out annoyed and sipped some water. "She said we needed to step up and show how to be good teammates basically." Draya laughed, "That's true. The new girls are having a hard time adjusting." She offered input.

"They're brats." I said out loud not meaning to, Draya laughed again, "Yeah, well they're your brats now. So, help them be less bratty." I hated that she was right.

"You're so smart. You should be a school counselor or something like that." I told her and she smiled, "I've been thinking about choosing psychology as my focus." She said and I looked impressed, "Finally settling down huh?" I joked and she nodded, "I'm trying to be up there with you and PB. I know I'm not a genius but I want to at least start taking college classes." I shook my head, "No, you don't." My voice cynical, but she took it as a joke and chuckled.

We started walking out, "Football team might still be playing, wanna check in on Drew?" She asked and I nodded, "Let's go see our little Drewsie." I said and she laughed.

We went to the practice field and as we walked up we saw Chuck passing Drew a beautiful pass and Drew catching it. "Nice work Montgomery." The Coach praised Drew and I smiled he looked so happy. We walked to the bleachers and sat there. Coach noticed us and said, "Closed practice ladies." I sighed, "Coach, we just got out of practice let us be." I whined to him and he laughed, "Coach Tillman beat you guys up tonight?" I shook my head, "You have no idea." He laughed once more and turned back around.

We stayed for a little bit longer and the guys started running some warm down drills of their own. Finally, they were let out. Drew walked up to us. "Fans?" He said arrogantly. I winked at him and Draya mugged him. "Dray, I'ma start thinking you like me cause you're so mean to me all the time." Drew teased her and she scoffed, "Drew, that will never happen." She simple told him and he smiled a cute little smile. "Oh yeah! I forgot you PB's girl! My bad!" She scoffed and he ran off the locker room.

"I hate him." She said pouting. "Yeah, sure." Her pout turned into a frown. "Let's go before they turn the lights off." She got up and I did too. I walked to my car and then saw I didn't have my keys, "I think I left my keys in my locker." I told Draya. "Alright, I'll see you later." I nodded and I went to the locker room.