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

Chapter 33 (A New Interest)

I went to the locker room and hoped it was unlocked and thank God it was. I went to my locker and I got my keys. I headed back outside to my car and then I saw someone I'd never thought I'd see again in life. My eyes must be playing tricks on me or something. I blinked a few times and when he noticed he smiled a little and laughed a little bit. "It's me." He simply said and I made a weird face at him. I looked around trying to see if I was at school and if so what is he doing here?

"What?" He simply asked and I sighed out and started walking away. "Wait." He said and I looked at him. "Come here." I made a face at him again "I'm not going to do anything to you, geez." He said kind of offended.

I breathed out and I walked in front of him and I stared at him with the what do you want face. He just stared at me some more like he was mesmerized or something. "I would offer you a ride home, but I see you have a car." He said motioning to my keys. "Wanna beat around the bush, or get to the point?" I asked him and he looked amused. "I wanna beat around the bush a little, just want to get to know you." He answered honestly and I rolled my eyes at him.

"You're kinda attractive when you do that." He told me and I remember Ahm saying the same thing. "Cooley, why are you here? When did you get here? And also, why are you here?" I got to the point and he sighed and his shoulders relaxed. "As for when, about an hour ago. My sources told me you have daily volleyball practice here. As for why... I don't know." He sounded puzzled himself as to why he's here.

"You can't come to my school looking for me. That looks suspicious." I said to him and he nodded "I know, but I... I just needed to see you." He admitted. I was perplexed, why is he here acting weird? "Amazing, you threaten my life and now you have a crush on me, oh how the tables have turned." I boldly stated and he breathed out again and then leaned against the column behind him "Right. That's never happened before." He mostly said to himself like he was unbelieving of the situation as well. I was just making a joke, I didn't think he actually developed feelings for me.

"Now, the problem is, Ahmed. He's in my way." Cooley said freely and I made a twisted face at him. "He's not in the way. He is the way. I don't exactly want anyone else." Cooley didn't look defeated, "But it's only the beginning sweetheart." He said confidently and I rolled my eyes. "I'm leaving." He chuckled to himself, "Tell Ahm, I said hey." I sucked my teeth "Don't worry I will."

I reached my car and I drove off to my job. But I couldn't help thinking that was so weird, I cannot explain it at all. I don't like drama to begin with, but ever since I got here I've been caught up in spin after spin. How am I supposed to deal with all of this?

When I got back to my place from work, I was playing with Pete outside letting him run around and trying to teach him how to stay, but his little bad ass wouldn't stay down for long.

I heard my doorbell ringing and I went to my door to see who it was. I looked through the peephole and lo and behold the guy who I hadn't seen in days was standing there looking all fine and stuff. I swear he's lucky he's fine because if he wasn't this good looking and had me longing for him to come back, I would've left him a long time ago!

I sighed and opened the door. He gave me that blank face he always has. "I'm not staying long, I just wanted to see you." He said and I looked at him weird but let him in the house anyways. "You miss me?" He asked as he walked in. I made a face at the back of his head and then I closed my door and locked it. "No." I lied, attempting to be petty, which caused him to laugh, "You mean." I scoffed, "You cannot call anyone mean." He simply shrugged his shoulders.

"Come here." He held his hand out for me, I walked over to him taking his hand and he pulled me into a hug. I sighed and melted into his hold. He pulled away just a bit to look me in my face, "How was practice and work?" I groaned, "Hard and tiresome." His face broke into a smirk, "Don't try being a super hero this year." He told me and I laughed. Pete ran in and jumped on Ahm. "Why is he so happy?" Looking at the puppy like he was disappointed, "Because he's happy to see you." He shook his head. "He's supposed to be a killer, not no happy ass dog." I rolled my eyes.

"Don't do that sexy shit around me." He said referring to my eye rolling which made me think back to Cooley and our meeting that I almost forgot. I guess I showed some kind of reaction because Ahm immediately noticed, "What's wrong?" I thought if I should tell him or not. I mean, this wasn't a serious clash and I'm fine. It was a civil conversation.

"After practice, I ran into Cooley." It didn't take long to see his reaction as his eyes filled with rage. "Why wasn't that the first thing you told me?" His hands started feeling all over my face, turning it this way and that to check on me. I shook him off playfully and laughed, "I'm fine."

But he did not look amused.

I sighed and said, "He didn't come with no any BS. He just showed up, and then I talked to him-"

"You talked to him?" Ahm interrupted me and I looked at him my nose scrunched up at his raising voice.

"Yeah, he was civil. I don't see why-" I began but was interrupted again, "He's my enemy Reagan. I do not like him and he does not like me. We are enemies, he betrayed me and now you're talking to him like he's a friend of yours?" The more he thought about it, the madder he got.

"Well, first and foremost, you have to calm down. I didn't know who he was to you, or who he was to begin with. If you decide to keep stuff to yourself, which you do, that's fine. But don't just assume I know what's going on as well, because clearly I don't." I defended myself calm enough not to tic him off or worse.

"I don't want to hear that shit. You know it's beef there. You smart enough to figure it out." I scoffed, "So, what am I supposed to do then? You make it seem like I went to him, and told him to come up to my school. He came to me. I didn't know what to do, I didn't know the situation, I wasn't trying to spark something so I remained civil and so did he." Ahm sighed out trying to calm himself down, his hand rub the entirety of his face, "What you talk about?"

I looked up trying to remember, "I asked why he was there, he said he didn't know, but his sources told him that I'd be there." I said not telling him the whole story. "And what else? Cause I know that bitch said something else." Ahm pried for more. "He said he wanted to see me, didn't say specifically why." He made a confused face, "What the fuck? The nigga like you or something?" He said out loud and I couldn't contain the face I had remembering him saying he did.

"The nigga like you?" Ahm repeated stunned, I never seen this kind of shock from him ever. I made a face, "I don't know." I said honestly because the situation was very weird. Ahm's face went blank but his eyes spoke revenge.

"I don't know what he's planning but it ain't gonna happen. I'm going to talk to him." Ahm declared and he turned to leave. I sighed and stood in place. I heard my door open and slam shut, it made Pete jump.

"Bye." I said sadly.