nothing less ➸ demar derozan

seventeen

DeMar

"What are you guys doing for Christmas?" Davian asks. He sits down next to me and begins eating the food my mother prepped him. He had come over to get something to eat.

"I'll probably be with Ella's family tomorrow and mines today later on," I shrug and continue playing video games. Christmas Day was tomorrow and I was excited. I'd meet Ella's whole family for the first time and she'd meet mines today. "What about you?"

I see him from the corner of my eyes shrug, "My family and I are getting together tomorrow. I might just go with some friends tonight."

I glance at him, "You're welcome to spend the time with us."

Davian nods, "I probably will, no promises though. The boys wanted to go out tonight. They wanna gamble."

"Gamble what?"

He shrugs, "Probably just roll dice or some. I don't know."

I nod slowly. I wasn't jealous of him and his other friends. Him and I were brothers for life, period. I just hate how he plays around too much with gambling and everything. "I need to go pick up Ella before this party starts."

I get up and hear him follow behind me, "Can I come?"

"Yeah, put on your shoes." I grab my cap and head out my room. Some of my relatives were already downstairs so I quickly hug them.

I hug my aunt and uncle and then kiss my mother a quick goodbye kiss. I search for Aja and find her outside. She was on the patio sitting on a the lawn chair reading.

"Hey," I smile at her and sit down next to her. She glances at me and then continues reading her book. Over the past few weeks, she has grown this attitude with me. She's mad that I don't spend as much time with her anymore since I'm always with Ella. That is partly true, but I'm also at the gym most the time when I'm not with Ella. It's senior year and I've been getting more practice time.

I sigh and look at her, "Some of the family is already here, you should come inside and say hi. I'm going to go pick up Ella real quick with Davian-"

She gets up mid-sentence and goes back into the house. She closes the sliding door behind her, and I see her give Davian a hug through the window. Once I get up and enter the house again, she has already gone upstairs. I meet Davian and then grab my keys off the counter and leave.

"She still not talking to you?" Davian asks and gets in the car with me.

"Nope," I sigh.

Davian shakes his head, "Don't feel so bad. She'll come around. She just needs to understand that you're happy and just needs to accept that." He shrugs and I realize he's right. I am happy and Aja isn't happy that I haven't been with her lately. If I were in her shoes, I'd probably be thinking the same thing, but I think I'd get over it.

Ella had been feeling much better. Every since that incident back then, she's been happier each day. I hate how she gets so insecure every time she passes a white male in public. Even at school she hesitates. Other than that small factor, she's been fine.

"Can I invite someone tonight?" Davian asks.

"Who?"

"My girl," he says. I scrunch my eyebrows. He never mentioned he had a girl before.

"If she doesn't cause drama then fine," I shrug. He nods and then begins texting who ever was on the other line.

"You gotta move to the back when Ella comes," I say and he groans. We were nearing her house. "Alright, I'm going to go get her and you better be in the back seat."