Summer [Completed]

Chapter Eighteen

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You and Me
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prej·u·dice

noun

1. dislike, hostility, or injustice behavior deriving from unfounded opinions.

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Ethan POV

“Rollerworld?” Imani asks as we pull up to the best place on earth.

“Rollerworld.” I smile, pulling into the parking spot. “Also known as the best place on the planet.” I smile unbuckling my seatbelt and getting out of the car.

“I hope you know how to skate.” I call as I walk around the car and open the passenger door.

Imani unbuckles her seatbelt and I help her out, grabbing her hand as we walk across the parking lot.

“You're talking to the three time rollerblading champion of Smallview Elementary. I just hope you can keep up.” She challenges.

Every day I learn something about Imani that makes me like her even more. She's so awesome, I'm still so shocked that someone like her is into me. She's so perfect.

Overwhelmed with emotion, I stop in my tracks causing Imani to stop as well. “Marry me.” I blurt, dropping to one knee dramatically.

“Oh Ethan,” she smiles cupping my cheek with her hand as she leans in closer. I close my eyes, ready to kiss her but our lips never make contact.

I open one eye, then the other and see Imani smiling in front of me. She leans in and whispers in my ear. “You couldn't handle me.”

She gives my jaw a squeeze before turning away and sauntering towards the entrance.

I sit there a moment, shell-shocked before I smile, jogging up to catch up to her.

I lean in close to her before I open the door. “Challenge accepted.”

Her smug look dissapates and now she's the shocked one.

As I pull open the door I add, “Next time I'm down on one knee, there'll be a ring in my hand.”

She walks inside, and although she doesn't say anything, her cheeks turn a reddish brown color and I smile, knowing that she heard me.

I catch up to Imani at the same time as and older black man at the front counter smiles at her. “One ticket Miss?” He asks in a polite tone.

I step up beside her and drape an arm around her shoulder. “Actually two sir.” I smile down at Imani before glancing back at the man.

The man's smile falters and his enthusiasm diminishes. “Oh, my um...my mistake.” He mumbles, frowning as he rips off two tickets for us to go inside.

“No worries. Have a good one,” I smile politely at the man after paying him, but he doesn't respond. He simply grunts, and his frown turns into a grimace.

“That was weird,” I comment as we walk together to the skate counter.

“Yeah,” Imani mumbles. I notice that she's not smiling anymore, and she walks with her eyes cast down at the ground.