The Boy Next Door | LaMelo Ball

|45|

After dancing for a while, LaMelo and I decide to step outside of the gym.

We sit on a bench.

"You enjoying yourself?" I asked LaMelo who is lost in thought.

What's wrong with him?

"Babe?" I say to LaMelo.

He doesn't seem to notice me talking until I grab his hand.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Just thinking about shit," LaMelo sighs. "Thinking about us,"

"What about us?" I look LaMelo up and down.

"LaMelo bro, you've gotta see th-" One of his friends say.

No no no, not again!

I jump up from the bench and I point at his friend.

"No, we're talking...goodbye!" I snap at them.

His friend walks away and LaMelo chuckles to himself.

"I told you, I'll tell you after tonight!" LaMelo kisses my cheek.

"But I wanna know now!" I say to him.

LaMelo gets up pretending that he didn't hear me.

"Let's go inside." He grabs my hand and I look down.

I wonder what's on his mind.

As the night continues I dance with LaMelo and his friends.

_____

After the dance, LaMelo and I wait for my mom.

He keeps on glancing at me like he wants to say something.

I take a deep breathe before turning to him.

"Melo?" I asked him.

He blinks a few times before looking at me. "Yes?"

"What's on your mind?" I asked him.

"I don't know how to tell you this yet, that's why I keep on avoiding this conversation!" LaMelo says grabbing my hand.

"You're making me nervous." I say to LaMelo.

Is this some type of break up or something?

My heart beat starts to increase.

LaMelo stays quiet.

"Just tell me- spit it out!" I say frantically.

LaMelo opens his mouth to speak but then he closes it again.

"My dad- he's making me," LaMelo looks at me and I stare at him.

His eyes get watery.

"He's pulling me out of school!" He finally says.

I smile at LaMelo. "Oh, that's not that bad!"

LaMelo shakes his head. "No no, I'm not done."

I frown. "Then what?"

"He's taking me out of school because... Me and LiAngleo are going to play basketball in Lithuania!"

I look at LaMelo in shock.

I don't know what to say the only thing I can do is be upset.

I look down at the floor and a few tears slip down my face.

"It's just a year, but-" LaMelo trails off.

"-that's- that's a long time," I say. My voice is shakey because I'm trying not to cry more.

I can't help it... I begin to cry harder and LaMelo does the same.

"Stop crying," LaMelo wipes my tears. "I can't stop until you stop!"

I take a few deep breathes and I regain my composure.

A whole year apart, 5,719 miles apart.

5,719 miles apart.