Captain

Hang Out Part 1

Scrambling around my room, I made sure everything is put in its place and clothes were hung up. I turned on my wax warmer and threw in a Scentsy wax bar to make my room smell like clean laundry. I opened the blinds slightly so the setting sun can let in a dim light, as well as having my lamp on. My room was perfectly clean and I'm pretty proud. My usually messy desk is surprisingly organized and clean with cute pictures in frames of Naomi and I growing up.

I even made sure there are no scuffs on my pretty lavender painted walls. The carpet was vacuumed and the purple rug was straight. My California King bed was made and smelled fresh, as I threw my bedding in the washer and dryer right after school, just in case, ya know?

As I checked myself in the mirror to make sure I look perfect, I heard the doorbell ring. I straightened my white t-shirt, and pulled my jean shorts down a bit, then skipped in my white vans downstairs to the front door. I checked the peep hole and sure enough, it was Cole.

I took a deep breath and opened the door. "Hey!" I greeted him.

"Hey, you!" He smiled warmly, spinning his ASU key lanyard around his finger. Usually I don't think my mom would allow me to have a boy over, let a lone in my room, but she's working late tonight and Jackson is at his SAT study group.

I let him through the door and led him to the staircase, "So, how was school?" I asked him. He was now in a different outfit; also a white tee, jeans, and converse. He was so simple yet so handsome.

"It was good! How was it for you? Did you have a good practice?" He asked, as we walked into my room.

"It was good!" I said, obviously lying.

"Wow," he said, looking around, "your room looks like a picture in a catalog or something."

I plopped on my bed and laughed, "It's not usually like this,"

Cole sat next to me and faced me, "Really? Does that mean I'm special?" He laughed.

I blushed and sat up straighter, "Well, obviously." I don't know what it is, but Cole makes me feel so comfortable. 

"So," he said, basically staring into my soul, "What do you want to do tonight?"

"I thought maybe we could talk. I'd love to get to know my homecoming date a little better," I said.

"Let's do it!" He said, standing up, walking towards my picture wall.

I used to daydream about me and Cole and how cute we would be. I never once thought he could ever actually be in my house, let-a-lone my bedroom.

I stood up after him as he looked at my pictures on the wall. "Aw, is that your family?" He asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, that's them." I still have pictures up of my dad and I. Sometimes I want to take them down, but even though he left us, he will always be my father and I'll always cherish our happy memories. 

"You look a lot like your mom," He said. "And is that Jackson? He's on the baseball team with me!"

I'm not surprised he didn't know Jackson is my brother. Jackson hardly ever talks to me at school. "Yeah, we're only one year apart."

"Jackson is the man. Sucks he'll be graduating in May. He's definitely the best on the team." Cole said, continuing to look at the pictures. "Is that your dad?" He asked, pointing to one of my dad and I.

"Yeah, that's him. That was a night he asked me to drive him to the store after he had been drinking. I was so embarrassed, but he decided to take a selfie of us in the store. Now I look back and wish I would've just enjoyed the moment, just him and I." I realized I was kind of rambling on and got embarrassed, "Sorry, I just miss him sometimes," I said, causing him to step closer to me.

"Where is he?" He asked.

I shrugged, "I wish I knew. He left us almost a year ago for a younger woman in California."

"I'm so sorry, Maya," he put his hand on my shoulder, comfortingly, "You haven't seen or spoken to him since?"

I shook my head, "Nope, but it's okay. We are managing just fine."

Cole read my face before speaking again. It was like he could see all of me just through my eyes. I felt naked, in a way. I also felt comfortable. "That's got to be rough. I guess I can kind of relate. My dad is a firefighter, so he is gone four days at a time, then he's home four days. It was really hard for me as a kid." He said, then shook his head, "I'm sorry, that's really not the same at all, I don't know why I even compared-"

"No, no. It's definitely similar. I'm sorry you had to go through that," I said softly. "Not having your dad around is hard, it doesn't matter the reason he's gone, it's always difficult."

Cole smiled, "You're amazing, do you know that?" He kind of laughed.

"Who, me?" I blushed.

"Yes you," he looked down at my lips, then licked his softly.

Cole gazed down at me with his deep brown eyes before slowly moving in. His lips connected with mine almost like magnets. I could feel the spark of electricity deep in the pit of my stomach, and went through my body like lightning.

He held me by the small of my back, and I put my arms around his neck, realizing just how tall he is.

Cole pulled away slowly, and looked at me with a smile, "I can't tell you how long I've wanted to do that," He said, confidently.

I couldn't help it but to laugh and blush, "What?! Are you joking?"

"Why would I joke about that?" He smirked. I crawled back on my bed and sat crisscross with my back against my pillows. "Is it that  weird that I have a crush on you?" Cole asked then followed me and sat next to me with his legs out and his arms propped behind him. It was so weird hearing him say out loud that he has a crush on me. I liked it.

"Yeah, a little. I'm literally not even a little bit popular at school, and everyone loves you. I guess I just never really imagined you knew who I was, let a lone even liked me," I said, having trouble keeping eye contact with him.

"Don't say that, Maya. You're captain of the cheer squad now. You're known by everyone whether you like it or not. Plus, I don't know why you say you aren't popular. Everyone I know seems to like you," He shrugged his shoulders as if he truly believed what he was saying. But how could that be? I wasn't liked by everyone. Hardly anyone outside of cheer talks to me. 

"Cole," I said, "you are truly amazing."

He smirked and leaned in slowly. It was happening. He let his lips hover over mine for a moment, teasingly, before finally letting his lips crash into mine, gentle but passionately.

He pulled away all too soon and laughed.

I must've had a worried look on my face when he reached up and brushed the back of his hand over my cheek softly and said, "So, let's get to know each other."