rayan

2

"Oh, come on! It's just a ball!"

"Just a ball?! I just bought about a week ago and now it's gone!" Rayan protested, shouting at Sandrina from the other side of the field. She dropped the baseball bat on the ground and crossed her arms angrily and huffed. Rayan thought he should be the only one who had the right to feel angry. She basically didn't lose anything but a game and now they didn't know what else to play. He shook his head and slipped off his baseball glove while cleaning up his baggy pants. "Next time," he said as he walked up to her and picked up his baseball bat, "I ain't playing with you when it comes to baseball!" He said seriously but ended up laughing with her.

She stared at him for a moment and her face dropped, "Are you mad at me for..." Rayan waved his hand in the air, "No, it's fine. I'll ask mommy for a new one on my birthday." He shrugged. "Oooh, oh! When is it, when is it? Can I come?! Can I?" Sandrina said excitedly, practically jumping everywhere. Rayan looked down and played nervously with his braid. He didn't want to tell her that he didn't celebrated his birthdays anymore because of the lack of money his mother has. His family wasn't wealthy enough to buy him at least a gift every year or sometimes bring food on the table. A single mother with three kids to take care, including Rayan and he knew he couldn't threw a party. He wasn't going to lie, he was jealous and envied the people who had birthday parties and brag about it in class. Rayan was always the one who never spoke up and even if he did, nobody would bother to listen to him.

"Rayan?"

His mouth agape and he didn't wanted to say it but he ended up saying it anyway, "Erm, January sixth!" He said pointing six fingers in the air while smiling at her, showing his crooked teeth with his two front tooth missing. Sandrina and him decided to walk back at her house that was a few blocks away from the baseball field. It was the afternoon and the sun was just about to set down, the color of the sky was a deep orange with a small clouds, the chirping of the birds were finally starting to settle down while wind was blowing to the east, and the weather was getting a bit chilly.

Rayan decided to stay quiet while they were walking, he didn't like to talk for nothing so kept himself a favor and walked with Sandrina silently while dragging the baseball against the pavement. While he was walking, Sandrina was staring at him the whole time, admiring his beautiful features. The temptation grew into her and she reached to his cheeks and squeezed them together, making Rayan stumbled in his steps. "Hey!" Rayan whined as he stroked his cheeks. She began skipping a few feet away as she giggled. "I can't help it, I always loved your cheeks! They remind me of... of pillows!" He laughed with her as he walked behind her. He had this feeling in his stomach that he couldn't describe. He felt his stomach creating knots and twist and turns, his face felt hot and he started sweating from his armpits while his cheeks were bright pink---not from the pain Sandrina caused to his cheeks. It was the feeling of nervousness and he noticed that he always felt it around her.

"Race me to my house?! Last one is a nabby-wabby!" Sandrina shouted as Rayan started to sprint down the sidewalk, still dragging the baseball bat and eventually held it in his arms.

It was Rayan's first house party he's ever been invited. He was nervous and exicted all at the same time and he decided to tag Sandrina along with him. Sandrina wasn't so fazed by it because she's been to many parties during the summer with a bunch of her own friends which were mostly girls so she never thought of bringing Rayan with her.

Three years has past and Rayan was finally a teen. His face elongated, his baby fat was almost gone and his mother finally could afford him to get him braces and threw away his nerdy glasses. His style changed from polo, button-up shirts, baggy jeans and khaki shorts to skinny jeans, harlem pants, graphic tee-shirts and hats, beanies with bracelets. He was currently on his way to Chresanto's house party and meet up in the basement.