Into His Love

Twenty-six

Tuesday

Today has been slow as usual. In every class, it seemed that each teacher is speaking at five words per minute. Isaiah left before I woke up this morning, leaving me a text message thanking me for letting him spend the night and neatly folded my blankets and left them on my dresser. I walk to dance with Nadia and Tati, who are ranting over last night's episode of All American.

"I mean I can't believe that that Spencer-" Tati starts.

"Hey, hey. No spoilers. I didn't get to watch last night." I tell them as I oss my bag into my locker.

"Damn, girl. What homework were you working on that made you miss your show?" Nadia asks.

"Well, I was helping Isaiah study and then-" I look between the both of them. "Promise y'all wont make a big deal out of this."

"Hell you know I will," Nadia shrugs as we make our way to the field and join the rest of the dancers. Tati nudges Nadia before looking back to me.

"We won't make a big deal," she says.

I take a seat on the ground and start my stretches. "I was helping him study and then in the middle his mom called telling him to stay over since it was storming so badly." Nadia's jaw falls and Tati tries her hardest to keep a straight face as she nods her head.

"He slept at your house? Isaiah Allen, the guy that you're trying to hide all your feelings from, which you're doing a terrible job at, by the way, slept at your house," Nadia whispers.

"Yeah," I nod. "Can you keep your cool please?"

"I am." She throws her hands in the air.

"Y'all don't have a guest bedroom anymore," Tati looks me up and down with a smirk on her face.

"Oh. Come on. No we did not sleep in the same bed to answer both of yall's questions."

"You had him in your house and you didn't sleep in the same bed?!" Nadia raises her voice.

"Shh!" I look around to make sure she didn't draw attention to us. "Why would sleep in the same bed?"

"Uh, I don't know, maybe because y'all said y'all were going to take things slow and see where things go."

"Yeah." I nod my head. "Do you even hear what you're saying?"

"Yes," she huffs. "I just want to know how you're going to take it slow and see where things go, if you don't make things go." She gives me a wink. I roll my eyes at her and deepen my stretch.

"Please. You're the only one who considers taking things slow as sleeping with a boy after knowing them for all of what ..a day?" Tati laughs.

"Can't forget the ones she'd hook up with at parties." I add.

"Hey, it's how I got Tyrell though." She defends herself.

"Thank the lord for that." I laugh. I love my best friend but a 'slut' wouldn't even be the title for her last year.

"Speaking of the devils." Tati looks past us. All of the football players pour out of the building onto the field. I spot Joshua and Tyrell first before I see Isaiah right behind. He slides his gloves onto his hands before taking off his helmet and looking over to me, giving me a small smile and nod. I smile back and turn back to face Nadia and Tati who are looking at each other with smug smiles.

"Shut up," I laugh before they can get a chance to say anything.

"That was flirting." Nadia comments.

"It was being friendly," I tell her.

"All right. We're going to start with the first eight count," Leiya announces to everyone.

"That was definitely flirting," Tati agrees. She smiles Nadia and we all make our way off the field to our practice area.

'Whatever. It wasn't," I disagree despite the butterflies that are still present in my stomach from seeing him.

After practice I walk to my car alone because Joshua had to leave right after practice to go pick up sister from the airport. I throw my bag in the back seat and shut the door. As I open the driver's door, someone calls my name. I look up to see Isaiah jogging my way.

"Hey," I greet him.

"'Sup," He grins and walks over to me. "I wanted to let you know that I passed the test today. All because of you."

"Shut up! See. I told you." I playfully push his arm. "I'm proud of you." I look up to him. His eyes seem lighter than usual.

"I wanted to properly thank you." He takes a step closer. I smell very faint cologne and it's very clear that he showers after practice. The look on his face makes my stomach churn and it seems to be getting hotter by the second.

"What?" I breathe, unable to think straight.

"I was thinking ice cream on me. I'm free now if you are."

"Oh. Yeah. That's...fine." I laugh.

"Are you alright?" he eyes me.

"Yeah, of course. We can take my car. Come on." I nod.

It only takes like two minutes to drive to Baskin Robbins, per Isaiah's request. I insisted on going to McDonalds but he made a good argument on the the different option that Baskin Robbins has. When we get inside Isaiah orders a double scoop cup with cotton candy and pineapple while I order a double scoop of butter pecan.

"Do you want to sit outside?" he offers me handing me my cone.

"Yes. It's freezing in here." I follow him outside and sit at a table in front of my car. He eats a spoonful of his ice cream and I make a face.

"What?"

"I just- I really don't know how you're eating those two together." I laugh.

"Easily," he takes another spoonful. "It's good. Try." He reaches it out to me.

"Yeah, no. I'll pass."

"Did I ever tell you about this girl that told me...ah what was it?" He asks sarcastically. "Oh, yeah. 'You can't knock it until you try it."

"Wait, was that before or after you started listening to country?" I laugh.

"So you see my point." He challenges.

"Fine." I take the spoon from him and scoop some of the ice cream onto it. I put the ice cream in my mouth and hand Isaiah back the spoon.

"So?"

"Eh. It's alright." It actually wasn't as bad as I thought.

"Yeah, whatever. You don't have to front."

"Front? Please." I laugh. "Should you be eating ice cream anyways? Big game this weekend."

"The only reason this game is 'big' is because its homecoming. We're going to kick their ass. Have you seen their stats?" He chuckles.

"Still can't underestimate them."

"Oh trust me we won't. What are you doing after the game?"

"Ha," I chuckle. "I stupidly agreed to go to this kickback because apparently it's different from party parties."

"Yeah." He holds a smug smile. "I'll be there."

"Maybe they'll be a park down the street that I can run to." I joke.

"Maybe."

We get back to Isaiah's car about twenty minutes later. "Thanks again for helping me. I couldn't have passed that test without you."

"No problem."

"See you tomorrow." He climbs out of the car and strides over to his. I wave before pulling out onto the street.