BOND

27.

Written in these walls are the stories that I can't explain

I leave my heart open but it stays right here empty for days

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

"So he just came along?" Taylor asked and threw another cursory glance backwards.

Elena sighed and went over it the hundredth time, "I told him I had practice and he wanted to see me play," they turned around the corner and ran along the width of the court. Now facing them, she focused on Joey talking to Curtis Shaw, her coach, she had no idea about what.

"They are getting along well," Taylor said as Coach Shaw chuckled. When they had turned around the next corner and were out of earshot she said, "Do you think he's asking for permission?"

Elena stumbled on her own feet and skidded to a stop, nearly falling down, and created enough of a racket to get Joey and Coach's attention.

"You okay?" Joey asked and she managed out an almost believable smile.

"I'm good," she disbanded his concern and turned to glare at Taylor. "Permission for what?"

Taylor fought back a grin, thoroughly enjoying seeing Elena so flustered at having Joey in the place closest to her heart, and said in a virtuous tone, "I don't know. Marriage, eloping," she trailed off and then in a lower voice, said, "Sex?"

Elena leaned down and picked up a ball from by her feet as Taylor ran away from her, squealing from laughter. She aimed and threw it at Taylor's stomach that elicited such a high pitched scream that she too joined in the hysterics. Both of them went off on an infectious spree and Coach and Joey could only watch as they calmed themselves down after five or so minutes.

After a mock stern scolding from Coach they sobered up and got to their practice. Elena went over to the side where Joey and her bag were. "You don't have to stay, you know? It's no big deal, you can see me play any time else," she glanced up at him while unzipping the bag.

Joey waited till she had taken out her racket and then leaned over to press a small kiss to her cheek, "I just want to spend some time with you and if this is what you're going to be doing then there's no place else I'd rather be at."

"Are you trying to guilt trip me into missing my practice to spend time with you?" Elena narrowed her eyes and stepped into his personal space.

Joey tried to keep smirk away from his face, and failing miserably, said, "Is it working?" he glanced at her lips for a split second.

Amused, she replied, "No."

"Then no," he said and laughed as she rolled her eyes and went back onto the court.

She went about the rest of her warm up drills with a distinct change in her aura. Joey, having already put his phone on silent to not cause any disturbance whatsoever, could not keep his eyes off of her. The last time he'd seen her play was in a match and suffice to say, this was much different. He could relate on a much more personal level because he probably seemed the same on court to anybody else watching him.

Now she looked much more relaxed. A small smile constantly etched onto her face and jokes falling out of her mouth like second nature, without once her attention wavering from giving it all her all in every shot. Watching her this carefree, so indisputably happy, he couldn't help but crave to be the reason for it.

Elena tried and failed from focusing on the corner of her vision where she could see Joey. Why he still wanted to watch her play, she had no idea but every time her gaze went over to the side for even half of a second, he had a smile splitting across his face, so she wasn't really complaining.