Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Quinnel.

Anyone has any idea why Coaches prefer calling their players by their last name?

Our Coach was no exception. Rolling my eyes, I walked to him.

I guess I was somehow slightly in the wrong. I left practice to talk to Heaven but the talk yielded some alone time with her every weekend.

At least until she can play it by herself.

"Ashford!" I heard again and I groaned internally.

"As punishment for your little daydreaming and abandoning practice, Take 5 laps round the court."

"I'm sorry?" I said uncertain of what I just heard.

"You heard me! Now go!"

"Yes sir." I replied and glanced at Heaven who grinned at me before she laughing.

I'm doing this because of her!

"Son, you're wasting time! I need your butt on the court!"

If you need my fine behind on the court, can I skip the laps then?

I immediately picked up the race and in no time, I was done.

I joined them in practice to see that Ashley had joined Heaven but her face looked damp. I raised a brow at that but before Coach could see me, I was already on the court.

Practice was over soon and Zaire came to me with his duffel bag hanging on his arm.

"Five laps?" He taunted and I glared at him making him chuckle.

"Why do you think they're here?" He asked pointing at Heaven and Ashley.

"Guess we're about to find out." I replied and we made our way to them.

"What are you guys doing here?" Zaire asked and all eyes turned to him. Even mine.

Couldn't he be more polite about it?!

I dragged his shoulder pulling him to the side to have a private talk and his bag moved from his shoulder due to the impact of the pull.

He immediately caught it before it slipped off his shoulder completely.

"What?"

"You couldn't have gone... Hey, guys! I see you missed us or something cheeky. Did you really have to ask it like you don't want them here?" I questioned quietly and he pursed his lips frowning.

"Was that how it sounded?" He asked and I nodded my head slowly.

"Oh shit, man. I didn't mean it that way. What do you think I should say to rectify it?" He asked.

I looked over our shoulder to see Ashley and Heaven talking paying us no attention at all. I turned my head back to the floor before inclining my head a little to look at Zaire's face.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Say nothing."

"Nothing? But isn't that like worse?" He asked looking over his shoulder to look at the two girls.

"I think it's better." I replied and he shrugged.

"Okay." I patted his shoulder and we turned around to the girls who were now looking up at us.

I shouldn't have trusted him cause the moment we turned, he opened his mouth!

"Hey, girls!" He greeted cheekily and I cringed at the voice.

"Hey, Zaire." They replied simultaneously. Well, Ashley talked... Heaven didn't.

I saw her jab Ashley a little in her stomach and Ashley looked at her with a questioning look.

She gave her a knowing look and tye questioning look on Ashley's face morphed into confusion.

Then, Ashley's face lit up and hee mouth formed an o before she turned to Zaire pursing her lips.

I blinked at them before I frowned understanding what was happening.

Looks like they both planned to ignore us since Zaire's question who seemed offending but Ashley forgot their plan and Heaven was kicking her head back into action.

"Why are you looking at me like some soldier?" Zaire asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Hey, Zaire?" I called and he turned to me.

"Remember what I said earlier?" I asked and he raised a brow before he dropped it and nodded.

"Please work on it right now." I said with a slow nod and he mirrored my action.

He brought his hand up and pulled it across his lips in a zipped form.

I nodded before turning to the girls who were looking at Zaire with one brow.

"Alright, let's go." I said and Heaven was the first to stand up tugging at her bag strap.

I noticed she did it more often. Ashley followed swinging her bag on her shoulder.

Ashley grabbed Heaven's hand and out the door they went. Zaire made to follow them and I pulled him back almost immediately.

"Aren't you going to shower?" I asked and he scoffed.

"Ew! Don't talk to me if you're not going to shower." I said and turned away. I heard his hastened steps behind me and I immediately ran away.

"Hey, stop right there." He said and I laughed running faster to the locker room.

"Come on... Pick up your pace. You're running like a girl." I taunted and he growled at me.

When we were done with our shower, we changed back into our school uniform and walked to the hallway.

The bell rung as soon as we stepped foot into the hallway indicating it was Lunch.

"I wonder what's on the menu." Zaire muttered and I groaned in agreement.

My eyes was on Heaven that was laughing with Ashley. Ashley said something and she threw her head back and laughed clutching her stomach.

I noticed people stopping and looking at them. Boys especially.

"Dude, are you even listening?" I heard beside my ears and I forcefully tore my eyes away from her to look at Zaire.

"Sorry, what did you say?" I asked and he nudged his chin towards Heaven and his sister.

"You still like her, don't you?" He asked and I looked back at them.

"Who? Ashley? Dude, did it occur to you that she's a... gay?" I asked lowering my voice to a whisper at the last word.

"You know who I'm talking about." He deadpanned and I pursed my lips looking back at them.

Heaven was now dramatizing something to Ashley moving her hand and body in a snakelike manner while keeping a smile on her face.

"You're still looking at her you know?" Zaire asked and I didn't pay any attention to him.

"You're drooling." He said grabbing my chin to snap it close. I didn't even know it was open.

"Ugh, you obviously still like her." He said and I finally turned my head to him.

"I don't." I replied with a roll of my eyes.

"Yeah sure." He said.