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🏀

Hampton University
Sat. Sept. 17th, 8:15pm
"Pop Out, Let's Talk"

H-Y-P-E!
Hype is what you out to be
Get hype (Get hype)
Do it! Do it!
Hype! (Get hype)
EEYEP!

Sitting in the bleachers, Dess clapped her hands and lightly stomp her feet as she did the cheer along with the others. It was the first home game of the season and everyone had popped out. The stands were filled with parents, students, the marking band and the dance team. The sight of black people coming together to enjoy a sport, music, and dance made Dess smile. What made her smile grow even bigger was the news she received earlier today.

Dess had made the cheerleading team. She saw her name on the paper when she went to the gym and couldn't keep her happiness inside. She was beyond excited to experience the HBCU cheerleading team for the first time in forever. All her hard work did pay off and she was proud of herself. Her attention averted back to the field, focusing on the game. Hampton was on the one yard line near their endzone. They were going for another touchdown. Dess didn't know much about football besides the simple things.

Touchdown. Field goal. Quarterback. Offense and defense. Everything else she was clueless on which explained why she wasn't paying much attention to the game. Soon after the ball was snapped and the team separated, she watched as the oval shaped ball was thrown through the air and into Hampton's football player. Everyone in the crowd shouted in excitement once the young man casually ran into the endzone. Dess clapped and shouted with everyone else. The band began playing, the dancers danced, the cheerleaders cheered, and the crowd yelled. Dess started doing the cheer again just when Freya showed up. She slide her way beside Dess, nudging her a little.

"Hey boo," she greeted with a huge smile.

"Hey." Dess replied, still clapping and stomping. Freya watched her friend, noticing she was copying everything the cheerleaders were doing. She was amazed.

"Uh, girl..." she began, nudging Dess arm again. Dess looked at her friend, a smile showing on her face. "Yes?"

"Yes." Dess answered quickly. Freya started shouting, scaring Dess and few other folks around them.

Dess laughed as Freya shook her shoulders, still shouting. "Girl, be quiet." Dess told her.

Once she calmed down, Freya cuffed Dess cheeks and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I'm so proud of you baby!" she shouted.

Dess chuckled, "Thank you." Freya kissed her forehead again before letting go of her face.

"I'm happy for you babe, you deserve it. In all honesty though, I would've said you made it once you walked into tryouts. It's not everyday you see a big girl tumbling, jumping, and cheering like others. You would've been my first pick on God." Dess nodded her head agreeing.

She so happened to be the only big girl that came out. She wasn't discouraged either. Cheerleading since she was a kid came in handy down here. However, that was a mindset plenty of folks in the world carried. Some thought that because she was on the bigger side that she couldn't do certain things. Boy, were they ever so wrong. She could do a round-off, back and front handspring, and many others with no issue. She enjoyed proving people wrong.

"Yeah, people be doubting us big girls for no reason. I showed them though." Dess said, snapped her fingers with sass. Freya and her high-five then shared a laugh.

Since the second quarter was slowly coming to an end, Dess and Freya decided to head over to the concession stand. They held hands as they walked down the bleachers and made their way to the stand near the back. The line was pretty long from what they could see, but they didn't mind waiting. As they headed over, Freya first noticed her little boo thang, Axel, on the phone. She knew that if she saw Axel, then his friend was here too. And being the friend that she was, she wanted Dess and him to talk.

Leaning on the gate and watching the game from afar was Shai. Dess wasn't paying much attention since she was dodging folks as she walked. Freya saw the opportunity and went for it.

"Hey, Dess." She called, making Dess look back at her.

"Yes?"

"I love you and I'm doing this with a loving thought. Don't be mad." Dess raised her brow, confused as to what Freya was talking about. Before she could asked, Freya shoved Dess hard enough for her to step on someone's shoes.

Turning around fast, Dess barely caught the persons face. She instantly started apologizing for her and her friend misbehavior.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized, staring at the persons shoes. The once white surface had a dirt mark on it.

"I'm sorry." she apologized again, leaning down and attempting to clean their shoe.

"I sincerely apologize for stepping on your shoe. My friend pushed me over here and-" she paused once she looked up, seeing Shai looking down at her.

"Stop." he told her but she didn't listen and continued scrubbing the dirt.

"Sorry again. I know you're a sneaker head or whatever you wanna call it. I'm sorry for stepping on your shoe and don't mind-"

"Please stop." he cut her off. "Please."

Dess stared at him for a minute then nodded her head. At the moment, she didn't realize how weird it was to be cleaning his shoe. She was embarrassed now that she was standing in front of him. Her body heat increased and she felt like curling into a ball, and not come out until after.

"I'm sorry," she apologized for what seemed like the hundredth time. Shai shrugged his shoulders, looking down at his sneakers.

She had managed to get some of the dirt off, but not all. He wasn't annoyed or bothered by it. He so happened to be wearing sneakers he didn't care for that much. Slowly looking up, Dess and Shai made eye contact. He gave her a small smile and Dess returned one back.

"It's cool. I don't wear these often, so it's no biggie." He responded, noticing Dess sizing him up. He gave her another smile once they made eye contact again.

Shai cleared his throat then spoke, "So, I noticed we haven't spoken to one another since the first day we met. I guess the excuse is that the campus is big and they're tons of students here which will explain why we haven't seen each other. Umm, but since we're here now we can get to know each other. A little if that's alright?" he questioned, putting his hands in his pockets.

Dess hummed to herself. "I mean if you're going to ignore me like the last time then I don't think we should." she remarked, shrugging her shoulders. Shai raised his brow in confusion then frowned.

"Uhh, I ignored you?" he questioned, Dess nodded her head.

"Yup. I was walking by and I said hi, and you ended up ignoring me. Kinda messed up don't you think?" she asked.

Shai nodded. "Yeah, really messed up. I'm sorry for ignoring you, I was probably listening to music when you said that. I always have it blasting. It's only sooner or later that I become deaf." he joked. "I'm sorry.

Dess shook her head, "Don't apologize. I figured that was the case, but was in my feelings about it. You should definitely stop listening to music so loud though cause it'll mess up your hearing. You can't be a basketball player and not hear." she said, making Shai laugh. Dess smiled at how cute his laugh was. Though he had a deep voice, his laugh was like a little kid.

"I think I'll be a good ass deaf ball player. I'll be making history..."

"And I'll support." Dess added, smiling at him. Shai smiled back.

It got quiet between the two of them. Dess tucked in her lips, looking around the area. Shai rocked back and forth on his heels with his hands in his pockets. They glanced at each other twice and smiled before looking away. It wasn't as awkward as they thought it would be.

Shai scratched the back of his head then spoke, "Uhh...so...you know...what's your favorite color?" he stumbled over his words a little. Dess smirked at the weird question that came out of nowhere. She stared at him, knowing he was feeling embarrassed.

"That's an odd question to ask randomly," she began, Shai scratching the back of his head. "But, my favorite color is yellow. You?"

"Blue." he answered.

Dess nodded her head. "Hmm, two primary colors. If mixed together make the color green like..."

"Like grass."

"I was thinking money, but that works too." Dess chuckled.

"I think of nature first when it comes to colors." he admitted. Dess listened while he went down a few colors and naming a nature like object that goes with it.

Green went with grass. Blue went with the sky. Red mashed with roses. Yellow was the sun. Dess found herself getting lost as she stared at him. It was something about him that was so damn admirable. Some would say it was Shai's look that people were admired to. Though it was a plus, it wasn't the main reason why for Dess. Maybe it was because she could relate to Shai in many different ways. Both teenagers who want something in life. He was humbled, sweet, awkward, and cute.

Everything she liked in a guy.

"Where do you be at while on campus?" Shai questioned once he was done.

"If I'm not hanging with Freya, I'm either in my room or at the library. I don't do anything drastic. How 'bout you?" She asked.

"The student lounge." Shai answered. "It's real peaceful down here. Plus, I'm alone majority of the time."

"Well, maybe you don't have to be alone anymore." Dess found herself flirting with him. She normally would cringe on the inside, but didn't this time. She caught Shai looking her up and down, licking his lips unintentionally she thought.

Her cheeks got hot as she blushed. "I mean I don't want to be alone. Maybe we could hang out sometime at the library or the lounge. Either one is fine with me." he suggested, nervously pulled his hair.

Dess shrugged, "That's fine with me. Just let me know and I'll be on my way." she agreed. She glanced over when she heard her name being called.

Freya was calling her name and waving at her. The game was starting back up and Freya wanted to be nosy. Dess shook her head, putting her attention back on Shai.

"I should get going." she pointed at Freya, making Shai look over at the girl near his friend. He put two and two together. Realizing that the young lady was his friends college fling.

"Okay. Before you go, is it alright for me to text you?" he questioned before Dess walked off.

"Yeah, of course. I gave you my Instagram for a reason, utilize it." she winked at him before walking off.

She tried to keep her composure as she walked to Freya, but the butterflies in her stomach was taking over. Just because, she glanced back at Shai and saw he was watching her. He gave her a wave and she waved back.

"Mhm, you're welcome." Freya said once she approached. Dess shoved her friend lightly, Freya mouth dropping open like she was fake hurt.

"Don't ever do that again."

"My bad babe."

Dess shook her head, connecting her arm with Freya. Even though she was upset at what Freya done, it was helpful in the end. Once more, she glanced back at Shai to see if he was looking at her. He was taking to Axel, so he didn't see her. She smiled to herself as she thought about the incoming message she would receive from him. She couldn't wait.

🏀

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Discussion Board:
1. We finally cleared things up😊

2. Y'all ready for them to start hanging?