"Alone Together"

"Alright alright alright! You all are improving really fast I can tell you that" Coach Bombay commented, sounding proud "How's about we stop here and call it a day?"

"Thank the lord for this!" Goldberg cheered.

"Seriously? We only had two hours of practice" Man chuckles

"A man like me needs to rest and eat. No questions asked"

I do feel pretty tired as well, I must've overdone it for the past days since my legs are hella sore. I grabbed my bag as I headed inside the locker room, feeling both the laziness and tiredness getting to me a bit.

"Sooooo...." Julie began "You have a date tomorrow?"

"How did you-"

"Connie and I will be asking the questions here! Now... where are you guys gonna go? What are you gonna wear?"

"I'm not sure for either of those answers... I've never been on a date before so this is pretty new to me" I explained, already feeling nervous "And besides, it's not like it's a crazy wedding, we're just going out to have fun"

"Yeah, 'fun'" Julie smiles "You better tell us everything"

"I will, but I'll leave the juicy stuff out" I joked, making Julie gasp "I'm just fucking with you"

Connie approaches me shyly "Can I walk with you out? I wanna talk to you about something"

"Yeah sure. You okay being alone Julie?"

She nods "If anything happens, I can just smack the hell out of them with my stick. I've played softball for a year so I know how to swing hard enough to break a guys skull"

"Alright, see you"

Something was off about Connie. It was like she was bothered by something, or better yet- someone.

"What do you wanna talk about?"

"Uh- you and Luis have been friends and all, so I was  just wondering- is there anything he likes?" She asked as she looks away "I-I kinda wanna make something for him- Just for appreciation!"

"Oh! I thought you were bothered from what happened yesterday" I said, almost feeling relief "Are you mad about it? Because if so I can step aside from you two!"

"No no, it's fine!" She reassured me "I just wanted to ask you this since you know him very well"

I smirk "Wellll ain't that cute. What's next you're going to purpose to the guy and live happily ever after?"

"Aww quit it! What's so bad about a girl giving a boy a gift?" She blushed

"Alright, alright I get what you're saying" I apologized as I cleared my throat "I'm not one to know what he likes since he's always changing his mind, but what I do know is that he cherishes any gift given to him. Why do you think he is always cautious with his hockey stick?"

"Are you the one that gave him that?! It must've been expensive!"

"More like seven months of mowing peoples' yard and helping the elderly out. It was all worth it though" I sighed "Before he left, I quickly bought it and gave it to him. I'm surprised it still looks brand new. I probably would've broken the stick in 5 months"

"I just want him to know I love him...." she mumbles

"Love you?" I repeated

"It's nothing! Thanks for the advice. I'll see you around"

"Oh... alright, see you" I said as she begins walking the opposite direction.

Love her? Does she feel unappreciated? Luis wouldn't betray her like that. Besides, the guy was all head over heels for her, he wouldn't get bored and move on.

"What's her deal?" I heard Dean asked from behind me, almost making me hit him with my stick

"Don't scare me like that!" I said as I gently hit him with my stick "Could've gave me a heart attack"

He chuckles "Now I know not to fuck with you. Anyways, I found a cool place for tomorrow"

"Oh really?" I said, making me curious "Who helped you with this?"

"No one"

"You sure?"

"Well, I did ask Ken and Fulton's opinion on it"

"Of course it was Ken and Fulton" I sighed "You don't think they'll mess with us on our little date?"

"Nah, they aren't going to waste their free time on watching us" he comments "Unless you want them to"

I couldn't help but laugh "Stalkers much? And besides that, Ken is really bad at hiding. Like that time we played hide and seek and he was found hiding behind a trash bin"

"And I can imagine Fulton saying 'You idiot! You need to hide better!'" he chuckles "It'll be more fun for us to find them than them stalking"

Luis walks up to Dean and I, panting a little "Portman, you just missed an all out wrestle match between Kenny and Brian. I thought I was going to get thrown in there"

"Seriously? You guys wrestle in there?" I repeated

They both nod "What do you guys do?"

"We change back to our clothes like normal people" I answered

"Well that sucks" Luis said "Anyways, should we get going Nai?"

"Right, I'll see you tomorrow Dean" I waved goodbye as I followed Luis.

"Nai and Portman sitting in a tree" Luis sang

"Shut up!" I said as I smacked the back of his head "You better not be singing that at practice"

"It got in my head!" He explained "Besides, Goldberg was the one singing it!"

"That idiot" I muttered "Is your mom going to meet us at my place?"

"Yeah, I made sure to give her the address"

"Sweet! My mom is probably adding barbecue sauce on the ribs. My mouth is watering just thinking about it" I rejoiced

"Still have that goal we bought?"

"You kidding? I took care of it like a baby. We can play it when we get home"

As we walked up the steps, Luis' mom parks in front of my house, holding her cookies in one hand and soda in the other.

"Wow! You're house looks amazing Nai" she compliments

"Thank you. Need any help with that?" I asked as she handed me the cookies "You're famous chocolate cookies!"

"I knew you'll want them. Plus Luis here always eats them and leaves me with none"

"Mamá I'm like a garbage disposal. I must eat everything you make" he preaches as I bursted out laughing

"Mamá! I'm home and we have guests!" I called out as I opened the door.

I can already smell the delicious ribs and asparagus in the air, Luis smelled it as well and we both were desperate to eat dinner.

"I'm out back!" She called backyard

"C'mon Luis! You can leave your bag beside the door"

*****

"Wait wait! I know the answer! You're a surfer right?"

"Hell yeah!"

"Ha! That makes Luis and I the winners in charades!" I preached

"Seems like us mom's just don't have the skill" mom giggles.

"It's starting to get late. You two should start heading to bed" Nina said as we whined

"But it's Fridayyy" he huffed

"And we don't have practice tomorrowwwww" I continued

We continued to groan as we slowly laid on the floor. We used to do this when we were kids and sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldn't, but the funny thing was our mom's laughing on how goofy and dramatic we were.

"Yeah but you have something important tomorrow Nai" mom hinted

"And so do you Luis. Now go on to bed"

"Alright fineeeee" We sighed loudly as Luis grabbed his sleeping bag and followed me up stairs

"Race you!" I giggled as we ran up the steps "Ha! Second place for Mr.Mendoza!"

"You cheated you cheater. How was I supposed to know where your room is"

"Just take the L you loser"

Nico jumps on my bed and lays down on his back, asking for a belly rub.

"How's my little Nico doing?" I said in a cute voice as I rub his belly

"You have so much space here. You can probably make a small goal in the corner and play with a pair of socks or paper" Luis recommend.

"You should see my mom's room. It's a bit bigger and since she doesn't have much furniture, it's really opened"

Luis started to unfold his sleeping bag as I grabbed extra pillows from the hallway closet. I grabbed my sleeping bag from my closet and started to unfold it.

"Y'know you do have a bed" Luis chuckles

"Y'know better well that we both do this when either of us stays over" I said as I handed him a few pillows "Plus the floor is the best way to actually see the stars from my window"

"Odd but true" I agreed "Soooo, you and Portman"

"If you say something stupid I'm going to fuck you up"

"No no! Just wondering how are you feeling"

"Ughhh" I sighed as I covered myself with my pillow

"I thought you liked him?"

"I do! But I get- so nervous in front of him- I get awkward and look stupid"

"Let's practice"

"Wait what?" I confusingly said as I got the pillow off my face

"I'll pretend I'm Portman and you try and talk to him, like how you talk to everyone else normally without feeling nervous" He explained as he grabbed one of my scarfs and wraps it around his head.

I couldn't help but laugh "You're shitting me right?"

"Nope! Now in character!" He said as he clears his throat "Sup Nai! Ready for our date?" He asked in a deep voice, making me almost burst out laughing

"S-Sure! Yes! Absolutely! Where exactly are we going?" I nervously said

"You like fairs?"

"Yeah yeah! Fairs are- amazing!" I replied "This is fucking stupid"

"Awesome! Let's go!" He said as he clears his throat again

"That does not sound like Dean" I laughed "Since when does he use 'sup' when he talks to me?"

"How should I know how he talks? Anyways, you two go on that date yada yada yadaaaa, you guys talk blah blah blahhh, have fun do dumb crap like any other date and finally for the finale"

I cocked an eyebrow "What's the finale exactly?"

"Him walking you to your door"

"Oh not that-"

"Yes that, I had to do it for Connie so he'll most likely do it to you. I don't know why but it's a guy thing. Now in character!"

"You sound like a drama teacher" I joked as I snickered

"Silence! In character!"

"Ok ok!" I giggled as I calmed down

We "pretend" to walk up my porch when reality we were just walking to my window. I felt my hands begin to sweat. Even when it's Luis acting as Dean, I can't help but be so nervous.

"That was pretty fun" Luis said in a deep voice

"Yes! Yes, that was- fun! We should do that again sometime!"

I look up at Luis as he stares down at me with his compassionate, dark brown eyes. I felt goosebumps crawl on my body as my cheeks felt a bit warm. This feeling felt... how should I say this... happy?

"You're really pretty Nai..."

"Thanks..." I trailed off as we got closer

What am I doing? WHAT AM I FUCKING DOING?! Luis has a girlfriend! A wonderful one who has been nothing but nice to me- AND I WAS GOING TO BREAK THE GIRL CODE!

I quickly cleared my throat as I pat his shoulder "Thanks Luis! I don't seem as nervous as I sounded!"

"Nah I think you sounded nervous" he chuckles "But what can I say? I'm a pretty good actor"

"Bullshit" I coughed

We started to get a bit tired, our moms were right, we do need to sleep. I turned off the lights as we snuggled on our sleeping bags, Nico laying between us.

"Luis? I just wanted to say... thank you. I'm a bit surprised that you actually wanted to help me, but I appreciate it"

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked as he cocked an eyebrow

"Oh y'know! Some boys usually tend to hide their feelings as if they don't have none, but you! You're different"

"I don't know if I should feel offended or proud of that?"

"Picture it as both. Makes Connie like you a bit more and also makes you look like a total idiot"

"Who you calling an idiot, moron?" He smirks as we chuckle

"We should get some sleep, we don't want our moms to scold us now do we?"

"Night Nai"

"Night Luis"

As I laid back down on my sleeping bag, I felt that same feeling from before, that feeling I had with Luis before he began dating Connie.

"No, no I can't have that feeling again. I have to move on, for my sake"

**********************************