"Are you sure, he will like this?" I ask, holding up the black Miami Heat jersey.
"Trust Me. Mako loves basketball and that team as well. He took me to a game once, I got an autograph from Dwyane Wade!"
Wow, he flew them all the way to Florida! I could have gotten Korra to play on the team but, that's just me.
I put the jersey in our shopping cart, as we roam through Dick's Sporting Goods. I couldn't have thought of a better place to get my boss's gift.
The ride here was very….how do I say this? Amazing, everything Korra did made her look cuter. I found out that she loves hip hop music. She rapped that G-Eazy song that always plays on the radio without missing a beat, she's adorable.
"Did you play basketball in school?" I ask, watching The MMA fighter spin a ball on one finger.
She laughs and puts it back into the bin.
"No. I suck when it comes to team sports. I'm a bit of a ball hog. Which isn't my fault by the way, I'm just competitive. Did you play any sports, when you were in school?"
With my busy life at home, I had no time for sports. Of course, there were students at my private school that could balance both, I could never handle it.
"Sadly, no."
Korra frowns and places a Chicago Cubs' hat over my head.
"I'm surprised. You look like an outfielder type of girl."
I fix the hat, so it's not facing backwards.
"No, Asami it looks better on you that way. Actually…"
Korra steps back and holds her hands out like she's trying to capture a great shot.
"Nevermind, you make every angle look perfect."
I try to hide my blush.
"Thank You, but I'm not a Cubs fan." I reply.
"Then what fan are you?" she asks.
"Whatever your team is." I reply, with a grin.
Calm down Asami! I know it's not your fault that your words are smoother than baby food. But you still need to tone it down.
"Tell you what. I'll be a Cubs fan for today, if that provides you an opportunity to get that hat."
She says with a wink.
I put the hat into our cart and we make our way over to the fitness section. Korra grabs a dumb bell and starts lifting it like it's nothing.
As she lifts, I notice the hem of her shirt rise up and I just stare in awe.
"Are you checking Korra out?" I turn around, forgetting the added company.
"Um No! We're friends. Friends don't check each other out." I reply to the Piggy tailed girl, that happens to be Ikki.
Before we left for the mall, Korra got a phone call from her Coach. He wanted to know if Korra could take his kids to see Santa.
Korra wanted to postpone our outing but I knew going somewhere alone with Korra, wouldn't be the best idea. So I suggested we take the kids along with us. Korra was thrilled and just seeing her smile made my day. Now I'm second guessing my decision.
"You were clearly checking her out." Ikki defends.
"Checking who out?" Meelo asks, hopping on a yoga ball.
I'm surprised we didn't get kicked out yet, these kids are wild. Well everyone but Jinora, who's nowhere to be found. But that's not the point.
The point is, this little girl is going to get me caught.
I kneel down so I'm at Ikki's level.
"Listen Kid. I was not checking out your babysitter/fake sister. Okay?"
"My sister Jinora, check out Kai all the time. So I know what checking out someone looks like." she replies.
"What's checking out someone?" Meelo asks.
"It's when you like someone so much that, you check out their body." Ikki states.
" Asami, I like you so much. I want to check you out." Meelo yells in the store, which gets a few looks from customers.
I should have never agreed to this! I dig into my wallet.
"If you keep this to yourself, I'll give you both twenty dollars."
Ikki quickly grabs the Andrew Jackson and holds it up to check if it's real.
"Deal."
"I want a ten dollar one." Meelo whines.
"But all I have is a twenty and it's more money." I reply.
Meelo's eyes start to water.
"You better give him what he wants or he will cry louder than my Mom when she hears an Adele song."
I can't have Meelo crying. Korra will think I'm bad with children, which I'm not.
What if, she never wants to hang out with me again, because I made the little boy she loves cry? What if, she asks Meelo what's wrong and he tells her he's crying because I won't give him a ten dollar bill for staying silent about checking her out? I can't let that happen!
I lift up the six year old, head to the register, throw some random golf balls on the counter, and tell the clerk to give me change for a ten back.
I let Meelo grab the change from the clerk and I'm suddenly startled by Korra's voice.
"Aww, you let Meelo pay? That's adorable. You really are great with Kids." Korra says.
"What did you think? I'm not some type of monster." I tease.
"You could never be a monster!" she says, grabbing Meelo from my hands.
"Are you ready to see Santa, big guy?" she asks excited.
"Yep, I'm going to pull his beard off!" Meelo yells.
"Aww, that's my boy." Korra says between laughter.
I hope he's kidding.
"So do you believe in Santa?" Korra whispers to me, as we wait in line.
"Please tell me you don't?"
My response get a chuckle from the MMA Fighter.
"Of course, I do. Honestly, I think Santa should be a Navy Seal. The way he can travel and be a million places at once without getting caught, is legendary"
Mako doesn't deserve her sense of humor!
"Did you put up your Christmas Tree yet?" I ask.
"Yes, I did. It not as huge as the kids'." Korra states, tickling Ikki
"But it's blue and super awesome. I put boxing ornaments all over it."
"How does Mako feel about that." I ask.
Shit! How did I let that questions slip out of my mouth?
"Mako and I don't share an apartment. Even though, I'm at his more than my own. We haven't decided to move in just quite yet. He doesn't really like Christmas that much."
"So I'm guessing your apartment is a winter wonderland." I tease.
"Do you think you're funny?" Ikki asks.
"Hey, don't be rude Ikki. Asami was very kind to take you to meet Santa. BTW you don't want to be on Santa's naughty list, remember?"
Ikki stares at Korra and her eyes starts to water, causing Korra crosses her arms.
"Don't you do this Ikki." Korra says, looking away.
"I'm telling Dad!" She says between tears.
"It's oka.." before I can give my words of encouragement, Korra stops me.
"She does this all the time. You can't give in! Her parents may be fooled by her act but I'm not."
Even Korra's can see how evil this kid is. This is wonderful…I mean sad.
Ikki's tantrum starts to get louder and I can tell Korra's getting frustrated.
"Maybe, I should take her…"
"Asami, she's fine. She's only continuing, because she knows she has an audience."
"No, she's continuing because you're ignoring her!"
Korra looks at me in disbelief.
"You want me to apologize?" she asks, clearly offended.
"Yes. She just asked a question. A sarcastic one, but an question. It's not the end of the world."
Korra turns from me and lifts up Ikki.
" Did I hurt your feelings?" she asks, wiping the eight year old's tears.
Ikki slowly nods.
"I'm sorry, I did that. You know I love you. I was just sticking up for someone I care about. Like you would stick up for Meelo. Do you understand now?"
"Yeahhh." Korra gives her a kiss on the cheek and the crowd says awww.
"What a cute family." a woman behind me says.
I just realized that, Korra and I technically had our first fight and she took my side. I will remember this moment forever.
"Where's Jinora?" Korra asks.
"She's walking around with Kai." Meelo says, while licking the hand I'm holding him with.
"KAI FROM DOWN THE STREET?" Korra yells.
"Yeah, she said she will meet us here later." Ikki replies, bubbly like nothing happened.
Korra's about to leave the line, when I stop her.
"Let's not overreact now. She will probably be here soon. We're almost to the front of the line."
"But Tenzin and I hate Kai. He's a sneaky skater kid. He smokes green too!" Korra whispers.
"What's green?" Meelo asks.
"Mistletoe." I reply quickly.
"Jinora, seems like a good girl, I don't think she would do any of that."
"I know teens, Asami! They're going through changes. They want to try everything out. I was one once!"
"Aren't we all?" I tease, but Korra doesn't find the humor.
Meelo starts squirm, once we get to the front of the line.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Santa, is really scary."
"No, he's jolly. Look at those red cheeks of his."
"And red eyes, seems like Santa was getting too jolly with that mistletoe." Korra tease.
I glare at Korra and her smirk drops.
"Meelo, is scarred of Santa." Korra blurts out.
"But, I thought he wanted to pull his beard!"
Security gives us an eye and I give them a smile.
"Well... Tenzin and I were giving him a pep talk. Mentioning that you can't be scared of someone when you want to fight them."
"So you thought telling him he would fight Santa would be better?"
What type of kids are they raising?
"I knew he wouldn't actually fight him. I thought once being on his lap would change things."
"Apparently not!"
One of his elves lift up the rope and Ikki runs to Santa. As Ikki talks his ear off, I look around and spot Jinora holding hands with Kai. Korra can't see this!
"Hey, Korra, how about you take Meelo and I get us some coffee."
"I want you to take me!' Meelo whines.
"Wow, Meelo. Go ahead and break my heart." She replies, clenching her chest, which makes the little man and me as well, smile.
"Her hands are softer than yours." He yells.
"Oh really, let me see."
Korra grabs my hand and intertwines them.
"I guess, the kid's right. Yours are better than mines."
Don't squeeze her hand, Asami. Please fight the urge to squeeze her hand.
I squeeze her hand and she smiles at me.
I can barely enjoy our moment, when we hear giggling. From the look on Korra's face, she can recognize the laughter.
"Korra, let's be practical." I try to reassure.
"He's touching her!" Korra yells, dropping our hands.
"Next." Santa's helper says.
Before I could stop her, Korra hops over the rope and charges at the couple.
"KORRA NO!"
We drive home in silence and that's an order from me. Everyone's behavior today was unacceptable. If I wanted drama, I would have went to work today. I didn't think such an innocent task of meeting Santa, would end up like this.
"I'm sorr.."
"Don't Korra!" I reply.
Nothing she can say will justify her behavior today. I didn't take three kids to the mall, I took four. Her behavior was quite childish.
"Asami, I'm really sorr.."
"Korra, it took 7 security guards, 3 of Santa's helpers, and Santa himself, to get you under control!"
"Kai, is going to hate me now!" Jinora whines in the backseat.
"I kicked Santa!" Meelo cheers.
"Everyone but me is on the naughty list." Ikki states with pride.
With my eyes on the road, I see Korra push her now flowing hair from the bawl, off her face and I shouldn't be admiring her beauty right now, I'm mad at her.
"When Tenzin finds out, he's going to kill me." Korra groans.
"You should have thought of that before you threaten to choke Kai with Christmas lights." I stress.
"I didn't though. At least that a good thing." She says, flashing me a smile.
"The whole school is going to make fun of me now! Your embarrassing attack on Kai is all over social media. They're calling you the Bitch that Stole Christmas." Jinora yells.
"Hey, watch your tone In front of your siblings and it's the Biscuit That Stole Christmas ." Korra replies, pleased with her behavior.
How can she be okay with all of this? She's supposed to be a role model! For all the little boys and girls who want to fight people for a living..
Okay, maybe a role model isn't her best job, but this is crazy. I never experienced such an event in all of my life. I felt scarred, upset, overwhelmed, and amazing. Today had to be one of the best moments in my life. Korra, is really something else.
"Sami, pleaseeee talk to me. I'm overprotective, I would have done the same for you."
A smile start to form on my face.
"Ah is that a pretty smile of yours?" Korra says.
"No, I just really like this song?" I reply.
"Mmmhm, I thought you hated country music."
"Well, I do but Carrie Underwood isn't country." I reply.
"Are you serious? I love country music and Underwood is most def country. We're gonna have a day where you listen to country all day."
"Ugh, not 're going have to physically force me to do that."
"I guess, I will have to bring rope then." She says with a wink.
"I'm telling Mako you're flirting." Ikki yells, which makes me slam on the brakes, coming to a stop light.
"I wasn't flirting." I defend.
"Duhhh, I'm talking about Korra." Ikki replies.
"Tell him. I don't care. It your words against mines." Korra tease.
Wait did she just admit she was flirting or was that just an understatement?
"I hate Mako." Meelo screams.
It's official, Meelo is my favorite kid.
"I like Mako, he would have stopped his crazy girlfriend from killing Kai." Jinora adds.
"Well Mako, loves you all, Despite how you feel about him." Korra replies, amused.
"His hair looks like a Porcupine " Ikki adds, which makes me giggle.
"Can you stop joking my boyfriend? I like his hair!" Korra whines.
"Alright you like his hair we get your point." I tease, making the kids laugh.
"Fine, if you all hate him so much. I'll tell him to dis-invite you all from the party."
All the kids start to whine.
"I thought so."
"Are you dating anyone, Asami?" Ikki asks.
"No, I'm not."
"Do like someone?" Ikki asks.
"I like everyone." I reply.
"Do you have someone you check out a lot?" the five year old asks, which makes Korra face turn red.
"Meelo, where did you learn that?" she asks, turning to the little boy.
"From Mako!" Ikki says.
I sigh in relief. I guess Ikki, isn't that bad after all.
"Who is he checking out?" Korra asks, with concern.
"You!" Meelo says laughing.
"Sounds like you were a bit jealous, Korra." Jinora states, on her phone.
"I don't get jealous. I just get overly passionate" Korra says, looking at me.
I'm thankful for all the readers, who deal with my crazy writing and continue to support me : ) Hope you all have a great day. I typed this up super quick, so you all can have something to distract you from your crazy family lol.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Leave your thoughts : )