" Alright watch this Kev, half court and nothing but net." Javier said basketball in hand.
" Yeah right what do you think you're Carmelo Anthony? "
"Stop hating and watch, wait get your phone out and record this so future generations can bathe in my glory too."
"Ok big shot , lets see it." Rick said whipping out his iPhone.
Javier went to half court set up for the shot. He dribbled the ball a bit and made the shot.
Swish
"Lucky shot."
"Man Demmings that is pure talent something you know nothing about." Javier said
"Jav you have all that mouth but did you forget that I beat you one on one yesterday?" Kate said walking up behind him.
Javier turned around to look at her.
"Girl bye I let you win." Javier flicked his eyes from Kate to Lanie who was walking up behind her.
"You let her win what?" Lanie said
"Nothing I beat him fair and square." Kate said
"Yeah he's just a douche bag who can't take getting beat." Demmings said
" You know what Demmings I am a douche bag that's why after I…"
Javier looked over at Lanie and bit his lip.
"After you what?" Demmings said.
Just then Coach Montgomery, blew his whistle.
"Alright girls on that side of the gym by the mats, to continue in your gymnastics unit with Coach Kay."
All the girls went by the mats and began stretching.
"And for you guys , today you will be climbing the rope." Coach Montgomery said.
There was a series of groans. Coach Montgomery blew his whistle again.
"Quit whining, Esposito come over here and show them how it's done."
Javier was to busy watching Lanie to hear the coach.
"ESPOSITO."
"Huh what?" Javier said turning around to the coach.
"The rope, come show them how it's done."
"Yes coach." Javier said.
Javier approached the rope and waited for Coach to tell him to go.
"You Ready?" Coach Montgomery said , Javier nodded "Go!"
Javier started quickly climbing the rope, when got to the top he rang the bell and quickly climbed back down.
"14.6 seconds. Good job Esposito, go get some water."
Esposito went over to the water fountain.
"Demmings 16.1 seconds."
Esposito looked over at the girls. They were doing back hand springs.
"Castle 15.7"
Esposito watched as Lanie step up to do hers.
"Ryan 16.9"
"It's not polite to stare."
Javier turned around to find Kay Capoochio looking at him with her arms folded across her chest.
" Uh. Hey Kay, I wasn't staring."
"Of course not you just find those mats are very interesting."
" I was just thinking." Javier said turning to walk away. Kay got in front of him.
"Come on Javier what's going on." Kay said rubbing his arm.
"Nothing's going on."
"Good because my parents are going out of town this weekend and I'll be so lonely by myself. "
"You should go over a friends house." Javier said starting to walk away.
"Wait, " Kay said grabbing his arm " you should come over and we could you know hang out and stuff."
Kay twirled her hair in between her fingers and bit her lip seductively.
"Naw, thanks though."
Javier walked back over and joined his class.
"I saw you over there with Kay." Rick said nudging Javier in the arm.
"Yeah what about it?" Javier said nonchalantly
"We saw her putting the moves on you." Kevin said
"I'm not worried about her." Javier said
"Really? You been tryna get after her for the longest and now you all of a sudden don't want her?" Demmings said
"What I can't change my mind?" Javier said
"The question is what or should I say who changed your mind." Rick said
" I don't have to explain my self to you guys." Javier said
Coach Montgomery blew his whistle.
"Since you guys have so much to say give me laps until the end of class. "
The boys groaned, Coach Montgomery blew his whistle again.
"GO!"
By the time the class was over the boys had ran 50 laps and were sweaty and out of breath. When Coach Montgomery had demisted them to the showers, all of them had already taken their shirts off and where dripping sweat.
The most of girls swooned over them Castle and Demmings gave them smiles and a wave. Javier walked over to Lanie before she entered the girl's locker room.
"Hey." He said still gasping for air.
"You okay?" She said
"Yeah I'm good. I came over here because we have a ton of work on the chemistry project so I need to give you my number and address."
"That's a lot of information to be giving someone that you just met. " Lanie said.
"Are you a serial killer?"
"No."
"Psychopath that will kidnap me and hold me in your basement?"
"No what the heck?"
"Alright then I trust you." Javier said looking into her eyes softly.
"After class." Lanie said then she went into the locker room.
After they changed Rick , Kevin and Javier met up with Kate and Lanie in the hall way.
"How about I walk you to your locker and give you my information." Javier said
"I was actually gonna walk with Kate." Lanie said
"I'm good I have to go by the newspaper office any way." Kate said with a smile " I'll met up with you later."
"Uh okay." Lanie said
"Lets go then."
Javier grabbed her back pack and carried it all the way to her locker for her.
"You know you didn't have to carry my stuff." Lanie said
"I know I wanted to."
"Well thanks."
"No problem Preciosa ."
"What'd you call me?' Lanie said turning to face him.
"Don't worry nothing bad."
"What does it mean?"
Javier smiled.
"Google it."
"Wouldn't it be easier for you to just tell me?"
"Where's the fun in that?"
Lanie just rolled her eyes at him.
"Hey give me your phone." Javier said.
"For what?"
"So I can give you my number, duh. "
"Why?"
"The project."
"Oh yeah." Lanie unlocked her phone and handed it to him.
Javier put his number and address in her phone.
"Well as much as I don't want to leave I have to go I have football practice."
"'Bye Javier," she said.
"Bye Lanie." Javier said with a smile, then he turned and left.
The next morning
Javier rolled over in his bed. He walked out into his living room.
"Hey Ma, I forgot to tell you I have a friend coming over to .."
Javier stopped in the middle of his step, there in his living room was his mom and Lanie sitting there having tea.
"Oh Javier your up, " His mom said, "we've been waiting for you."
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"I was having a nice conversation with Lanie here. Javier can you go put some clothes on please."
Lanie used her teacup to hide her laugh.
Javier looked down at his bare chest and boxers; red crept up on his cheeks.
"Uh I'll be back."
Javier went back into his room and put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
"Javier, I have errands to run I'll be back in a few hours, I left money so you can order a pizza or something." Javier's mom said
"Alright Mom."
"Be good." His mom said giving him a look.
"Good bye Mom."
"Lock the door." Javier's Mom said as she left. Javier did as she said and locked the door, then he turned to Lanie.
"Come on," He said waving his hand "my books and stuff are in my room."
"Okay then." Lanie said trailing behind him.
Javier came to an abrupt stop in front of a door. He opened it and let Lanie walk in first.
"Well this is it." Javier said plopping down on his bed.
Lanie looked around Javier's room he had posters of cars and girls in bikinis lying on cars. On his dresser there were picture from when he was younger, one with an older woman who looked like his mom, one in a baseball uniform. There was also trophies and medals.
"Your room is so cliché" Lanie said
"Cliché, how? " Javier said laying back on his bed.
" The posters , the trophies and not mention the lingering smell of Axe body spray." Lanie said.
"I like cars and girls," Javier said shrugging his shoulders " and when you play as much sports as me you have to keep your room from smelling like feet and cheese."
"Yeah well lets get to work." Lanie said
Javier patted his bed.
"Have a seat."
Lanie looked at him the bed then back at Javier.
"Really?"
"What I don't bite, and we have work to do."
"You don't have a chair?"
"Nope. Relax I'm not tryna put the moves on you just tryna do some work."
" What if I was tryna out the moves on you?" Lanie said
" What did you say?"
"You heard me." She leaned in close to him; he looked up at her he couldn't believe this was happening.
"Javier!" Lanie said.
"I'm sorry what?" Javier said
"I was saying that we should do our project on different things affect the chemical balance of our brains."
" Uh yeah that seems cool."
"You okay?" Lanie said
"Yeah just fine."
They worked for some a long time before they decided to order food. Once the food came they just sat in his room and talked. Javier found out that Lanie's dad is doctor and she wanted to follow in his footsteps. Javier told her how his dad had left him and his mom and started a new family in Florida. They began to better understand each more than they thought they would.
"Okay so tell me the truth." Lanie said pointing her chop sticks at him.
"Okay." Javier said
"How many girls have you had in here prior to me?"
Javier sat up and looked her.
"None."
"Really I thought.."
"I know what you thought, its what everyone thinks. They think I'm some womanizing player when I'm not."
"You do flirt with a lot of girls though."
"I'm just polite. "
"I don't know what they see in you anyways."
Javier leaned forward towards her and gave her his most charming smile.
"It's the same thing you see in me but the difference is all of them, they just want me in there bed. You don't and I respect that."
"I'm not attracted to you." Lanie said rolling her eyes at him.
"Your such a horrible liar."
"I'm not lying."
Javier leaned in and kissed her. There bodies were tense at first then they melted together. Javier pulled away first he looked into her eyes.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
"It's fine."
"No I over stepped my bounds."
"Shut up , " Lanie said " It was kinda nice."
Javier smiled , "I thought you weren't attracted to me?"
"Shut up." Lanie said hitting him.
" You know what?"
"What? "
"You're my new best friend."
"What about Kevin?"
" My girl best friend."
"Was that kiss initiation or something?"
"No, I've jus been meaning to do that." Javier smiled