Chapter Fourteen

Kelly

Craig just threw his car keys at me as I was leaving the house and told me to drive to school with Nate. Matt appears with a grin on his face as soon as I put the car in park.

"Kelly, Kelly, Kelly."

"Stop, its Craig's."

"You know what this reminds me of? Bun selling your car the one you got from..." Must be the look on my face, he stops talking and clears his throat. "Datsun huh?"

"Yep." I speak nonchalantly.

"So who gave in first you or Craig? Who would have thought you would find common ground."

"Apparently I should give him the benefit of the doubt that's according to him and Kadja -The man is seeking redemption."

Matthias laughs. "As he should."

"So I need you to do me a favor."

Oh oh.

"The school's organizing a trip to Lake Charleston."

"I am not selling drugs at a school trip."

"Of course not."

For a moment there...

"But you can sell tomorrow at the football games' after party."

"How do you know they're going to win and throw a party?"

"Well they lose then you don't have to sell anything. Deal?"

"No."

"Please."

"Why is this important to you?"

"Because..." He gets off the hood of the car and faces me, "Because I want to go..."
I'm a bit surprised,"to the trip ?" He shrugs looking at the ground.
There is a thoughtful silence on both our ends. Honestly I don't get it... A school trip ? , "When the gang was here I couldn't go to Manderley's, love atoms and decomposition. I couldn't try out for anything other than basketball. I wasn't allowed to even have alone time with you- hope you don't take it the wrong way, but it was just a rule to respect you. I couldn't even go after Natia a girl I have had a crush on since 3rd grade because of bro code. I couldn't play ping pong let alone go for a school trip... Like this one."

"Wait I thought we all equally hated high school traditions."

"Hey, I get it if you don't want to do it. It's just the footballers like you."

"They prefer me. There is a difference."

Wow, after six years I find out Matt likes Manderley's. It's not that farfetched if you really think about it, the restaurant is quite close to his house.

"I'll do it."

"You sure?"

"No but anything for you."

We start heading towards the hall for Friday's assembly. "Do you even like Wutang?"

He laughs. "I'ld be crazy to rebuke that fact."

"Manderley's burgers don't come with a dip."

"Come on let it go. Dip is overrated. It ruins everything."

"Dre would kill you for saying that."

We both laugh knowingly.

So here I am, Saturday night, back at Sonny's mansion- a new football team favorite hangout?

Robert squares me the money for the 18 boxes of merriment; people are going all out tonight.

It's on my way out of the house that I see Sonny with some other guys leaning against the walls holding cups.

He looks his usual self, 'contained'. Well I don't feel the need to explain myself to him so I make my way.

"You can stay."

Is he drunk?

"And why would I stay?"

"You know I have been to at least six parties in this town and still I'm yet to see you stay to enjoy one. I guess you are really only here to bring the infamous boxes of merriment."

"Clearly."

"What is your scene?"

"If I tell you will you tell me why you're standing there like a visitor at your own place?"

"Yes I would."

"...I think I would also offer you a drink."

There is a pause; mostly I'm wondering why he is being nice to me.

"I don't drink."

"Not even water."

This condescending son of a... "Bye Sonny. Enjoy your party."

"Hey, Okay- okay, I bite." He leaves the wall and follows me.

"You are no offense to anyone here, the only person I find interesting enough to have a conversation with until this whole thing ends. This whole thing was Robert's idea okay? Not mine. I'm just replacing an injured quarterback called Tucker then boom I'm no longer a part of all this..."

With those looks I doubt it.
Wait.
Did he just willingly divulge non-tutoring related information to me ?

"You know telling me this isn't going to make me stay."

"Then I'll come with you, if you don't mind."

"What?"

"What do you get up to in this here town? Well what do we have here?" He takes the basketball I was carrying in my other arm.

"You play basketball?"

I proceed to grab it back but he's too fast. We stop.

"Sometimes. Can you give me my ball back?"

"Depends, Can I come with you?"

"No. You are going back to your party and drinking. I'm going home."

"You are not going home. You're lying. Come on give the relatively new guy his long awaited tour around Coverton and I'm not drunk just happy to see you."

There is a flicker somewhere on my chest and something innocent in his eyes as he stands there in his royal blue jacket holding my ball with both hands, waiting.

"You don't give up do you? Just so you know there is nothing relatively new about you."

Manderley's it is.

Yes, thanks to Matt I am officially checking out Manderley's .

Sir Earl stops wiping the counter. He seems glad to see me.

"To what do I owe this surprise? Kelly Martins..."

I remember the last time I was in Manderley's, 5 years ago. My crew got into it with the Pilgrim's, a crew down town; the fight that ensued was one for the ages. Sir Earl made it clear that he did not want anything to do with me for as long as I was hanging out with X.

"And who is this boy here?"

Royal blue jacket in hand, Sonny gives him a charming smile. I don't think I've ever seen Sonny with a charming smile on - it suits him and also the t-shirt looks good on him (just like in my dreams)... eye roll.

Sonny and Sir Earl get into this 'profound' discussion about the local football club.

I like how they talk to each other like they have known each other for a long time.

Somewhere along the line Sir Earl begins to talk about Murphy and I's escapades as little kids running around the streets. Once he starts there is no end so I head over to the dead juke box and try to fix it by beating it up. There is so much intensity in Sonny's eyes as he listens. Sir Earl brings up my parents. They died in an accident when I was a baby and I don't like to talk about it, who would? If I remembered anything maybe I would feel something.

"Tough times, tough times, I can't help but wonder..." The man says with a wistful look on his face. "I wonder how things would have turned out if Esther was still alive. You see Sonny those days, Coverton was a good place. The buildings were better and brighter; people loved and helped each other." I start to remember why I stopped coming here.

"But it's alright I believe in her and something tells me you believe in her too."

"Enough."

Sir Earl is happy when I tell him I will come by next time.

Sonny and I head out to the public basketball court.

Who is this guy? To think at some point I thought all he did was organize notes and gel his hair to match with his outfits- consider me proven wrong. At some point I realize I've been staring at him for a while, I need to stop, he smiles back at me.

"Come on, I can't play on my own."

I remove my bag, my jacket and toss it to the side.

We make a few quick passes before we start playing a competitive game that leaves me surprised during a number of intervals. Gees if Murphy and Dre were here they would have laughed at me, Sonny is really giving me a run for my money.

From here things get serious fast.

He has to learn - around here we don't play 'ball' for fun.

I grab the ball and start dribbling, with a spring in my step I go for the hoop. He's perplexed; I can't imagine a comeback from him.

Once he gets a hold of the ball I am proven wrong, in swift motion he angles a quick one between my legs and 'that's what I call a curve...' a blast at my ego instead of scoring he comes back for me with the ball and bounces it behind me. Thing is when he grabs it from behind my back it feels like an embrace. I can smell his cologne. Caught in the daze I lose my focus, and he goes on and scores.

I make it my mission to get him back and when I get my chance I hit his bottom with the ball and wink at him. I place the ball in the hoop. At some point when we are fighting for the ball we end up crashing on the ground, him on top of me.

Our bodies are so close; for a moment we share the same breath... our lips almost touch. "Are you okay?" he whispers.

My heart rate drops. He picks me up in one fall sweep. For a second my head spins.
We laugh it off.

"There is no going soft with you huh?" I push him away. He smiles his casual smile and proceeds to bounce the ball.

We walk back to the gated yards. He insisted on carrying my bag along with his jacket. I have the ball.

"Someone was playing like they got a manicure." He says looking away at the neighborhood.

I can't help but smile. "Your corky side is quite refreshing."

"... is that a smile from Miss Martins?"

"The least I can do. You looked like you were falling apart a minute ago."

He stares at me, I stare back.

Shaking his head he looks around. "Another pretty girl mad because I gave her a challenge."

I laugh. Wait, he thinks I'm pretty?

Five minutes later we are talking about how it went down on the court. "What did you expect? I tried to block you and then the next thing. I couldn't find you."

"What do you mean you couldn't find me?"

"I just couldn't. Anyways shout out to all the short girls."

I'm petrified. "I'm not short. I'm like 5'6. Who would have known you were too darn competitive?"

"Something I've been told a lot."

It's been four and a half hours since we left his house and I must admit I have been having a not-so-bad time.

"Wait you thought I was cold?"

I laugh.

"I believe you said deprecating at some point and I reached a low point in my existence."

"You asked whether or not our lessons where worth an investment ... during the first lesson."

He laughs. "In my defense you didn't even look like you wanted to be there..."

"In my defense I didn't want to be there."

We laugh.

"And to top it off you are this calm, beautiful, and kind of popular human. Your whole presence is intimidating."

Am I hearing correctly? Did Sonny just call me beautiful and intimidating in the same sentence? I slow down.

"Well thanks... coming from you, a person that has it all figured out, well in the right path to a great future on behalf of the entire student body we find you intimidating as well."

"I wish..." he murmurs facing down.

We are now standing facing each other.

"Do you think we could...?" His voice drifts off. It's rather astounding ..."You know now I get why your crew spent the day hanging with you, you're great fun Miss Martins."

"You're not bad company yourself Mr. Sonny Davis."

When we get back to the house, the crowd has dispersed and with it left the place a mess. Sonny doesn't seem to mind.

I don't feel like getting inside. I can only imagine what the inside looks like.

Yep. The house is a mess.

"I'll drive you. I'll get the keys."

He's already gone before I can say no.

"Can we at least clean the place?"

Oh wait they have got help for that.

I throw some of the red cups in the trash can. Regardless of the mess this is a beautiful mansion - marble floors and all. I would kick someone's ass for messing it up if it where mine. It's modern day decor with a homely ambience and too big. To think he leaves alone.

I follow where he went past the kitchen door. It was becoming too quiet where I was standing. There are sounds of exasperation in the dim lit living room space.

It takes me a while to catch up to what is happening. Robert is lying unconscious in a morning gown over his early attire complete with socks and slops.

"Wake up, Robert!" Sonny grunts. He is on his knees pumping Robert's chest. Looks like Robert may have overdosed. I drop my ball and rush over where they are.

Shit.