Please vote to show your support for the story the higher we climb in the rankings the more motivated I will feel. Mass releasses will be rewarded for each ten rankings we managed to climb.
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The warm, buzzing ambience of Joe's Diner was filled with the clinking of dishes, bursts of laughter, and the hum of quiet conversations. Sitting in one of the red leather booths under the soft glow of hanging lights, Emma and Rakim leaned forward, listening intently to their friends. Rakim had spent most of the conversation just catching up, content to listen and let their stories wash over him.
He used to have a sort of cold war with Reece and Bennet, but all that was forgotten as they beca much closer. Often tis they would all train together incorporating so of their drills to help each other improve in their sports. Their excitent over their first season in the varsity squad was contagious making him regret not having seen them live.
The match they had against the Miami Tigers in the state semi-final was especially wild. Even though they lost from the retelling of the boys it was sothing straight out of Friday night lights. Halfway through the season, Reece broke into the first string as a wide receiver putting his tall fra and wingspan to good use to pluck passes from the air. Bennet on the other hand was still floating in-between the second team as a running back and first in special teams.
Leaning back with a satisfied grin, his eyes bright with ambition. "Man, we're already putting up so killer stats, and we barely got going this season just imagine when we get a full season!"
"Don't forget who you're talking to," Rakim added with a light smirk taking another bite out of his burger. "You better reach the top 20 in the state, or I'll be embarrassed to tell people we trained together." He laughed, shaking his head as if to say they better give it their all.
"You're just lucky we can't go pro at 16 otherwise we'd also be putting up numbers on TV," Bennett retorted with a light smile. "Don't worry though after I hit my growth spurt this sumr, I'm gonna be a beast like Barry Sanders,"
"Sorry to tell you but this is as tall as you are gonna get pipsqueak," May retorted from across the table instantly causing the rest of the guys to burst out laughing. Bennet was only an inch shorter than her at 5'9 but the girl took pride in making him rember that.
Bennett rolled his eyes, feigning exasperation. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. You just wait till next season when I'm towering over all of you," he shot back, smirking. "Then you'll be looking up to , literally."
"Sure, just don't go wearing your platforms on the field, you haven't mastered the art of sprinting in high heels," Reece chid in before proceeding to ss with his hair instantly igniting a bout of wrestling between the two as they got up from the booth.
Seeing this the rest of the group simply ignored them already used to this, May had explained it as having sothing to do with too much testosterone. "Now while the Neanderthals are busy doing Neanderthal things we should get down to business senior Prom," Liv stated placing her phone down on the table as she rejoined the conversation.
"Oh, look who can get off the phone long enough from Spencer to talk to us," Lexi teased only with a wide grin only to regret it the next second, as Liv threw a wadded-up napkin at Lexi with a mock glare, but a smile broke through almost imdiately. "You can tease all you want, Lex, but ti is running out and I already have a date."
"Wait you have a date for prom, I thought we were all going as friend's" Emma exclaid not understanding how things had suddenly ended up this way. Liv shrugged, her lips curling up in a secretive smile. "Well, we were, but plans change, and Spencer's, like, really sweet when he wants to be. Besides, we can all still go together, just with a little…extra company."
Lexi scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Sure, sure. But when you're lost in Spencer's eyes, don't expect us to wait around like third wheels."
"Hey, co on, it'll be fun! I swear, and It's not like any of you would struggle to find a date, I an have you looked in the mirror lately," Liv protested, leaning forward with that hopeful look that none of them could really resist.
"Y'know she's not wrong, plus Spencer is cool just don't let him start talking about WWE," Rakim comnted from the side after finally rembering who Liv's boyfriend was. Although he wasn't close with the boy, they had an amicable relationship never really crossing paths. It was the type of relationship you have with soone you only know second-hand. Culminating in respectful head nods in the hallway and the occasional dap when the other's na gets ntioned in the intercom when achieving sothing special.
"See at least one of you is supportive," Liv stated as she shot Rakim a grateful look. She crossed her arms with a mock pout, trying to look annoyed but failing miserably.
"Supportive or scared of getting napkin thrown at him," Lexi chid in giggling lightly as she took another sip of her soda.
"Well, as long as we're talking prom dates, who else has a date lined up? Hurry up and confess," May asked raising an eyebrow already realising that her friends were crumbling under the pressure to find a Date. There was a mont of silence as no one spoke not willing to be the first to answer.
It was her brother Reece who was first to speak up after managing to put Bennett in a headlock "Bennett's got a date with Madison and so do I, didn't think it would be a big deal." He calmly responded before the boy in question broke out of the headlock initiating a chase.
"I haven't said yes to being your Date," Lexi loudly retorted but the boys were already gone heading towards the arcade area. "So, you and Reece 'huh'," Rakim comnted from across the table causing the girl to realise her slip-up.
"Wait are you the girl Reece keeps having hour-long conversations with at 1 in the morning," May questioned after seemingly having a Eureka mont. Lexi's blushing expression was the only confirmation she needed as a question she had been trying to figure out for so ti had been answered.
Lexi's cheeks flushed even redder, and she tried to brush it off with a casual wave. "Oh, please! It's not like that," she said, laughing nervously. "We just... have talks, you know?"
But May wasn't having it, and neither were the others. "Oh, trust I know," she teased, leaning in with a mischievous grin. "I an I can't even count the amount of tis I've caught him just grinning dumbly whilst staring at his phone."
"Dang, I leave for a minute and you're all out here starting families," Rakim comnted causing Lexi to blush more and Reece who caught the tail end of the conversation decided to make a U-turn. He was unwilling to answer any question only sending Lexi a look that seed to say your sacrifice will be rembered.
Lexi groaned, sinking back into her seat, realizing there was no way she'd escape without a little roasting. But before she could even fight back the girls proceeded to assault her with more teasing remarks not stopping until the girl's face was beet red. Following that they didn't show rcy as she was forced to explain how things between her and Reece had started.
"We're not dating, we are just talking," she clarified sending a subtle glance towards Rakim, who was caught off guard not sure what that look ant. When they first t in PE class, she developed a crush on the boy who seed to make everything look effortless.
However, things never developed in a romantic direction which at first, she thought of as a bumr until they actually beca good friends. Over ti she realised that her crush stead from infatuation of his abilities and the fact he worked hard. It didn't help her poor heart that the boy had quite literally taken a bullet for her saving her from that maniac.
"He can be quite caring when he wants to,"
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To Be Continued...
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