Luke and Mariah haven't ever been on a date. Everything that happened kind of prevented them from that. With the trial coming up, Luke wants to take Mariah's mind off of it. He wants to take her on their first day. He gets Ms. Troung to watch Malaya. With Mariah being home more, she doesn't get to see Malaya very often. Luke asked Mariah last week because he wants to have a real date. He's getting ready for it. He feels slightly nervous and has butterflies. Seems weird because he's been with Mariah for awhile now and he's never been this nervous. It makes him smile a little though.
Early that morning as the sun rose, Niyah and Alex met on the field. They have drinks and are eager to start the workout.
"You ready coach?" Alex jokes.
"Only if you are." Niyah replies. They start with stretches. She starts stretching with him. Then she guided him along the warm up. He hasn't been out here and he hasn't worked out in awhile. He can feel the strain in his muscles. Niyah keeps pushing even though she can see that he's feeling the burn. It's no way that he's going to get back to where he was if she doesn't push. Though she just met him, she really does want the best for him.
Aaron and Kian got dragged out of the house with Sherry. She tells them that they have to find clothes to wear to court. Neither of the want to, but Sherry was going to make it happen. Lear doesn't follow to far behind. He too needs new formal wear. Aaron hasn't been to the mall in awhile and can't remember the last time he brought new clothes. He definitely needs them though. Today's only focus is the shirt and tie for court. Kian just doesn't like the mall in general. He would love to just online shop. The only good part of the mall that he can think of is the skate shop.
Mariah starts getting ready hours early. She knows it's going to take awhile and Sherry is going to get home and take pictures. She feels like a little kid with her first crush. Who would've thought that the nerdy little boy that she called gross and friend zoned all the time, would become the love of her life. She never would've guessed. It makes her happy to know that she's going on her first date with Luke. She would've cared less if it didn't happen because she loves Luke regardless, but it feels nice to have that romantic gesture. She's really excited for it.
When Alex took this practice idea, he thought it would at most be a small workout. He couldn't have been more wrong. This girl is pushing him. She definitely has a future in the NFL if she continues with this. By the time that they're finished, they're both sweating.
"Damn, I'm drenched." Alex catches his breath.
"You went hard, I'm proud." Niyah drinks her Gatorade. Alex smiles at her comment.
"Wanna take a lap around the track to cool off?"
"Sure." Niyah shrugs.
Aaron and Kian finally get their suits. Aaron doesn't like suits. They remind him of sadness and sad times. Nothing good ever requires you to wear a suit.
"You guys look handsome. You can always just wear the shirt if you don't need the suit." Sherry says. Kian hurries to the dressing room to take his off. Aaron follows. He's ready to go home and finish homework and take a nap.
Sherry doesn't make it home in time for Mariah's date, but Mariah doesn't mind. She wants it to be private. Luke rents out a private area on the beach for them and they enjoy their picnic. He would have never thought that the girl he's had a crush on since she came to California, would be sitting in front of him on a date. It didn't go as he planned in his head when he was little, he wouldn't change it for the world. He knows it's early in life, but he wants to spend his life with this girl.
Before Alex and Niyah know it, it's ten o'clock. They've been walking for awhile. They just started talking a didn't stop. Alex totally forgot about the hard workout that he did. The light flirting that he's been doing took his mind off of it. For the first time in a long time, his mind is not on his addiction.
"I can't believe that you used to have a perm." Niyah jokes.
"It grew out. I had to get one because I'm not blessed to have natural curly hair like you."
"It's a blessing and a curse. Don't get me started about wash day."
"It takes a whole day to wash your hair?!" He looks at her like she's crazy.
"Not all day but awhile. I detangle, deep condition, style, and more. It takes two or three hours."
"Everyday!"
"Nah, every week, if that. My hair doesn't get oily like other hair types. When I have braids I leave it in for like two months."
"Wow! I can't believe I didn't know this."
"Well I told you now. Consider this your black culture fact for the day." She jokes. He laughs.
"I really enjoy hanging out with you. You match my energy. I haven't met someone like that in awhile." Alex stuffs his hands in his pocket.
"Same, you're not that bad Burriss." She nudges him
"I try, I try."
"You think you want to continue with me as your coach?"
"Definitely. I'm going to be hurting tomorrow, but definitely." This makes her smile. "You still want to be my coach?"
"I don't know, your a little stubborn." Niyah tease. Alex pretends to be offended. "I'm just playing. You were great. I would love to be your coach again."
"I knew you couldn't resist. Let me know when your free again and we can set up a schedule."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Let me walk you to your car." Alex says. After he makes sure Niyah is in her car he gets in his and just sits for a minute. Ever since he got out of rehab everything has felt foreign. His phone feels weird in his hand, his room feels different, and his mind revolves around rehab and his addiction. Niyah to his mind off of that. He knows he can't do this right now. It's only been three months out of a relationship. He's playing it cool because right now, he can't handle another relationship.
