Higher Stakes [Strings: Part 1]

Chapter 2: Newbie

Round and round the parking lot, dodging each other through the parked cars, jumping off the pavement  and hiding behind a trash can at one point, Selena still on the lead while Bradley still hot at her heels. He slipped a little but get back up and sprint.

Running and running and hiding, the young mestizo breathing heavily and halted a little when his target was gone. Turning and turning, his heads moving side to side, corner to corner, he paused and sat on the bench catching his breath.

Wiping sweat off his brow with the back of his jacket sleeve, he gradually took it off leaving him only in his white shirt.

“Boo!”

Arms wrapped around his shoulders, Selena jumped off behind the concrete bench, pulling him down. Pulling him backwards, they both now on the pavement. Selena burst out laughing while Bradley adjusted to the situation and straight up stand on his knees staring at her.

“Did someone put 2 pounds of sugar into you drink this morning?” he asked.

She shrugged and smiled. “Maybe…”

Grabbing her arms, he pulled her up to her feet as he stood up. Looking down at her, he can’t help but smiled.

Selena smiled back at him sweetly. Giggling as well, she threw her arms around him. “Hug me! Hug me!” she demanded but Bradley didn’t move.

“No.” He replied, smirking.

“Do it! Hug me!” she demanded again, pulling him down to her, putting pressure on his shoulder. He still not responds.

Not taking it anymore, she tightened her grip now on his neck, jumping up and down on one spot causing him to statically move up and down. “Come on!! Hug me!” she demanded.

“Okay, fine!” he finally gave in. Squeezing her around her waist, he heaved his shoulder as he took a deep air embracing the girl tight. Smelling the scent from her hair, he smiled. “You smell nice. What is it? Cherry? Or just a plain strawberry?” Pulling away, he turned to her.

“Strawberry.” She answered. “You like it?” Flipping her hair over her shoulder, flipping right at him and batting her eyes at him too; “You wuve it?”

Bradley snorted and laughed. “Wokay, wow, what wappen wo wur woive?” he teased, pouting his lips at her.

She punched him.

“Oh!” he drew out, holding his arm. “Geez, Selly, no cutesy wutesy por chu?”

She jutted her tongue at him.

Suddenly, sound of guitar’s string plucking was heard followed by a male voice singing, ‘When you, when you say, you love, love me.’

“Phone’s ringing.” Selena told him of the obvious. She rose up the phone right at his face.

He took it and answers the call. “Hello?” He turned to Selena and told, “I’ll be right back.” Then he went back to his call.

She could hear him saying, ‘Hey Nattie, what’s up, little lady?’

Making way over to the Mustang, she jumped onto the trunk and sways her feet back and forth while watching him pacing side to side, still talking on the phone. He laughed. He snorted. He talked seriously. Then he laughed again.

Looking over her shoulder, glancing over the seas of cars of all sizes, she notices that there were more convertibles than SUV. Well, it’s hot day out. Summer coming soon, she thought. Then she remembers one thing, tonight. She has dinner with Demi. She wonders what she wants to cook.

Cooking is indeed one of her cup of tea but when it comes to what she actually has to cook, confusion surrounding her. Maybe she could cook Demi’s favorite food or maybe their favorite together? Hmm.

She needs to go out later and get some things from the grocery store.

“Hey!”

Bradley’s voice started coming into her thoughts, stopping the train. Blinking repeatedly, she stared back at him. He stood in front of her. His hands planted on the trunk on each side of her, smiling ever so sweetly. “I’m free tonight.” He told. “Do you want to hang out? How about we hit the arcade?”

Awww.

“I would love to,” she replied. “But… I have dinner with my friend tonight. Sorry.”

He smiled. “No worries. It’s cool. Maybe next time, we could hang out.”

“Thanks for understanding, Bradley.” She smiled. Tilting her head to the right, she leaned in and touched his cheek with her lips. “Thanks bro.”

“You’re welcome.” He replied.

Double door swung open and a ginger haired girl stood at the doorway and called them, “Guys! Todd wants us! Come on.” She disappeared back inside the building.

“You heard her.” Selena said. Placing her left palm on Bradley’s shoulder for support, she heaved off and landed on the pavement by the car. “Put your jacket back on, let’s meet big boss.”

“You go on first,” he spoke out, turning to her. “I’ll just go and lock the car.” Gesturing behind him.

“Hurry up.” She stated before heading back into the building.

Picking up the plastic wrapper and other litters, he threw them into the trash can.  Wiping the dirt off, he grabbed a towel from the backseat and smoothes the trunk. He spread out the towel and flipped it about before folding it back.

Taking one long look of his Mustang, he sort of thinks that maybe he was paying too much attention to it than on Selena. She is his best friend. For missing the last two years with her moving to Los Angeles and he stayed behind in Texas, he don’t want to miss anything. He grinned.

HONK! HONK!

“Get the fuck off the road!”

“What the-?” Bradley turned around and hesitatingly jumped over to the pavement as a big black SUV parked in next to his mustang.

HONK! HONK! HONK!

The horn was screaming at his face, literally blowing his head off. “What the hell dude!” Bradley shouted, slamming on the hood of the SUV.

A young man at the driver glared back at him. He cockily got out of the Escalade and marched over to him with his head held high.

Standing head to head, nose to nose, nearly touching each other, the man hissed, “Fuck off! Or I will bust your ugly ass!”

Smirking, Bradley replied, “Don’t make me thrust my fist down you freaking throat!”

The man pushed Bradley off, ready to punch him and he feigned it. Instead, he walked off over to the next-door studio lot and disappeared into the white double doors.

What’s his problem? Bradley thought.

He took one last look of the SUV and then he jogged back inside the Wizards studio.