CAMERON
The ball bouncing on the floor created a rhythmic sound that echoed in the empty gym. Occasionally, I heard the swish of the ball as I made a shot. It was Monday afternoon, just after college. It was the ideal spot for me to release my thoughts and emotions.
"Hey, Cameron! Mind if we join you?"
I was so absorbed in my own world of dribbling and shooting that I didn't even realize they had entered the gym until they were almost right next to me. I quickly turned around to greet them. It was Olivia and Grace, Elle's two very close friends. She had spoken so highly of them the other night.
"Not at all."
Grace jumped over and quickly grabbed the ball from my hands. "You're on!"
"So, Cameron, how'd you enjoy your date with Elle? She seemed to have a great time with you."
Grace's eyebrows furrowed, her face taking on a more serious look. My cheeks flushed and I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly. "Yeah, we had a wonderful time. Elle is an amazing person, and we connected really well."
Grace's ears perked up as she stopped dribbling the ball, giving Olivia a knowing look. "Ah, connected well, huh? That's good to hear. So, what are your intentions with our friend."
My brows furrowed, caught off guard by the directness of the question. I stuttered for a moment. "Um, well, I... my intentions are genuine. I really like her, and I want to see where this goes."
Grace raised an eyebrow. "Ohhh, so you're really into her, huh? Any plans for the future."
"Well, it's a bit early to make long-term plans, but I can honestly say that Elle means a lot to me. I want to get to know her better, and if things continue to go well, who knows?"
Olivia interrupted me before I finished speaking. "Alright, I think that's enough grilling for now, Grace. Cameron, Elle is genuinely one of the wonderful people we know. We just wanted to make sure you understood that."
"I promise you both, I'll do everything in my power to make her happy. I could never break her heart."
"Well, you better not." Grace playfully pushed my shoulders.
I let out a small chuckle. "Believe me, I don't plan on letting her down."
"What the hell you guys? Are you both spying on me?" I watched as Elle, her face flushed with annoyance, stormed into the gym.
"Don't mess up, Cameron." Grace yelled. She took hold of Olivia's arm, and together they rushed out of the gym. Elle turned her attention to me, her eyes softening slightly.
"Cam, I'm sorry you had to witness that. It's embarrassing, and I understand if you're put off."
I shook my head. "I think it's actually kind of sweet. Besides, I'm not put off at all."
"Looks like Cam really is a good one. He's not scared off by our warnings." Grace snickered.
Elle's cheeks turned a shade of crimson, embarrassment crossing her features. "You guys are impossible! Just go away."
Olivia chuckled, her laughter echoing through the gym. "Have fun you two! We'll let you off the hook this time."
As their laughter faded away, I turned to Elle, her face still flushed. I couldn't help but find the whole situation funny.
"Cam, I'm so sorry about them. They can be a little crazy sometimes."
I grinned, reaching out to gently touch her arm. "Don't worry about it. I found their behavior rather funny, to be honest. It shows how much they care about you, and that's a good thing."
Her eyes softened, embarrassment dissipating. "You're right. They do care about me, even if they sometimes go overboard."
After a short conversation, we decided it was time to go. I took my bag and pointed to the exit. We walked to my car together. Normally, Elle would go with Liam, but today we agreed to drive back together. I couldn't deny the surge of excitement that ran through me at the thought of having her all to myself for a little while longer. However, she insisted that her brother shouldn't know about our arrangement.
She glanced at me. "How long have you been playing basketball?"
I grinned, thinking about how much I've always loved the game since I was a kid.
"I've been playing basketball for as long as I can remember. It all started when I was just a little kid. My mom was an incredibly talented basketball player in her college days. She played for the women's basketball team, but unfortunately, she couldn't pursue her passion due to health reasons."
"Really? Wow."
I nodded, my eyes focused on the road ahead as the memories flooded my mind. "Yeah, it's something not many people know. Mom enrolled me into basketball class when I was nine or ten."
I noticed the sparkle of curiosity in her eyes while she listened closely to my story. Her sincere interest made me feel like opening up about those memories was meaningful.
"We use to play together in the park." I continued, a fond smile gracing my lips. "Me and my dad would team up against mom. It was like our own little family tournament, and those memories are some of my most cherished memories."
"Wow, that sounds really special."
A bittersweet pang resonated in my heart as I thought about my mother. She had always dreamed of seeing me play basketball at a national level, to witness the fruition of her own unfulfilled dream. It was a dream that had, in a way, become mine as well, a torch I carried within me, yearning to make her proud.
"Yeah, it was."
I couldn't help but admire her ability to empathize, even in a situation that had nothing to do with her. It was one of the many reasons why I was falling for her.
As we pulled up to our usually spot where I drop her, I parked the car and turned off the engine.
ELLE
"Thanks for the ride, Cam."
He smiled, his smile made my heart swell.
He drops me off a couple blocks away from my apartment ensuring that we wouldn't get caught. As I approached my house, my heart pounded in my chest. I hope that Liam hadn't suspected anything. I opened the front door and saw him watching TV.
"Hi Liam." I greeted him, trying to appear casual. "How was your day?"
Liam turned to look at me. "Hi, it was alright. What about you? How was your ride back with Olivia?"
A wave of guilt washed over me as I remembered the lie, I had told him. I had to come up with a way to spend more time with Cam without arousing suspicious. Maybe driving back with Olivia every day could be my solution.
"It was nice. In fact, I was wondering if I could drive back with Olivia every day. It's so convenient, and we have a great time chit chatting."
"I'd be more than happy to quit the job of being your personal chauffeur."
Relief flooded through me as Liam seemed to buy my explanation. I quickly changed the subject before he could probe further, telling him that I needed to get changed into something more comfortable. He nodded and returned to his show.
In my room, I slid into a pair of cozy sweatpants and a loose-fitting t-shirt. As I lounged on my bed, my phone buzzed with a text notification. It was Jacob, asking if I wanted to hangout in the evening. I texted him a "sure" and went back to lying on my bed.
The evening arrived and I met Jacob as planned. We decided to grab dinner together. As we sat in a corner table, music playing softly in the background, I couldn't help but notice that my mind kept drifting back to Cam. Jacob must have noticed my distraction as he asked. "Hey, is something bothering you, Elle? You seem a bit preoccupied."
I chuckled, trying to brush off his observation. "No, it's nothing. Just random thoughts."
"Is it something about Cameron Smith? Everything alright between you two?" He whispered.
"Yeah, everything is fine."
"Are you sure? You can tell me anything, Elle."
"No, everything is fine. Cam and I even went on a date the other day." I could feel my cheeks blush, but I didn't look away from his gaze.
His eyes lit up. "Seriously? Tell me everything! How did it go?"
I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. It was contagious. I began describing my date, painting a vivid picture of our time together. From the nerves of the initial meeting to the ease that settled between us.
"Sounds like you both had an amazing night. You've liked him for a while now, haven't you?"
"Yes, I do like him." I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.