"I'm goin' to concessions, you want sum?" I questioned, looking down at Joshua.
"I'm fine." He nodded.
"You sure?" I asked again causing him to nod.
André shrugged and spoke up since Jay wouldn't.
"Yeah, I want a—"
"Yeah well you can bring yo' big headed ass." I spoke, cutting off André.
He immediately smacked his lips and sighed before standing up.
"Why I gotta come?" He groaned.
"I need to talk to you." I responded chuckling.
Once we were far enough away I began speaking.
"Where you staying right now?" I asked.
"Hotel, why?" He questioned.
"I need you to stay with Jave and Jay when I'm gone, you can do whatever while I'm here. But I'd appreciate it if you stayed with them." I explained.
"I understand If you don't want to though, it's my responsibility not yours, don't feel obligated." I assured.
"Bro, you know I got it, only reason I wasn't already is because I didn't wanna over step boundaries. If doc is okay with it then I can definitely do it." He spoke.
"I'll talk to him." I nodded, "but thank you for what you have done though, coming down here, lookin out for them."
"Why you thanking me and shit, they my family too bro." He chuckled.
I joined him with a chuckle of my own as we made our way into the line.
"A lot can happen in a year, I mean look at you," André started.
"Buying snacks at your adopted sons Basketball game that you're at with your brother and yo boyfriend. Shit don't even sound real." He joked.
"Yeah I know," I agreed, thinking back to where I was a year ago.
"can I get two hot dogs and one fry," I asked, once we made it to the front on the line
"Hot dogs are for you and Jay, I'll take the fry." I told André.
"You still on that no pork shit." He joked, shaking his head
"Hell yeah, matter fact, just gimme three fries." I corrected, bringing my attention from André to the cashier.
"None of us need to be eating that shit." I shrugged.
He groaned and rolled his eyes, but since he wasn't paying he wasn't complaining.
When the food came and we got back to Joshua, I spotted him sitting next to some small brown skinned kid. At first glance I didn't recognize him but after a while he started to look familiar.
"Oh Clare," Joshua spoke, "this is Destin, Javiers friend, Destin, this is Clarence." He continued.
"N-nice to meet you too sir," he said shyly, extending his hand.
I look down at it with a confused expression, the kid looked so soft, I felt like if I looked at him to hard he'd cave in.
I nodded and shook his hand gently.
"Um, you guys are Javis adoptive parents right?" He asked causing Joshua to nod.
Javi?
They got nicknames already?
"He talks about you guys a lot." He smiled.
"foreal?" I spoke up.
"Y-yes sir." He responded, looking down.
"Destin you don't have to be so nervous, we're regular people. It's okay buddy." Joshua chuckled, giving him a reassuring pat on the back.
"You know," he started, "Javier talks about you a lot as well." He smirked.
My eyes widened at his words, "damn," I said to myself,
Jays really just puttin him out there huh?
"r-really." The Destin kid said lowly, his skin tone turning red as shit.
I shook my head and turned my attention from them and back to the game. Javier was doing better, but not just better, he looked like a an professional out there.
"Yo who's this new kid," I heard from behind me.
"Ion know but he nice as shit." Their friend responded.
All around I could see people talking amongst themselves, pointing at Javier.
As awkward as it made me feel to admit, I was proud.
The game consisted of Javier either making the shot, or assisting.
The final score turned out to be 68- 27. For some reason everyone looked surprised, like they ain't believe the new kid just did what he did.
But me, I wasn't, not at all.
As the two teams shook hands at the end everyone began to pour out of the building.
"It was very nice meeting you all, I have to go now." Destin spoke, " my parents are probably looking for me."
"Oh, are you sure you don't want to wait for Javier, they will be out in a little I'm sure." Jay spoke.
The boy shook his head quickly which made me crease my eyebrows, "no, my parents are waiting, but please tell him I said he did a great job and I'm sorry I didn't get to say it in person." He nodded.
With that he said one last goodbye before walking off quickly.
"That lil nigga is weird." I shrugged.
"Clare don't say that," Joshua spoke, hitting my chest, "He's shy, I'm pretty sure he has a form of anxiety, the fact that he's even here means he cares about Javier a lot." He spoke.
"There's a lot to catch you up on." He sighed.
"we got time." I spoke.
"Later, we should let Javier have his moment."
I thought to myself before sighing and nodding in agreement. Shortly after, we watched them pour out of the locker room, all now sporting either track suits or their regular clothes.
The moment we made our way down to the floor, Jave wore a big kool-aid smile watching us
"Look at young Michael Jordan ." André Joked, dapping Javier up.
We all chuckled before I spoke, "I'm proud of you Jave."
He nodded and smiled, walking up to me to meet me with a hug.
"I'm glad you came, I didn't even know you would be home." He spoke excitedly as he backed up.
"can't miss yo' first game can I?" I smirked.
"agh Jave!" Joshua spoke, grabbing him in a hug since he was too happy to say words.
"You were so good!" He continued.
"Thanks Mr J—" he stopped cutting himself off abruptly.
"I've been meaning to ask you guys, and since we're happy and everything right now. I did it as a joke earlier, but would y'all mind if I called y'all dad or whatever. You both do so much for me, and I guess it's the little boy in me, but I feel like it's fitting." He ranted.
"I get if it makes y'all feel weird, I won't d—"
"Jave it's okay, call us whatever you want. If you're comfortable enough to refer to us as shit like that than you're welcome to do it. But you don't have to force yourself either." I spoke.
He nodded and cheesed before walking between us, "thanks for supporting me."
"Course." Joshua responded, hugging him tightly.
Even though I played it cool, it did make me feel good that Jave felt comfortable enough to call us that now.
"C'mon," I told all of them so we could walk out of the building.
Along the way strangers would compliment Jave, and even some of his teammates would dap him up, kid was a superstar tonight and he deserved it.
"Destin came," Joshua spoke randomly, his attention directed to Javier.
"I know, I saw, I thought he would be too nervous but I'm happy he could make it." He spoke.
"Well, he was nervous, but he ignored it to support you. You should text him, he told us to tell you that you did well, but I'm sure he can do it better than we can." He smiled.
I'm glad Joshua was good with emotions, cause I wasn't, and Javier definitely deserved a better teacher than me.
I didn't have teenage relationships or shit, I had sex, but that's what teenagers do.
Jave was somebody that would rather fall for someone than use them for fun. It was a good trait sure, but he was so young, it wasn't smart to get caught up in fantasies when his whole life was ahead of him.
"I'll drive," I spoke, extending my hand to Joshua for the keys.
Once he gave them to me we all entered, sighing in relief as we did.
"Yo, y'all didn't have to do this," Javier smiled, holding up a gift box I'm guessing Joshua got him.
"I didn't do that, André did you make that?" Jay spoke, causing me to crease my eyebrows.
"No." Dre responded lowly.
"Good Job Son, Love Papa," Jave read out loud.
My eyes widened immediately.
"everybody get out!"
•RUIN 🥀US•
Clocks Ticking
Who should it be first?