Ivan kept playing with my hands throughout the drive. He was all giggly and playful and honestly, I was happy.
"I can't believe you just said yes!" He kept on repeating
"Should I change my mind now?" I hit him playfully
"No ! You're gonna kill me if you do that !" He said
"Really… do I have that kind of effect on you " I looked at him.
"I'm driving Amara please don't give me that look!" He said covering my eyes with one of his hands.
"What's wrong with this look!" I shove his hands away and pulled my face in front of him. He hit the brakes and we stopped abruptly.
"Do you really want to know how I feel " He said staring right into my soul. I couldn't maintain eye contact and turned my head away .
"You can drive on" I smiled
"Did you just blush!" He turned me around so I was facing him.
"I didn't " I replied trying to turn away from him again but he pulled me in and hugged me . I've never felt this side of Ivan before, he was so vulnerable and much more open about his feelings.
"Ivan!" I said tapping him slowly on the back
"Can we stay like this for a while?" He replied and I could sense a little bit of sadness in his voice .
"Okay " I said and rubbed his back slowly.
"You're late Ivan!" Daniella complained when we arrived.
"Did he force you to accompany him again!" She said looking at me .
"Enough of the interviews… let's go !" Ivan said heading towards his car.
"He can be annoying sometimes please don't feel offended " Daniella whispered to me.
"I know right !" I smiled and followed them inside.
"Can you sit at the back Danny ?" Ivan said when she opened the front door.
"Why?" We chorused and he gave me a weird look. Danny smirked and went to the backseat. I was about to join her at the back but she locked the door.
"I want to enjoy my privacy!" She rolled her eyes.
"You know you can be mean sometimes right!"I said playfully and sat at the front. Ivan winked at her from the driver's mirror and she smiled. I didn't know how to react in front of Daniella and Ivan was making me so uncomfortable. He would occasionally look at me then put his hands on my lap and blow me a kiss. We finally got home and just as I anticipated , my gate was locked. I checked the time and it was 10pm . I lied to mom I was going to bed early so I didn't know whether to call her .
"So what are you going to do now?" Ivan said giving me a silly look.
"I can climb in through my window " I replied
"Have you been sneaking out!" He laughed
"This is my first time and I wonder if I can get In without breaking my leg !" I said looking at it.
"You can spend the night with me you know " he smirked
"What about my class tomorrow!" I rolled my eyes .
"Fine then … let me help you in" he said and brought out a ladder . We leaned it against the wall and I climbed on it to my room. I thought Ivan was taking the ladder back but surprisingly he also climbed into my room.
"Ivan!" I yelled making sure there was no one in the corridor.
"It feels like the rapunzel movie " he said sitting on my bed and looking around.
"Why are you here !" I smiled sheepishly.
"Since you won't spend the night , I want to " he said removing his sneakers.
"Don't be silly Ivan you can't stay here "
"Why? Are you scared of me!" He said moving closer to me .
"Why would I …" I stammered, my heart racing. He placed his hand on the wall and trapped me in between. He brought his face closer to mine and stared at my lips. I swallowed the lump in my throat and gently pushed him.
"I'm tired , you should be leaving!" I said, turning away from him.
"What are you imagining Amara!" He laughed and turn me over to face him.
"I have school tomorrow Ivan!"
"I know kiddo!" He replied , held my waist and pulled me closer to him. I began to feel wet in my pants and hoped he would just stop here. He looked at me in the eye and slowly kissed my lips. We stayed kissing for a while before we pulled apart.
"I love you Amara" He whispered and kissed my forehead. I smiled and looked at him nervously. I couldn't believe I was dating Ivan Smith , the hottest boy in town.
"I will get going " he winked at me and jumped off the window. I looked at him as he carried the ladder back home and waved me goodbye.
"You are kidding us right!" Madison typed in the group chat after I dropped the news of dating Ivan.
"That was so soon but I'm happy for you girl !" Alice replied with an excited emoji.
"Seriously I can't believe you guys are dating, don't you think he's trying to play you " Madi said and I honestly hated that side of her.
"Can't you be just happy for her !" Alice replied her .
"I'm not trying to be negative but I've known Ivan more than she does and I'm looking out for her "
"Thanks for the concern Madi but I trust Ivan!" I replied and switched off my data. Madison's message got me wondering if I made the right decision . I love Ivan so much and it will break my heart if he was only playing me.
I woke up the next morning and prepared myself for school . It was Friday and only God knows how much I loved Fridays , firstly there are few classes on Friday and I also have cheer meeting after school. I wondered how Stella would feel if she found out I'm no longer paralyzed, taking into consideration the fact that she really wanted me out of the club. Honestly, cheer really wasn't my thing. I preferred to be part of the school band since I love singing but I had to join the cheer squad because of Madi . I don't regret joining the cheer squad cause it has made me realize I could do something else aside singing.
"I'm leaving mom ! I'm leaving dad!" I shouted hoping they would hear me from inside. Mom came out from her room looking so tired and stressed.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make breakfast sweetie " mom said
"Come on mom ! I'm a grown up now!" I replied
"Where is dad ?" I asked.
"He's gone!" She replied and I could sense a little bit of sadness in her voice
"How ? And he didn't even say goodbye to me !" I replied.
"He didn't want to trouble you "
"How is he saying goodbye a nuisance… what time did he leave?"
"We will talk when you get back from school dear , you will be late " mom replied
"I'm calling him now !" I exclaimed and grabbed my car keys. I called my dad on my way but he didn't pick up. This was the first time I've called my dad and he wasn't answering. I began to get worried and hoped nothing bad had happen to him . I got a good morning text from Eric and my heart skipped a beat . I nearly forgot about him. I've led him on and raised his hopes high on dating me . "I have to tell him as soon as possible " I thought and also wondered if he also knew since he was best friends with Ivan. I decided not to open his message and do that after school.
Miss Carlos called me to her office after the lessons. She asked me how I managed to get an A and was curious if I cheated . I wondered why this woman was literally against me but I replied her as politely as possible and went to cheer meeting.
When I reached, Stella and the other cheerleaders had already started practice. I checked the time and realized they've started five minutes early. I ignored her mean gaze and went to the dressing room to change. I changed into my outfit and quickly rushed in to take my position, which was next to one girl called Linda.
"What do you think you're up to Amara !" Stella stopped the music.
"Excuse me ?" I asked confused.
"You ain't part of us anymore " she replied folding her arms across her chest.
"Can you tell me why?"
"As you can see practice has already started and in our rules you get kick out if you are late " she replied
"And who made that rules?"
"I'm the one in charge so I make the rules!" She said, so full of herself.
"Fine but are you sure I'm late?" I said checking my watch.
"What do you mean!"
"If I'm not wrong , practice is supposed to start at 2 and according to my watch , it's now 2 so what do you mean when you say I'm late!"
"Are you challenging my authority now Amara!" She said angrily.
"You know what! You can keep your club I'm no longer interested in cheerleading!" I replied angrily and stepped out of the queue.
"Where do you think you're going Amara! Come back I'm not done with you !" Stella shouted angrily but I ignored her and changed back into my uniform.