I don't know what I expected, but I know for sure it wasn't for our car ride to our unknown destination to be so.. quiet. Like any other normal pair who barely knew each other, you think we'd spend this time getting to know each other—that wasn't the case though.

I sat in my seat with my knees facing the door, gazing out the window disinterested while finger combing my hair using the arm that was supported by the door. I exhaled a deep sigh on occasion, showing no effort to conceal my boredom. Part of me also wanted him to notice the tension if he didn't already. Everytime I would break my attention away from the passenger side window, I would notice something about my driver.

His body language was the most obvious. Typical, but still very noticeable. One hand on the steering wheel, the other arm propped up on the arm rest allowing his free hand to grip his chin as he clenched his jaw. The far away stare he had mixed well with each short breath he took every time his phone went off.

Another notification, a turn signal, and a short breath.

The energy in the car was nearly suffocating, and had he not smelled good it would've been a slow and painful death. I just need him to say something, it is literally all I ask. For the sake of my sanity and this car ride, I figured I'd give it a shot and see what was up.

Timidly turning my head in his direction, I peered at the side of his chiseled jaw. "Hey, you good?"

"Mhm." He hummed, tucking in his lips.

Another Notification. This time my eyes darted to the device like he did, but his continuous lack of urgency made me raise a brow.

"You sure?" I asked.

"Yeah, why?"

As if the reason why wasn't obvious enough. "You seem kinda, I don't know.. Kinda off. You also haven't said anything the whole car ride."

His eyes softened as he licked his bottom lip, repositioning himself in his seat after realization. "My bad. I have a lot on my mind, but I'm good."

He made it a point to relax his face, even after admitting something was bothering him. He continued to look forward like a responsible driver, but nothing more was said about his last sentiments. I chose not to pry anymore than I was. What he had going on was none of my business and he didn't have to share anything with me if he didn't want to. I just wished it wasn't so awkward.

Settling back into my seat, I let any thoughts that would put me in his business wash away. If they weren't about our project or tonight's dinner, they didn't matter to me. The more comfortable I got in the seat, my body relaxed itself and I allowed my eyes to float close for some light rest.. But it didn't last long.

I hope it was a heated debate going down in the group chat, because what girls he got blowing him up just couldn't take a hint..

"Can you at least silence it if you're not going to respond to them?" I asked, staring at the side of his face much to my irritation.

"My bad." Swiftly, he snatched his phone from the cup holder, silencing it after exhaling a chuckle. "There. Anything else?"

"No." I said, one brow raised.

"Alright, coo. Are we good?" he asked. He cracked a smile, a huge contrast to his previous frown.

"I guess." I mumbled.

"Good."

His simple smile lingered the longer my reluctant eyes remained on him. The car started to slow to a stop and the wrinkles between my eyes started to deepen. He shifted his eyes between mine and the road, twisting his face up as he cracked under my grilling gaze. Then the car came to a complete stop.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He finally turned toward me.

"Why'd you wait till we stopped?"

"Wait for what?" he chuckled in confusion.

"To lighten the mood?"

He chuckled again, taking the keys out the ignition and holding them against his head with his eyes trained on me "Girl what?"

Leaning back against the car door with folded arms suddenly, my blue hair bounced over my shoulders as I gave him a piece of my mind.

"Do you know how awkward this car ride was? All I hear is ding..ding.. ding, every second. I didn't even know where we were going! Hell, I don't even know where we are. Then all of a sudden, after like 20 minutes, you want to start smiling and be silly goofy haha. Well I don't feel silly goofy haha right now!"

"Don't be a baby."

"I'm sorry?"

He smiled smugly and I wanted nothing more than to wipe it right off his face. "mhm."

"Don't play with me." I warned, even my eyes telling him to tread lightly.

he undid his seatbelt, mumbling under his breath, "it's always the short ones."

"Excuse me?"

"Do me a favor? Reach in the back and get my basketball please?"

"Get your basketba–?"

I jumped in my skin as the car door closed in my face. In utter disbelief, I watched him round the car through his car windows, twirling his keys on his finger without a care in the world. He laughed at me through the car window, following the path through the trees of our still unknown location.

I reached back and grabbed the ball anyway, immediately exiting the car and slamming its passenger door. I became more annoyed as I watched his back walk further away from me, and this time instead of chasing after him, I launched the ball at his back using as much force as I could.

Bullseye!

"Damn, so you just throwing balls at people?" he asked, picking up the ball that smacked him right in the back of his head. "That's hella crazy"

"You slammed the door in my face." I said, mimicking the same tone as I approached him. " and you crazy, nigga."

Amused, he held the ball to his hip. "So I'm a N-word when you're mad? That's cute, but it would've been an issue if I called you something you didn't like."

"Um. you did."

"Yeah? What I call you, then?"

"You called me a baby."

"Because you were mad that I wasn't speaking to you and you barely spoke to me anyway." he pointed out.

"Ok?" I scoffed. "At Least I still spoke—unlike you who let some text messages catch your tongue."

He watched me for a few seconds, observing my being with tongue in cheek while his thoughts processed in his mind. I stood there with arms still folded, ready for whatever he wanted to throw my way. However, Whatever he did think he chose to keep it to himself... or save it for later.

"Girl don't worry about my messages, get your things and come on."

Turning back around, he shook his head as he snickered before heading in that direction. He walked off to a nearby basketball court that looked like its seen better days. Defeated, grabbed my bag and made my way over with folded arms and an immature pout, watching as he shot a few hoops.

He was actually good. Great form and accuracy. It was almost a shame that he wasted most of his athletic ability on football, not that he was bad at that either, but because he had talent in other areas. Even the way he acted like he was playing against an opponent, playing good offense, and even faking some defensive moves.

I started to smile, finding humor in the way he crossed up casper, broke one of his uncles ankles and dunked on invisible dude and his invisi-homies. He jumped and cheered by himself, letting the ball bounce away from him.

"yuhhh!" he shouted, jump skipping around the court.

His smile was so bright and dorky, I couldn't help but laugh with him from where I stood.

" saw that, Jay?" he asked, still boasting from the court.

"Yes, I saw." I laughed, "go get your ball!"

"Ya' boy really do this." He bragged, stopping where he was to do a little victory dance.

"Alright, sir. Pack it up."

His cheering died down and he ran to retrieve his ball all while I settled at the picnic table not too far from the basketball court. The wood was eroded and covered in graffiti, probably from people who sought out this spot for a secluded session of any type.

Kind of like now.

When Jk caught up to me, I had already started digging through my bed to take out my purple binder that I designated for the class we shared together. It had all of our notes in it that we needed for the assignment and more.

Sliding into the opposite side of the table was sweaty jk, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. He folded his hands, holding himself up by his forearms and supporting his big head with his fist.

"What's this for?" he asked, leaning further over the table to look over the same page I was.

I glanced up, not expecting him to be as close as he was and accidentally locking eyes with him for a second too long. Instantly, irritation by default took over after I looked away.

"Its notes for the project–Can you back up?" My tone switched from amused to annoyed. "Thank you."

"Oh, my bad." he said, easing up. He held an innocent expression, and a part of me felt bad for the attitude I gave him. "So what are we doing?"

Tucking some hair behind my ear, I looked over the page again "I don't know yet. Any ideas?"

"Nope." He popped the P.

"Me either." I sighed.

"Well we have to think of something, Mrs. Conrad's doing progress checks every week." he pointed out like I didn't already know. All I did was look through my lids, and it was enough for him to catch the hint and raise his hands in defense. "I'm just saying."

"Then give me some ideas."

He looked away in thought and the lightbulb flashed above his head and he licked his lips before spitting bullshit.. "Let's make a machine that automatically dispenses water or something.'

I stared blankly, blinking twice making sure I wasn't dreaming of the idiocracy.

"You're kidding right?"

"No..?"

"Those exist... they're called water fountains."

"....oh yeah."

"Oh yeah." I mocked, making a stupid face for razzle dazzle.

Rolling my eyes to the next thought, another idea came to mind. "What about some sort of two in one contraption. Something useful, but not usually thought of. Like... A cup that holds liquid and snacks?"

He shook his head. " nope. That exists too, and I know because my girl bought me one a few weeks ago."

"Shoot." I muttered.

We were both stumped. Fresh out of ideas and quite frankly, us working together wasn't sparking any inspiration either. My brain felt so fried. All we could do was really spew out ideas until one of us thought any of them were feasible. It got to the point where we both slouched over, silently throwing in the towel and accepting defeat..

It felt like we Came all this way for nothing.

I guess being out here wasn't so bad though, the scenery was very nice if you really paid attention to it.

The park trees were well past their transition period, but still full and healthy looking despite it being the middle of fall. Various leaves covered the ground, ranging from orange to copper, or auburn to red contrasting from the bright green grass which was still partly moist from the morning dew. In the distance, a pond peaked from behind the bushes, and you could see the few ducks floating on the water and the partly cloudy sky reflecting off the water.

The scenery mixed with the blissful silence was so tranquil. Even when the breeze blew past, the warm sun peaking past the clouds kept me cozy as it beamed on my face and caressed my skin.

"It's pretty, huh." Jk said, pulling me from my thoughts.

I turned to him, my hair falling down my shoulder as a warm smile spread on my cheeks.

"It is." I answered honestly.

He silently agreed with me, nodding his head as he took in the view. "I would rather be here."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He looked everywhere but the table. I could tell he was searching for the right words to say without revealing too much about himself, so I waited patiently. For the second time today, my eyes watched the side of his chiseled jaw, waiting for it to move.

"I don't know.. I guess I feel more comfortable here." he looked into the distance where the pond was located like he was waiting for something to emerge from it.

"Well.. what about it feels comfortable to you?"

He blinked and I waited.

"I guess..it's the vibe?" he shrugged, adjusting the ball to rest his chin on it. "I don't have anyone nagging me here. No mom. No dad. They don't really leave the restaurant much anyway, but yeah. No coach. No steph.. Just me, and of course whoever I bring with me. And the people who come to the park. But more importantly just me."

He finally turned his attention back to the table, but his eyes were still elsewhere. Just like his mind in a way. I guess you could say they mirrored his thoughts. I fought the urge to submit my daily dose of deep thoughts in the conversation. Last thing I would want is for him to think I was a 'Listen to respond' archetype. Especially if we were supposed to be partners for the next 4 weeks.

"I can understand that. It's like a getaway."

"Fuck, yeah," he snorted. "Sometimes a vacation."

"Vacation?"

"Mhm. There's been times when I would camp out in my car. Go MIA for a night." He said, leaning to the side and spitting something out. "Put my phone in DND and just chill. Sometimes I smoke too, but only during off season."

It was an effort to ignore the disgust I felt, but I managed to pull through. "That sounds dangerous."

"Not at all. My friends usually knew where I was. That's who I'd smoke with when I came here. Get blown with the boys"

"Of course you did."

"Not going to lie though. I thought about camping out here again after dropping you off at home. Head to the house, get some clothes and stuff, then come right back. Just to get my mind right."

Out of habit, I asked a question I was itching for him to answer. "what's on your mind."

He chuckled again. "You're nosey, huh."

"Not really."

Yes, I was.

Moving the few stray strands of hair out his face, he rubbed his eyes afterward then locked eyes with me. I didn't expect him to give me his full attention, so I couldn't help but shy away awkwardly, making him chuckle through his nose.

"I guess you can say trouble in paradise."

"Uh oh." I said comically. "So bad you're thinking about camping out?"

He locked in, leaning closer to make sure he was heard. "We left Disneyland a day early."

"Eeee." I winced. "Yeah you did."

"Be honest. Just from that one time you met her, tell me you wouldn't be camped out here either."

"No comment."

"Smart girl, but I know we're on the same page."

"Maybe."

"Maybe."

"However! Personally, I don't think you should address the issues you have with your girlfriend with another girl. Isn't that like a..violation or something."

"A violation?" this time he laughed. Finding humor in my choice of words. "What do you think this is, Jay? A parking ticket?"

"What? I'm serious!" I defended, feeling slightly embarrassed now because he was still laughing at me. "This doesn't feel wrong to you?"

Turning in his seat, he placed his feet on the bench as well, bringing both his knees to his chest, as he idly fiddled with his fingers.

"You mean like, is it wrong for me to talk to you about the problems we have? Maybe...but it's not like I'm tryna get at you or something. We just chilling. You asked me a question and I answered. You're just easy to talk to, I guess. I still love my girl, but she can be a bit... much."

"I'm not saying you didn't, nor did I think you were trying to.. You know.." my eyes glanced in the other direction as I shied away again. In the few seconds I searched for the words I wanted to say till they came back to me, "I just thought that maybe—I don't know. It seems kind of wrong."

"Maybe it is." He shrugged with nonchalance, "But I know what my intentions are, so I'm good."

"Well, I wouldn't discuss my boyfriend's shortcomings with a stranger."

"But we're not strangers".

"No, I guess we aren't."

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