Theodore  
 

"Thank you so much for coming out, I hope you all enjoyed the service", my dad said while shaking the hands of the people who were leaving the Church.

Me on the other hand I was very tired and ready to go home, dad likes to get here around 6:00 am so that he has time to prepare things around the church. And of course, he told me that I had to help too because that's what the kids did back in the biblical days as he would say.

I feel like I'm going to pass out at any moment. I silently said to myself while trying to keep my eyes open.

"Theodore!".

"Huh, What?", I said while looking around to see my mother just looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm sorry mom, what did you say?", I asked while trying my best to keep my eyes on her but it was getting harder by the minute.

"Are you alright dear?'', she looked at me with worry. "I'm fine, mom", I was getting a bit irritated and just wishing that she would just tell me what she wants.

"If you say so" But any who Chandra and Maxwell had invited me and your father out for lunch", she smiled.

You'd think she had won the Lottery by the way she is smiling.

Is that what she wanted? Lord G-"

"She said that you could stay at their house with Kai and Winifred, while I and your father are out with them".

And at that moment it was like a switch had gone off and I wasn't tired anymore. A matter of fact I was fully aware the second she said something about Kai's house.

"Does that sound good to you honey?", mom asked. "If not th-"

"NO!".

She raised her brow, and I cleared my throat.

"I mean no", I said using my inside voice

"You guys go and enjoy yourselves".

"I'm sure Win will find something for me and Kai to do". But my thoughts weren't on what I and Kai would be doing at his home. It was more so wondering if a certain person was going to be there.

"Alright dear if you're fine with it, then I guess it's alright", she kissed my head and began walking towards Mr. and Mrs. Rush. But before she did she turned around almost like she forgot something, I hope she wasn't having second thoughts.

"Your father will take you to get your car, so that way if we are tired after we leave the Restaurant you can just drive yourself back".

*****

"So what do you want to do man? Kai asks while throwing his basketball up in the air and catching it. We can play video games, watch a movie, we could get Win to order us a pizza or whatever you want man it's up to you" I'm down with whatever", he explained.

"All those things sound great", I said while looking at my phone to see if Jaelen had texted me, and of course she didn't.

I couldn't help but feel a little sad.

Maybe she just gave me her number to be nice or maybe Win had told her that she and Kai are my only friends and she felt sorry for me. I wasn't embarrassed about that, some of the kids from Church invited Kai and I out once "for Bible study" I would have declined but dad intervened saying it would be good for me to be around kids my age wanting to learn the great word.

Are so he thought, when we got there, Tony the name of the boy whose house we were at, turns out his parents weren't home and would be gone for the evening, and all the kids that came to church every Sunday were in the basement listening to music I know their parents wouldn't approve of, and smoking cannabis.

I immediately left after that and never returned, Kai maybe a bit out there at times but I know he would never do anything to get me in trouble.

"You know what I'm going to tell Win, to order us a pizza, wings and for dessert, we're having strawberry cheesecake ice cream", Kai said and started calling Win's phone.

Even though they're in the same house. He can be so lazy sometimes, I shook my head.

"Alrighty man, she ordered the food and she said that she will call us when it gets here," Kai started looking for a movie for us to watch.

I just hope it's not horror because the last time we watched one I couldn't get any proper sleep for 3 days.

"So you tryna watch the Incredibles 2?".

25 minutes later

Me and Kai's eyes were glued to the tv screen and blocking out any background noise, the house could be on fire and we would assume that Win had cranked up the heat. "Dang, this movie lit ", I just nod my head agreeing with him.

"Kai, you ain't hear me calling you?", Win said. While standing in his doorway and trying to see what we were watching. "Oh, y'all watching The Incredibles huh?" Win asked.

"Yeah, and what were you calling me for?", Kai asked while keeping his Focus on the screen.

"Oh, yeah our pizza and wings here, so y'all better come and get some before Jaelen cookie monster head ass eats them all!", she said leaving out.

My head snapped in her direction but she was already gone, did she just say Jaelen is here? I felt that familiar feeling of my cheeks turning red from just the thought of her. There was something about her, I just couldn't get her out of my head. I would find myself looking at my phone longer than I ever had, hoping she would text me or me going over the many things I wanted to say to her.

But I copped out every time, starting a conversation was so simple but, leave it to me to make it difficult.

Hey, it was simple but in my head it came out as I didn't care or I was talking to my nana. And how's it going it's Theodore, seemed a little desperate, like can you be any more obvious that this is your first encounter with a girl.

I Instantly began getting up and making my way downstairs all while leaving Kai.

I wonder how she's gonna feel when she sees me.

"Well dang, Theodore you must have been really hungry if you got down here that fast" you lifted Kai", Win laughed out.

I let my eyes wander around the kitchen, in search of the brown eyed beauty.

Where was Jaelen I thought because she wasn't in here, did she leave?.

"Win-"

"Hey Winifred y'all out of paper towels'' the angel's voice announced and she started making her way to the pizza.

God, she looks so beautiful I wonder how long she's been here.

"Theo, You remember my friend Jaelen right?", Win asked while chewing her Pizza and looking at me.

Our eyes met and a smirk formed upon her face. Oh God, I think my heart just stopped.

"yeah, you remember me right Theodore?", Jaelen asked while smirking at me.

Never in all of my 17 years of existence, had I wanted a girl's attention. I mean they would try and throw themselves at me, but I would always tell them how I wasn't looking to date anyone right now and how I was too busy with school and church.

But Jaelen was different, there's something about her that's drawing me to her like a moth to a flame. And I didn't mind if I got burned or not.

"Yeah, I- I remember you", I turned away blushing.

"Dang, man you must have been really hungry because you shol left me, '' Kai laughs.

"Sorry", I mumbled while eating my pizza and taking quick glares at Jaelen.

"So how have you been shortie?", Kai gave Jaelen a smirk. But Jaelen on the other hand rolled her eyes waving him off, while Win was just glaring at him.

But I was fanning, because Kai could get any girl he wanted to.

But one thing was for sure that it wasn't going to be the one I wanted, and that's a promise.

"Lil boi please", Jaelen waved him off.

I couldn't help but smirk at the situation.

"Who was that Lil girl you were with at the movies?" "Wasn't that yo girlfriend", Jaelen raised an eyebrow while looking at Kai.

He threw his head back, letting out a laugh.

"Haha!, Girl, that was my friend," Kai smirked.

Jaelen scuffed. "And your friend, won't mind that you're flirting with your sister's best friend?", she raised a brow.

My hands were bald and a fist under the table and nostrils were flaring, me and Kai never fought over any girl before. He was like a brother to me and our friendship meant everything to me, and I would never let something significant or an irrelevant disagreement come between us. But If he didn't chill flirting with my girl there's gonna be a problem.

He grinned. "She'll be alright, any friend of Win is for sure a friend of mine", he said, eyeing her up and down.

Jaelen just rolled her eyes at him again then turned to me.

Oh, God, she's looking at me. I think my heart just stopped, I said to myself while looking back at her.

God, she's so beautiful.

"Come on man, we can take this up to my room", Kai spoke up while grabbing his plate.

I love Kai like my own brothers and I would do anything for him. But I would rather stay here and be in the presence of this goddess sitting across from me.

"What's the rush?", Jaelen said before, I could protest to Kai myself. It's like she can read my mind or something.

"Y'all don't want to chill down here with us?" She said while looking at me. I just turned my head before she could see that I was blushing.

"I mean we were watching the Incredibles upstairs and I was trying to finish it", Kai explained.

"Oh, that's my movie we should all watch it together", Jaelen announced, and without anyone watching she turned and winked at me.

Well this should be an interesting evening.

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