Cass just about saved her phone from it’s death hurtling down towards the ground but found that she herself was pretty much on the same path of travel. She tried to steady herself but found that her balance was pretty much thrown and her arms were flailing around miserably like she was a damsel in distress. Goddamnit. As Cass watched the ground fly up to her face she felt strong hands grip onto her waist and pull her back against the torso that had sent her flying in the first place. She huffed before turning to face her “rescuer”.
“Oops” Was all he said in his relaxed drawl and Cass felt the urge in her to swing at his wildly punchable face. She gripped her fists closed before she exhaled and latched her eyes on his, releasing her hands at the same moment.
“Thanks.” She forced out through her lips, twisting in the weirdly romantic hold that he had on her to look at him a bit better.
He was soft around the edges, Cass thought to herself. The same softness and glow that surrounded most kids at Alexandria Prep lit up his figure like a torch of conceit and well endowed trust funds. She gave a quiet chuckle before she stepped out of their tight embrace.
”Of course, if you hadn’t knocked into me first there would be no need for an apology.” She ribbed him, smiling before she turned to walk away.
Jayden flinched in playful fear at her immediate anger, but released his breath in relief at her sudden change of heart. Perhaps the cheeky smile really did work to calm her down, though she didn’t match the description of a girl to be easily swayed through charm. Regardless, her fist didn’t meet his face, and he got to live another day without a potential black eye. His smile faded into a neutral one, though still pleasant, and decided to keep the hold on her until she’d break from it herself.
There was a second of stillness before she tore the moment with a step out and a teasing comment. “W-Wait!” Jayden stammered, nudging forward with his body as a gesture for her to stop. Now that she was a distance away, he took note of her anomalous style that dressed her, undoubtedly enticing, stature in leather and red lipstick. There was no denying that his eyes glanced her up and down, from the skin of her thighs to the light brown of her hair.
“Maybe, I can get you an ice cream or something,” he paused— Ice cream? Fuck, that’s so childish. . .—and he stepped closer, “You know, for almost making you eat shit and all.” Maybe the ending would disguise the childlike offer.
Cass paused as she watched him give her a once over and jutted out her chin, following him with her own eyes. He was handsome, she’d give him that. All dimples and nice sharp cheekbones, a nice strong chin. Plus, she did have a thing for bad boys and he looked pretty much like the type of guys she’d go after, if not suspiciously clean shaven and glowing with warmth and dewy radiance. At least she was grateful for the lack of cigarette smoke which had floated ceasely around her past hookups. She squinted a bit more at him though because there was something in her that kind of recognized that face. But from where?
Cass watched his lips move as he spoke and arched an eyebrow as he asked her to join him for an ice cream. And without knowing what made her do it (after all, being called a reject was something else) she rolled her eyes and stepped closer.
”Why not? And maybe we can throw in a match at the hoops as well? I’m in desperate need of a partner” Cass smirked and started walking into the fair, trying her hardest to pass by the offending bulletin board without looking at it.
Jayden was taken aback, “Hoops?” He jogged forward to catch up to her, matching her pace with small strides. “I didn’t take you for a basketball kinda girl. You even any good?” He winked.
Cass slowed down so she could look him levelly in the eyes. “If I bet on it for that ice cream, would you be willing to play?”
Jayden smirked at her, “I’ll tell you what. If you beat me, I’ll let you shove the whole ice cream in my face.”
She laughed, a genuine one this time as she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards where the game was, a bit ahead of them. “I’ll gladly take that offer.” Cass squinted and lined up her shot.
Jayden jolted, her pull bringing him to the basketball game in a flash. He watched her reach for the ball and assume her stance for a shot. He grabbed a basketball of his own, resting it between his relaxed arm and his side. “Wait, wait, wait,” Jayden stopped her, resting his hand on her raised shoulder. “So what do I get if I win?”
She shrugged. "My name."
Jayden went to speak, but closed his mouth in a smile. He passed the ball between his hands absentmindedly, tilting his head to her with a flirty chuckle. “Alright. You’re on.” He dumped quarters into both of the machines, and reached to press the start button of her machine first, attempting to catch her off guard. Jayden started his own game and took his first shot with his eyes still locked on her and then moved to play with more focus.
As she watched him speak, Cass undid her intricate braid and took the time to throw back her hair wildly. It was no use to pretend to be someone else when she played. Her focus had to be on the game. He reached over to press the start button and she gave a loud laugh as she realized the dirty trick, lunging forwards to grab the first ball.
She remembered the evenings spent behind the trailers on the expanse of cracked asphalt playing basketball with all the other kids. There had only been a hoop on a cracked backboard which towered above all of them, the tallest thing that they had ever seen. She remembered playing until she was out of breath, until the fireflies had surrounded the mass of sweaty kids on the ground, backs flush with the concrete and trying to regain their breath. There had been no distractions then. No one to call her home.
Cass snapped out of her thoughts as she reached for another ball and another, rapidly firing them into the machine without concentration. She glanced at the timer and winced. They were close to finishing the game.
Jayden went into the game with lenience, but her skill took him by surprise. Basketball was only a mere hobby to him, one he’d exercise frequently to kill time. As a sporty guy, he had a knack for picking up anything sports-related and excelling at it, but Cass was giving him a run for his money. He picked up the pace, speaking between shots, “Okay, you weren’t kidding, huh?”
He noticed the timers reaching their end and his attempt to match her pace was replaced with an attempt to keep up. It seemed like he was just under her tail in points. The buzzing occurred precedingly, her game ending just before his. Jayden shot one last ball before turning to her with beads of sweat forming along his hairline—he gave her his dimpled smirk.
A tie.
“Jayden,” he told her.
Cass leaned back and took off her jacket, tying it along her waist as she tried to catch her breath. She was jolted by the offering of his name and turned to stick her hand out between them.
“Good game...Jayden.”
His hand was big against hers, his calluses rubbing the delicate skin of her palm as he gave it a soft shake. He looked down at his feet, and then back up at her. “You’re good. How long you been ballin’ for?”
Cass looked at his eyes, so warm and open and genuine that she found herself closing up a tiny bit. It had been a long time since she’d seen someone who looked that honest. Her childhood had only been full of liars.
“Been playing since I was a kid. I don’t play on the team though, my skill certainly isn’t that great.” She chuckled and started to walk out towards the ice cream booth.
“I’ll pay for the ice cream since you treated me to such a close match?”
“Hey, you gotta give yourself some credit!” Jayden confidently told her, “You shoot good. I guess we just have to see how fast you can run.” Another wink.
He laughed at her generosity towards his impending doom of an ice cream, “You really don’t have to do that.” He walked beside her, letting her lead the way until they would reach the booth. “So what else are you good at?”
“I don’t know...why don’t you guess?”
“Hmmm,” he chimed to himself. He used the opportunity to look her up and down, as if the question gave him some sort of privilege to do so without being a creep. “I feel like you’re good at punching guys you don’t like, or maybe ones that accidentally knock you over.”
“Sure, I’d take that.” She walked up to the person manning the booth and bent over to look at the ice cream flavors.
“I’ll have coffee...and could we have chocolate for that man there?” She pointed to Jayden and winked, handing over the money for the ice creams and handing his cone to him. “I took a guess you’d like chocolate.”
Jayden laughed, “I’m glad you considered my tastes before totally mashing it in my face.” He didn’t take the offered ice cream, instead he scrunched his face and put his hands behind his back. Leaning forward, he braced for impact. “Alright, I’m ready.”
Cass watched as he anticipated the ice cream and shook her head. There was no way that she would actually do what they had talked about. But she did like to have a bit of fun. She inched the ice cream closer to her face before she paused it when it touched his lips, hoping he’d get a tiny shock out of the coldness.
“It was a tie, remember?”
Jayden flinched from the cold ice cream, realizing after a short moment of anticlimax that she wasn’t going to do it. He licked his lips, “So what does that mean?” He laughed, assuming a more normal posture.
“You don’t get my name and I don’t get to smash the ice cream in your face.” Cass shrugged as she handed him the cone.
Jayden squinted his eyes at her, “Are you sure that’s how ties work?”
“Or would you prefer both?” She raised the ice cream menacingly at him.
“How about I guess?” he replied, smiling devilishly and confidently.
“My name?” Cass pushed her hair over her shoulder teasingly.
“Yeah!” Jayden took a bite from his ice cream, thinking for a moment while scrutinizing her appearance once more. He was waiting for her to get pissed with how many times he’s checked her out already. “Maddy.”
“Nope. Try again, Jay.” She winked at him.
“Elizabeth.”
“Nope.” She shook her head and crossed her arms. He wasn’t going to get it and as she looked at him smiling at her, Cass realized that he wouldn’t get it. Any of it.
“What if I told you that we can part ways here? You won’t know my name and maybe one day we’ll meet in the hallway and I’ll wave.” Cass paused to look at Jayden for once. “Trust me, I don’t think a pretty boy like you wants to know me.”
Jayden laughed, with his primary intention to mask his embarrassment from a girl turning away from him, but also to fill the silence of his speechlessness. “Why? You don’t seem that scary to me.” He winked at her, the predetermined challenge sparking something within him.
Cass sighed. “Not scary to you here Jayden but....how would you know?” She raised an eyebrow at him.
Jayden closed the gap between them, maybe getting a little too close for comfort. He sighed, the minty exhale aiming downward at her. He looked her over another time, more obvious and without a proper excuse this time. “I’ve met a lot of girls, and I don’t think scary’s the word to describe you,” he said in a soft voice. He dabbed her nose with the tip of his ice cream.
Cass stared back into his eyes, a cold stare against his warm, challenging one. She rubbed at her nose and licked the ice cream off of her finger, challenging his stare.
“What would you describe me as then?”
“Hmmm,” Jayden thought to himself, impressed with the way that she could hold her gaze against his. He smirked, “Right now—‘full of surprises’. But maybe let me hangout with you a little longer and I can come up with something better.” He ended with a flirty, more sexual tone, not a tone he’d yet revealed since meeting her.
“Mmm...Nice offer but I’ll turn it up, Jay.” It was obvious he was flirting with her but she knew he was like this often and not to take too much out of it. “Listen, it was nice spending time with you. It’s hard to find someone to play me at hoops and offer me ice cream. But, I’ve got to go now. Maybe we’ll see each other again.” She started away from him at a brisk walk. “But I’d not count on it.”
“Wait!” He slouched in defeat, “Ugh, you really like walking away, huh?” Jayden caught up to her, following close behind as she walked, “Okay how about if I figure out your name then you let me see you tonight.”
“Why not?” Cass called over her shoulder as she smiled, walking away.
Jayden went to say something more, but figured he’d be better off spending his time trying to find the name of the girl. One final look at her and he was left with a challenging smirk on his face.
