Chapter seven

Maila Kolbi
Atlanta, Georgia
September 5, 2024 (Thursday)

The week was flying by, and I couldn’t keep up with it. Cheer, photography, homework—it was like I was juggling a million things at once. But amidst all the chaos, there were the small moments I got to spend with Micah. Whether it was in class or those brief conversations by his car before I went to practice, I couldn’t deny that I looked forward to them more than I cared to admit.

We still hadn’t talked outside of school, though, which wasn’t a problem for me—I wasn’t rushing anything. Plus, I didn’t even have his number yet.

I was sitting in my coach’s office, listening to her talk about the plans for the upcoming week. A big rival game was coming up soon, and we had a lot to prepare for.

“Alright, ladies, we have a bit of a problem,” Coach said, drawing our attention. “We need new ideas for our senior posters to hang up in the gym. And we also need ideas for your away game uniforms. The ones the school ordered never got delivered,” she muttered, rolling her eyes in frustration.

I sat up straighter, trying to focus. “So, Maila,” she said, catching my attention. “Since you know pretty much everyone at this school, could you maybe work your magic and come up with some ideas? You’re the cheer co-captain, after all.”

“Okay, Coach, I’ll try,” I said, though I was already starting to feel the pressure. The last thing I needed was to mess this up.

“Great! You ladies are dismissed for today. No practice, since it’s about to rain,” Coach said with a smile, signaling us to leave.

I grabbed my duffel bag and bookbag, the weight of them making me groan as I stepped outside.

Ugh, why do I always overpack? I thought, struggling under the weight. Skylar and Kamiya were right behind me, and I caught sight of Cameron and Keith.

“Hi, baby,” Keith grinned as Skylar walked up to him.

“Hey,” Skylar smiled, wrapping her arms around him.

“Hey, baby—” I heard Kamiya mutter before pushing Cameron’s arm off her.

“What’d I do now?” Cameron rolled his eyes.

“You were in some girl’s comments talking about how she looks nice. Don’t play with me,” Kamiya shot back.

They started arguing, and I could only shake my head as Keith, Skylar, and I quietly moved away.

Yikes. They’re always like this.

“So, guys, what ideas should I go with for the cheer team?” I asked, looking for some advice. “I have to come up with ideas for the outfits and banners for the gym. I don’t even know where to start,” I said, rolling my eyes, feeling the weight of it all.

“Sheesh, I don’t know, bestie. You know all those personalities, so maybe try to name it something relatable?” Skylar offered.

“Why don’t you just ask Micah?” Keith said, nodding toward Micah, who was standing outside by his car, chatting with some of the basketball team. “He’s always sketching. He could probably help.”

I froze, suddenly feeling a flutter in my chest. Micah could help?

I hadn’t really thought about asking him for anything—especially not about this—but now that Keith mentioned it, it made sense. Micah was always drawing and sketching things, and honestly, he was one of the most talented people I knew.

I snapped myself out of my thoughts and started walking toward his car. He noticed me coming and gave me that signature smile.

“Oh, wassup, pretty?” He grinned, taking my bag out of my hand.

I loved when he called me that. The way it made me feel—special, seen—wasn’t something I could ignore. I smiled back, trying to act cool.

“Hey, so, I have a question for you. It’s kind of important,” I said, feeling a slight nervousness in my chest.

“You asking me out?” Micah teased, his voice playful.

My heart skipped. “Huh? I mean… yes—no—”

“Chill, I’m trolling, Maila,” he said with a laugh.

“Don’t do that,” I said, playfully hitting his arm, but my heartbeat hadn’t calmed down.

“Alright, for real,” I said, clearing my throat. “I need help with the cheerleading outfits and the banners for the gym. I’m not really creative with that kind of thing, so I was wondering if you could help me out.”

“Because you’re so nice, and you can’t say no to your friend, right?” I added, smiling sweetly.

He rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the grin that crept up. “Alright, I’ll help you. But you gotta do something for me, though, pretty.”

I raised an eyebrow. What’s this about?

“What’s that, Micah?” I asked, curious.

“Teach me Spanish, fluently,” he said, his tone surprisingly serious. “My mom always wanted me to learn it, and now that she’s gone, I want to make sure I honor that. It’s important to me.”

My heart sank at his words. The sadness in his voice made it clear that this wasn’t just some passing thought for him. He really cared. It shattered something in me, but at the same time, it made me admire him more than I already did.

“Aww, okay, I’ll help you, Micah,” I said softly. “And I’m really sorry for your loss.” I meant it, more than I realized. There was something raw and real in his honesty.

“Appreciate it,” he said, his voice softer now. He looked at me, holding his hand out. “Let me text myself your number.”

I passed him my phone, and after a few moments, he handed it back.

“Wait, do you have practice today?” he asked, looking at me.

“Nope, Coach lets us breathe on Thursdays,” I replied.

“Well, come grab some food with me. I’m starving,” Micah said, opening my door for me. He tossed my bag in the backseat and gave me a charming smile.

Micah’s always hungry… I thought, but smiled anyway.

“Micah, you’re always hungry, but sure, I’ll go with you. You’re paying, right?” I asked, teasing him.

He shrugged, laughing. “Of course. You can call it our second date.”

I couldn’t hide my smile, even as I got in the car. Second date? My mind raced, and I caught myself before my smile got too big.

As he cranked the engine, I glanced around at his car—everything was so clean, and the scent of something nice filled the air. Then I noticed the overalls and boots in the backseat.

“Oh, don’t mind that,” Micah said, glancing at me. “It’s just my work clothes.”

I nodded, feeling a rush of curiosity mixed with something deeper that I wasn’t ready to admit.

Micah pulled out of the school parking lot, casually reaching for his phone and pressing play on his music. Bryson Tiller’s “Sorry Not Sorry” started playing, the bass filling the car as I sank back into my seat.

Okay, he’s got good taste in music, I thought to myself, nodding along quietly. I didn’t want to admit it, but I was impressed. Most guys I knew either blasted whatever was trending or had no vibe at all. Micah was different. He had a rhythm to him, like he knew exactly what to play for the moment.

The ride was quiet, but not awkward. The music filled the space between us, and I found myself glancing at him every now and then. He gripped the steering wheel with one hand, the other resting casually on the gear shift. Unlike Liam, who used to drive like he was in a race, Micah was smooth and steady. He wasn’t trying to show off or prove something.

He’s not Liam, Maila. Stop comparing them, I scolded myself, looking out the window as we passed rows of trees and small shops.

Eventually, we pulled into the parking lot of a pizza place I didn’t recognize. It had a retro feel, with glowing neon signs and black-and-white tiled windows.

“Micah, where—” I started, but before I could finish, he was already out of the car. He jogged around to my side and opened my door, a playful smile lighting up his face.

“Come on, slowpoke. I’m starving,” he teased, holding the door open like it was second nature.

I grabbed my purse and stepped out, trying to hide my smile. He’s really sweet, I thought, but quickly shook it off. I couldn’t get too caught up in how nice he was—this was just pizza, nothing more.

Micah led me to the door, opening it for me again. The scent of melted cheese and fresh dough hit me as soon as we stepped inside. The place had a retro diner vibe with red leather booths, checkered floors, and a jukebox in the corner. It was cozy, but what really caught my attention was a group of students from school sitting a few tables away.

“Hey, Maila!” a girl called out, waving. I waved back, offering a polite smile as Micah led us to a booth in the corner, away from the noise.

I slid into the seat and immediately pulled out my phone, snapping a picture of the vintage decor. The lighting wasn’t great, but I could already imagine how the edits would turn out.

“Alright, you gonna tell me more about these cheerleading banners or what?” Micah asked, leaning back in the booth. He rested his arm on the top of the seat, looking at me like he was genuinely interested.

“Oh, right! So, I’ve got the colors Coach wants and a few notes on what she’s looking for. I’ll text it all to you,” I said, scrolling to his contact. “You’re good at sketching, so I figured you’d be perfect for this.”

“Cool,” he said with a nod. “But first, what kind of pizza do you like? And don’t say boring-ass pepperoni.”

I laughed, leaning forward. “What’s wrong with just pepperoni? That’s the only one I’ve ever tried!”

Micah groaned, shaking his head. “Only pepperoni? Nah, we’re getting supreme. Trust me.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been here before?”

“Yeah, me and Aiden come here all the time,” he said, his expression softening at the mention of his brother.

“Aiden? That’s your brother, right?” I asked, curious. I remembered seeing his name pop up in conversations but never really asked about him.

“Yeah, he’s seven. He’s the baby of the family,” Micah said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “He looks just like my mom, just without the hazel eyes.”

I tilted my head, intrigued. “Your mom had hazel eyes, too? So you’re the only kid who got them?”

Micah chuckled. “How’d you know? Don’t tell me you’ve been spying on me.”

“Of course not!” I rolled my eyes, trying to hide how flustered I was. “It’s just obvious. I mean, they’re kind of… unforgettable.”

Before he could respond, the waiter came over. “Can I get you guys started with drinks?”

“I’ll take a strawberry lemonade,” I said, glancing at Micah.

“Water and lemonade on the side,” he said without looking at the menu. “Oh, and we’ll do a supreme pizza—half pepperoni for her,” he added, shooting me a playful look.

The waiter scribbled it down and walked off.

“You didn’t have to roll your eyes,” I said, narrowing mine at him.

“I did, but it’s okay. You’re gonna try the supreme, and you’re gonna fall in love. Watch,” Micah said confidently, leaning back with a smirk.

“I love the confidence,” I said, shaking my head as the drinks arrived.

Micah suddenly laughed, holding his phone out toward me. “Look at this. Somebody screen-recorded the live and made an edit of us on TikTok.”

I leaned forward, sipping my lemonade as I watched. It was a video of us walking together after school, set to some romantic song with over-the-top captions.

“Damn, they’re more delusional than me,” I said, laughing.

Micah raised an eyebrow. “What are you delusional about?”

Before I could answer, the waiter brought the pizza, saving me from the question.

I let out a sigh of relief. “Saved by the bell,” I said under my breath, grinning as the waiter set the steaming pizza down on the table.

Micah didn’t miss a beat. “Alright, first things first. You’re trying the supreme,” he declared, pulling out his phone. He pointed the camera at me, smirking. “Gotta record this. It’s a monumental moment.”

“Are you serious right now?” I said, giving him a playful glare as I picked up a slice.

“Absolutely. Go ahead, take a bite,” he said, leaning forward like this was the highlight of his day.

Rolling my eyes, I finally took a bite, fully expecting to hate it. But as the flavors hit my tongue, I couldn’t help but pause. The combination of savory toppings and perfectly baked crust was… actually really good.

Micah’s grin widened. “Hell yeah! What’d I tell you? That shit buss!” he laughed, lowering his phone and taking a slice for himself.

I covered my mouth as I chewed, trying not to laugh with him. “Okay, fine. It’s good. But don’t let it go to your head.”

“Oh, it’s already there,” he said confidently, taking a big bite of his slice. “But since I was right, now you owe me. What’s the next new thing you’re making me try?”

I thought for a second. “Hmm… something sweet. I bake, so maybe a dessert,” I said, smiling. “You can’t knock it until you try it.”

“Cool with me,” Micah said with a shrug. “Just no peanuts. I’m allergic.”

“Noted,” I said, tucking that little detail away.

The conversation flowed easily after that. We talked about random things—our favorite movies, weird habits, and even embarrassing moments from childhood. It felt natural, like I didn’t have to try so hard to fill the silence. I realized how rare it was to have a conversation where both of us weren’t glued to our phones.

As the last slice disappeared, I leaned back in the booth, satisfied. “That was fun,” I admitted, wiping my hands on a napkin.

Micah leaned back too, stretching his arms out along the back of the booth. “Told you. I know all the spots,” he said, flashing me a smile.

I raised an eyebrow. “So, what’s next on this list of spots? Or is this the grand finale?”

Micah chuckled. “I don’t know yet. Guess you’ll have to stick around and find out.” There was something playful but genuine in the way he said it, and for a moment, I felt my heart skip.

He stood up, grabbing the bill from the edge of the table before I could even reach for my purse. “What are you doing?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Relax, I got it. It’s pizza, not a five-star steakhouse,” he said, pulling out his wallet.

“But I could’ve—”

“Nope,” he cut me off, shaking his head. “Just say thank you, Maila.”

I sighed dramatically. “Fine. Thank you, Micah.”

“That’s more like it,” he said, smirking as he handed the waiter some cash.

As we walked back to the car, the cool evening air hit my face, and I found myself smiling for no reason at all. Micah opened the car door for me again, and I slid in, feeling a warmth I couldn’t explain.