everywhere… especially here,” Israel replied, deadly serious.
Everyone stood wondering what had just happened. All they knew was that Jaidas backed right off of Israel. Jaidas looked at Aira, rubbed his mouth, then his chin, then walked away still rubbing his chest. His friends followed.
“What happened, man?” Harlem muttered.
“Nothing… don’t worry about it.”
Avery and Joshua walked up to Aira and Israel.
“That was awesome,” Avery smiled delighted.
“Ya man… what the hell?” Joshua laughed.
Israel lightly shook his head and smiled, and they started walking towards the school.
Aira knew it was not like Jaidas to give up that easily, there was just no way. Something was definitely going on. She looked at Israel bewildered.
He moved the hair out of her face. He could sense what she must have been thinking.
“Hey, you guys wanna hang out with us after school, do something?” Avery asked them.
“Ya, sure,” Aira answered still looking at Israel. “Do you want...?” she continued, still trying to wrap her head around what she had seen.
He then rubbed the back of his neck with half a smile, somewhat uncomfortable knowing that Aira’s thoughts were burning a hole right through him. “Um, my mom, she’s putting on this last of season barbecue this evening. She kinda asked if you’d like to come?”
“I’d love to… Maybe we can plan something tomorrow? Is that okay?” she asked, looking back at Avery.
“Absolutely, we’ll probably go see a movie anyways or something,” Avery answered. “Are you kidding me, you have to go.”
“Okay,” Aira smiled at Israel.
He could tell she had a million questions.
“Okay,” Israel smiled.
“I just have to stop at my house and let them know first.”
“Ya, of course,” Israel replied.
“They probably want to meet you, anyways.” Aira shook her head a bit and chuckled.
The day went by reasonably fast. After first break she didn’t see Jaidas. He must have gone home. After school, Israel walked to Aira’s locker as she was grabbing out books and putting them in her bag.
“I’m a little nervous,” she said, closing her locker.
“My parents, they’re fine, I promise. My mom is a little extreme sometimes,” he said playfully.
“It’s not your parents… it’s mine,” she spoke, dreading their unrelenting teasing.
Israel smiled at her and they walked out of the school.
“I’m sure they’re fine.” Israel opened the car door for Aira and she got in.
He got into his side, and pulled out of the school parking lot. On the drive to her house she was pretty quiet because she was thinking of a way to ask him questions. She didn’t know how, so she didn’t. She turned her head and looked over at him. Being with him was enough. Every time she looked at him, it was like the first time. It was always new, but somehow the same.
He could feel her looking at him. He turned his head to look at her and reached his hand over and held onto hers.
They pulled up to her house and Israel put his car in park and got out.
Aira, a little nervous, slowly dragged herself out of her seat.
Israel grabbed onto Aira’s hand and they walked up to her front door. Just as Aira went to open the door, it opened. It was her younger brother.
“Hi Aira, who’s this?” David asked curiously.
“Israel, this is my brother David.”
“Hello, David,” Israel smiled at him. “That’s quite a heroic name you have there.”
David looked down, “Not really, it’s my dad’s middle name.” David ran back over to the T.V and plopped himself in front of it. Israel looked over at David curiously, and Aira walked into to the kitchen.
“Mom?” Aira called, looking around for them.
“We’re out here, honey.” Her mom’s voice came from the back deck. Aira walked out back with Israel.
Maddy and Barry were sitting in their chairs reading, and enjoying a drink on the deck.
“Hey, this is Israel. His mom asked if I could go for a