Coleman was in the passenger side while Noelani was alone in the back, since Nimari had already been dropped off at his home.

Jalen kept one hand on the wheel as he stared at the red light in front of him.

Music from the radio mixed with the lively conversation between the two while Jalen remained quiet, throughly annoyed.

Cockblocking ass, disloyal ass niggas.

The light turned green and Jalen presses the gas.

"Are all games that easy for y'all to win or was that team just ass?" Noelani asked.

"That team was just ass. Plus it was our first home game of the season and we can't lose on our home turf." Jalen replied.

"It's only gonna get harder from here on out." Coleman shrugged.

Jalen turned into Coleman's neighborhood then parked in front of his house, "Aight," Jalen held his hand out.

Coleman dapped him up, "Bye, Noel."

"Bye, Cole!" Coleman closed the passenger side door and Jalen looked at Noelani through the rearview mirror when she didn't move to get in the front, "Uh, I'm not an Uber driver."

Noelani raised an eyebrow but got out of the back seat.

Noelani sat in the passenger side, adjusting the chair to move forward.

Let's see if I can finally get somewhere tonight.

Jalen glanced at her then lowered the volume on the radio, "So.. Where ya from?"

Noelani peered at him for a couple of seconds but said nothing.

Jalen sighed, "Why won't you let me be nice to you?"

"Because I already know what kinda person you are." Noelani looked out of the window.

"You don't though. You know nothing about me." Jalen responded as he put the car in drive.

"You, like the rest of that school, only know what's put on ESPN," Jalen added bitterly.

Jalen must've let more bitterness in his tone than he intended because when Noelani glanced at him, it wasn't apprehensive like usual.

Instead, her light brown eyes were full of questioning and a touch of concern as she eyed him.

There was a couple moments of silence as the two drove through the night on their way to Noelani's home.

"You're... You're right. I haven't been fair to you." Noelani sighed as she turned to face him, "I'm sorry. It's just... Cocky people really rub me the wrong way."

Jalen nodded as he continued to drive away from Coleman's neighborhood, "So can we start over? Please?"

Noelani gazed up at him from the passenger side for a few seconds, "Yeah. We can do that. Uh, you asked me where I was from right?"

Jalen nodded, taking the time to take in every inch of her appearance.

Her curly hair was brushed into a low bun with a deep side part and the only makeup on her face was the mango scented lip gloss.

She had on a black varsity jacket that hid a gray tank top, denim jeans and the same red, black and white Air Jordan 1s that she was wearing when Jalen and her had first met.

"I'm from Kawela Bay."

"Koala?" Jalen asked.

"Kah-we-la. It's a small town on the northern side on the island of Oahu."

"Oahu?" Jalen furrowed his brows.

"It's a Hawaiian island." Noelani chuckled.

"So, you're into surfing and swimming and shit?"

"Yeah, actually. I love it." A peaceful smile graced Noelani's face.

Jalen started to smile at the tranquil expression on her face.

Jalen wouldn't admit this to anyone but Noelani's smile was extremely infectious.

"That's really cool, actually. You must hate it here, huh?"

"Well, hate is a strong word but..." Noelani shrugged, "You're right. This is not my favorite place to be."

"Napa ain't so bad, once you get used to it. Just gotta go to more places besides school, the gym and home."

Noelani's jaw dropped and she chuckled a little, "Wow. Way to call me out, kid."

Jalen laughed at her sarcastic tone, "I never see you out like anywhere. Not the movies, not any restaurants... You a homebody or sumn?"

"Why you looking for me?" Noelani raised an eyebrow.

"You ain't that hard to miss." Jalen flirted.

Jalen scanned the outline of Noelani's face to see if he could spot a reaction, then sat up a little, "Turn left or right here?"

"Uh, right." Noelani tucked the few strands that had loosened from her bun behind her left ear then rubbed her hands together in her lap.

"So why don't you? If you don't mind me asking." Jalen asked as he switched on his turn signals and turned into a affluent complex.

"It doesn't make sense for me to get attached to anything here. I'm not staying." Noelani looked at the numbers painted on the side of the mailboxes, "A little further."

Jalen pulled up to the curb outside of a tan two story house with a gray truck parked outside.

Jalen squinted a little, "Isn't that Principal Morales' truck?"

"Yeah..." Noelani trailed off, "He's my dad."

Jalen parked the car in the driveway, "Does that get awkward?"

"Yeah. Oh my God, yeah. The amount of times I've had to sneak into his office just so I can go home without anyone seeing is..."

The two began to laugh as the porch light flickered on and off.

"Ugh, that's my dad trying to subtly tell me to come inside," Noelani unbuckled her seatbelt, "I should go."

Noelani opened the door then stopped her movements, turning back to face Jalen, "Thanks for the ride home. I'll see you at school."

Noelani slid out of the car then shut the door.

"Aye!" Jalen rolled down the passenger side window.

Noelani stopped, whirling around to face the car.

"We friends right?" Jalen yelled.

Noelani smiled causing Jalen to smile as well.

"Friends," Then Noelani turned back around to walk onto the porch, opened the front door and stepped inside.

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