Jalen asked Sydney.

Sydney, him and Jasmine were currently standing in a jewelry store, looking over promise rings.

"Like I don't even have her back yet, I don't know if I should be doing this." Jalen admitted, picking at his curls.

"You are way over thinking this. A grand gesture always works," Sydney interjected, flashing him her own promise ring that was hanging on her cross necklace.

"Really?" Jalen asked in a dubious tone.

"In the movies, it always works." Jasmine chirped.

Sydney slapped her palm to her forehead and Jalen began to chuckle, "Yeah, no."

Jalen attempted to walk out but Sydney and Jasmine each grabbed an arm and pulled him back to where they were standing in front of a display case.

A sharp pain flitted through the side of Jalen's right foot and he stumbled.

"You good?" Jasmine asked.

"Yeah." Jalen affirmed but gave his sneaker covered foot a warning glance.

Jalen had been pushing himself a lot harder during practice and games and it had showed in Prolific Prep continuing a winning streak and his foot giving out at conspicuous times.

"Just give it a shot." Sydney pressed.

A sales lady who looked to be of East Asian descent, dressed professionally, walked to them from the other side of the case, "Are you lost? The Claire's is on the other side of the mall."

Jalen and Sydney immediately screwed their faces up at the shady remark but Jasmine put a hand up and stepped forward to say something in Korean, gesturing to Jalen.

The woman's expression grew pleasant and she responded before walking away with a smile on her face.

"How'd you know she was Korean? What did you say to her?" Sydney asked in an amused tone.

"Her name is Ji Hyun and that's my middle name. And I told her that he's really desperate and that my dad and his family are from Busan." Jasmine giggled.

Jalen rolled his eyes then looked back at the glass case full of rings, necklaces and diamond earrings.

"So... A ring? Or maybe a necklace? She likes hoop earrings." Jalen said, not looking at either of the two girls.

"Maybe both if you got it like that." A new voice emerged behind them.

Jalen turned to smile at Camila who was walking into the store.

"Uh... Who are you?" Sydney asked in a blunt tone.

"Camila. I'm Jalen's friend."

As Camila spoke Jasmine narrowed her eyes for a second then scoffed and turned to Jalen.

"I know you didn't invite the girl who gave you her number to a ring shopping trip for your ex. You're not stupid, are you?" Jasmine seethed quietly.

"I thought she could help." Jalen retorted.

"She doesn't even know Noel. How could she help? God, you're hopeless." Sydney shook her head, "Y'all ain't never getting back together."

Camila pursed her lips, "I think Imma go."

"No, stay. Look I know that she doesn't know Lani but I think someone who's not gonna be biased would help." Jalen pleaded.

Sydney and Jasmine looked at Camila, then at each other then turned to face the glass case again.

"Those must be her friends, huh?" Camila asked when Jalen stepped away from the case to speak with her.

"Yeah."

"You know one of them is gonna tell her that you were with me right?"

"Yeah."

"As long as you know. Okay." Camila pressed her lips together, then walked forward to join the girls who debating something.

"Aye listen, I'm not here to start nothing or take Jalen away from his ex. I'm twenty something, I don't date younger guys, especially not ones still in high school. I'm just trying to help because I know what it feels like to have the one that got away. That's all." Camila said in a sincere tone.

Sydney and Jasmine gave Camila a surprised look.

"Okay. I'm Syd and this is Jas. We were just talking about if Noel would like princess cut versus round cut diamond." Sydney said in a cautious tone.

"What's her personality like?" Camila asked as Jalen joined them as well, "It helps with a ring."

"How do I start?" Jalen chuckled, "She's blunt and to the point."

"She'll always go the extra mile for you." Jasmine interjected.

"She loves her family. Her and her mom are super close." Sydney dragged out the word love.

"She's really sarcastic and she raises her eyebrow a lot." Jalen attempted to do it then relaxed his face when he realized that he couldn't quite master it.

Sydney looked at the case then pointed to a ring on the second level with a butterfly on the band, "What about that one?"

"Eh. I think that one is too prissy for her. What about a necklace?" Jasmine nodded to a dainty teardrop pendant.

"I feel like a necklace isn't personal enough." Camila said, "What about..." Camila walked to another glass case full of rings and pointed at it, "This one?"

The girls followed her then stared at what she pointing to.

"Wow. Yeah, that's the one." Jasmine said in awe.

"Yeah. She would love this one." Sydney agreed.

Jalen limped over which caused Jasmine to give him a concerned look, "Are you good?"

"Maybe we should sit for a bit. Jordan's been telling me you've been doing too much at practice." Sydney said.

"No, no, no, I wanna get the ring." There was another sharp stab of pain in his foot caused his vision to go red for a second.

"We can get it. Just sit." Camila urged him.

"Yeah." Jasmine agreed.

Jalen gave Sydney the credit card and began to limp out of the store to attempt to sit at a table in the food court a couple of feet away.

His foot was completely on fire now and Jalen grit his teeth as he waited for the three girls to come out of the store.

"You good? You look like you're about to cry." Jasmine asked, the tiny jewelry store bag in her hands.

Jalen shook his head then grit his teeth again and dug his hand into his hoodie for his car keys, "My foot is fucked up. Someone else needs to drive me to the hospital."

Jasmine immediately scooped up the keys while Camila and Sydney allowed Jalen to wrap his arms around their shoulders for support.

They got looks but they all ignored the passerby's as the girls half carried, half dragged Jalen to his car.

would y'all like an epilogue once the book is done? I have a lot of ideas 🙂

vote & comment, porfa!