guys oh my god i am actually freaking out ben just replied to me on twitter im fukin crying agshsjsnamsm 😭😭😭 and i didn't even spam him wtf
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Arzaya
I groaned as the sunlight woke me up from my slumber. My mind and body felt sore that I couldn't even stretch out. When I opened my eyes, I immediately noticed the navy blue ceiling.
Oh, god.
I turned to my right to see Stephen sleeping—his arm locked on my waist.
Oh, fúck. Did something happen...
I put his arm away and got up. I wasn't even in my own clothes!
"Zay?" Stephen stirred from his sleep and looked up at me. As much as my head hurt, I managed to grab my clothes which was neatly placed at the nightstand. I quickly took off the baggy shirt and slipped on my leather shorts. I rushed buttoning my white shirt which I had done messily, but right now I didn't care about that.
I could not recall shít from last night and it scared me.
"Hey," he said, softly. He got up and gripped my waist from behind. "Are you okay?"
My breath hitched from his sudden touch.
"How did we end up tangled on the sheets?!" I exclaimed, questioningly.
His hazel eyes looked tired but he still tried to compose me. "Calm down. Nothing happened, I promise."
"But you...." I tried to push him off but he had my wrist locked on his chest. All I remember were vague memories—playing beer pong, dancing on the table, making out...shít.
"Something happened! You're lying!" I accused. This wasn't how I pictured my first intimate experience with someone would be. "You took advantage of me, Steph! You're a rap—"
"No, I didn't!" he defended, making me look straight in his eyes. "I would never do that, Zay. Believe me. You would know if I touched you. You would feel it!"
His last statement caused me to momentarily relax in his arms.
"Tell me, do you feel it? I know you're a virgin, Zay," he asked again.
God, that bit appeared in my head like a puzzle piece. I remembered having to play Neve Have I Ever with them and I admitted being a virgin.
But to think about it, I wasn't really sore down there, so maybe, and I hope to god, we didn't really have séx.
"What did we do, then?" I asked him. I felt so bad.
I'm so bad! I'm such a whóre! I feel like I just cheated on Ben even though we aren't even together.
"It was all kissing. It's all we did," he explained genuinely. "Then you threw up and I took care of you until you fell asleep."
We kissed! We fúcking kissed! Stephen's lips were on me and it was a memory, not a dream!
His eyes were as open as I've seen them. I could almost read through it and I knew that he was telling the truth.
But I couldn't understand why he did that. Why would he wait around and take care of me?
I just felt ashamed because I might have done or said something stupid while I was drunk and I would have never known.
"Hey, do you believe me?" he asked, making me look at him again.
"I just... I believe you, but," I paused, feeling his hand graze on my palm. I just couldn't believe that out of all people, it had to be him. "I don't know if I trust you. Frankly, I don't even know why we kissed in the first place. You made it clear that that you'll never like me."
His face dropped in an instant and I couldn't read his thoughts. He slowly released his grip on my hand with a look of confusion.
"You don't remember anything last night?" he asked, seemingly hoping for a good answer. "At least, some of the things I said?"
I wish I remembered, but it was too soon to be able to recall that. Maybe I'd be able to remember later, but right now my head was too clouded to think straight.
"No," I answered and he pursed his lips probably already assuming that very answer from me. I was so curious and confused. "Is there something I should know?"
He awkwardly stepped away and averted his eyes. "None at all. Just forget it."
"Are you sure?" I egged on but he just nodded without meeting my eyes.
He was hiding something—I could feel it, and I wanted to ask him, thank him at least, but I could not make myself do it. I decided not to pursue whatever it was because if it was important, he'd tell me.
"Alright," I said, softly. I waited for him to say anything but he didn't. "I guess I'll go."
---
I opened the door and headed inside the house to see my dad and Asher watching an NBA game.
"Zay?" I heard my mom call just as I walked towards the stairs.
"What?" I unintentionally snapped. I just wasn't in the mood to talk with anyone right now.
She appeared coming down to meet me by the stairs. "Jesus, what happened to you?"
"I, uh..."
"Stephen called last night," she added and it caught my attention.
"What did he say?" I asked, feeling nervous inside.
My mom scrutinized me—almost like she was staring right through my soul. "He said you went back to Shay's house for a sleepover and that I didn't have to worry. You were not returning my calls."
"Oh, that..." Wardell actually helped me out, the fúck.
"Is he saying the truth?" my mom questioned, looking at me warily.
I quickly nodded. "Yes, yes. Yeah, it was true. I must have been, um, asleep. That's why I wasn't able to answer the phone."
She didn't seem convinced but she let it pass. "Alright. I'm gonna explain it to your dad."
I gave her an appreciative smile before heading up the stairs. I couldn't believe I almost called Steph a rapist when he was actually helping me out all night.
"Oh, and by the way," my mom stopped me just as I reached the second floor. I looked down at her tiredly. When is she actually letting me go? "Someone called today. A guy named Ben. He sounds awfully worried about you."
Shít, Ben!
"W-What did he say?" I rambled.
"Same reason as me. Says you're not answering his calls," she merely told me. "He sounds polite. Who is he?"
"He's a guy I've been hanging out with," I admitted and my mom looked ridiculously confused.
"What? I thought it was Stephen?" she asked. "Who is it that you really like, is it Stephen or Ben?"
I wish I knew, mom.
"They're both my friends," I answered. "But I'm just closer to the other one."
She looked like she wanted to say more, but I was done. So done. I don't have to explain anything else.
"I'm going to my room, mom. Please tell Asher not to bother me."
I jogged towards my room and immediately locked the door behind. It was true; you'd always love the feeling of being in your own bed.
As soon as I lay my back, I took out my phone and realized it had no battery so I grabbed the charger from the nightstand and plugged it in.
While I waited, bits of last night slowly appeared in my head.
"Help me out here, please," I could hear Stephen beg.
I refused to move which urged him to force me to. He pulled me up and slowly unzipped my leather shorts.
"Are you..." I slurred. "Wardell, are you gonna fúck me?"
"No," he quickly said, pulling my shorts down my waist. "I'm helping you sleep comfortably, you díck."
"Ooo-kay."
I fell back on the mattress and looked at him despite my clouded and swirling vision. He was gulping, looking down at my body. I only had my underwear on and I wanted to cover myself but felt like I shouldn't. I felt like I enjoyed that he was eyeing me. God, he was sexy.
"Don't tempt me, please," he whispered to himself before pulling my arm. "Come on, put your hands up."
"What are y-you d-doing?"
He quickly put in a baggy shirt above my head and pulled it down. I had never felt comfortable before feeling the soft fabric on my body.
"You a damn real pain in the ass, Zay," he said, sighing in exhaustion. "I'll be back, alright? I'm gonna wash your clothes off. You better stay there or I'll tie you up."
I shook the thought in my head. No, I can't let these thoughts confuse my feelings for him. It can't happen.
I checked my phone again and the first contact I looked for was Ben's.
I pressed my phone on my ear as I waited for him to answer. It only took two rings for him to answer.
"Hey!" he spoke.
His voice was so calming. "Ben!"
"Are you okay? How was the party? You good?" he bombarded me with questions which I had to listen closely because of the Australian twang in his accent.
"Yeah, it was good," I simply said. I wanted to see him in person and hug him. Hug him tight because I felt so guilty about last night. "It was fun, but I wish you were there."
"Yeah?" I could feel his smile even from a phone call. "That makes me happy."
Oh my god, someone make him stop. He's so cute, I'm about to cry.
"So, what happened last night?" he asked, casually. I leaned back and lay my head on my pillow. I had so much to tell him, excluding the parts with Steph in it, though.
I guess we'll be talking until I fall asleep.
---
"Why do you have to be so difficult?" I drowsily asked, laying my head on his chest. I could hear his heartbeat and feel it on my own.
His breathing was slow and long—I became familiar with the pattern. "Because you drive me crazy."
I closed my eyes and snuggled closer. I knew I was smiling inside.
He stayed silent for a while; I was slowly drifting off to sleep in his arms but I liked it. I liked his warmth.
"Zay?" he spoke again, making me feel the vibration from his chest.
"Yes, Wardell?"
I inhaled, exhaled, and slowly feeling the fatigue overcome me.
"I think I like you."
I woke up from the sound of my multiple notifications from my phone. It was surprising that my headache lessened as I fell asleep for the whole afternoon after talking to Ben.
Ding!
I opened my phone and read through the emails I have received.
"Fúck," I blurted out, seeing Eric's name appear.
Dear Arzaya,
Please confirm to me if you will be able to comply with your feature article. Everyone has sent their parts so please let me know if you can pass yours ASAP! I'm giving you until Monday night to accomplish every thing.
Get back soon please,
Eric
Head editor-in-chief, Oakland High Journal
Oh, Jesus.
If he had assigned me the drama club, I would have finished the feature days before the deadline.
How was I going to finish it with my current situation on hand?
Stephen, of all people, would never agree to it.
Okay, I told myself. Shít. I had no choice. I'd get kicked out of the journalism club.
But hey, say maybe I wrote a really long letter for consideration to Eric, maybe he'd understand! Maybe he'd realize that I didn't deserve to lose my position because of this.
I was about to type in my reply until someone's caller ID appeared.
Wardell calling...
"Are you for real?" I mumbled to myself before pressing the green button.
"Arzaya," he spoke seriously from the other end of the line.
I exhaled. "Yeah?"
"I just want you to know that I'll still be doing the interview with you."
"R-Really?" I stuttered.
"Yeah," he answered. "For one condition."
I closed my eyes in defeat. There was always a consequence when he does something nice to me. "Anything."
"Come meet me at your backyard, by the court, now. We need to talk."
He's already in there?!
"Okay, okay! I'm coming down."
I put on a grey hoodie and hustled to slip on my flip-flops.
I immediately rush down the stairs and I found my mom looking at me questioningly.
"It's about time you wake up, Arzaya! You slept for the whole—where are you going?"
"Just out," I yelled as I headed towards the back. "I'll be quick!"
I needed this talk. That dream I had earlier wasn't just a dream—it was a memory. Stephen admitted he liked me and I had to hear it from him. I had to hear it clear and sober.
By the time I reached the backyard, he was staring at the the ring with hands on his pocket. I noticed that was wearing a grey hoodie identical to mine.
"We need to stop wearing the same thing," I said, slowly making my way to him.
He turned to me and glanced at me up and down. "Zay."
I don't know why my heart was beating fast. All I know was that he was staring at me like I've never seen before—like underneath all the shining stars and the luminous moon, for him, I was the reason why the night was bright.
"What did you wanna talk about?" I stupidly asked.
I don't know why I expected his insult or for him to call me out for asking a dumb question, but he didn't. He stayed serious.
"I've thought about this all day, all morning, afternoon..." he rambled with his hazel eyes set on mine and only mine. "I just can't pretend and try to mask it anymore. I don't wanna go to school and see you all day and act like you're nobody. It doesn't work anymore. It confused me at first because the feeling was alien to me that I kept denying it to myself."
I gulped as he walked forward to grab my hand.
"Zay, I really like you. It's real and it's something I never felt with anybody else before," he said, genuinely looking at my eyes.
That's it. There you go, Arzaya. He said it and your ass ain't imagining it no more.
I bit my lower lip in hesitance. If he said the truth, he had to hear the truth.
"I feel like I like you too, but I don't wanna say it because I'm not sure," I admitted, feeling his grip on my hand. "Because I know that I like Ben too. A lot."
He shook his head in denial. "Arzaya, you can't like two people at the same time. You need to choose."
"You know who I'm gonna pick, right?" I asked. By the sudden look on his face, I knew that he knew it wasn't him.
"Why won't you give me a chance?" he almost begged. "I'll prove you. I can change whatever it is that you hate about me. I'll do anything."
Was Stephen Curry afraid of being rejected?
"Just one chance, that's all I'm asking for," he pleaded and I felt like he would go on his knees if it was necessary.
As soon as I nodded my head, his mouth formed a grin and he cupped my cheek to kiss me on the lips.
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Ayesha and Steph were straight fire on the ESPYS damn 🔥