In between recalling the best moments of Vince's game that was weirdly a tie, my dad grilled me on my hour and some minutes with Ziyah. I told the little information that there was, without giving him back the $20 we didn't spend.
My mom on the other hand took the term "hard sleeper," to another level as she snored through our bumpy arrival.
First Vince couldn't get the key in the door, then our neighbors tried to intervene only to go back to their tv, and finally I realized Vince was using the key to his or really my dad's car. All through this my mom was snoring away in her room with the tv on, which according to her helps her fall asleep.
Now my mom and Dani sit in her car eating acai bowls from the smoothie truck Dani begged my mom to stop by. While they're exchanging fruits they don't like Vince and I are hustling up the steep Culver City steps trying to get to that beautiful view that I'm desperately waiting to take clips of.
Vince is about 5 steps ahead of me which is pretty far because the steps are huge pieces of wood. He said he'd go easy when we were optimistic and walking up the path to the stairs, but that promise went out of the window when OutKast started motivating him through his headphones.
"Come on Daya, hustle!" he yells back at me scaring the mom and exhausted child in front of me.
They're pretty much the reason I'm slowing down as to them this afternoon is just time to admire the flowers and afternoon skye. Lucky for me they stop walking on the steps and turn on the dusty path where they belong.
After one great stride that rips my muscles I make it to the top where Vince stands amongst the other breathless people with his hands on his hips and an advancing smile coming across his dark face. The same expression all of the celebrities have on dancing with the stars when they're waiting for their critiques.
The Marina football shirt he was once wearing is tucked into his gym shorts giving some ladies with strollers a nice sight next to their babies who they've been using as weights.
With the view of a good portion of Los Angeles in front of us, that I make sure I captured on my phone, and our bodies going through the Calvin Cycle Vince and I high five. We keep our hands together so we won't have to feel the pain in our arms again from doing an arm workout prior to the stairs.
"Tell me the truth," Vince says in between releasing huge breaths.
Giving Vince who was The Rock when he was going up the stairs a break we sit on a ledge and share my water bottle which only has so many drops left.
"Fine you want the truth," with no idea what he's talking about I look at him dramatically and place my hand on his sweaty shoulder.
"You're the reacher and Vick is the settler, " I sigh.
He nudges my tense body and downs the last bit of water.
"Tell me the truth do you want a boyfriend ?" He clarifies.
I knew this conversation was coming I just didn't expect it to come and interrupt our sibling workout time. I really don't know my answer, but Vince is staring me down with a look I don't like on him. It's the stare asking for an answer, but already knowing it's not going to like what it's going to hear. He even took his headphones off instead of just turning them down.
"I don't want a boyfriend. I want a fantasy, a guy who's hot, but thinks I'm the prettiest thing. A guy who cares about me and doesn't make me change. A guy who-" Vince puts his hand up signaling that my answer met his requirements. When I first started that sentence I was pulling it out of my ass, but as I repeat it in my head it becomes clear to me it's the truth. I don't want a boyfriend I want an imaginary relationship built by romantic comedies.
"I found my fantasy, if you're really looking you will too, but it's not pothead."
Keeping our conversation short Vince's phone buzzes, and he knocks his head back in laughter. Not including me in this fit of laughter he types something back, tempting my curiosity. I lean over just to see Vicki flirting with Vince and calling him strong. Vince smiles for some minutes then types before sliding his phone back in his pocket.
"Don't do anything stupid," he declares.
I believe he's talking about me having safe sex, but I really hope not because that is not a subject I signed up for with Vince. I start thinking about a witty comeback for his advice, but as Vince stands up and two familiar people emerge from the path I realize why me not being stupid is relevant.
Hand and hand with less sweat and more energy than all of the people in the area is Chase and Laia. I quickly rise off of the ledge as Vince gives Chase a bro hug. With the beautiful late afternoon sun Chase and Laia look like the perfect couple, this time the workout edition.
Laia looks beautiful with her curls swept in a top knot giving her tall body it's deserved spotlight in a purple sports bra and high waisted leggings like myself. Chase on the other hand isn't showing off his six pack or triceps, and is instead dressed for the cool wind in his blue football hoodie and adidas track pants.
"Your mom said she was going to target, she said she'll be back soon," Chase says taking a laugh at Vince's shiny face, knowing he was working hard.
I'm taken back that my mom had a conversation or said something to Chase, but I'll think about that later. Seeing as Vince isn't really closing the conversation off and Chase and Laia's eyes are about to wander to me I get myself together.
I'm a tad damp from sweating, but I look good. Alongside my high waisted leggings I'm wearing a cheap forever 21 crop top, because unlike Laia I don't have the confidence or abundance of shaving cream to show off my cleavage in a sports bra. To Vince's dislike my body is enhanced which wasn't really my plan I just couldn't find another disposable workout shirt.
"Chase you know Daya my younger sister. Daya this is Laia and chase," Vince pulls me in front of them and speaks like I never stare at these people. I've never been this close to Chase or Laia, but I can definitely tell from their cute couple vibe Chase nodding is all i'm going to get from him.
"Hi you're a sophomore, right?" Laia says through a huge smile that I never would've expected to be directed at me.
This is the first time I'm ever hearing her soft voice that is the same octave as mine. I nod and she smiles even more proving to me that her inside matches her outside just like Vicki. "Oh are you friends with Unna?" Her sweet demeanor totally made me forget she is on the volleyball team with Unna or even associated with her.
"Yea," I nod.
Vince stares off at the view trying to hold back the comment that I have no friends, and if I did Harper would come before Unna.
For the next minutes Vince and Chase go on about college football while Laia still remains glued to Chase who gave her his football hoodie to wear only to reveal a plain t shirt. She looks beautiful as the sun hits her face making her hide her light brown eyes, but not the glow that bounces off of her already shiny olive skin.
If I didn't care about embarrassing myself I would take a little video of glowing Laia and Chase being the first thing people see when they finish their steps. Too bad I do care, and a beautiful video of Laia in my camera roll would just be torture for me and my storage space.
After Vince and Chase say their goodbyes and cuss their coach out, Laia and Chase continue their perfect stroll under the sunset while Vince and I go back down the steps. We do this in silence as the steps are again steep so steep the guy in front of us almost falls, but covers it up by saying, "the wind today is incredible."
Even in my mom's car Vince and I don't speak and I am still shocked by the conclusion to my workout. I never expected to meet Chase, to me he was always just something in the distance, much like the fantasy I told Vince about.
What took me by surprise was Laia whose presence was more powerful than Chase's by far, or maybe that's because I don't focus on her as much. Yet as Laia outshined him when he was talking about football with Vince my heart stopped cooling down and acted as if I just finished running. It was beating just a little faster than it was when Ziyah leaned in and kissed my cheek.