Someone Like You

Chapter 41

Thank you guys for your hilarious comments and for all the criticism thank you, you guys push me to write better. 

Giovanni

Zeniyah runs in front of the guy protectively making my blood boil. 

"Who is he?" I ask trying to stay as calm as possible. She smiles pulling him forward to which he protests. 

"Sandro and Tony put the guns down, now," she says and they look at me for confirmation to with I nod. 

"Malik this is Alex, Tony, Alessandro, and Giovanni, " she says pointing to each of us smiling.

"Guys meet my Malik...my brother," she says causing all my jaw to drop and my eyes to widen. 

"Damn what the fuck," I hear Sandro whisper. 

"Your brother?" Alex asks stepping from behind Tony. 

"Yeah he's been in jail for the past 6 years because of Marco, that's why I had to leave so urgently from Italy, I knew that since Marco was dead, I could help my brother," she says smiling softly and looking up at him, based on the look in her eyes I immediately know he means so much to her.

I step forward and he steps back, she looks at him reassuringly and steps out the way. 

"Hey I'm Giovanni, nice to meet you man," I say clapping hands with him and pulling him into a bro hug. 

"Thank you for looking out for my sister man, we'll have to talk about that bullet in her shoulder," he says making me rub the back of my neck 

"Let's eat," Niyah says dragging both of us to the dining room. 

We settle down and begin eating, Tony and Malik hit it off surprisingly having a lot of the same interests, Alex also seems to have some chemistry with him. 

"Oh yeah happy birthday man," Malik says to me making the rest of them join in with a series of happy birthdays. I smile thanking all of them. 

"Are you guys done eating I have some things planned for today," Niyah says 

"Like what princess," I ask sweetly making Malik gag and Niyah hit the back of his head. 

"You'll see now everyone get dressed in something comfortable and sportish," she says. We all get up placing our dishes away before heading upstairs.

Zeniyah

Me and Malik sit on the couch waiting for them to finish getting dressed.

"I see why you like it here," Malik says 

"You don't?" I ask frowning 

"I mean it's amazing here but you feel comfortable being the only black person in here? I mean what if they using you or something?" he says 

"Are you serious right now Malik, why's race got to have anything to do with it," I said pissed off

"Race's got something to do with everything Niyah, don't you know this by now?" he stresses

"Ok but this is different," I say upset

"Nyny I'm just trying to look out for you, if things go south in this house, it'll just be you against 4 you get me?" he says and I nod

"Date him or whatever but, just be careful, you told me they killed Marco and he was blood, don't think they'd hesitate to do the same to you," Malik finishes. I nod looking away sadly, as much as I hate it he was right. 

"Look at me nyny, I'm not trying to discourage you, I just cant lose you again ok, it's not an option," he says with pain in his eyes and I nod hugging him. 

"Ready to go?" Alex asks coming down the stairs with Tony and Giovanni, and I nod silently grabbing my purse and phone. We split up Giovanni, Tony and Sandro taking one car while me, Alex and Malik take another since I know he wont want to be alone with them. 

I text Tony the address and we begin driving there, after about 25 minutes we pull up to a laser tag/ paint ball/ arcade. We all climb out Alex, Tony, and Malik look excited already rushing towards the door. I check my phone making sure I have the passes, I look up and see Giovanni's still waiting for me, 

"Everything ok babe?" I ask reaching up to wrap my hands around his neck. 

"I was going to ask you the same," he says. I raise my eyebrow at him.

"You've been off since the house, is everything ok with you and Malik?" he says 

"Of course he's my brother," I say looking away 

"Ok just, if anything I can talk to him ok?" he says holding my face

"Ok," I say hugging him. We walk into the building hand in hand and I sign us in. We decide to play laser tag first and split into teams me, Alex and Tony on one while Malik, Giovanni, and Sandro on another. 

We head into the dark room and I see tons of glow in the dark decorations, we duck behind some fake buildings and wait for the game to start. Once it does we begin running to avoid the opposite team. 

Malik runs by and Tony stands to shoot him then Giovanni hits Tony. Malik and Giovanni high five each other cheering making me smile. Sandro laughs at Tony alerting me and Alex where he was. We start heading towards a Sandro's voice staying low and behind the blockages. He runs out to change his hiding spot and we both begin shooting at him, I hit him and he's out. 

Now it's two on two. We keep playing until eventually Malik and Giovanni win and they cheer with each other, teasing me. We soon switch to paintball and play with the same teams. This time me and Alex decide to play dirty, for a while no onewas moving and Alex got bored so she ran out and let Sandro hit her, then when it did she cried out bloody mary, Giovanni and Sandro quickly stood to check if she was ok while me and Tony hit them. 

Now it was down to Tony, me and Malik. I stay low the entire time, occasionally crawling when I'd hear movement, eventually me and Tony separated and soon I heard him groan telling me he got hit. Now I just had to find Malik before he found me, I hear movement behind me and I spin around hitting him before he can shoot and I cheer winnng.

We walk out the paintball room into the arcade with Giovanni, Sandro and Malik complaining about how we cheated.

"You guys want some food before arcade games?" I ask and everyone says yes, we grab a table and I order wings a pizza and drinks. 

While we're eating I smile seeing that Malik and Giovanni were bonding, I'm happy he's getting along with everyone, we finish eating then play in the arcade for hours until its around 9 so we decide to head home. When we're about to split into the cars Malik stops me, 

"Hey nyny is it ok if you drop me at your place?" he asks making me frown

"Why is something wrong?" I say worried

"Nah I just want to use your laptop and do some research about the club idea, also I need to call Prince and I don't have a phone but I know he gave you a burner," he says

"But I can get you a laptop at the Russo house, and we can stop and find you a phone right now if you want," I say trying to reason with him. 

"Please just take me to your place," he says looking into my eyes making me sigh. I tell Alex to ride with the guys since I need to make a stop. Me and Malik drive in silence to my place, when we get there I hand him the keys and my burner phone which was in the glove compartment. 

"Niyah look at me," he says sighing. I shake my head feeling tears form in my eyes. 

"Look at me man," he says again and I slowly look up at him. 

"Why Malik," I say trying no to cry

"I just want to be alone tonight ok, is that ok with you," he asks sadly and I nod, he hugs me tightly kissing the top of my head. 

"I'll pick you up in the morning so we can buy you clothes and a phone then we'll go to the Russo's house to eat cake is that ok with you?" I mumble hoping he'll say yes

"Of course Ny I'm actually starting to like them, I just don't want to spe the night there ok?" he says and I nod. 

"Goodnight Malik, I love you," I say waving at him 

"Love you more crybaby," he says walking off