𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐍

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐍𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐒

"Ight ight, You did good mama. You got yo lil hits in." He mumbled, kissing her forehead repeatedly, attempting to reassure and calm her down, he held her tightly in the silent lobby of the hospital.

"Imma snatch them fucking extensions out her Caillou looking head, trust."

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Renn sat perched on the edge of the island table, munching on a Rice Krispy treat while engrossed in her phone. Each tap of her finger echoed through the kitchen as she scrolled, occasionally interrupted by a hiss of pain as Dakari stitched her wound up.

He sighed, glancing up from the wound. "You know, you wouldn't be in this much pain if you hadn't decided to fight bitches at a fucking hospital." He grumbled mostly to himself.

"She should've watched her dirty stanky mouth, talking to me out the side of her head." She rolled her eyes.

He shook his head, threading another stitch, "Getting shot ain't the best way to make a point."

She shrugged, "Well now, you playing doctor. It all worked out in the end."

Their stitching was interrupted by a knock on the door. They exchange puzzled glances before Dakari carefully set down the needle and put Renn down from the island, quickly putting his hoodie on Renn, the two opened the door. The two were met with a short dark skinned girl, earnestly scolding a taller male twice her height.

In her hands, she held a plate adorned with cupcakes that looked like edible works of art. The cupcakes were topped with a velvety swirl of buttercream frosting, each one a different pastel shade.

"Come on, we just moved in. You know white people love meeting their new neighbors, we need to make a good impression," she urged, glancing at the neighborhood.

He, however, remained nonchalant leaning against the door frame. "I could care less about what impression I make towards folks, especially them white ones."

As the couple appeared, the girls enthusiasm faltered, her eyes widening in surprise. She didn't expect it to be a black couple, and definitely didn't expect them to be attractive either.

Awkward silence hung in the air. The male glanced from his girlfriend to the couple, offering a nod.

She stammered, "Oh, uhm, hi. I thought...I mean, we thought we should introduce our selves to the neighborhood."

Rem couldn't help but find the dark skins accent adorable, Her voice held a tiny southern tone.

Renn leaned against the doorway, a playful glint in her eyes. "You're so damn pretty what the hell, Kari, you seeing this?" Renn nudged Dakaris shoulder, however, he seemed entirely preoccupied, his gaze fixed on the male.

Renn raised an eyebrow, repeating, "Baby, isn't she adorable?"

Without tearing his eyes away from the male, he nonchalantly replied, "Hm? Y-Yeah she is."

Renn and her neighbor exchanged a puzzled glance, noticing the distracted behavior of their boyfriends.

Renn ignoring the twos staring contest, continued, "Well I'm Renn, and this is my boyfriend Dakari, you can call him Kari for short though."

"Your name is so pretty, it's nice to meet you both. I'm Ricci [Rick-ee], and this is my boyfriend Dano." Kari, finally breaking his gaze with Dano, nodded his head at Ricci.

As the two continued to chat, Ricci couldn't help but notice a subtle side glance from Dano, a silent cue that he was ready to go back home.

Ricci "suddenly" remembered the cupcakes she had baked earlier. "Oh, before we go, I made these cupcakes. Consider it a little welcome gift." She laughed awkwardly, handing the plate to Renn.

The four eventually exchanged numbers and made a group chat within themselves, and said their goodbyes, going their own ways.

As Renn and Kari finally left, Renn couldn't shake the feeling of something unusual between the two males.

Turning to Kari, she questioned, "What was up with y'all two? Do y'all know each other?"

Kari, dismissively, replied, "We'on got nothing going on, what you mean? I just met him today... I just zoned out a little."

Renn nodded slowly still having a slight suspicion about it being more, but she decided to let it go for now.

"Oh alright, can you finish stitching me up?"