Suicide Sisters

19

JA'KIYA

The group settled on the dilapidated shopping center, a perfect backdrop for our smoke session in the parking lot.

The restaurant we were heading to was conveniently located here, along with the famous banana pudding lady, whose treats were always a highlight.

I found myself perched in Zed's car, FaceTiming him as he leaned casually against the door, puffing away while Yaze animatedly recounted a wild story.

You might wonder why we were using FaceTime when he was just a breath away—it's simple. Zed is a bit obsessed with me and knows I can't stand the lingering smell of smoke in my hair, so he opted for this.

Outside, Lani was mingling with the guys, and to my surprise, Aziel's girlfriend had joined us too. I hadn't had the chance to chat with her yet, so I was unsure of her personality.

However, Lani seemed to hit it off with her, which gave me hope that she was someone I could get along with.

The atmosphere was relaxed, filled with laughter and the occasional burst of smoke, making for an unexpectedly enjoyable evening.

"Phat"

"Hmm?"

"Did you look up the menu?"

"Yes, I know what I want but I think I should pick something else."

"Get what you want, don't overthink it," he said, standing tall as he passed the blunt to Kd, then turned to open the door. Leaning inside, he wiped his mouth with the witch hazel wipe I had waiting for him. "I can get a kiss?" he asked, his voice low and soothing.

From my side-eye view, I caught Aziel's girlfriend watching us, her expression a mix of curiosity and disapproval. Zed noticed too, shooting her a glare before climbing in and closing the door behind him.

"Ight mama, nobody's staring at you," he reassured me, and I crawled into his waiting arms, peppering kisses on his cheek as I hugged his chest, releasing a soft sigh.

"Can you order for me? I'll text you everything I want," I whispered, dreading the thought of talking to the waiter while a group of six people eavesdropped.

I'd much rather order curbside pick-up and enjoy our meal in the privacy of the car.

"Mhm, but you gotta talk to the waitress on our next date Phat. You ain't gon break out of it without trying."

"I know"

Tapping on the window shattered our unbroken gaze, and there stood Aziel, his girlfriend lingering a few steps behind him.

The rest of our friends had already vanished into the night, leaving just the two of us caught in this moment.

Zed held me firmly, preventing any escape, as he cracked the window open just enough to hear Aziel's voice.

"Our table's ready" Aziel declared, turning on his heel without waiting for a response.

With a quick flick of my fingers, I typed my order and sent it to Zed, rolling the window back up before pushing the door open and stepping out into the cool evening air.

"Should I take some pictures? This dress fits me perfectly, doesn't it?" I asked, smoothing the fabric as I brandished my phone at Zed.

From his seat, he snapped photos with his own device, encouraging me to use mine as a playful prop.

"You look pretty, Phat," he said, shutting off the engine and stepping out, locking the car with a click. His eyes traveled over me, sending a thrill down my spine as he approached. "Spin for me."