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I don't know what it was, but something about the night already felt different.
Maybe it was the playlist we had blasting while we all got ready at Kamaria and Tierra's apartment--hella early, like we were back in high school planning to sneak out. Or maybe it was the way Tierra kept complimenting my hair, acting like that shady little moment from the other day hadn't even happened. And truth me told, I let it slide. I wasn't tryna hold a grudge over one passive comment. People have bad days. Maybe she was having one. Maybe I was reading too much into it. Either way, I let it go.
Kamaria had been talking about this party all week, and I was here for it.
"You ready?" Kamaria asked, applying her last coat of lip gloss in the mirror.
"As ready as I'm gonna get," I shrugged, checking myself out in the full-length mirror. I had on a black mini dress with a deep V and a slit up the thigh. My curls were laying just right, and my makeup? Flawless. Soft glam with a glossy nude lip.
Tierra walked behind me, tapping my hip. "That dress dangerous, Z. Niggas not ready."
"I ain't doin it for them," I said with a little smirk, but I appreciated the compliment.
Kamaria came out her room with a bottle of Casamigos and three red cups. "We pre-gaming," she announced. "yall ain't about to get there stiff."
By the time we made it to the party, the buzz was hittin just right. The house was packed. Music was booming through the windows, bodies already spilling out onto the lawn. It smelled like hookah, weed, and cologne fighting for dominance in the air.
We pushed through the front door, Kamaria leading the way like she owned the place. I didn't recognize anybody really, it was a sea of strangers.
"Okay, this lowkey a vibe." Tierra said, already swaying her hips to the beat.
Kamaria found the kitchen and grabbed us shots. "To bad bitches and better choices." she said before we all tossed it back.
That tequila lit my chest up and kicked the last of my nerves right out the door.
We danced for a while, moving through the crowd like we belonged to it. Our little trio was tight--we knew how to keep close without stepping on each other's shine. Kamaria was always the bold one, twerking with no hesitation. Tierra was smooth and chill, catching every beat effortlessly. And me? I was somewhere in between having fun but not doing too much.
At some point, I felt someone watching me. Hard.
I glanced across the room and caught eyes with a fine-ass light skin dude with waves deep enough to down in. He had on a cream Amiri hoodie, black cargos, and chains that glinted every time he moved. I looked away quickly and focused on Tierra, but every time I glanced up, there he was.
Okay, so I wasn't trippin.
But I wasn't gonna be the one to walk over. I don't chase. I let em come to me.
And sure enough, a few minutes later, he did.
"Wassup, ma. I'm Jalen." he said, leaning in a little so I could hear him over the music.
His voice was smooth, deep. He smelled expensive.
"Zahra," I said back, giving him a polite smile.
"You look like you having a good time. But I been peepin you since you walked in."
"Oh yeah?" I raised a brow.
"yeah. You got a vibe. Like you know who you are and don't need nobody to validate that."
He wasn't bad with his words. Not too much, not too cocky. Just confident.
We talked for a little. Nothing too deep-where I was from, what I did, how I liked Houston. I kept it surface level. He didn't press. Then he asked for my number, and honestly, I saw no reason not to give it to him.
He was fine. Polite. Carried himself right. I wasn't bout to marry the man--I was just giving a number.
He smiled after I typed it in his phone. "Bet. Ima hit you."
"Cool."
We parted way, and I turned to go find the girls. They were by the couch in the living room where I spotted Ace, King, Killa, and--
Sakani.
I slide right into the open seat beside him, smiling. "Hey, Sakani."
He didn't even look up from his phone. "Fuck on, Zahra."
I blinked. "What?"
"You heard me," he said cold, still not looking at me.
What the fuck was that for?
I didn't say anything else. I just pulled my phone out and started scrolling, trying not to let it sting. But it did. We weren't together, but we were cool.
"Yo, I'm tired as hell," Kamaria yawned, stretching her arms above her head.
"Same," Tierra echoed, "Let's head out."
I didn't hesitate. I stood up, grabbed my little clutch, and followed them to the front door.
The boys followed too, naturally staying close behind us as we made it outside. I was just about to get in the car when I felt a firm grip on my wrist. I turned fast.
Sakani.
"Let me talk to you," He said low.
I yanked my arm back. "Nah, you said get the fuck on, right? Fuck you, K3."
I didn't even wait for his response.
I opened the car door, got in, and slammed it shut before he could say another word. Kamaria shot me a look but didn't ask, and Tierra climbed in the back with a small smirk like she already knew what it was.
I sat there, arms crossed, watching Sakani fade in the rearview mirror as we drove off.
The audacity. One minute he's cool, the next he's biting my head off. For what?
