————————————————
𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭
𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟵:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺.
𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀, 🅽🅴🆆 🆈🅾︎🆁🅺
~"𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝, 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜."~
~c.c. aurel
————————————————
"So have you figured out where you're going on your first date?" Moria asked Zuri as they sat in her apartment, basking in the heat that had finally started working on their floor in nearly 3 years.
Zuri looked up from her journal, frowning at Moria's question. Admittedly, Zuri hadn't thought much on the fact she asked Kel on a date a few days ago. Truth be told, she didn't know where to start.
Moria sat up straight to the best of abilities, minding the fact she was still pregnant. She was ready to drop.
"I know that face...Zuri! You haven't planned anything?" Moria asked, shocked. Zuri slowly shook her head, avoiding eye contact. "Not even what you're going to wear?"
"I've never planned one before. Shit, I've never even been on a date." Zuri expressed sadly. Granted, Zuri grew up differently. She wasn't introduced to love, romance or chivalry and now she had someone who expressed all of that and she didn't know where to begin to show him in return.
Needless to say, she was regretting opting to be the one to plan their very first date. She didn't want to mess up, but she didn't know the first step to take in order to do so.
"Awe, pooh. It's okay." Moria comforted Zuri, seeing the sad look on her face.
Zuri looked over at Moria and released a lonely tear and that's when Moria knew this was beyond the topic they were discussing. It's something that had been bothering the young adult.
"But what if it's not, Momo? I don't know what I'm doing and apparently Kel does. Who wants to be with someone who doesn't even know what it's like to be with someone?"
"Zuri, not everyone is good at these things. Especially when it's their first go. You'll learn what it's like to be in a relationship with another person. What it's like to share yourself and just be undeniably happy. It'll become like a second nature, and there are going to be times where you're stuck, not gonna lie to you, but that's where you have to communicate. I promise, it gets better." Moria rubbed Zuri's back as she started silently crying.
Zuri heard everything Moria said but it was just this inkling feeling that everything would go wrong. For so many years she'd strived to push everyone and anyone away and somehow Kel snuck up on her and made her want to experience everything she felt she should have while she was growing up.
What Zuri failed to realize though, was someone somewhere was still growing, old and young. There was no age requirement on whether you should know how to do something. Many things hold people back from experiencing some things.
Zuri's thing was fear. Fear of losing everyone she let close to her. Herself included.
Tone was busy putting up the crib that had arrived months ago but never got around to it due to his business in the streets and trying to run the shop without help. His life was simple, to him anyways. It was the same old routine since he'd turned 20 and became a new menace to society.
Even though he was busy running a local multi shop and running his drug business, he made sure he made time to check on the ones he loved.
Since Kel moved up to New York for school, he had to find time to sit and talk with his brother. They were really all each other had besides their grandmother who they barely shared a meaningful bond with. She was just the lady who took them in since it brought in extra money for her medical bills. Especially since no one else in their family wanted to take them in.
That's when the two learned they couldn't rely on anyone but each other. Even though they went down separate paths, they always found a way to meet in the middle of their journey.
Now Tone was bringing a baby into the world and that was a totally different thing. He knew he could do what he did while his brother was around because Kel was old enough to protect himself plus more but this was a helpless child. Which only meant some things that were apart of Tones lifestyle would have to change and fast.
"This shit is confusing as fuck." Tone mumbled trying to read the directions to the crib. Just as he thought he got the hang of it, a hard knock sounded at the door. Tone scrunched his face up, dropping the bars in his hand and tucking his hand in the waistband of shorts, holding onto the handle of his gun.
Making it down the stairs, the hard knocks continued again and Tone was now more alert. He didn't want to make it seem like anyone was home so he made sure to be quiet. Checking the peephole, he couldn't see through it and sighed.
This some bullshit. He thought.
Just as he was about to snatch the door open and shoot whoever was there, he heard whoever was on the other side speak.
"Open the fuck up, nigga." It was a deep feminine voice and Tone rolled his eyes snatching the door open to see the person standing there with a smirk on their face.
"Fuck you beating on my door fo'?" He asked, looking over her head to see her black 2015 Chevy Malibu parked in front of his house.
"My bad, I'm heavy handed." She chuckled and pushed past him, causing Tone to mugged the back of her head.
"I'm not bouta play wit' you Zuri, why you hea' cause Sekani wit' Semaj? Can you even drive right na'?" Tone asked, shutting the door and tucking his gun properly.
She almost got popped. Tone thought and chuckled.
Zuri flopped down on the couch and put her feet up on a pillow. She had just got back from the nail salon and for the first time in her 20 years of living, she actually treated herself to a pedicure and some acrylics. I guess you could say Zuri was a tomboy growing up.
"I know where he's at, I was just in the area and I might've hit a few mailboxes down the street. The Masons I think." Zuri said referring to a name on one of the mailboxes she hit, while holding her hand out, admiring her nails. She was amazed at how they looked.
Tone stared at her blankly before shaking his head. Kel had told him Zuri couldn't sit down for one minute and it had only been a month.
Zuri looked around the living room, actually liking how it was decorated. It was a navy blue theme around and Zuri could definitely tell a man had decorated it.
"Since you hea', come on." Tone nodded his head to the stairs and Zuri happily stood up and skip limped to the stairs. Tone chuckled at how bow legged she looked.
"I need help putting this crib ta'getha and the fuckin' manual ain't helping me." Tone stressed and Zuri chuckled looking at the crib.
"Well you probably fucked up at the head board cause you screwed it in to make it seem like the bed mattress." Zuri laughed and picked up the instructions. Tone took a good look at the crib before scoffing.
"Mothafucka'." He mumbled and Zuri chuckled. They spent the next few minutes taking it apart and engaging in slight conversation.
"You ready ta' be a dad?" Zuri asked and somehow that question had Tone running on a treadmill. He asked himself that question everyday.
"I ain't got no choice but to be ready." He said and Zuri briefly looked at him before going back to separating the parts into steps.
"EHHTTT! Wrong answer." She blurted and Tone looked at her like she was crazy. "You don't have to be ready, Tone. Someone, today, told me you just have to learn as you go. It's your first experience. You're going to be a first time dad, but as time passes, being someone's father will become like a second nature."
Tone smirked. "They told you them exact words Orr.."
"Mmcht, Antonio I'm serious." Zuri put down the pieces and looked him in the eye. "You got this. I know you'll do good."
"And how you know that?" Tone tooted his lips up and Zuri smiled.
She shrugged. "Cause you had a little practice. Kels opening his own club right after he graduates and while he did it with determination and skills, what kept him going was your love and support. Then there's me. I turned out pretty okay. Look at me now." She smirked, bumping her shoulders and went back to what she was doing not knowing how much she'd warmed Tones heart and it was as if all his worries of being the worst parent flew out the window.
Without warning, Tone brought Zuri's head towards him and locked her neck under his arm pit, putting her into a headlock. Zuri couldn't help but laugh and whine at the sudden action.
"Not you went all soft. Hell my brotha' done did?" Tone asked, spinning them around while Zuri was trying to get out of his hold.
"Fuck off me." Zuri gritted, trying to break free. Tone finally let go and Zuri pushed him back. Hard.
"Damn, you is heavy handed." Rubbing his chest. After calming down, they went back to work.
"Just so you know, I really appreciate all that you've done for me."
Tone waved her off. "Ain't shit. It was the least I could do."
And Zuri couldn't help but frown because him taking her under his wing was everything to her. It brought her to become the person she was today. If it weren't for him and his helping hand, she knew she'd probably lying dead in a ditch right about now.
"Let's finish this crib. Moria gone end up poppin' a baby any second and the muhfucka ain't gon' have nowhea' ta' lay its head."
Zuri couldn't help but laugh. "I can't wait till my nephew get here."
Tone snapped his head in her direction mugging her. "You rootin' fa' a boy? Get the fuck out my house, yo."
Zuri waved him off, screwing a few bolts into the legs of the crib. "Girls do too much. You'll do good with a boy and plus, you got me." It was the way that Zuri referred to herself as Tones daughter subconsciously that struck Tone everytime. He loved it everytime.
"I sholl do, which reminds me. What's this I hea' about you goin' on a date?" Tone asked and Zuri smiled. After talking with Moria, she was kind of more confident about it. So much so, she treated herself to a self care day, hence the nails and pedicure.
"Valentines day is in 3 days. Celebrating the day of love." She shrugged.
"And you asked? You'n wanna do it the traditional way?" Tone genuinely wanted to know. He knew many girls liked for the guy to ask and when he heard from Kel that Zuri asked him, he was shocked but curious. Curious on why Kel wasn't and Zuri's reasoning.
"There's nothing traditional about me and I wasn't even thinking when I asked but I'm glad I did because...I'm ready to experience it all." Zuri mumbled, thinking on her future with Kel which had her smiling and Tone mugging her.
"You make me sick. Fucking love sick ass people." Tone shook his head and Zuri eyed him.
"You should take Moria out. I'm surprised you guys aren't dating. You don't wanna do it the traditional way?" Tone looked at Zuri and smirked.
"Ain't shit traditional about me."
"Maj, nigga. I just left. Why you ain't say shit when I was thea'?" Kel had just walked through the door and tossed his duffle bag near the basement door which was by the stairs. He'd just left the blacktops after playing a few games of basketball with Semaj. They hadn't really hung out in awhile and they bonded over being competitive with one another.
"I was busy talking to Malaysia. I'a put em' up." Semaj chuckled and Kel shook his head.
"Ight. One love."
"All love." After they hung up, Kel immediately made his way upstairs, wanting to wash the sweat off his body. Once he made it up, he heard laughter and a very familiar cackling laugh.
He turned to the first door which used to be a guest room but Tome was turning it into a nursery. He looked inside and seen Zuri and Tone fixing up a very difficult looking crib. He leaned on the archway and watched them interact.
"Bean got a bad ass kid but I love that lil dude. He's cute too. I just know his momma look good." Zuri said, causing Tone to toot his lip up and Kel to chuckle at his brothers facial expression knowing what he was thinking.
Hearing someone other than them laugh, they looked to the door and Zuri reacted dramatically, scaring herself since she had to do a double take. Tone mugged her. She was too dramatic sometimes.
"Ezekiel, you scared me." She said holding her chest. After calming down, she stood up and limped over to him with her arms out but before she could wrap her arms around him he gently pushed her back and Zuri's heart dropped at his rejection.
"Fix ya' face mama, I'm sweaty." He kissed her forehead then cheek and when he pulled back Zuri was smiling.
"How was you're day?" She asked, fighting the urge to rub on him.
Kel looked down at her and admired her face. She went make up free as usual, and the beauty mark on her left cheek stood out to him.
"It was straight. Nun major happened otha' than me beating Maj's ass in ball. What about yours, mama?" He brushed a loose curl back, fixing it into her ponytail.
She shrugged. "Spent the morning with Moria, got my nails and feet done then ended up here putting my nephew or nieces crib together by myself."
"You ain't do shit but boss me around. No type of help." Tone blurted and the two realized they were still in his presence. "What it do Sekani?"
Kel looked over Zuri's head and nodded his head at his brother. "Shit, I'm bouta steal yo' builder."
"Ight, don't be in nea' being grown. And leave dat do' open." Tone yelled after them as Kel dragged Zuri to his room.
Just as Zuri turned around she saw Kel close his door and she chuckled.
She went to sit on his bed, getting ready to turn the tv on until the remote was snatched from her hand and a bigger hand was replaced.
"Boy—" she stopped, seeing Kel was admiring her nails.
"I like this shit, lemme see yo feet." Kel said and Zuri chuckled taking off her sock and showing her foot. "Period." Kel swiped his hand under his neck and Zuri bust out laughing.
"Go get in the shower, stanky." Zuri scrunched her face up, waving her hand infront of her nose. Kel chuckled and leaned down and planted a wet kiss on her cheek. "You're so nasty—move!" She squeaked when Kel tried to rest his sticky body ontop of hers.
"I wanna know what you got planned fa' us this weekend." Kel said, now hovering over Zuri's body as she lay flat on his bed.
Zuri smirked and pushed him further away from her. "I might tell you after you shower."
Kel did an approving frown before getting up and walking to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. As she heard the shower water turn on, Zuri continued to lay on her back, thinking long and hard about the plans she had made.
After expressing how scared and confused she was on what it's like to be in a relationship with someone, with Moria, Zuri was a little more confident in her ability to make the most of what she had with Kel.
She was no expert and this was all new to her, but like Moria said, she just had to communicate that. Zuri just didn't know how Kel would react. She was 90% sure he knew this was her first rodeo, but she'd never know until she verbally told him.
Another thing that scared her was losing him. She had abandonment and attachment issues. She couldn't handle losing someone she let so close to her. Not now. Not when she was just getting her life together.
Zuri sat up and blew out a sigh. She raised her sleeve up and almost cried at how faint but visible her scars were. She hadn't cut since June and that was big for her. It was a tremendous step. She hadn't even thought about picking up a blade, not even when she was in the hospital.
Progress. Zuri thought and smiled to herself.
She looked at the bathroom door as she heard it opening and quickly moved her sleeve down. She wasn't sure how noticeable it would to be someone else since they were faint but she knew they were there and that's all that mattered.
"You sittin' in the same spot I left you in. You must've been waiting fa' me." Kel said ruffling a towel against his wet 4c curls, but all Zuri could pay attention to was the towel that was wrapped low around his waist, showing off his upper body and v-line.
Zuri never felt sexually aroused but since meeting Kel, he unintentionally made her panties wet a few times. More than Zuri would like to admit.
"See some you like, ma'?" Kel smirked seeing Zuri was staring at him. She adverted her eyes away from his middle and up to his face with a shy smile.
"Maybe. Put some clothes on, I need to talk to you." Hearing those words, Kels demeanor did a complete 180. He went from being on cloud nine from Zuri's presence alone, to anxious and scared.
This some bullshit. He thought as he slowly walked to his closet, unintentionally slamming the door behind him. Zuri's eyes widened then turned into slits, eyeing his closet door.
"Damn, all I said was I wanna talk." Zuri mumbled to herself, holding her hand out infront of her for what seemed like the tenth time since she'd had them done.
Kel tried to prolong dressing himself, nervous about what Zuri might want to talk to him about. He had very strong feelings for her and he knew Zuri ran away from things like that. She ran away from him multiple times when it came to her expressing herself.
This might be different. He tried to reason with himself.
Until it came down to the fact, losing her wasn't an option.
He pulled it together and scoffed to himself. After moisturizing his body, he slipped on a pair of basketball shorts, not bothering to put on a shirt.
Finally, he walked out of his closet to see Zuri laying on her stomach on his bed, scrolling through her Pinterest board. He never understood how she found it entertaining, but Zuri was different in many ways.
SMACK!
"Bi—Ezekiel! That's not even funny!" Zuri whined, sitting up and rubbing her left thigh.
Kel laughed at her. "My bad, baby. I had to. C'mere." He held his arms out and Zuri mugged him. Seeing as she wasn't going to stand up, he pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her. "Zuri, girl if youn hug me back."
She sighed and leaned her head against his chest and wrapped her hands around his waist, rubbing up and down his back, loving the smell of coconut on him.
One thing Zuri would never want to lose were his hugs. There was something about them that made her feel safe and content. Like when they first met. He'd always hug her before they parted ways. She never understood why he did that, but she couldn't complain.
Kel pulled them onto the edge of his bed, having Zuri straddle him since she didn't want to let go.
"Zuri." He called out to her and she hummed in response. "What you wanted to talk about, mama?" Immediately, his mouth dried up.
Ain't shit gon' happen. You trippin'. He thought to himself and hoped he was right.
Zuri sighed and sat up, staring at Kel, him waiting patiently for her to speak.
"I don't think..." she trailed off and Kels heart dropped. He looked to the side and out of his bay window where the moons lights shown, casting a shadow of the shape of the window on his hardwood floor.
Zuri placed her hands on both sides of his face and directed his attention back onto her. She overlooked the vexed look on his face, knowing she was scaring him. She leaned in and placed a kiss on his lips, shocking him in the process.
She'd never initiated affection before and it had Kel confused but relieved at the moment. Zuri was naturally a touchy person so whether they were romantically involved or not, she would always touch him, but never kissed him first.
The kiss was slow and passionate and it took Zuri some time to figure it out since she'd never started one of their kisses before but like any other time, she got the hang of it.
They finally pulled away and stared into each other's eyes, both smiling cheekily. Until Zuri remembered what she wanted to say.
"Oh! I was gonna say, I don't think I can plan our first date." Zuri pouted and Kel stared at her for a few seconds before throwing his head back with a loud and humorous laugh.
"Mama, you had me thinkin'—never mind. Why you made it seem like it was some serious?" Kel asked amused at how dramatic Zuri was. She was truly a character.
Zuri frowned and swatted his shoulder. "This is serious, Ezekiel. I don't know how to plan a date. This is my first time doing anything like this." She finally expressed to him and felt relieved.
Kel licked his lips and nodded his head, slipping his hand under her shirt and rubbing her backside. "I gotchu. You ain't in this by ya'self. If you feel like you need assistance with anything regardin' us or you in general, let me know. Hea' me?"
Zuri titled her head to the side with a small smile. "I do."
"Good. Na', in dat case. Zuri, would you like to go on a date wit' me this Valentine's?"
Zuri couldn't help but smile big this time.
"Yes, Ezekiel. I'd love to." She pecked his lips multiple times causing Kel to mug her and pulled her in for a real kiss.
She wouldn't admit it anytime soon but she loved the bright side of life. It was slowly wooing her and she didn't have the energy to fight it anymore.
{A/N}
Hey...hey. How y'all doin'?
8/5/21–my dads birthday. May he rest in paradise❤️🥺