Hi please dm me if u have ideas of what I can write. I'll add it if it makes sense and tag u. Thank you ✨
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"Lili!" Mary yells across the hallway.
Aliyah halts her steps and waits for her.
"Wassup!" Mary nods at her.
"Been good"
"Haven't seen you this past week"
"Yep been really occupied with stuff" Aliyah grips her bag tighter.
"Oh stuff like what?" Mary glances at her
"I said stuff for a reason, Mary"
"Yeah I know and I want details"
Aliyah releases a sigh " okay I've been busy with the club activities"
"What club?"
"The girl power club. It's a club for teenage and young women. We talk about business opportunities and trainings for young women." Aliyah explains.
"Oh" Mary replies "why did you join"
"I joined the club because I need to find something to do"
"I don't think that's the reason"
Aliyah stops " wait so you're telling me that you think that my reason for my choice is wrong?"
"Yes exactly" Mary nods
"What?"
"You joined because you are trying to find solace"
"Solace?"
"Let me guess, most of the members are single?" Mary asks
"Yes, but what does this have to do with..."
" My point is, all of you are single. Probably went through bad break ups and are trying to show independence from the male gender. Stuff like you don't need a man to provide for yourself. You can be happy without a relationship and blah blah. Look it's good that they show young women self reliance but it's like solace from the break up. Trying to find some comfort in the break up."
"I get your point but I just think that I need this. I need to be independent, Self reliant and find happiness in myself. I don't need a man to give me happiness, I need.... Woah wait a second, who is he?" Aliyah not so subtly points at a guy that's listening to his friend that's practically demonstrating his tale.
"Uh Mason?"
"Mason " Aliyah tests out his name on her tongue
"Yes? Why are you so interested all of a sudden?"
"Is he new?" Aliyah gets serious
"What?!"
"I said is he new?"
"No he's not. He's our classmate. He's in the other arm."
"How long has he been attending this school?"
"Since when we enrolled "
Aliyah keeps quiet and studies him.
"Why are you asking questions about him"
"He's good looking "
Mary stares at her bewildered
"Why am I just noticing him now?"
"Because you are dumb" Mary deadpans
Aliyah glares at her
"Okay. It's probably because you are so self absorbed that you don't notice anything around you"
"That's not true "
"Lili, he was your math project partner last month"
"No shut up that's a lie. You mean to tell me that I worked on a week long project and didn't notice this... This god!"
"Yep "
Mason says bye to his friend and walks down the hallway heading in Aliyah and Mary's direction.
"Oh my goodness he's coming this way" Aliyah whispers in panic
"Well darn stop staring"
Mason waves at them " hey Mary. Hi Aliyah "
"Hey man. How's your bike going. It working well now? " Mary starts a conversation while Aliyah tries to stand up straight while being three feet away from him
"Nah. It's still giving me a headache. I'll stop tryna fix it and hand it over to the professionals" he smiles and runs his fingers through his hair. Aliyah is surprised she's not passed out on the floor.
"That's for the best really. I know this guy, He's like a master at fixing motorcycles. I'll text you his number "
"Sweet. So I'll see you around? You know Alice, she'll have my neck if we don't get to the mall by 5:00 pm sharp. You know you girls and your shii." He jokes
"What shii. We are just special beings thanks " Mary says laughing
Mason rolls his eyes in amusement" well gotta blast. Bye Mary. Bye Aliyah " he walks off
"Who is Alice? " Aliyah says once he's off hearing range.
"His sister." Mary replies " are you jealous of his sister" she laughs " unbelievable"
"Oh shut up" Aliyah suddenly grins widely " so... Mind giving me his number?"
******************
"You know if you keep staring, he's gonna catch you staring " Mary says quietly to an absent minded Aliyah
"Wha.. what are you talking about? Staring? Staring at what? At who? I'm not staring? " Aliyah picks up her spoon that dropped on the floor while she was out of it.
" Really?Girl you were straight up staring. Don't bother with the lies. Anyone would notice that you obviously like him" Mary shakes her head
" The cafeteria is filled with noisy and hungry teenagers. No one cares about who I'm staring at" Aliyah finally takes a bite of her food
"Yh right" Mary rolls her eyes " I'm guessing you haven't talked to him yet?"
"Nah. I can't do it"
"It's been almost two weeks. How are you to show interest from afar?"
"He doesn't need to know. It's just a stupid crush." Aliyah forgets herself once again and starts staring " bet he doesn't even notice me in the crowd"
***************
"Hey Aliyah, nice shirt" Mason compliments her WWE Roman reigns merch.
"Tha.. thanks you.. I mean tank .. sorry tha.. thank you. Yes thank you" Aliyah spits out in nervousness
Mason gives her a worried look. "Everything ok? You look ill"
"Ill? Ill no. I'm as fit as a horse. I'm good" Aliyah nods straightening her hair convincing both herself and Mason
"Okay then. See you around" he jogs away to catch up with his friends
"Hold me, Mandie " Aliyah rests a hand on Amanda's shoulder
"Huh? "
"I might faint" Aliyah pretends to be dizzy
" Ignore her. she's just having a crush" Mary informs them
"Crush on who " Betty whips around her neck almost snapping
"Mason"
"Mason!?" The girls chorus
"Yes Mason " Aliyah gets defensive "why do y'all sound so surprised?"
"Because you always treat him like he's invisible. He was chasing after you throughout first year. You treated him like shit. " Precious briefs her
"Treated him like shit. I'm just noticing him this month" Aliyah is confused
" Yes someone liked me in freshman year but his name was Mace."
"Still the same Mason. He just got a different hairstyle and new clothes and now you like him?" Amanda is disappointed
"But Mace is short, dark with afro hair. Mason is fair, tall with permed curly hair with blond tips" Aliyah argues
"He grew taller, dyed his hair and changed his body cream. His parents are fair. He told me his cream was darkening his skin" Mary explains
"Woah I'm speechless right now. No wonder I didn't recognize him. He's really cute now "
"If you really like him, you have my permission to date him" Success smiles
"Permission? With or without your permission i'ld still date him. " Aliyah scoffs
"I'm saying it. None of y'all respect me. I am your.... Hey where are you walking off to? I'm talking "
The all walk away mid speech. No one wants to hear her sermon
********
Aliyah pushes the cart in the supermarket. She's done with picking out the items she needs. Her mum urged her to do the groceries for the few days she'll be staying at home and not in the dorms.
As she approaches the cashier check out, she sees Mason attending to a customer at her front. She tries to not freak out. She glances at her reflection on her phone screen to check out her face. She's hoping for a face that doesn't scream excited or nervous.
Mason finishes with the customer, Aliyah pushes her cart forward. Mason notices her and his lips spread in a wide smile.
"Good afternoon Aliyah" he grabs the first item and puts it through the scanner. " How have you been? How's the break treating you?"
"Good afternoon. It's not so bad. My mum has just seen this as an avenue to send me on countless errands." Aliyah sighs
"Oof. Yikes. I'm stuck here trying to earn a living "
"I would have never guessed that you'd be working here" Aliyah smiles
"Why?"
"I thought fine boys don't hustle" she flirts and places the items on the table for him to check out.
"Where did you hear that" he chuckles "that's not true. Fine boys hustle the most but it's not called hustle it's called grind "
"Grind" Aliyah repeats
"Yeah. I'm steady on my grind" he nods smiling and low-key checking her out
"Oh I get it. That's way cooler "
"Yeah" he bags the items after she pays. You are the last on the line. Let me help you with these till you pick a vehicle"
"No it's okay. You are on duty" she tries to collect the bags from his really built hands.
"It's no problem. If more people come, they can go to other cashiers. Come on let's go. " He leads her out
She huffs in defeat and jogs to catch up with him.
As they walk side by side, Aliyah looks at his face in detail and almost trips on a rock.
"Watch out, Aliyah. Your staring is becoming dangerous." He laughs silently
Aliyah dies in embarrassment. "Thank you" she whispers out.
"You're welcome. It's the least I can do for a friend"
"A friend?" Aliyah asks
"Yes or are we enemies?" He stops his pace and faces her
"No it's not that I just ..."
"Let's get dinner together. Thursday night." He interrupts.
"Okay" she immediately agrees
"Yeah?" He smiles
"Yes I'll go have dinner with you but I'm choosing the place." She quickly points out.
"Okay but not a Yoruba place o. I don't like pepper " he drops the bags as they reach the side of the road and begins hailing commercial tricycles
"Noted." She screams outta nowhere "ah!"
"What the heck" mason panics
"I'm just so happy" she hugs him.
Mason's eyes widen but he hugs her back with one arm and stops a tricycle with the other "your ride awaits "
She releases him so he can put the bags in the vehicle "bye Mason"
"Bye Aliyah"
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