Sade's POV:
"So y'all are together now for real?" I asked Aria over the FaceTime call.
"Yeah and no, he says we're not official until he officially asks and I officially accept."
"And when will that be?"
"He says he has a big date planned and it's very soon. This upcoming weekend actually, now that I think about it." I cracked a smile at her,
"Ouuuu okay bitch," I said, flapping my hand.
She blushed and hung her head,
"Shut up." I giggled,
"So how the hell did this happen dude. And I want every detail too-"" I warned, pointing a stern index finger at her.
"Okay okay-" my best friend sat up as she sighed and faintly closed her eyes, seemingly trying to recall everything.
"So basically-" Aria focused her attention back to me. "It was a few days after the Homecoming dance. We already have a class together, so we were semi friends before. He was drunk as shit Homecoming night and we ran into each other in the parking lot. He told me his friends left him and I figured he needed a ride so I took him home. That Monday at school he pulled me to the side in some random closet and was apologizing hard as hell. I just laughed and was like 'dude it's cool, no biggie' but he insisted on repaying me. Rich boys I swear." Sighing, she rolled her eyes, and I laughed.
"So what was the repayment?"
"He took me to get ice cream." Cheesing, she scrunched up her face and shoulders. I gasped,
"Girl, how'd he know ice cream was your favorite?" I asked flippantly.
"He literally was like 'okay what's your favorite food' and I was like 'seafood' and he goes 'what about desert' and I'm like 'ice cream?' and he's like 'cool I'll pick you up Friday' then walks away. I was like 'tf?"' I cackled,
"Bitch-"
"Sade I kid you not I was just standing there like 'what the hell just happened?' But I didn't really look at it as a date or anything. The ice cream hang out was when things started to get a little more spicy I guess," she blushed and dropped her head. I smirked,
"Ouuuu what happened?" Aria lifted her head up with a smile,
"He just was getting real smooth and slick with me outta nowhere and ian know what to do with all that-"
"But you ain't fight it either-" I snickered. Aria did as well,
"Sure as hell didn't," she shook her head in reminiscence. "But yeah after that we just continued to hang out a lot. We called and texted like everyday, but I was still hesitant to go any further."
I nodded in understanding,
"So when Halloween came around-"
"When Halloween came around I was about to really start telling people, meaning y'all. That night we had that sleepover, I was still anxious and nervous about it but I was inching closer to considering it. Then, we had this moment in one of the rooms at Hunter's party before everything went down, and I was sold," my best friend flattened out both hands on each side of her as she shrugged.
A wide smile crept onto my lips,
"You really like him don't you?" She sucked air between her teeth before slowly nodding,
"I do boob," Aria exhaled deeply, "Is that crazy? What do you think?"
"Honestly? I think it's pretty dope, from what I saw, y'all seem to really click." I scrunched my nose as I kept my wide smile, "Awwww booobb, I'm really happy for youu," I pouted. She blushed, giggling at me,
"Thanks Sade, it means a lot coming from you."
"Oh honey you know I got you."
"That I do-"
"I got you too!" Lauren yelled from the edge of my bed while watching tv and eating her snacks.
Aria and I chuckled at her.
"Thank you babes!!" Aria yelled back through the phone.
Lauren kept her back turned to me as she attentively watched season two of 'HTGAWM.' She told me she'd never heard of it some weeks ago and I immediately put her on. She's been hooked since.
"No problem love!" My girlfriend glanced my way, then quickly turned back around. I just shook my head in amusement as I giggled at her. She really is the cutest thing to me.
~ 2 weeks later ~
Lauren's POV:
I came home from work extremely exhausted. All I wanted was my best friend, second to Sade, my beloved bed. That's my home girl for real, we tight. Opening my bedroom door, a huge yawn escaped my throat as I kicked off my work shoes. Sitting my keys and purse down on my desk, I then took off my jacket to hang it back up in my closet. Turning on the shower, I heard my phone buzz on the bathroom counter. It was a text from Sade. My mood instantly brightened.
Emerald🍀🧸
hey baby, you home yet?
Me to Emerald🍀🧸
yep, bout to hop in the shower now
I'll call you when I get out okay?
Emerald🍀🧸
okay🫡
Me to Emerald🍀🧸
omg lmfao
Shaking my head as I wore a timid grin, I sat my phone beside my speaker and stepped into my walk-in shower. '505' by Arctic Monkeys began to blast, and I sang along drowsily.
Waiting for Sade to answer the phone, I started to pull my hair into a top bun. My phone was set up in the mini ring light I had on my desk. I crossed my legs into the chair and reached to grab my water bottle off the desk. Just then, my girlfriend's adorable face came into the screen. She had on her glasses and her now black hair was in a claw clip. I showed a faint smile,
"Hey there beautiful," I said taking a sip from the straw attached to my water bottle. She blushed,
"Hey honeybee."
"How was your day?" I pulled a lone knee to my chest and rested my chin on it. She sighed,
"It was good, nothing special. I took my sisters to see a light show, they seemed to enjoy it a lot." I smiled. She began to pout as she looked into the camera, "I miss you." My bottom lip poked out,
"I miss you more Emerald. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever and it's only been two days since we were last together," I chuckled, and she joined me. A random gasp solicited from her mouth which caused me to perk up.
"That reminds me! I need to ask you something." My face furrowed,
"Uh oh, what is it?"
"Oh no it's nothing bad, it's just- well I was w-wondering...." My eyebrows lifted in amusement as I studied her. She was getting nervous, I could tell.
"Emerald?" I called to her, smirking subtly.
"Yeah?"
"Just tell me baby," I said simply. "Why're you so nervous?"
Sade let out a timid breath of air,
"I don't know, I'm sorry." I quickly shook my head as I smiled.
"Emerald, don't apologize, it's okay. I just want you to spit it out already because now you're making me nervous," I pointed to myself, emphasizing my words. Sade giggled,
"Okay okay. Umm I just- I want to take you out. Like on an official date where we dress up nice and go out to eat like they do in movies," she rambled, refusing to look into the camera. If she had, she'd have seen me with the biggest smile on my face. "So yeah, I just wanted to ask when you were free next and if you'd be up to it?"
"You're joking right?" I laughed. "Sade, baby of course I would! Shit you should've said something sooner, we could've gone this weekend." Her face lit up as an ample smile tugged her lips.
"Well actually I also wanted to ask what you were doing for Thanksgiving since it's next week and I haven't asked yet." With a shrug, I set my foot back on the floor before rolling my chair closer to the desk, propping up my elbows.
"My dad says my mom's coming, or at least she plans to but it's never really promised because of the position she's in. If she does though, we're supposed to go out to eat together. What about you?" I tilted my head fairly. My girlfriend sighed,
"Well my mom likes to take me and my sisters to my grandma's house to see the rest of the family. I don't know why though, we barely even speak to them folks."
"Gotta love black families right?" I joked and she rolled her eyes,
"Ou tell me about it-"
After about another hour on the phone with Sade we said our good nights and I got into bed. I couldn't get the thought of my mother out of my head after she came up in our conversation. I hadn't seen or spoken to my mom in almost a year. She sends letters here and there, letting me know she loves and misses me and thinks about dad and I each day. I've kept every one in a decorated box at the top of my closet. I sometimes go back and read them whenever I miss her or feel badly in need of a mother.
As I've gotten older, the relationship between my mom and I has changed. When I was a kid, I was ecstatic to see her whenever I could. Now, my reaction is very laid back and nonchalant. Not because I don't miss her or don't want to see her, but because I feel as though the more excited I got, the more crushed I'd be when she left again. So I try my hardest now, to act like her not being here doesn't really faze me. A small part of me, of course, was and always will be excited when hearing that she's coming. I don't know, I guess I'm just tired of her barely coming and always leaving.
Sade's POV:
"Hey, you got a minute?" Athena walked swiftly into my room and sat on the bed. I was in the middle of getting ready for school, well we all were. I turned around in my chair to face her. It seemed as if something was stressing her out.
"Yeah 'Thena, what's wrong?" I ask with furrowed eyebrows and leaned over, resting my hands on my knees.
"I need to talk to you about mom." She at her thumb nail, "I think she's seeing someone," 'Thena muttered through her teeth. I sat back in my chair as if a strong gust of wind had just hit me. My eyebrows had skyrocketed and I opened my mouth, but words struggled to elicit from it.
"I heard her outside late last night and the voice of some man. I went downstairs to get a lil snack and some water. All of a sudden I hear her giggling like she some damn schoolgirl and some man's deep laugh," she continued. In disbelief, I shook my head slowly.
"And she be claiming she at work." I crossed my arms and chuckled dryly as I thought back on my mom's recent behavior.
"Yup and I find it funny how all of a sudden she wants to start spending more time with us and she all happy and shit like everyday is payday." 'Thena scrunched her face. I nodded, deep in thought,
"She sholl called herself tryna 'get close with me' out of the damn blue....like? I thought maybe she finally got a therapist but hey a man is cool too." I threw my hands up as I stood and went to my closet. 'Thena trailed on my heels,
"No. It is not. She cannot be doing this. She's going about it all wrong!"My sister whisper-yelled. I snickered,
"Ha! Try telling her that, let me know how it goes," I turned to leave my closet with my shoes and sat back down in the chair to put them on.
"Oh come on Sade you know this is some bull," Athena whined. Feeling defeated, I shook my head as I sighed.
"You're absolutely right 'Thena, I'm completely aware that our mother's actions have been very questionable lately. But hey, what you want me to do? Tell her to stop?" I placed both feet on the floor before looking up at her.
"You've got to do something. Before she tries to force him and us to be some kind of family," her face drew up in disgust. "I will seriously run away." I threw my head back in laughter.
"I'm serious Sade!" 'Thena whined in a whisper as she did a little tantrum dance like she was a four year old.
"Okay okay! I'll talk to her." I giggled, "you're such a brat." I went to grab my phone, keys, and bookbag.
"Yeah whatever," my sister rolled her eyes before opening my bedroom door. "Thanks, see ya later, byeee."
"Bye child," I playfully rolled my eyes as I shook my head again with a humorous smile.
I left my room and headed downstairs to my car. I was already running late so I figured I might as well stop to get food and sleep through first block. A cool little car nap would do me some good anyway.
Aria's POV:
My favorite time of year is finally rolling around and I couldn't be more excited. The beautifully colored trees, the smell of warm and cozy scents everywhere. Being out of school for the back to back holidays. Just the vibes of the first semester all together really makes me feel so wholesome inside.
My birthday is less than a month away now and I have no idea what I want to do. Do I want to do a little getaway with the girls? Should I throw a party? Should it just be me and Dylan? Should I just spend it alone? Should I go all out? Or keep it simple? I don't knowwww!!
Sade's been helping me sort out whatever ideas I come up with as time progresses. She's really good with planning and organizing so I let her have at it. I really think I want to lean towards a nice dinner with close friends. It's calm and doesn't cost a bunch, not that cost would be a problem. I just don't think I want to do a lot this year. I kind of just want to see my people, eat some food and cake, and head home, or to Dylan's house.
I've been going over there a lot lately. The shit is huge, of course, and his parents treat me like a princess. Who wouldn't want that? It's crazy to think that as much as I'm over there, Dylan and I still haven't done anything sexual. He's so dead set on making us wait, and it's driving me crazy. I'm not even a sexual person like that, I've only done it with one other person. But for some reason Dylan could do that smallest thing like carry my shoes and purse for me, and I'm ready to jump his bones. It's insane.
"Miss girl!" Dylan's playfully sassy voice extracted me from my thoughts.
"Huh?"
"Huh?" He mimicked me in a high-pitched voice. I giggled as I playfully nudged his shoulder with my elbow, keeping a paintbrush between two of my fingers. He laughed with his voice back to normal. "I said you should try mixing the hot pink with the lavender purple, it's really pretty-"
"Oh okay." I did as he suggested and grinned in awe seeing the results. "Oh my gosh it is really pretty! Okayy Dylann," I jokingly applauded him with a subtle sarcastic nod. Chuckling at me, he shook his head,
"Shut up." I giggled and continued painting.
It's Saturday and this boy called me early this morning saying 'get dressed and make sure it's clothes you don't care too much about.' I was like 'who the hell?' Nonetheless I got my ass up and got dressed though.
Kingston texted me not too long ago and invited Sade and I to hang out tomorrow so I was glad Dylan did this today. The trio hasn't gotten together in so long, so I'm really excited. Kingston has classes on the other side of the building so we don't see him often at school, besides third block, which we mostly skip. He's our baby that we like to say we adopted in 10th grade even though we're all the same age.
My boyfriend picked me up this morning with breakfast already in the car. He bought my usual Starbucks order which was a vanilla iced coffee with two pumps of hazelnut and a double smoked bacon. Dylan got a white chocolate mocha with a banana nut muffin. I squealed once I got in the car and noticed that he had my order memorized. He then brought me to this painting place and we've been here since. I have no idea what he was trying make out but I was trying my best to make a flower field. However the purpose of this place is to express yourself and relieve stress, so if it looks like crap, I'll just blame it on that.
Dylan was eyeing me discreetly, trying his best to hide that he was observing my every move. He was also failing miserably. I glanced in his direction and he quickly snapped his back forward and stuck his nose in the air as he glided the brush across the canvas. I giggled,
"I can see you staring ya know?" I said with my eyebrows raised in humor. He did a fake double take,
"Wha- huh? What are you talking about?"
"Dylan. Seriously?" I laughed and shook my head as I turned back around to my own canvas. "You're a nut I swear."
He sighed as he placed the paintbrush down on the holder and faced his entire body toward me. He reached over and grabbed both my knees, making me face him, as he firmly rested his hands on them. His blue eyes were filled with a hint of worry as they peered into mine. It caused my face to soften.
"Aria, you'd tell me if there was something on your mind right?" My face furrowed,
"Of course Bubba. What makes you ask that?" I genuinely didn't know why he'd think otherwise. He hung his head before lifting it again,
"It's- I just want to be sure. Sometimes you zone out and you go somewhere else. I know you're probably in your thoughts or just get distracted but I can't help but think sometimes that it's something I said or did. I just want you to tell me if it is, and even if it's not, I still wanna know what's on your mind." Poking out my bottom lip as he spoke, I ran my fingers through his fluffy blonde hair. "I don't know. I don't want to be clingy or anything, I just wanted to ask."
Grinning softly, he started to pull away and go back to his painting. Before he could get too far, I grabbed both his arms and turned him back to me.
"Come here Bubba." Now standing, I pulled his arms around my waist while draping mine across his shoulders. Aimlessly, he scanned my face, taking in my features as he let his eyes pause at my lips. He then drew them back up to meet my adoring gaze. "You're not being clingy okay? I promise if you were I'd definitely let you know." He laughed faintly and I smiled, gently tracing the arch of his eyebrow with my thumb.
"You sure babe?" I nodded,
"Of course I'm sure. I really appreciate how much you care, seriously, it's adorable," I said, pulling him down into me by his neck and capturing his lips. He gave me a few pecks before drawing his head back, and gazing into my eyes lovingly.
"I promise I'll tell you what's on my mind more okay?" I assured, holding up my right hand and sticking my pinky out. Dylan bit his lip and wrapped his pinky around mine. He leaned forward to place his forehead on mine,
"Okay."
~~~~~~