Amaya Anderson
Monday
3:00 pm
I tap my pen against the notebook page that barely has any words on it. I was beyond out of it and that's partly because Ariana kept me up all night watching movies. Usually I wouldn't mind because I'm able to take a nap in between classes but I didn't have that chance. I had a bunch of stuff to catch up on so a nap didn't fit into the occasion.
The professor finishes her part of the lecture, "So you guys have a good assignment. I want you to read the rest of the book but you will write an analysis for each chapter and compare it with your partner. I think it's important to see the different perspectives. Next month we'll discuss what you guys learned for each other, I'll give more information on Canvas", she claps her hands together and sits down. "Please spend the rest of the class period picking your partner and starting your reflection on today's chapter"
Ugh. I sigh and look around the class room at my options. I'm associates with most of the people in here but I don't care with work with any of them. Next to me, I hear someone clear their throat. I look over and roll my eyes seeing Luca with a smirk on his face. "Hey partner!", he exclaims and move to sit next to me.
"I didn't agree to this", I prop head up on my hand.
"I mean i'm your only option, I don't see you asking anyone else", he shrugs. "So what days would work for you?"
Obviously, there wasn't a chance of getting out of this so I just accepted my fate. "Mondays and Wednesdays", I tell him. I know it would be a couple of times where we would have to meet up outside of class. "I can do that", he says not even bothering to counter what I said.
He looks at me and chuckles. "You good?"
"I'm sleepy", I whine.
"You still tired from all that partying you did on Thursday? Damn you are old"
I reach out to push his shoulder, "You just had to find a way to slip that in huh?"
"Because you shocked the shit out of me. That's a side that I can get used to"
I shake my head. "You threw a good party though"
"I'm just glad you graced me with your presence", he pretends to bow and I laugh at him. Our laughter dies down and we stare at each other for a minute. I notice that his eyes are a hazel brown shade. "You're welcome", I break the eye-contact and he blinks to recollect himself. I hope no one else saw that.
We finished our part of the assignment and left before class ends. We exited out the building together, bring brought back into the cold. I had on a jacket but it still wasn't thick enough to protect me from the harsh wind. "You hungry?", he peers down at me. I never noticed how tall he was until now. I wasn't typically considered short but next to him you would think so. "Why?", I tilt my head to the side watching as a smirk appears on my face.
"Let me treat you to lunch"
"Nigga it'll be four soon. Lunch is over"
"Well it's too early to be dinner", he retorts and that was indeed true.
"Fine", I thought about turning it down but who turns down a free meal? I was trying to get out the habit of overthinking myself out of a good time. "What are we getting?"
"Pick whatever you want", he says casually as he walks me to the parking lot. I struggle. I hate how indecisive I am when it comes to food. I always crave like fifty different things. "Can we go to that Mexican restaurant down the street", I asked since I can pick anywhere. I've never been there but the food always looks good.
He nods as we get settled in the car, "Sounds good"
The ride was a comfortable silence. There's music playing in the background, I had no clue who the artist was but they're decent. I relaxed against the seat, my eyes focusing on the man next to me. He drives with one hand, his body slouched in the seat. The sun shines on him a little bit, focused on the side of his face.
As much as I didn't want to admit it, this man is fine.
Time passes and we are seated. I look over the menu, the drinks catching my eye. "You're twenty-one right?"
He looks at me suspiciously, "Yes", he answers slow.
"So you wouldn't mind ordering this blue moon for me?", it was some type of frozen margarita on the menu.
"That's fine, shit imma get me one too", he skims through the menu once more before coming to some conclusion. He closes it and returns his focus on me. "What was your first impression of me"
I stare at Luca for a second. "The first time I saw you, you were kicking a girl out your dorm. I thought to myself what an asshole and then realized how much girls loved you on campus despite the foolery"
He lifts an eyebrow, "Do you know why I kicked that girl out?"
I shook my head.
"I caught her trying to dig for my condom out the trashcan", he grimaces at the thought of it. "I'm not an asshole or someone who fucks anything walking. Although, I don't see how that would matter since you have no interest in me whatsoever", he points out and that causes me to smirk.
I hold up my hand, "It's nothing personal, I just think people hype up the wrong side of you. The guy who playfully antagonizes me everyday in class is not the same one that's praised on campus", I shrug watching as he stares at me intensely. "But I understand the whole reputation thing"
"You know, you have a reputation to right?", Luca raises an eyebrow. "People think you're stuck up"
I roll my eyes. I heard that rumor quite a bit but I don't know how I gave that vibe off. Even the people I hang around represent the complete opposite. "I never believed that though, you're always a sweetheart to everyone, the professors love you. I think people get intimidated cause you don't want to be on the scene like that", he winked at me. It made me smile , I shook my head not realizing my face naturally turned into a frown. The fact that people make up scenarios in their head to fit a narrative they know zilch about kills me.
"That's been a thing since elementary, I've turned a blind eye to it", I roll my eyes. "The first people that think like that are usually the ones who have the worst attitudes."
The waitress comes up to us, we put in our orders and she brings us complimentary chips and salsa. "That's real cause I never got that vibe from you. You a little fiesty but nothing I can't handle"
"Who said you had to handle me?", I take a bite of the chip in my hand. He simply laughs it off but I was really curious. "So what's ya status? You single? Talking to someone?", he raises an eyebrow.
"Single", I respond simply. "You?"
He thinks about it for a second and then laughs. "Yeah", I give him a straight face. "Like i'm just dating around, I'm not official"
"Mhmm", I hum making a mental note to keep a safe distance.
"You mean to tell me ain't nobody in your dm?", he asks in curiosity.
I giggle, "Of course but that doesn't mean you have to respond. When I want a free meal, I entertain", I state.
Luca smirks as the waitress sits our drinks down and later returns with a tray of our food. I got some chicken nachos and he pull pork nachos. I peered over at his plate, seeing the barbecue dripping. "Can I have some?", I pout and watch him look at me full of amusement.
He pushes his plate towards me, I took a chip that was loaded with everything on it. I tried it, moaning in bliss. My food was good but his tasted even better. "Can I try some of yours?", he asks and I push my plate towards him and use that opportunity to steal some more of his food. "This shit is bussing", he comments with a mouthful.
"Don't eat up all my shit now", I back up from his plate and snatch mines back.
Luca looks at me crazy, "Like you just didn't devour half of my plate", he jokes but it wasn't a lie. That was good.
We shared food back and forth for the remainder of our outing. At the end of the dinner, I was tipsy. As we walk out the establishment, I hold up my phone to see that my eyes are indeed lower than usual. "Ah shit", I barely catch myself as I trip over the curb that leads to his car. "Not you drunk", he holds my hand and leads me to the passenger side.
"I'm not drunk, I am tipsy though", I admit. Nothing more than a nap sounded great to me. "If I was drunk, I would be on this sidewalk right now", I say as I climb into the car.
"Valid", he starts the car, his phone automatically hooking up to the car. "Let me see what your music taste hitting on", he passes me his phone that was already on Apple Music.
I hated sharing my music taste because the minute someone makes a weird comments towards it, I take my phone off. "It depends what you're in the mood for?", I listen to a little bit of everything.
"Let me hear some R&B"
The first person that popped in my mind is Mariah The Scientist. Her recent album is mostly what I listen to. "I can do old and new R&B nie'.", I inform him and leaves the floor to me.
I went on to play some old throwback songs from Chris Brown, August Alsina, and Trey Songz. Then later switched to Jazmine Sullivan, Mary J. Blige, long story short, I took him around the world. We sit in his car, vibing to the music while having conversation about anything that comes to mind. I was shocked that I'm actually having a good time with him. A week ago, this thought wouldn't have crossed my mind.
Ring Ring Ring
My phone dings, a reminder to start on my homework. It's a daily reminder that's set for nine o'clock. I have an exam tomorrow so I needed to read over those notes. "Study for theories exam", he reads aloud and shake his head, "only you".
"Yes, only me. Well thank you for the dinner", I smile at him and he returns the expression.
"You're welcome, ma. Anything for me to see that smile more"
I erupted inside. "Boy", I playfully push him before opening the door. "Good night"
"Goodnight", he watches me walk into my building before pulling off to his own place.