SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
CAIRA
9:36AM
My thumb hurts from scrolling through my feed, and seeing the same girls posting the pics in the same poses, with the same wack ass captions. I check my messages just to be sure my best friend Kiana hasn't texted me. I miss her so much. I haven't heard from her in two days! All the girls in NY seem fake compared to her. It's only been a few weeks and I can't wait to visit home.
I know two days seems short, but that's a long time for Kiana and I. I knew she was probably just busy or something, but something else was bugging me. And as my finger hovered over his name in my inbox I knew exactly why I was still staring at my iphone.
Carter and I have gotten so much closer in the past couple of weeks. We were partners in AT Chem, and he was always making me laugh. At lunch once in a while I would sit with him and his friends. His best friend Will was one of the funniest people I had ever met. We have been texting and snapchatting way too much, and every time his name pops up in my inbox, I smile. He made moving to New York a little bit easier. Seeing him makes me remember all the good times we've had, and secretly every time he calls me Cee-Cee, my heart warms.
My thoughts were interrupted by my father's voice, "If you don't get her to sign that damn contract tomorrow it will be your ass!" He pauses. "I don't care about her manager! Persuade him!"
"You know what, Randall? Do what you do best and go sit in your office! If I want something done I've got to come in and do it my damn self!" he hung up furiously.
"Caira, look I'm sorry baby, but I have to go in for a couple of hours to figure this out."
"Are you serious? You promised me you would take me shopping today," I reply, annoyed. I know I sound whiny, but I was looking forward to shopping in New York.
"I'm the new head of A&R here, and I need to make a good impression," he said.
I looked at my father, really trying to lay it on thick. "I understand. I just needed some new clothes to fit in here, and I wanted to spend the day with you." Bullshit.
"Here," he said as he pulled out his credit card, "buy anything you want, and we'll hang out another time, ok?"
"Thanks Daddy!" Works like a charm. We pulled up in front of my Dad's office and he got out.
"Bye Sugar!"
"Where would you like to go Ms. Taylor?" Evan asked.
"Where are we right now?" I asked.
"We are near SoHo."
SoHo...that sound familiar for some reason. Then I remembered...Carter lives in that neighborhood. I sat back in my seat, thinking about what I should do. Should I call him? I mean I did not want to go shopping alone, and we had been forming some semblance of a relationship these past few weeks... I picked up my phone and decided to throw caution to the wind.
"Hello?" My heart almost sunk. His voice was so raspy and low. I decided to make a mental note. Carter has the sexiest 'just woke up' voice."Hello?"
"Hey Carter," I said hesitantly. I was trying to see what kind of mood he was in. "It's Caira."
"Yeah I know." He moaned groggily and I almost fell apart. "Caira what time is it?"
"Going on ten," I say. What's the harm in adding a few minutes?
"What's up Cee-cee?"
"You said you lived in SoHo right?'
"Yeah..." He yawned.
"Are you free right now?"
"Why? What do you need?"
"What makes you think I need something?"
"Because you're only this nice to me when you want something," Huh. I didn't know what to say. I heard some rustling, and assumed he was getting out of bed. "Cee-Cee," I could tell he was getting tight. "What do you need?"
"I just wanted to hang out with you today," I said sweetly. "Give me your address, and I'll come pick you up."
"Okay Caira, fine, I'll text it to you," he said wearily.
"See you soon."
"Bye Cee-Cee."
"And Carter?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't go back to sleep, ok?" He chuckled. "Carter!"
"I'm up! I'm up! I'll see you later homie!"
I smiled. "You too homie!"
I recited the address to Evan after Carter texted me, and we pulled off. After driving for a few minutes, we turned onto a side street. We stopped in front of a building about five floors high, and all brick.
"We are here Ms. Taylor."
I texted Carter, I'm outside, and after a few seconds he responded, I'm coming I waited, surprised by how excited I was; I mean it was just Carter.
He came downstairs in dark jeans, a white t-shirt, and a vintage Wu-Tang snapback. His thin gold chain and silver watch flashed in the sunlight. When he spotted the Escalade, he rolled his eyes and started walking towards me. Before he got to me I opened the car door.
"Hey."
"Nice ride," he smirked.
"Get in."
"Hold up. Where are we going?"
"Shopping," I said hesitantly. He gave me a deadpan stare and started turning around. "Carter wait!"
He smirked and turned around, "if You think I'm gonna get in that car with you, and go store to store just to your carry your shit, you've got another thing comin."
"Pleaseeeee,"
He eyes became slits, "I'll go IF," I know what that look means. Here we go, "Hear me out! IF You come over for dinner tonight."
"Carter-"
"My Mama hasn't seen you in a long time, and she really misses you. You used to come over to my house in Georgia all the-"
"FINE."
"Fine you are coming over tonight?"
"Yes!" I huff.
He knew he was guilt-tripping me so hard. I slide over and tap the seat. Finally, Carter gets in.
"So where to first Princess Caira?" he asks teasingly.
"Evan can you take us to Topshop?"
"A please wouldn't have killed you," Carter said.
"Please," I said and I noticed Evan smiling in the rearview mirror.
The ride to Topshop wasn't long. Evan pulled over. "Keep me updated Ms. Taylor."
"Thanks Evan." I said with a cheeky smile towards Carter. I could show him that I had manners.
We both get out and walk into the store. "So what exactly do you need me for?"
"Your company and your opinion." He stares at me with an eyebrow raised, "Also To hold my bags and so I'm not alone."
"Yeah that's what I thought," I knew he was joking, but part of me knew I had hurt his feelings.
"Look! We're matching!" I exclaim, linking arms with him. We were wearing the same white Air Force Ones.
"Yeah I noticed. You tryna jack my style?" I scoffed.
"Yeah Carter that's what I'm doing."
"What? It's ok if you are. You look good!"
"Thanks," I said, cursing myself for loving his compliment so much.
Carter and I spend some time browsing the racks...more like I walk through the store and he trails behind me. A pattern develops; I pull an item off the rack and then peek at Carter's face. It is clear whether he likes it or not based on his expression. Finally, when I'm satisfied with the pile in his arms and I'm tired of our small talk that seems to be strained, we head to the dressing room. There is a red velvet cloth next to a three way mirror right outside the stalls.
"Wait here?."
"Cool," he says, and I head into the dressing room.
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CARTER
12: 23PM
"Cool," I say, ready to see her little fashion show. She heads into the dressing room stall, and I pull out my phone. I sigh because I have notification from Monica... she's mad annoying.
My house is free.Come through?
Normally, I would eagerly take the opportunity, but I couldn't today. Nah, I'm busy.
As usual she responds immediately, What are you doing?
I roll my eyes and type, I'm out. Like damn get outta my business.
As soon as I put my phone down, not wanting to hear from Monica again, Caira steps out from the stall. She's wearing a cropped grey sweater and jeans.
"So?" she asks. I shrug nonchalantly.
She looks at herself in the mirror and purses her lips; she's thinking. "Yeah you're right," she says and walks back into the stall. Right about what? I think to myself.
My phone buzzes and it's a text from Will. You with Monica?
Nah, I respond.
Wanna play some ball? he texts.
I can't. I'm out.
Out?!? Where you at?
Boii I have other friends.
Other friends my ass. where the fuck u at?
I'm with an old friend.
don't tell me you wit Caira! Watch Monica wild out
I didn't tell her what i was doing
Whatever son. Imma hit you later.
This time when Caira walked out of the dressing room she was wearing a longsleeved short dress. I liked her dress... I liked it too much, and that's why I said, "No."
"What? I really like this one!"
"Caira you can't wear that to school."
"Yeah Ok Dad."
"Don't call me that," I muttered.
Caira went back into dressing room and we continued the pattern of her walking out, and me hating her outfit for one of two reasons. Either, it didn't make her look good, or it made her look too good. I think she caught me checking her out in the mirror once or twice. When my eyes were crawling up her body our eyes met. The first time it happened I looked away quickly, but the second time I was a bit bolder, holding onto her gaze until she looked away, biting her lip. I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm dating someone and judging from all the annoying buzzing and pinging her phone is doing, I think she's talking to a few guys.
Finally, after waiting in that long ass line, and three jumbo shopping bags later we were done... at that store. When we were walking towards the door I saw Caira calling Evan.
"Caira, we're in SoHo. All the stores run up and down Broadway, there's no need to call the driver. You're a New Yorker now. You walk." I held out my elbow. She huffed, but she grabbed on and we walked out.
"It's nice today. I guess this ain't too bad," she said.
"See! Now I just need to get you a metro card, and you'll be all set."
"Hell will freeze over before I get on that death trap." Her face scrunched up was so cute that I had to laugh, and she laughed too. I could have sworn I saw someone with their phone out on the street pointed towards us, but I mean everyone has their phones out nowadays. We were walking arm in arm down Broadway when some girl came bouncing towards us with her friend. While I looked confused, Caira plastered on a smile.
"Are- AreyouCairaTayor?" one girl asked looking completely starstruck.
"Yes I am! Nice to meet you!"
"OMG it's her!" the girl says to her friend. "Can I have a picture with you guys?" She is already snapping photos. "Is that your boyfriend?"
"Sure!" I notice that she doesn't answer the boyfriend question.
"Cee-Cee -" Caira goes on her tiptoes and pulls me down by my neck to whisper in my ear.
"Carter do it." We begin taking photos, but the more we take the more people ask, and soon there is a bit of a crowd around. It is sort of intimidating, and I think Caira is a bit overwhelmed too. New York City is not as friendly as other places; New Yorkers are aggressive. Some people probably didn't know who she was, but they were just stopping because other people were.
I wrap my arm around her like I'm posing, but I really wanted to whisper to her. "Could you text Evan please?" I realized that I was even protective over Caira when it wasn't even that serious.
She turned her head, smiling because she did not expect for our faces to be as close as they were. "I already did!"
I grabbed all her bags and stood closer to the curb, keeping a lookout for Evan. A few of the girls walked over to me all giggly. "Excuse me, what is your instagram name?" I smile at them, but inside I'm rolling my eyes.
"Why?"
"We want to tag you!"
"Oh its 'cvrtr.'," I explain, spelling it out for them, "or you can look up 'Carter Smith'."
"Thanks!" They say, all excited. I shake my head. They seem to be my age! I wonder if they would be so excited if they really knew Caira. My thoughts are interrupted when Caira's driver pulls up.
I bend down in front of her, grabbing the backs of her thighs. "Carter what are you doing?" I pull, so she can't help but put her hands on my shoulders to support herself, and I stand.
"Special Agent Carter to the rescue!" I call out.
She yells out over her shoulder, "Bye guys! Sorry! Nice to meet you!" I must look crazy crossing the street with a billion bags and Caira on my back.
"Really Carter? Was that really necessary?" She says as she dismounts. As I pack in the bags she is trying to be annoyed but she is beaming from ear to ear. I close the trunk after packing in the bags and look at her for a moment.
"I missed you Cee-Cee." Her face fell and she mumbles something under her breath. I panick, going over my words. Caira always got upset really easily, but we had a really good day and I didn't want to fuck it up now. I follow her into the car, confused. Maybe some food would cheer her up. "Chipotle?" I asked her.
"Sure," she responds without looking at me.
"I don't know if we should eat though; My mom says she started cooking." As if to respond, Caira's stomach audibly growls. I lean over as if I was talking to it. "Okay big guy, Chipotle it is!" She pushes my head away, giggling.
Chipotle was packed as usual, but luckily we found a table upstairs once we got our food.
We were eating for a few minutes before the silence became awkward so I asked, "How's everyone back home?"
She smiled at the mention of home, "Everyone's good. They'd love to see you after all this time."
"How's Kiana?" her best friend was always out of her mind, I swear.
She laughed, "She's still Kiana. And she'd still kick your ass."
"Wow! You still on that? I was 9!"
"Excuses, excuses."
"Whatever Cee-Cee."
We talked about the new mall they built back home, and how Mrs. Richardson down the street moved away. She even talked to me about her parents, but I could tell she didn't want to. We really were catching up, and I finally felt like I got through that wall Cee-Cee kept between us. I was only 11 when we left, and we got caught up in the city as soon as we got here. Of course I missed Caira, but even as an 11 year old boy I saw that we were on different paths in life, and I thought she didn't need me anymore. After Chipotle, we hit Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Zara before I protested because I couldn't carry any more bags.
"Caira this is ridiculous! you must have spent like $10,000 today already. My arms are about to fall off."
"Oh wow," she says. "Maybe you need work out more." I cut my eyes at her and stopped walking. She knew goodness well I did not need to work out.
"Carter please?" She was flirting shamelessly. "All we have left are shoes and bags, and I promise that is it." I am still reluctant. "I would do anything."
"Anything?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mmhm," she answers, biting her lip and playing with the fabric on my shirt. I am speechless. She is fucking ruthless. No chill at all.
"Caira?"
"Hmm?" She answers innocently, looking up with those big brown eyes.
"Why are you making it so hard for me to say no?"
"Because I want you to say yes," she says simply, "And I know my Carter can handle it."
"Your Carter huh?"
"Mmhm." This time when she bites her lip she is looking me in the eye. She really had me. I threw my head back. "Ugh Caira fine. Shoes and bags and that's it. Do you always do that when you want something?"
"Do what?" she asks innocently, locking arms with me and smiling to herself.
After Aldo, FootLocker, Fight Club, Chanel, and a few more boutiques that I had never heard of, Caira called Evan, and I put the bags into the trunk of the car.
"So you gonna keep up your side of the deal?"
"Huh?" I gave her the are you kidding me look, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! I really miss Auntie Tina anyway."
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Who's excited for family dinner? Comment what you think is gonna happen.
Love, Brook and Lynn