( COUSIN DENISE)
(COUSIN MARIAH)
MARIAH POV
We had been here for over an hour and no sign of my older cousin Deyla yet.
"Auntie when is dey coming?" I questioned. My mind wondered about where she could be. Finally got some freedom I thought to myself.
"She should be here any minute baby.." she reinsured me.
"She doesn't stay here anymore?" I questioned her again. I could see the frustration setting in her eyes.
"No honey, Deyla has her own apartment."
I rolled my eyes. Should have known, she always thought she was too good to be around everyone else.
"Auntie?" I called out again purposely annoying her.
"Yes honey.... what is it." She sighed.
"Can Me and Denise use your car to take a look around the town?Its been such a long time since we last been here." I rambled.
"Yes.. please do... I mean sure have fun but don't be too long and since y'all are out I could use a few more cans of green beans from the store.
She handed me a folded up twenty dollar bill and slid her car keys across the counter. I grabbed the keys and made my way into the living room.
" Auntie said we could use her car.." I told my sister Denise.
"Fine, but I'm driving you dont have a license." She got up from her seat and snatched the keys out of my hand.
I rolled my eyes and followed her down the apartments stairs.
"Oh we have to get beans from the store. I remembered.
We drove to the local market in the middle of town to grab the can goods before doing anything else.
"I gotta use the restroom, get the beans I'll be back." I watched as denise left to the back of the store, where the bathrooms were.
I swayed down a few lanes searching for canned vegetables, with a small basket in my hand. I looked over each lane again becoming more confused, everything got switched around since the last time I've been here.
I decided to check each lane again before going to get help. Nothing on this one.. nothing on that one... Boom!
"Wanna watch where you going ma?" I looked up as I rubbed my shoulder which I just rammed into the tall stranger who was now in front of me.
"My bad.. I was looking for beans, Its been a while since Ive been in here." I told him looking into his chestnut brown eyes.
Damn! Fine dudes like him reminded me of just what I been missing here in Chicago..
"Oh Ight— I'll show you to them." He spoke with a sexy accent dripping from his tongue.
I followed behind him as we moved through the crowded sections. He came to a stop infront of a large display of canned veggies and fruits.
"Thankyou—..." I dragged my words out hoping he would give me his name.
"August." He smiled and walked away.
I blushed and turned back around towards the cans.
"What took you so long!" Denise grunted.
" I looked back once more blushing."
"Something got your attention?" She snapped her fingers in front of my face.
"Not yet—but he will." I smirked and headed towards the registers.
DEYLA POV
"Comeee on....." I dragged des by his arm upstairs to my mom's apartment.
"Man I supposed to be at the strip club right now!" He resisted
" Pleaseeee.!! I don't wanna be here alone." I gave him my best fake pout.
"Fine but you owe me." He replied
We walked the rest of the way up and I pushed the door open slowly.
"Cousin Deyla!!!!" Denise ran into my arms as I ran towards her.
"Omg your even prettier!" I fanned my face to stop my tears. I missed my cousin so much, she was more like a sister to me.
"I didn't get that kind of welcoming."
I followed the voice into the living room and saw my sister starring at us with her feet propped up on the sofa, looking like she was ready to give birth any minute."
"Its okay Maleyse I'm always happy to see you!" I turned around and was met by my other cousin Mariah.
"Hey deyyyyy!!" She dragged out her words with fake excitement.
"Hi.." I said nonchalantly. Des mushed me in my side with his elbow.
"Oh everybody this is my brother Des." I pointed.
"Hey how yall doin!" Des waved to everyone.
Everyone greeted him and we all joined the dinner table for prayer and dinner.
"Des would you like to lead the prayer?" My mom asked.
"—NO!" I yelled a little to loud causing everyone to turn towards me.
"I meant..I'll do it."
I prayed out loud and everyone finished it off with a group Amen.
"So what are you girls doing tonight, anything planned?" My cousins mom asked looking down the table, where My cousins,Des and I sat.
"Plans? We just got here mom." Denise starred confused, but we both knew that wasn't stopping her sister.
"Well I have plans with my man." Maleyse said proudly from the other end of the table."
"We bet." Des mumbled outloud
"Excuse me!" She snapped her head in his direction." I immediately jumped in.
"Don't try to address him, unless you want your feelings hurt." I told her as Des smacked on his baked chicken in my ear.
I shot him a mug and he smiled letting a few grains of rice fall out.
"Dont start y'all." My mom looked back and forth between my sister and I.
"Lets! She lucky I'm pregnant I would have slapped that mouth!"
"Yea pregnant by your own mother's boyfriend." I shot back. All heads flew in my mom's direction. She got up and left the table in embarrassment.
At this point I was over holding back, Im not going to be talked to any kind of way and expected to hold my tongue.
"Reminds me of someone." Denise mumbled into my ear. We both chuckled thinking the same thing.
Maleyse started yelling insults at me,by this point she was pissed.
"Everybody let's just calm down here!" My uncle said as he rose slowly from his seat and grabbing maleyse by her arm.
"Shutup you old ass pervert!" She snatched away from himand he quickly sat back down. Me and Denise both started going back and forth with her. Dinner had turned into a yelling match.
DES POV
"JERRY JERRY JERRY!!!" Me and Denise pounded on the table chanting while everyone else argued.
I took this opportunity to steal a bite of Deyla's chicken and I stuffed her Hawaiian roll into my mouth.
"Gimmie a piece! Hurry up before she see!" Denise nudged me. My type of girl, I starred at her.
"BRING THAT ASS HERE GIRL!" I yanked her from her seat and unto my lap.
"Where have you been all my life!"
We laughed as everyone continued to argue . Her sister interrupted.
"Nobody asked me about my plans!" She mugged.
"That's cause nobody cares!" Denise told her while we shared Deyla's chicken.
"Well since you asked—I have a date!" She smiled proudly.
"Already?...your lying" denise pressed.
"Nope...his name is August..."
I spat my chicken out making a few pieces fly into her hair.
"Eww!!!" She wiped her hair disgusted.
"Tall?" I questioned her... "Yup!" She responded.
"Skinny?" I asked her. "Yup! She responded.
"Funny Accent?" I asked. " Yup! Why all of the questions?" She replied.
"BITCH THATS MY AUGUST, you done lost your damnnnn mind!!.." I mumbled the last part hovering in her face.
She starred at me confused.
"Let's go des!" Deyla interrupted by pulling my arm.
"Yea lets go denise!" I pulled on her arm also making her come with me and deyla.
I continued to stare Mariah down until we were completely out the door.
"Des whats wrong with you.." deyla asked. I mugged her not knowing what she meant by that question.
"Guess who Mariah got a date with.." I told deyla as we all left the apartment.
"Who?" She starred at me curiously.
"AUGUST!" Her mouth dropped but immediately closed after.
"Wow who knew he could stoop so low." She replied. I could feel pain in her voice and decided to change the subject.
"SLEEPOVER AT YOUR PLACE!!" I yelled grabbing denise's hand and running down the rest of the stairs.
"Okay—but we have to make a stop first." Deyla said, for some reason I didn't like the look on her face.