"I can't believe you decided to come Nat." Chloe said enthusiastically as we made our way down the dark street. It was cool out and that was why I currently had Chloe's hoodie on and she had on a light sweater. Chloe was always better at taking the cold than I was.
I shrugged my shoulders, "why not? It's Friday and I have nothing better to do."
Chloe looped her arm around mine and we continued to her new boyfriend's house who would be driving us to the fight. I didn't have a car because my parents couldn't afford it, but Chloe didn't have a car because she continually wrecked hers. She was horrible at paying attention to the road and couldn't multitask so her two cars both ended up hitting something and her parents finally decided no more.
"Is this the boy you were talking to at school?"
"Nope, I dumped him."
"You two went out?"
"For like an hour Nat, he's such a player and scumbag."
I laughed as Chloe rolled her eyes and shook her head at nerve of some men. We continued walking through the night until we came up to a yellow house and Chloe stopped. She motioned for me to stay quiet by the fence and I gladly accepted that offer. Something to lean on was a girl's best friend in heels. Wearing heels probably wasn't the best idea I ever had, but I wanted to look good. Almost everyone from our school was going to be there and some other people too. I had to look good.
Chloe crept up to the house and knocked lightly on the door in a rhythm. Everybody was sneaking out tonight. A tall tanned white boy came out of the house and grabbed Chloe's hand.
"Nat this is Des, Des this is Nat."
"Hey." I said and shook his hand lightly. He released my hand and fumbled through his pocket for his car keys. Once he found them he opened both mine and Chloe's door and went around to start the car. I stared out the window in boredom as Des and Chloe flirted with each other.
Des stopped at a house and honked his horn. A few seconds later Mr.Tall, dark, and handsome ran out. He got into the back seat with me and closed the door as Des drove off quickly.
"Ezekiel, this is Chloe and Nat. This is Ezekiel, but you can call him E."
I stared at the handsome creature in front of me. He was dark skinned and had a slight Afro, but it was tamed nicely. He had dark brown eyes and muscles that bulged from his short sleeved football shirt.
And he play football.
Ezekiel looked over at me and smiled before saying hey to Des and strapping on his seat belt.
"This fight is suppose to be big." He said as he turned to me. I nodded for some reason finding it hard and extremely difficult to break the ice with him.
"Yep, everyone's going."
"Yeah, everyone from mr college even said they were going."
"You're in college?" I questioned and then felt extremely dumb.
"Yeah, I'm study law."
"Ha, that fun?"
"Not really, but I want to get a stable career so I can make money."
"Money can't make you happy."
"You're obviously spending your money on the wrong things." He joked and we both laughed. After breaking the ice, conversation between me and him seemed like it would never end. We talked and laughed and by the time we got to the fight, I didn't even want to get out.
The fight was at some old abandoned school that had been remodeled. Cars were parked all in the football field and through the already built school parking lot. There was several cars also parked all the way down the street. The whole thing seemed very open for it to be an underground, illegal fight. There were strobe lights and music playing and some people even tailgating.
Ezekiel supported me as I climbed out of the car with my heels on. Chloe snatched my arm away from him and he put his hand up in a playful surrender. Des and Ezekiel walked ahead while Chloe and I walked behind them.
"Ezekiel?" She raised an eyebrow at me and I smirked.
"He's hot and nice, what more could you ask for?"
"Whatever, I still ship Noby."
"Ha, there is and never will be a Noby. Toby is just like an annoying playmate, we have some laughs, but it's nothing serious."
"Whatever Nat."
Chloe dragged me up to where the guys were walking and latched hands with Des. I could feel Ezekiel's hands grazing mine and I decided to put him out of his misery by grabbing his warm fingers. It was a completely innocent hand hold and I turned to look up at his smiling face to make sure he wasn't getting the wrong idea. He was a good guy that I would like to get to know better, but he was in college and that meant he could be close to twenty years old.
He smiled at me in a reassuring smile and I put my worried behind me for the night. It wasn't like I was fucking the guy. We walked into the school to be confronted with loud music and strobe lights. I held Ezekiel's hands tighter to make sure I didn't get lost in the crowd. We finally made it to the gym where the fight was being held and found a couple of seats.
Des and Chloe sat in the corner making out with each other and Ezekiel and I sat awkwardly in between them and another couple being extremely passionate.
"So, hold are you?" I questioned.
"Eighteen, I'm about to turn nineteen."
He smiled which caused me to smile like a domino affect.
"Hold old are you?"
"Seventeen, turning eighteen in a few months."
"Aw, am I invited to your party?" He questioned with a fake pout. I laughed and nodded my head.
"But only if I'm invited to yours."
"Of course."
He squeezed my hand and I felt warm all over. He drew small circles on my hand with his thumb and it tickled slightly. A man in a tuxedo walked out to begin introducing the fighters and I yawned. I blinked my eyes to keep them open, but I hoped that would get to the action soon.
I wiped my eyes to keep them open and saw Toby and his opponent walk out. Toby looked to be the bigger of the two because the boy was so thin looking. I secretly felt bad that they had put such a small boy against lean Toby. But I was wrong.
Toby got his ass handed to him in the first round, but came back with a knock out and won the match. Ezekiel moved his shoulder a bit to wake me up even though I wasn't all the way sleeping and I hadn't even noticed I was laying on his shoulder. We all exited and climbed back into Des' car.
"Everyone up for going to the after party?" Des asked and it was mutual decision to go. We drove there in silence, but Ezekiel had some how regained my hand in his and it made me smile. I wanted to see where this was heading and hopefully it was heading somewhere good.
We got out at the party and was greeted with more loud music and alcohol. There was several red cups thrown across the lawn and the inside was no better. I pretended to be drinking a cup of beer Ezekiel handed me, but I was beginning to think coming here was a bad idea. Ezekiel got up to get something to eat and not long after he left Toby replaced his seat.
"Who's he?" Toby questioned and pointed a finger at Ezekiel.
"You jealous?" I tried with a smirk, but Toby wasn't laughing and that was new.
"I don't like the way he was looking at you. Nat he's drunken and he's older than you, watch out."
"First off, he's not drunken and secondly I don't have to listen to you dad."
"Natalie please, I know I joke around a lot, but I'm serious now. I know the college types. They love getting high school girls to fall heads over heels for them and they take advantage of them. Please be careful Nat."
Toby's eyes were pleading with me and I nodded silently. His famous smirk then reappeared and he draped his arm over my shoulder.
"Move Toby." I stated simply and he pulled his shirt sleeve up to reveal a scar across his bicep.
"Kiss it and make it better."
"Hell no."
"Please, it hurts like hell."
"I'm not kissing your sweaty bicep."
He pouted out his thick bottom lip and gave me an adorable puppy dog face. He began sniffling as if he was about to cry and I kissed two fingers and placed it against his skin. He smiled and ran off. I grimaced and made myself comfortable on the chair.
Toby was right. One minute Ezekiel was getting food and the next he was being led upstairs by some bleached blonde. I held back every curse word I had for him since we weren't exclusive and folded my arms. And on top of that the DJ decided to play a slow song. I was the only one sitting as couples began dancing in individual corners.
I closed my eyes and forced back some tears. I wasn't going to cry over not having a man, I am a strong black woman. But damn it wouldn't hurt if I did. I felt a tap on my knee and looked up to see Toby. I blinked my tears away and looked up at him.
"I'm only asking you to dance because you cry ugly." He teased and held out his hand. I took it and he pulled me up gently from the couch and into his chest. He rocked us from side to side slowly as he buried his head in my neck and I buried mine in his chest.
"I still hate you." I mumbled softly and he laughed against my shoulder blade.
"I know. I still just wanna fuck you."
"But why? You can fuck any girl you want. Why me?"
"Games get boring if they aren't challenging." He responded and I closed my eyes and gripped the back of his shirt.
"I really hate you Toby." I said as tears spilled on to his navy shirt. He didn't say anything, he didn't even look up, he just rubbed me back in a soothing manner.
Author's Note
So Noby or nah? I need a really good ship name for Toby and Nat and may I just remark on how cute they are in this chapter. Like I'm good, but I Didn't know I was that good. I'm kidding, but be sure to tell me what you think and leave a vote and comment. Thank you.