I spent the rest of that Friday at Asad's grandmother's place. When she came back home, we watched a drama together and we talked which eventually led me to telling her about Quann. And then, I heard sounds like people talking and giggling. It came from the entrance so I discreetly made my way towards it. And I saw it. I saw them. Asad and Tanisha. His back was against the wall and her arms were around his waist.
"Am I disturbing ?" They glanced at me then at each other for a few seconds before moving away from each other. Well Tanisha was really the one who got flustered and pushed herself off Asad. His eyes looked down but his lips rose up.
"No. No, why would you be disturbing ?" She chuckled dryly. She pretended to fix her hair as she looked at herself in the mirror while mumbling something to herself. "How'd you get here or how long have you been here ? Is jida here ?"
I raised a brow. "I got here by plane. I've been here since the house was founded and yes, jida is here. We've been talking about the economical state of the world."
They were both eyeing me while wrinkling their nose. "Please stop." spoke Asad. "You're so far from funny."
I thought it was funny
"Whatever. Are we going to the house ?" I asked, changing the subject. They looked at each other once more. Pensive as if it took a whole committee to figure it out. "Y'all have to drive me back either way."
"Get your damn license..." Asad opened the door and left the house.
"I'll go tell jida that we're coming back later." Sha passed by me and went to the living room. I smirked, feeling successful and got into Asad's car.
We hung out at the mansion with Nate, Izzy and Kyle and they left at around 9p.m.
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It was almost midnight. Aneesa was still at Dave's house. She texted me and said she'd be home late and that Dave would drive her back. I still hadn't told her about yesterday and I still wasn't sure if I wanted her to know. I was in my bed, in sport shorts and an oversized sweatshirt I found at the crib. It belonged to Kelvin. I laid, thinking mostly about Quann and as much as I tried to fight it, I became teary.
"Tamika ?"
I flipped myself around and there was Xavier, standing in front of me. "Xav what the fuck ! How'd you get in here ?" I scream and throw a pillow at him which he easily ducks. "Give it back." He chuckles as he picks up the cushion and hands it back to me.
"I own this place, remember ?" he grinned. I sat up. "Aneesa isn't here."
"I know, Dave told me." He neared himself to the bed. "I came here for you though."
"What..."
"Let's go, I'm taking you out–"
"I'm not going out with you." I interrupt. "Why the fuck would I ?"
"It's not a date, don't worry. I'm taking you out to see the crib." He walked out the room and I followed.
"It's done already ?" I asked as I put on my pair of sneakers. He opens the entrance door, I walk through and he follows.
"No but there are some changes. C'mon, let's go see."
"Where are we going ?" I ask, as I see him driving in another direction.
"Let's go somewhere first." He said, eyes still glued on the road.
"You said it wouldn't be a date."
"It's not a date, Mika." He pulls up in front of a convenience store. "I'm thirsty so, I'm buying something to drink " He gets out of the car and walks into the store. Around 5 minutes later he comes back out with a pack of beer. He drops it in the backseat before getting back in his seat.
He drives us to the crib. I get out of the car and open the gates. I stare at the house, at its emptiness. There was never one day that it had spent alone. Usually it smelled like smoke but now there was a heavy odor of wood. Suddenly I feel a hand lay on my shoulder. "Let's go in."
I looked down and Xavier was holding the pack of beer in one hand. I took out two cans, handed him one and we started walking while we drank.
"The extension has a rooftop." He says before taking another chug. I raise my eyebrows, faking interest. To be real with it, I did find it interesting but I didn't want him to be aware. I chug down my can and pick up another one.
"You still haven't told me where you got all that green."
"My parents." he said stiffly.
"They just gave you all that cash without asking ?"
"I stole it. They don't know about it. It's not like they'll notice..."
"Why would you steal from your parents ?" I ask as we go up the new build stairs that lead to the rooftop.
"Careful–" He said, seeing me stumble on a step. "It used to be just my sister, my mother, my father and I." He went on. "When my father died, my mother quickly moved on and married another man. My stepfather doesn't really see me as his son, he doesn't even try to so I stopped trying to as well. My mother sees it differently. She thinks I'm not trying enough"
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"You wouldn't understand."
Clearly
Xav and I sit down on the roof. We drink in silence as we admire the horizon. "You're a mess." He breaks the quietness with his words.
"I'm not a mess, white boy."
"I can tell you've been crying." I don't answer and take another chug out of my can. I feel his face looking in my direction but I stay indifferent. "You're in my head...Even, even when you're not supposed to." I turn my head and stare at him in pure confusion. "I know you're not over Shawn but-"
I rolled my eyes and cut him off. "You really don't know shit, white boy." In that same instant he puts his hand on my cheekbone.
"Prove me wrong, Tamika." And he leans in, so gently. It must've been the drink because there's no way I would've let that happen. Even worse, I kissed him back. I couldn't stop, our lips became like magnets, attracted to each other.
"Let's date.." whispers Xav in the middle of a kiss.
Let's date ? Let's date !?
I barely like him. How can I date him ? "You must be drunk..." I replied, stopping us from kissing any further. In reality I was the one feeling tipsy. I clumsily stood up then he grabbed my wrist and made me face him.
"I'm not, Tamika. I'm serious. I want you and I to be together..."
"Dude..."
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I don't know how he got me down the rooftop but he did and he drove me home. I stumbled my way up the staircases and dropped on my bed. I thought of the kiss all night. I even thought of the possibility of there being an "us". I kept on twirling around in my bed. You were drunk. You were drunk. You don't like him. I don't like him. I don't like him ? Do I like him ? I mean he is a good kisser.
"Shit." I said out loud. My face was facing the ceiling as I sighed deeply. Since when does love get me thinking like that? The fact that I even considered it as love was a factor I didn't like.
"Titi ?"
"Neesa?"
"Where were you ?"
"Out."
"Exactly. Get the fuck out your bed and wash that face of yours. And put on new pajamas while you're at it. Goodnight."
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