"Remember that time we went to go see Avril Lavigne? And got grounded for a whole month?" He asked gazing at  me with flecks of gold flashing across his eyes.

"I remember you hated Avril Lavigne, but you still came even though you knew we would get in trouble" I smirked reposing my chin on my hands, he was perched on his side, utilizing his elbow to hold himself up at the base of the bed.

"Still hate her, I still didn't understand your goth phase, and yes because" he paused, looking down at his hand, I gave him a puzzled look.

"I didn't have a goth phase, I'm half Latina you douche" I grumbled poking his tummy with my big toe.

"Alex, you dyed your hair black, wore green contacts everyday, and goth attire, that shit went on for a whole year" he pointed.

"That's not the point, and answer my question, why did you still go with me?" I pressed eyeing him, he eyed me then away, his dark eyes smoldered by his unintentionally arrogant demeanor.

"As I was saying-" Jamal commenced to speak, but I interrupted him.

"Because you were hopelessly in love with me, and I made you promise to not let me go alone" I chirped with a wide grin.

He eyed me, humor curled his cheeks, A chuckle eluded his pursed lips.

"Maybe, or because I felt the need to protect you, you were still 15 I was doing my second term at Brathwaite" his eyes perforating through me making me laugh out.

"I don't need protection, I plan to be swooped off into the night by a vampire prince who will then make love to me in the silver lake under the moonlight" I chirped in an animated voice.

"Then I'll have to come keep you from getting your jugular ripped out" he grunted looking away.

"My knight in shining armor" I drawled mordaciously.

"And you call me crazy" he added, rising off the bed prehending his bag.

"Oh come on, we were vibing, crazy to crazy" I mumbled attempting to obnubilate my laugh, he smiled but it was gone in a second and superseded by a vexed frown making him look down at his feet for about five seconds, then looked to his left determinately settling his gaze on me, he had that look he gave me the first time he heard me sing.

"And I remember distinctively that it was your mother who called my mom" He shot at me smirking.

"She told her in Spanish" I nodded remembering the event like it was yesterday, oh the days.

"Hey how comes your mother speaks Spanish so well, but you can't?" I asked with a wide grin hoping he would somehow get defensive.

"Your Impudent" he offered flatly.

"Cullo perra" I muttered in my native tongue, he just eyed me flatly as if he was judging me at that very moment, but then he smiled at me and I returned it albeit I definitely wanted, no needed to punch his lights out.

"I missed you Alex, literally, we haven't seen each other in virtually five whole years, shit is crazy" he mumbled looking down at me with a frustrated mope.

"Ok Jamal, I missed you too you big man baby but your dreams are coming through right now at Christian Tech and your making partner, sounds like an achievement to me" I smiled up at him as he eyed me then he let out a long sigh, he knew I was right but I knew how he felt so I just perpetuated.

"You've been diligent, I was in college and it was a lot but we're becoming responsible adults like we promised each other, to always be on top and make our parents proud, even if it signifies we get separated for a few lousy years your still going to be my best friend" I voiced rising up standing on my knees up to him, fixing his tie.

"Yeah, but I know nothing has changed between us, but it was so much better when you weren't halfway across the world" he grumbled eyeing me shrugging, I nodded.

"I know but I'm here now" I coaxed giving him a reassuring smile.

"You could have gone to upstate though, just saying" he blurted out all of a sudden, my smile drooped in a nanosecond and I glared at him.

"Your an asshole, and Lille Nord de France was my best choice for my adeptness, but guess who landed a job at D'Wayne Tech?" I scoffed but closed my eyes awaiting his reaction.

"Are you pulling my dick?" He asked with raised brows, I just scoffed brushing him off.

"Your unbelievable" I scoffed but smirked at him, he raised and eyebrow and dressed back.

"But, been there done that" I announced pointedly as his face contorted into mock mystification, I laughed out loud pointing at his expression.

"Are you flirting with me?" He asked with a wide smirk.

"Dude, no" I furrowed my eyebrows at him questioningly but I turned me head to the door

"Mom!" I yelled the loudest I could, in less than fifteen seconds my mom was opening the door to my old room poking her head inside and again she sported that ghastly blue beanie she always wore while she was in the kitchen, I cogitated if she deliberately evaded buying hair nets because her one excuse is still notorious around the house, they shrink her hair when the kitchen gets hot, I was veraciously not buying that story but who was I to try and make my dear old mother part with that oven mitt in the composition? 

"What? make it fast, Aden is making a mess in the bathroom, and unless you want a flash flood, this better be good, because you'll be cleaning the whole thing up" she verbally expressed rigorously as she fine-tuned her firy green eyes that were fixed on both me and Jamal who cringed as she glared daggers at me as if she was more agitated than every mother.

"That's not fair-" I started to say but a crash could be heard in the bathroom further down the hall.

"Adén, consigue su culo blanco en ese cuarto de baño , Now!" my mom's accent cut in making my eyes widen at her telling my 8 year old brother to get his white ass in the bathtub, I silently thanked God I wasn't Adén at the moment and also praying for the kids culo blanco.

"Tell Jamal I got that D'Wayne Tech Job, he doesn't believe" I mumbled frowning at Jamal, who gave me that coy look again

"Yes, He did now is that all?" Mom asked again, eyeing us both.

"Si, gracias Mrs. Ford" she smacked her teeth and was gone.

"Remind me why I still come over to your house while your mother is around" He asked smirking at me.

"I heard that!" my mother shouted from down the hall making our eyes widen again, I tried my hardest not to laugh but then he had to open his mouth.

"Joe sento, señorita, I mean Snora? " that was it, my stomach was cramping as I laughed like a hyena in the Congo, it took me a whole minute to calm down after my mother muttered something unintelligibly around the corner, it was just exorbitant to not laugh.

"Remind me why you still try to speak Spanish? And she's not that deplorable, but she's still my mom boy, abort" I argued pointing a finger at him.

"Yeah, she's Latino, todo fuego, y loca, muy loca" he argued but conclusively virtually got that whole phrase right, key word almost. 

"Very funny ass-wipe now congratulate me" I laughed jumping on his back swiftly.

"Congrats Tut" he smiled holding my leg so I wouldn't fall.

"That name" I groaned pushing off his back and taking a seat on the bed  flopping down, my curly hair a mess on my old peach sheets.

"Sensitive, are you coming to my place or are you planning to stay here?" He asked although he knew what my answer was but in lieu of answering I eyed him blankly.

"Is that even a question worth asking dude?" I suctioned my teeth.

"Ok, let's bounce before your mother makes us clean your brother's bathroom" he added with a marginal shudder making me chuckle shaking my head, he grabbed my suitcase and we left. Of course I had to tell my mom we were departing, or she would have been such a mom.