Thunder and Lightning

Chapter 6: Plans

The next day in class she sat toward the back to take notes.Class had fully started and Badru did not come. Both a sinking and relieved feeling hit her chest, her anxiousness subsided. The professor pronounced to the class "Today, lab is on your own. Spend the time with your groups and be prepared to present a status update on Tuesday".

Nzinga spent most of that Friday in the library finishing up her homework from the week and getting a head start on the project. She checked out several books covering gentrification, urban revitalization and picked up Ta-nehisi Coates book covering the period of Obama's administration. She walked out the library late that evening and ran into Haley, her sorority sister.

"Hey Nzinga! Are we meeting for drinks on Saturday?" Nzinga admired the innocence and sweetness of , her aura was always yellow, her smile bright in perfect contrast to her warm tanned skin. "Yeah! Meet up on U street around 11!" Nzinga responded before walking home.

After a quick shower, she slipped on her favorite robe, tied her hair up and ordered Chinese food. Her phone buzzed..."What's up Kitt?" she answered. The sisters rambled on until Nzinga heard the doorbell ring. "Hold on Kitt.." Nzinga said while walking to the door and opening it. A young teenager stood there taking on a blush and stammering "that will be $16.27." His eyes had a gleam of admiration - the slightly pink aura around him tickled Nzinga. She leaned forward to hand him a twenty,

"Keep the change" She gently grabbed the bag making sure to touch his hand to ease his nerves at the sight of her. He walked away and she closed door walking back to her room.

"Did you lock the door?" Kitt asked knowingly.

"Damn." Nzinga responded frustratedly. She had already made it back to her room.

"Don't worry, I got it" Kitt's presence materialized forming a hologram type effect of her being in Nzinga's presence. With the physical power Kitt could manifest in that form, she closed the door and then faded back to herself and continued the conversation on the phone.

"How do you do it?" Nzinga paused as Kitt resettled.

"How do I do what?" Kitt responded

"How are you around so many people and not affected by their energies? Are you not tempted, to descend to their levels? People can be so superficial"

"Nope, good vibes only. Bad juju gives me gas."

"Bish, I'm so over you!" the sisters laughed.

"So this guy is.... I don't know what to make of him. We are supposed to meet up for a class project Saturday." Nzinga continued.

"You going?"

"Nah. I'll sleep in and call him tomorrow."

"Or you could text him to confirm..."Kitt murmured with a smile Nzinga could hear through the phone.

"Or nah" they both chuckled then hung up the phone.

After a morning of reading, tea and meditation she jumped in the shower to head to lunch and run some errands. She smoothed oil on her skin then heard a knock and the doorbell at once screaming for attention. She sheathed on her robe, walked to the front door and peeped through the hole.

Damnnnnnn.....

She opened the door to see Badru standing there with a grin. "Hi" she offered in an embarrassed tone of apology. He didn't respond with words creating an awkward silence as he stared at her. She opened the door wider as to let him walk. "Let me brush my teeth. You can sit in the living room" she commented before she walked off to her bathroom in the bedroom.

Nzinga finished in the bathroom and walked back to her bedroom and saw him standing there. In her room. In her room. Startled she declared " this isn't the living room" his hand let loose her lost scarf, it fluttered and landed on the bed.

"Thanks... I...umm.. Need to change if you can give me a second" did I just overreact? She asked herself.

"It's fine, I won't be here for long. Just wanted to follow up from Thursday. You didn't come this morning." He seemed unfazed by her question.

"I didn't think we were still partners..." She grew more uncomfortable and fidgeted with her braids, then stopped at the realization of her childlike behavior.

"There aren't any other partners. It is only you and I." his voice boomed and warmed the room. His choice of words perplexed Nzinga, that strange cadence returned and didn't match anything about him. The words were like an ancient pronouncement, and the confidence in the tone caused goosebumps to flare across her skin. The ties of her robe slipped revealing the bare skin between her breasts. His eyes widened and lip curled. She pulled the robe tighter.

"I-I really need a second" at this second request he walked out and sat on the couch. She came out later wearing black tights, chucks and a fleece sweater. " Here are my notes from class"

He looked at them, "No thanks".

"Fine... We owe a presentation next Tuesday. I've researched a couple things and started sketching the outline." her response laced with an attitude.

He pulled out his leather planner and pen and scribbled the due date on his calendar. "What time will you be done with your errands?" That tone returned.

Her eyes twinkled, her magic flared then quieted at her insistence. Something in her told her to not be sarcastic or ignore the question. "Ill be back 6"

"I'll be back here at 8." No question, just a statement meant to be taken seriously from him. Not even sarcasm shone in his eyes.

"I have plans tonight" As soon as she said the words she knew she was going to cancel on her friends. She always did preferring the quiet to the rambunctiousness of the club scene. She lowered her head as she realized the lack of commitment in her voice was clear to even Badru.

Not responding to her statement but rather her body's reaction, he stood up, left his backpack on the side of the couch and strode confidently out door without a look back.

Stunned, she went back to her room after the door closed. Not knowing what else to say, she put on earrings, lip gloss and grabbed her bag and planner then left for her day.

Nzinga went to her favorite cafe and grabbed a green tea and croissant. She winked at the young boy at the counter with a pink and yellow aura. Nzinga knew he had a small crush on her, but he was even more enamored with the other young barista at the opposite register. Her magic did this to everyone.

After her first stop, Nzinga met with her sorority sisters for a planning meeting to organize a forum on police brutality. Per usual, the meeting started late and ran way too long. Nzinga stared at her watch as Haley repeated her point for the third time.

"You distracted Nzinga?" Haley inquired.

"Yeah, I need to do a couple of things" Nzinga answered as she pulled out her planner.

"That is the most beautiful scrapbook I've ever seen" Haley laughed.

Chuckling "I have to do two more errands then I have a study group. Speaking of, I need to cancel tonight."

"As always. You need to get out! It's our last year."

"I know, let's shoot for something next week. I have a presentation due Tuesday and it's the only time i have to get the work done."

"I don't see a sticker for that in your planner"

"I know, he confirmed today."

"He? Well, I would ditch us too."

"Whatever! I'll see you guys later."