Someone Like You

Chapter 43

Zeniyah

I roll over, looking at the time and jumping up when I see almost 10:30 am. Wincing at the pain in my thighs I slowly climb out of the bed careful not to wake Giovanni. I completely forgot I was supposed to go shopping with Malik today. I shower and change before dressing in a grey sweatshirt with a collar and black jeans. I slip on my white Airforces and a gold chain before grabbing my purse and rushing down the stairs. 

I grab the keys to the Tesla and head to the garage. Malik always had a thing for cars so I couldn't wait for him to see all the ones in here. I make a quick stop at the bank and transfer about 6k into an empty card for Malik to use, before driving to my place. I park and walk head into the building. When I walk into my apartment expecting to see Malik awake but the place was dead silent. 

"Malik?" I call out walking to the guest room he was sleeping in. I find it empty making me panic slightly. 

"Malik?!" I call out again and walk into my room I see him sitting up rubbing his eyes, I raise my brows seeing him on the floor. 

"God you scared me, I thought you left," I say to him sitting on my bed

"Now why would I do that," he says yawning and stretching 

"Nevermind that hurry up and get ready I'll be in the living room, I have some bigger clothes in the bottom drawer," I say pointing to my dresser before getting up and walking out. 

I head to the kitchen looking around, it's so crazy how I'm barely ever here anymore I think to myself. I sit on the couch switching on the TV, I settle on Modern Family and begin watching. While waiting I make a list on my phone of the places we need to go to because I know I'll forget something if I don't write it. 

Malik walks out after a while, wearing black sweatpants, a white T-shirt, and a gold chain with his Airforces. 

"Niyah where'd you get this chain?" he asks me

"It's yours," I say not turning off the TV and grabbing my purse, "I kept a lot of your stuff and Zebadiyah's too, I'll show you where to find it later," 

We head downstairs and climb into the car, "DAMNNNN whose car?" Malik says excitedly.

"It's Giovanni's," I say smiling as he inspects it before climbing in. I start the car and begin driving to the mall. We get there and park hopping out, the first stop we go get him a phone and a plan, I show him how to use it and help him make his socials while we walk around. We stop at Footlocker and champs next and get him 3 sneakers and a pair of Timbs. Next, we get him Lacostes, hoodies, jeans, boxers, and hats. 

Next, we stop at Walmart to get wife-beaters, white tees, and socks because he refuses to buy those anywhere else. When we leave Walmart I feel a headache coming on from the lack of sleep, I see an ice cream truck in a park and I stop the car parking it. We walk over and get vanilla cones before sitting on a bench. 

"Malik," I say getting his attention and he hums responding 

"Why'd you want to stay at my plate last night? I mean I have an idea but I don't want to assume." I say 

"I want to hear your theory," he says laughing

"Your insomnia?" I ask looking at him seriously

"Kinda," he answers

"Explain please," I encourage 

"Remember back at home, I used to always take the bottom bunk and let Zeb sleep on top, so when I got to the cell it was the same, it was the only way I could sleep. On the nights where I'd be moved to another cell with a single bed, I'd lay awake for nights not knowing how to sleep, I had to sleep on the floor to feel comfortable. I didn't want your bougie friends and boyfriend to judge me," he says looking everywhere but me

"M, why didn't you tell me, I was worried about you I thought something was wrong, it's ok if that's how you feel comfortable no one would judge you I promise, trust me the Russo's are far from bougie, do whatever makes you feel comfortable ok?" I say to him and he nods. 

"Malik, did anyone hurt you when you were locked up?" I ask him

"Nah I was good I knew some people so it was ok," he says shrugging

"You can talk to me about your feelings, Malik," I say to him 

"Nah fuck that," he says laughing 

"Excuse me!" I say raising my voice making him look at me, "Malik we're not going this, do you understand me, who else are you going to talk to if not me, you're not MS with me you're Malik my brother, the one I used to lay with at night when you couldn't sleep, the one who taught me to fight, I'm not going to lose you because you're too stubborn to express yourself so if you're going to be a stone-cold wall, leave, go back to Toronto," I say with tears in my eyes

"I'm sorry, ok. It's just I haven't had anyone for a while," he says also tearing up. I pull him into a hug and we stay there for a while. 

"It's me and you now," I say into his shoulder. After a while, we get up heading  back to the car, 

"Where to now?" he says as I start up the engine

"We need to go pick up a cake," I say to him

"Oh yeah you never explained to me why we didn't eat cake yesterday," he says playing the radio

"The Russo's celebrate birthday weeks instead of single days, so the first day is the typical birthday, the second day is cake day, the third is gift day and I forgot the last two," I say looking at him, I burst out laughing as he looks at me like I'm insane. 

"I know sounds crazy right, but it's amazing," I smile. We get to the grocery store and begin walking around with a cart, "If you're going to be staying at my place I need to get you food so grab some stuff," I say to him and hand him the card I emptied out for him. 

"What's this?" he asks looking at it 

"A debit card," I say in a duh tone

"Niyah I know what a debit card is, why are you giving it to me?" he says rolling his eyes

"So you can survive for now and also shop online for the club," I say to him and he sighs hugging me

"I owe you Niyah, I promise I'll pay you back," he says placing things in his cart

"No, you don't Malik when mommy died and we barely had money you were the one who made sure me and Zeb had all the shoes and clothes we wanted for school," I say remembering everything he sacrificed for us

"I'm going to call uncle tonight and make the proposal for the club," he says 

"He'll be happy to pass it on to you," I say smiling. I stand by the bakery section while Malik walks off to grab more groceries. I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket and I pull it out to see a message from Giovanni, 

Lady, I am not a one-night stand I'm your husband 

I blush then text him saying I'm on my way home. I grab the cake and meet back up with Malik, we pull up to the Russo house and head inside. I'm attacked in a hug immediately by Giovanni, "I miss you so much," he says and I laugh at his childishness. He puts me down and claps hands with Malik pulling him into a bro hug. 

"Your whip man, that shit is a beauty," Malik says and I walk away from them into the kitchen.

"Niyahhhhhh," Alex says hugging me, "Alexxxxx," I say back putting down the cake. 

"Sooo is your brother single?" Alex says making me freeze