Too Close To Broken

Getting to know

Jess, I got to go to work," Bo says, putting his clothes back on.
You finna leave? I say, rubbing my eyes.

"Yeah. I'll text you. Love you," he says, kissing my forehead.
Love you too.

"Stay out of trouble too."
I will.

Around like 12:00, I put on some clothes and take a shower. Then grab my keys to meet Trey, Khalil, and Tim at the shopping mall.

"Jessica," Khalil says with a high-pitched voice.
Hey, baby.

"What your mama say when you came in?"
She was being extra, talking about I'm on punishment. Like yeah, you never there anyways.

"Hey," Tim says, coming in for a hug.
Hi, Tim.

"Oh my God, there's Aron again, huh." Khalil continues to blush.
Girl, go speak.

"No, I can't," she says nervously.
"Hey, Jessica," Trey says, walking over.

Hi, Trey.
"Do I have permission to hug you?"

Yess. Stop being awkward. Come in H&M with me, I say, grabbing his hand.
"Alright."

Guess who I talked to last night?
"Who?"

Your brother, I say with excitement.
"Buddy?" Trey says with a questionable look.

Yes.
"How you talk to him?"

Bo.
"Awe, he came over or something."

I run into someone as soon as I was going to speak.

Yeah, I'm sorry, I say, picking up what fell out of his hands.
"No, it was my fault."

"I'ma be over here," Trey says, walking away quickly.
Trey, I scream under my breath nervously.

"I'm Aron. I think I seen you before."
I know. I'm Jess. You probably seen me around school before.

"Probably."
My friend actually likes you.

"Haha, I know, but I like you..."
Why? You don't even know me, I say awkwardly.

"Because I can see something you don't," he says, smiling.
Okay, I say, brushing that whack line off.

"I'm for real."
Maybe I'll run into you again.

"I hope so, and give your friend my number."
Okay, I say, grabbing the piece of paper.

"You done?" Trey says, walking back over.
Yep. He gave me his number to give to Khalil. I can't believe you just ditched me like that.

"I actually want this shirt I saw, so I'ma meet you out."
Okay. Khalil, I say, walking over to her.

"What?"
Here, Aron gave me his number to give to you.

"What!?" she says, surprised.
Yeah, I know. Don't say I don't love you.

"Jessie, Jess," Derrion says, walking over to me.
De?

"How you been?"
Good.

"We was about to get something to eat. You wanna go?"
Umm, I was with—

"Go, I'm fine. I got Trey."
You sure? I say, trying to get out of it.

"Yeah, go," Khalil said, tilting her head toward the store.
"Come on," De says, jerking his head to the food court.

I actually missed you.
"It's been a while. You still mess with Bo?"

Yeah.
"Mm," he says, kinda down.

What, you want me to stop talking to him?
"No, I'm not going to do you like that."

I know you still want to be with me.
"I ain't gonna lie, I kinda do, and you looking really pretty today."

Thanks.
"What you doing tonight?"

Nothing. Why? You want to come over?
"Yeah, so we can catch up."

"Hey, De," a girl says, walking past, giving him sexy eyes.
"Hey, what's up," he says, waving, with his arm still wrapped around me.

Who's that?
"A girl I used to talk to."

I didn't want to bring it up, but um, who did you get pregnant?
"Nobody," he says with a straight face.

Don't lie to me.
"Long time ago."

Were we together then?
"Maybe."

Oh, okay, I say, walking away.
"No, come here." He turns around and grabs me.

No, and you wonder why I left you.
"Come here." He pulls me closer.

No.
"Jessica."

De.
"You know I'm sorry."

Mmhm.
"Come here."

Can we get Panda Suki? I say, pointing at the stand.
"Yeah, come on."