C R E S C E N T

act viii - lapis lazuli

"Thankfully a bitch didn't get grounded!" Sameer says, closing his locker before they start heading to lunch. He swings his Peppa Pig (purchased to honor one of thee most regal queens of shade) backpack around and slides his arm through the empty hoop.

Darius nods his head in agreement. "What did they say?"

"They told me it was my last time," Sameer laughs.

"Lowkey I'm surprised this is the first time they said that, you know you like to be late to things."

Sameer huffs at his best friend. "Girl! I don't like to be late, it just... happens... sometimes. I be ready to go but then I forget my wallet or forget my phone or something. Plus, I'm too busy to be getting grounded, I got shit to do chile."

Darius laughs at 'sometimes' because to him and 100% of the rest of the population, it feels like all the time. "Oh yeah, like tending to your new friends?"

"I don't like the way you said that." Sameer replies, cutting his eyes at Darius.

"What? They just seem like they kinda came outta nowhere. Them and this lil boyfriend of yours. You said the fair was nice when I texted you."

"I mean of course they came out of nowhere, that's how friendships begin. I didn't write it in my schedule to meet people I've never met before. I don't even have a schedule. And Tyler is not my boyfriend."

"You want him to be though." Darius teases. "And don't be a smart ass."

Sameer swats at his arm but he's also trying not to grin too wide at the Tyler comment. "You was being a smart ass first, talking about my friends like that. I was just keeping that same energy."

Darius rolls his eyes.

"How is Neymar?" Sameer asks.

"He's good, better. I'm still worried about whatever it is that happened that night, but he keeps telling me not to worry about it like he doesn't think I'm going to worry about it anyway." Darius looks at his phone, going through his text messages with Neymar for a moment before switching over to his Instagram feed and checking that too.

"I hope he isn't hiding anything that's like... big and health related from you." Sameer replies, eyes cornering for a moment while Darius goes through his phone. He takes a mental deep breath and tries to change his approach. "Either way, the best thing I think you can do is enjoy your company with him for now."

Darius shifts his gaze to Sameer, eyes soft right before he smiles. "Speaking of enjoying company, I was thinking: double date."

"With who?" Sameer asks, trying to be unassuming.

"Me and Neymar with you and Tyler. I mean, my first thought was the carnival, but since y'all two just up and decided to go ahead without us, what about the movies or something?"

"Girl!" Sameer's tone is sharply incredulous, but upon thinking about it, he actually doesn't think it's a badidea. It would be great to hang out with Darius, and if he's going to start giving Neymar more of a chance he might as well start making an attempt to see him more often. Plus, Tyler. "Y'know what? That sounds like a great idea. Lemme text Tyl--wait girl what? What do I say?"

"Always start with a 'hey, what are you doing?'" Darius suggests as Sameer pulls out his phone.

"I can't say that, it sounds so basic." Sameer frowns at the open, empty thread between himself and Tyler. "That's like dooming our first text conversation ever to be boring as fuck."

"Well, girl, you asked me what to say!" Darius pointedly widens his eyes at him. They stand in line for food, leaning against the brick wall that lines the cafeteria.