During yet another very dry and bleak holiday season, Simone Evans, a high school English teacher, finds herself in the most unlikely friendship with Jordan Jackson- an ex con.
**Mature Content**
More mature chapters will be marked with a (⚠︎︎) bef...
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"At least go in and say hi so you can't say you never tried," Simone said through the phone.
Jordan was sitting in his rental car outside of the lounge, trying to find the courage to actually go inside.
"I'm nervous Simone," he admitted. "There's hella cars in the parking lot. It's probably too many people in there. It's probably hella loud too."
His anxiety had been higher than usual all day leading up to this moment. Post-release depression and anxiety are very common in individuals who have just gotten out of jail/prison, and Jordan is definitely struggling with it.
"I know you're nervous Jordan," she said in a very soft voice. "But I know you can do this. Even if it's going in and saying 'I just wanted to stop by and say hey' at least you did it at all."
"I feel like I'ma throw up... but okay," he reached to undo his seatbelt and then took the key out of the car. "I'll talk to you later baby."
"Okay. Call me later cause I wanna know how it went."
"I will," he agreed, even though he would have done that either way.
"Jordan, my man," Samar pulled him in and patted him on the back a couple times before pulling away from the hug. "Man, I'm surprised you actually came."
"I wasn't going to," Jordan was very honest, because what's the point of lying? "I was bout to text you and cancel if my girl ain't convince me to still come."
"Nigga you ain't got no girl. Stop the cap," Samar exaggerated his laugh, proving how much he didn't believe him.
"Okay," he simply responded, not about to explain his situation with Simone to a man he barely considers a friend. "And why so many people in here? You said shit was supposed to be chill."
"It's my cousin's birthday," he wrapped his arm around Jordan and brought him over to the bar.
"You ain't say this was a party," Jordan was starting to get even more anxious now. "You just said you and a couple niggas was hanging out."
"I knew you wouldn't come if I said it was a party."
"And you're right, it's too many damn people in here. I should go—"
"Chill out man. Have a drink or two. Relax."
"I don't drink," he shook his head.
That's not exactly true, but he absolutely was not about to drink there. He wasn't about to drink in an already uncomfortable situation around a bunch of people he doesn't know.
"You smoke hookah?"
"No."
"Damn, so what do you do then?"
"Eat."
Samar laughed at that, even though Jordan was being serious in his answer.
"Come on man," he kept laughing, putting his arm back around Jordan's shoulder— a gesture he did not like at all, but let it slide for the time being. "Let me introduce you to some people."
