Stone's Diary: Kairo

Chapter 76.) Suited and Booted? pt. 2

"Baby girl?" Lucky called, knocking on the door to Ava's home studio after hearing something fall. It was a day after the courthouse incident but Ava was not privy to what took place as of yet.

"I'm ok!" she replied then huffed.

Chuckling, Lucky opened the door just to see her trying to hang up a portrait twice her size. "Mean-ass, why you ain't just call me?" he entered the room and lifted the portrait before she could tilt over.

"I had it... sort of," she frowned, picking up the markers she knocked over.

"What are you working on? Every time I turn around, you in here rearranging things," he chuckled, hanging the portrait above the table.

"Blame pinterest," she giggled, "Every time I see something cute, I gotta try for myself."

"You liked to get smooshed, lil self," he cracked.

"Ha-ha," she squinted at him, "Now, get, I'm still decorating," she shoved him forward.

Laughing, Lucky spun and lifted her, "You gotta be quicker than dat."

"Heyyy! Put me down!"

Chuckling, he stole a kiss before lowering her, "What all dis going you got going on?" he asked, wiping the glitter from her cheek.

"I am trying to set up dis backdrop for my videos," she pointed to the squares of pink and white roses that she was trying to figure out how to get on the wall.

Lucky stared at the pieces for a moment then nodded, "Those are dope," he walked toward it and picked one up, "Are these real roses?"

Ava chuckled, "Fake, guess how much I paid?"

Lucky stared at the authentic-looking roses then glanced at her, "Did you buy these individually?"

"Nope," she smirked.

"Two... maybe three hunnid?"

"Fifty dollars!" she did a victory dance and he busted out laughing.

"Real talk?"

"Mm-hmm," she rushed over and grabbed the empty box and retrieved the receipt, "Sy saw it when she was out with our aunt and of course," she twirled, "I'm allll about a fancy budget."

Lucky was amused, "Dis shit tight ma, you mad different tho," he smiled softly, leaning against the table.

"How so?" she stood beside him.

Lucky tucked his arms and shrugged, "I said dis before but I 'ont know... I'm still getting used to you actin' as if you live paycheck to paycheck, na' mean?"

Ava just stared at him a bit confused.

"You don't flaunt yo money or brag about it. Look at you," he nodded toward the things she bought, "Your ass is rich, yet you still look for things for a low price unless you ain't got a choice."

"Oh," she laughed, "Thank my parents for dat."

"I saw tha' stuff yo pops and moms be rocking, they always look like money, ma."

"On special occasions," she clarified, "But honestly, I always felt like cheaper is better. When you think about how expensive things are, tha' quality can be terrible, but you'll still be paying for tha' brand, y'know?"

Lucky nodded, "So with your clothing, what kind of quality would you consider it as?"

"Well..." she pondered, "I like to make things dat are affordable."

"Say some big-time brand wanted to borrow some stuff or partner with you, would they feel as if your prices were right for what you design?"

Ava shrugged, staring at her mannequin, "I..." she paused, "With me, I put my all into what I do. Textures, Will it keep me warm during tha' winter? Will it be breathable during hot days? Are they washing machine-friendly? Can it be worn for years to come? Will it tear easily... things like dat. I know dat stuff like dat costs a lot for manufactures and all dat, but I set my prices tha' way dat they are because if I wasn't blessed with what I have, I would want to be able to buy clothes dat looked and made me feel good for a decent price, like tha' way people feel when they buy Gucci, Dolce, and stuff like dat."