I watch Tatum rummage through her nightstand for a minute before holding up a hand filled with crumbled up dollars.
"Thirteen dollars. That should be good right?"
I give her a shrug and she rolls her eyes before heading to the door and going downstairs, me following shortly behind.
"Jazz! Going out, be back in ten... maybe. Text if dad gets back before I do!" Tatum yells out before grabbing my hand and leading us both out the back door.
I grab her dark purple bike that laid on the side of the house, we called this the molly wagon because when we stole it there was almost an ounce of molly inside one of the handlebars.
I won't get into details but let's just say that was a night to remember.
As I kick off I feel Tate jump on the pegs behind, wrapping her hands around my neck giving it a bit of a message and laying her chin on top of my head.
We bike out the neighborhood and you can hear the leaves crunching underneath the tires. The speed we were going made the leaves dance around and behind us.
"I know I love you right?" Tatum says into my ear.
My chest went warm.
"I love you more." I say back looking up at her for a brief moment before looking back ahead.
This had been the first time she'd ever expressed she loved me like with the word obviously. She was never big on it so I know this meant a lot for her.
She then tighten her arms around my chest.
We coast up and down empty roads until we finally reached the poorly lit gates of my personal heaven.
Tulimanu, it was like my home away from home. I've been coming here since I could remember, sure the place is kinda tattered and worn down with a flickering sign that was definitely on its last legs maybe ten years ago, but yet it's still going strong.Business wise it's still booming at least with me as one of it's loyal customers, that and it's junkie central. So you can assume the Mountain Dew is always gone. It's been the same store teller, the same broken ceiling panels, the same cigar smell that was basically embedded in the walls. Which thinking about it, it could quite possibly be mold... but that's not the point.
"What's up Krishna?" I say walking over to the counter.
"Hey boy, let me guess, you guys have some form of the munchies don't cha?" He says folding his arms.
"I'm not off my shit all of the time? Drugs aren't that good, especially not from the sellers that be posted up round here." I say thinning out my lips and widening my eyes.
He gives me the famous Krish face, but I like to call it the: Who you trying to fool, look.
"What? I'm being serious! Look at my eyes." I say leaning over the counter and stretching my bottom eyelid down.
"He knows eyedrops exist Ben!" Tatum yells from a few isles away.
"Damnn you gonna let your girl out you like that B?" Krishna says letting out a roar of laughter and slapping my arm.
"Ha. Ha. Ha." I mock back.
Then out of nowhere Tatum pushes me aside setting her things on the counter.
"Ou, Pep Toe Dis Mall? You got a little dookie booty don't cha girl." Krish says scanning the items chuckling.
"Krish I will rob you." Tate says letting out a laugh and handing him the crinkled money.
"Benji you just gonna let your loony girlfriend speak to me like that?" He says covering his heart in disbelief while counting the money.
"Hey man she's the boss." I say putting my arms up and walking backwards towards the door.
"Yo! Don't leave me alone with her!" He yells to me with a chuckle.
"What do you mean? I'm the get away driver." I laugh back.
