Merely Existing...

7

I was snuggled cozily in the passenger side seat of Malcolm's 2022 Mercedes-Benz Glc-class. The interior was beautiful. From the leather seats to the cherry wooded paneled features; it was bomb! We were bumping some jazz music on low while the windows were rolled down allowing the cool night breeze to glide through our hair. The atmosphere was perfect! His car smells of some rich cologne. Probably Versace. I'm just glad it isn't Dior for men because many of their men's cologne, had an undertone to it that made my nose wrinkle up and a way to make me grimace. This scent was desirably appeasing.

The car ride was smooth and undisturbed of bumps and potholes. A girl can get used to this, I told myself. Malcolm was looking so sophisticatedly divine, not that I'm attracted to him but it seems he can dress up nice. He had on an Armani white button-down shirt, with some casual blue jeans; paired with dark blue and gold Gucci loafers. I admired that he wasn't too flashy but he didn't look broke either. He must've gotten his dreads freshly re-twist because they were shiny and neat. I think he could feel my eyes consuming his appearance that it made him take his eyes off the road just for a moment to flash me a smile and say, "So, we're almost at the spot. You got their eta?" He continued to drive with ease. We were on our way to a low-key diner/bar downtown Peach-tree street to grab a bite and catch up with Diamond and Andre.

I pull my phone out noticing she has already texted me, letting me know she was there and got us a booth. I squeal in joy because it's been a couple of months since I've seen my friend. She is one of the most gorgeous people I know. I'm talking Mila Kunis gorgeous. Although High school didn't do her justice; whatever she lacked during the puberty stage surely made up for it in adulthood. She has seductive, vibrant hazel pigmented eyes, a brown captivating face, with a swan-like neck and a jaw to match. She stands about 5'7 and is slim and thick in all the right places. Modeling is her full-time career, but she also does commercials for top brands on the side. I'm anticipated to finally see her again, and ask her to be my plus one at the event. Before I knew it we were looking for parking. He decides to allow the valet to take his ride. It was 8:35 pm so we have some time to kill before the bowling alley.

I tell Malcolm that Diamond already found us a table and all we have to do was go inside and find them. He nods and asks if he can take my hand. I decline politely making up an excuse about my sweaty palms because I didn't want to give him the impression that I was into him like that. We are not a couple and I was not about to hold his hand, especially since the electricity emanating from it made me second guess my feelings for him.

As we walk in, the setting of the place was warm and friendly. The lights were bright and a few people were talking amongst themselves enjoying their food. "Ava!! Over here!" Diamond shouts just loud enough to grasp my attention. Signaling for us to come over by the booth. We both shriek in gratification as she stands up to hug me and spins me around to take in my appearance. "You look so amazing! I mean I saw it on the You but it ain't like seeing it in person. Damn that ass is fat!" She screams and we laugh causing some people to look up and see what the chaos was all about. I could hear some of them whisper, 'that's Ava Jones'. I smile courtly at them and they return it. I realize we were still standing, so Malcolm and I take the booth directly in front of them. While introductions were being made; Malcolm and Andre shake hands.

I can see Andre was a light-skinned fellow, who is extremely handsome, his eyes wander into mine a little longer than necessary. I shake the observation off because Diamond informs us that she took the liberty of already ordering us drinks in our absence. 1942 shots of tequila were on the table and I did not waste any time gulping down mine. Diamond and I are catching up a bit conversing about current things going on in our lives outside of the men we recently just met. The men chit-chatted having their conversation. Diamond is the first to break the ice after the waitress came and took our orders of chicken wings and French fries. "So Malcolm is it? How you met my girl Ava over here?" She says curiously nudging her head in my direction while batting her beautiful eyes innocently at him. "Well for starters, I guess you can say by chance. It was at a bar although I've been knowing Ava subconsciously because my daughter is a fan of hers, I hadn't realized she was who she was till we spoke. I don't think your friend would've even given me the time of day if I hadn't saved her phone that day." He discloses to her while nudging me playfully, which startles me a bit prompting me to tense up slightly from the electricity I mentioned earlier. "In my defense, my phone could've been broken you didn't save shit." I protest putting my hands across my chest and pouting my face in a child-like way. I stick my tongue out at them both and we all laugh except Andre. He just stares at me. I look at my friend to see if she notices but she exhibits to be obliviously lost in her thoughts.

"Andre right? How did you meet D?" I ask deciding to challenge him to break his stare which causes him to jump a bit. He grabs Diamond's hand and gives her a quick peck on the lips, as he went on to explain that they met at a funeral. He tells us he was so lost in her beauty he almost forgot his sister's dog died. That renders everyone to giggle while he apologizes for the dog part. He also summarizes he just knew he couldn't let Diamond out of his sights from that moment forth. I love the story but it sounds like bullshit. It's something about him that rubs me the wrong way. I make a mental note to myself to get Diamond to check him about his wandering eyes. By the time the food arrives, we were all hungry and acquainted. We decide we would hurry and eat because we didn't want to miss our slot. If I would've known I would have to kill a monster tonight I would have stayed home but I was in for a surprise...