Imani moves from North London to South west and joins year 13 in the borough's worst school. Where she meets troublesome Jamal, known to be influential in a block gang near her new estate. He can't help but become involved with her.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Imani
We're lying in bed now. I can feel our time together slipping through my fingers, everything feels so precious.
"What was your first impression of me?" I ask.
He puts his phone down instantly. And I'm pretty sure he was in the middle of snapping a client. I love how he always pays attention to me like this.
"My first impression...like when I first saw ya or talked to ya?"
"Both." I shrug.
"When I first saw you...I thought I ain't never seen someone that especially pretty. I thought, I've got to talk to her, find out if she's as pretty inside,"
He smiles at me and I can never help but smile back.
"And when I first talked to you, I thought, fuck, her voice. Need to hear that in a different context. And I thought about how sweet your name is. And then...my first proper conversation with you, on your mums birthday, I fink. I just thought, man, I wanna talk to her forever. Ain't never wanted to talk to someone the way I do wiv you."
I smile "what way is that?"
"Talk and actually talk. Like the way you think, the things you actually wanna talk about. All that metaphysical, spiritual shit. You're so fuckin intelligent I swear down I just couldn't stop listenin. And you're down to earth and you care instantly about people and so much...I knew from very early that I wanted you to be mine. Wanted all your care and affection and conversation."
I kiss him in appreciation.
"My first impression was nothing alike." I say and he laughs.
"Yeah, I bet."
"Some things I got right though."
"Like what?"
"Drug deala," I say, he scoffs "and hard. Tough background. Got kicked outta school. Fucks around cuz he's got a beautiful face. Scrutinising-"
"What you mean scrutinisin?" He asks.
"Like you're always looking. First thing I noticed about you was your eyes. Pickin everything apart. And dats not just cuz you wear a ski mask."
He puts his arm over my shoulder and kisses my face playfully, making me squeal.
